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| From the Association & Chapters |
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PDCA gives you Moore Sure, it could be the new marketing slogan, but it also signifies the seating of PDCA's newest president, Jason Moore of Charleston, SC. He assumed the ceremonial gavel during PDCA's annual Strategic Planning Meeting in January and has begun a one-year term. In addition to a new president and executive committee, four new faces have joined the board. More on leadership changes.
Piles, not Ferns! A function of PDCA president is to write an editorial column in PileDriver magazine. We eagerly await Jason's first installment in February. That publication will also include a farewell from immediate past president Scott Callaway. This time, his column is part of a multimedia production; it will be the first in a video series from PDCA called Between 2 Piles.
Mark your calendars PDCA invites your participation in its 2020 events:
- Design and Installation of Cost-Efficient Piles (DICEP), Sept. 2224, New Orleans, LA
PDCA of South Carolina has set four quarterly chapter dinner meetings, all to take place at the Town & Country Inn and Suites in Charleston, SC. Dates for the 6:00 p.m. meetings include: Feb. 13, May 14, Aug. 13 and Nov. 12. In addition, the chapter will host its biennial Driven Pile Technical Seminar on March 19 at The Citadel, Holiday Alumni Center in Charleston.
PDCA of the Gulf Coast Chapter released its event calendar. Three quarterly dinner meetings remain, each begins at 6:00 p.m.: April 16 at L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge; Aug. 20 at the Golden Nugget Casino in Biloxi, MS; and Nov. 12 at Messina's Restaurant in Kenner, LA. Don't miss the 2020 Skeet Shoot, at Bridgeview Gun Club in Kenner on Oct. 30.
Rep the industry Remember, The PDCA Store features a variety of swag as well as educational resources. Watch for new items in 2020. Always include #PDCAdriven on your social media for a chance to win free merchandise.
Support the industry By now, PDCA members should have received notice of the association's restructured member dues system, unanimously passed by the Board of Directors and strategically designed to ensure both improved member support and association fiscal solvency.If you haven't already, please click here to bring your member dues current. Non-members can enroll too. |
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We are one month into a Presidential election year; local, state and federal campaigns are ablaze throughout the country. History and conventional wisdom tell us that Washington will avoid enacting legislation to address federal infrastructure shortcomings, but these are unpredictable times. Last week, a House proposal emerged but no funding details were included. Meanwhile a bipartisan chorus of infrastructure improvement proponents is growing.
New data is available showing job increases and higher wages in the construction and engineering sectors while manufacturing has experienced job loss, primarily in metals production
Construction Business Owner quotes Irina Plumlee of Munsch Hardt in a legal analysis of federal issues, including the USMCA, I-9 employment eligibility, e-verify and infrastructure.
Turning to the states, many legislatures have begun their 2020 sessions. Numerous issues will be debated in multiple capitol cities, including election security, gun control, marijuana and the environment. Read "The Biggest Issues Facing State Legislators in 2020" from Fiscal Note.
Several states appear to be investing in infrastructure; see this story from the Wall Street Journal.
Wall Street Journal examines midwestern river traffic irregularities due to increased flooding, aging infrastructure; quotes Mike Blaske of Illinois Marine Towing, subsidiary of Canal Barge. |
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ECS Florida, LLC announces new operations manager Corey Dunlap, P.E. to lead new Gainesville office. Eustis Engineering announces leadership changes: past president Bill Gwyn has stepped down from the board, president Randy Eustis sets retirement for Dec. 31, 2020, Gwendolyn Sanders to succeed Eustis as first female president and Chad Held to become executive VP. St. Louis-based Geotechnology Inc. promotes Pat Donovan, P.E. to professional services president, Jim Howe to exploration president. Greeman -Pederson Inc. of NY names Angela Strevig as director of highways for the Columbia, MD branch. Catherine Maguire and Kent Wiken join Golder & Associates in Redmond, WA. Nucor announces new CEO Leon Topalian elected to board, John Walker is new non-executive chairman.
