Charleston Engineer
Susheel Kolwalkar
to Represent South
Carolina Chapter
on PDCA Board
PDCA CHAPTER LEADERSHIP
By Matt Bisbee, PDCA
With a resume that includes an early civil engineering
career in India and the Middle East, a
completed master’s and Ph.D. in the U.S. and
an impressive list of high-profile projects in the Charleston, S.C.
region, Susheel Kolwalkar of Insight Group confesses that active
engagement in recreational table tennis provides him necessary
relaxation and enjoyment when he needs a break from the
demands of his professional expertise.
Dr. Kolwalkar recently earned appointment to the PDCA Board
of Directors from his peers in his local chapter; he now serves as
the PDCA South Carolina Chapter representative.
“I’ve been with the local PDCA chapter for five years; four as an
elected board member and now chapter vice president,” he said. “I
attend all quarterly meetings and technical seminars. And I never
miss an oyster roast! It’s a great industry gathering where we talk
shop in a relaxed setting.
“When I attend chapter events, it provides a good networking
platform where I can share and acquire knowledge from other likeminded
individuals who strive to advance the pile driving industry.”
Noting Charleston contains a geological composition that
favors driven pile foundations, his six years there have brought
many welcome, professional challenges and numerous, satisfying
final products.
A notable example: “Insight Group recently completed deep
foundation testing services at the new Hugh Leatherman Terminal
and the connecting Port Access Road and Tidewater Road bridges.
This is a $1B project and the most important infrastructure project
that the South Carolina Ports Authority has ever constructed and
the only new terminal under construction in the United States.”
With more than 20 years’ experience as a professional engineer,
Kolwalkar has also helped shape the future of the industry
through academia. He conducted research at Cleveland State
University and taught a variety of civil engineering courses at
Ohio’s Youngstown State University (YSU).
“Teaching at YSU was useful while training and mentoring several
interested deep foundation testing professionals,” he said.
By day, the senior geotechnical consultant at Insight Group is
part of a highly skilled, collaborative team of engineers and scientists
that provides consulting services to contractors, designers
and owners. But he does enjoy time away from the grind.
“I like spending time with family and friends, listening to different
music and playing table tennis. Also, I’ve voluntarily served
on the executive committee of the India Association of Greater
Charleston (IAGC) between 2017 and 2019.”
In his newest voluntary role with the PDCA Board of Directors,
Kolwalkar joins association leadership that oversees all administrative,
educational, advocacy and event activity for pile driving
contractors, equipment manufacturers, industry suppliers and
affiliated engineers. t
www.piledrivers.org PILEDRIVER | 33
/www.piledrivers.org
