Virtual Education,
Enhanced Membership Terms,
Email Marketing
Some of the newest benefits for PDCA members
Virtual education is born
For those who maintain association affiliations, you have undoubtedly
noticed that 2020 has required a near complete pivot from live
educational and other programming to virtual engagements and
events. Of course, webinar education and online meetings have
been commonplace for several years in our increasingly digital
marketplace, but the option for live conferences and trade shows
has always been available – until now.
PDCA, since its inception, has proudly offered several live events
at desirable locations on a yearly basis; two of the longstanding
“staples” of the organization are the PDCA Annual Conference and
Design & Installation of Cost-Efficient Piles (DICEP) conference.
When 2020 began, the association was putting the finishing touches
on what would have been the 2020 PDCA Annual Conference
to be held in May at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, Ariz.
Planning was also underway for what was going to be the 2020
DICEP conference at the New Orleans Marriott in September.
Well, between late March and early April, the COVID-19 pandemic
forced a widespread cancellation of life as we had known and
expected it. This included live PDCA events, both national and
local, for the foreseeable future. It required adjustment!
“With the uncertainties related to the COVID-19 health crisis,
PDCA was very excited to have the ability to connect and
bring education through a virtual platform to those within the
pile driving industry,” said Kathy Harper, PDCA’s manager of
events and education.
As April wore on, PDCA had conference content secured, it
had available Zoom and other online meeting technologies, it
had a newly cleared 2020 calendar, it had supportive leadership
and it had capable and ambitious staff standing by and ready to
serve its membership.
In May, PDCA embraced an idea to present a webinar during
which the authors of the newly released PDCA Steel Sheet Pile
Guides would summarize the three technical publications and
take questions from participants. The organization had never
offered a comprehensive educational presentation to a large list
of invitees in a virtual format, so it was unclear if this event would
garner much participation beyond a small group that had committed
to attend.
The May webinar was marketed through traditional PDCA
channels such as the website, social media, publications and
email. To maximize the originally expected attendance of about
1995 – 2020
MEMBER BENEFITS
By Matt Bisbee, PDCA
PDCA executive director Frank Peters and manager of events and
education Kathy Harper working on a webinar program from the
PDCA office
starlineart / 123rf
www.piledrivers.org PILEDRIVER | 31
/www.piledrivers.org