Geotechnology Inc. congratulates Ryan Farrar in Memphis for earning a P.E. license from Tennessee. Sarah Smith of Greeman Pederson, Inc. earns a P.E. license from Pennsylvania. GT Mid Atlantic recognizes Taylor Gundy in Mechanicsburg, PA for completing her B.S. in marketing.
Canal Barge VP Del Wilkins presented prestigious River Bell Award from the Seamen's Church Institute.
S&ME VP Thomas Davis named Outstanding Professional Engineer of the Year in Tennessee.
SeaLevel Construction, Inc. of Thibodaux, LA recognizes operations manager Travis Schonacher for service as president of PDCA Gulf Coast.
- Chapter seats new officers for 2020, including president Kirt Jackson of Cajun Industries; VP Gerard Chenevert of GROUP Deep Foundations; secretary Dylan Andre of Patriot Deep Foundations and treasurer John Matthews of DeSoto Treated Materials, Inc.
Terracon technician Hachem Ahmed in D.C. was recognized for potentially saving a life after he aided a woman who had a serious trail biking accident. Also, environmental tech Von Capps in Houston performed the solemn ritual of placing a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
An impressive run: Bob Richardson and Tracy Brown are both recent retirees of Manson Construction Co. Richardson ended his 44-year career as a project manager with the Seattle-based contractor, a job that took him around the globe. Brown began what he believed was a two-week temp assignment as a deckhand, but it turned into 42 years for the now retired Captain.
Elsewhere, after more than 40 years in the industry, Dan Sciortino has retired as Boston-based VP/branch manager at Equipment Corporation of America. Branch Manager Gary Drew retires after 36 years with Ardaman & Associates in Ft. Myers, FL. Todd Edmunds retires from Keller.
Not done yet: Earnest Ross of Canal Barge Company, Inc. just celebrated 40 years with the New Orleans transportation firm and is apparently taking on another decade. |
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GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. of Boston strengthens its Midwestern presence through the January acquisition of Minnesota-based Vieau Associates, Inc., which will maintain its name.
A major rebrand at Keller former subsidiaries Bencor, Case Atlantic, Case Foundation, Hayward Baker, HJ Foundation, Keller Canada, McKinney Drilling, Moretrench all take parent company name.
Nucor acquires TrueCore Insulated Panels in South Carolina, adds coil paint line at Arkansas mill.
S&ME, Inc. opens Wheeling, WV office.
TRC Companies, Inc. announces two acquisitions Environmental Partners, Inc. (EPI) and Lockheed Martin Distributed Energy Solutions (LM-DES).
Holes Incorporated of Houston named Craft Training Champion from Construction Career Collaborative.
Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers of New York City dominates rec volleyball; they won the ZogSports Corporate League and completed a history-making three league championships in 2019.
TRC Companies earned recognition for the I-49 North Segment K Project in Shreveport, LA
- Company is the latest Member Spotlight in NY-Best
More Media Hits
- Las Vegas Sun covers Kiewit winning Civil Project of the Year for Project Neon
- Keller earns top ranking from ENR for 2019's Excavation and Foundation firm
- ENR writes about Wadsworth Construction winning Utah design-build project
Company milestones: Tadano celebrates 100 years as a worldwide leader in crane manufacturing. Legacy New England pile driver H.B. Fleming Inc. has been on the job for 65 years in South Portland, ME and surrounding region. Olinpump of Huntington Beach, CA reaches 40 years supplying the driven pile industry. |
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Clark Construction tallied 2,700 total hours volunteering around the country during the National Week of Service, an annual observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy.
Geotechnology Associates Inc. generously served Maryland families over the holidays by donating "Santa Sacks" and Toys for Tots.
Geotechnology Inc. donated cold weather gear for the Cincinnati area Salvation Army.
GT Mid Atlantic launched a pet supply drive to benefit The Humane Society in the Baltimore Region.
S&ME in Chattanooga raced Big Wheels to raise money for community non-profits.
Tectonic in New York raised more than $2,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Universal Engineering Services Florida offices participated in a donation drive to assist foster children. |
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| Thanks for reading 2020's first installment of A Pile of News; please keep sending and posting your company announcements. And don't forget to include #PDCADriven on your social media, you might be randomly selected to win PDCA logo merchandise from The PDCA Store. |
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