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| The coronavirus pandemic continued to significantly impact humanity throughout April. In too many instances, it has resulted in illnesses, fatalities, furloughs and job losses. PDCA proudly and resiliently stands together as a united community. The following section is dedicated to the ongoing health crisis and highlights several examples of PDCA member companies contributing to easing the burdens that society has endured. We collectively tip our hard-hats to you. |
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Calsak Plastics manufactures aggregates for construction, but quickly pivoted in response to the health crisis. It launched production of a key safeguard for essential businesses like grocery stores.
CBS-2 Chicago carried an exclusive that quotes Dave Trolian and Ryan Jennings of Clark Construction, which is retrofitting a shuttered hospital in Chicagoland to house COVID-19 patients.
Nucor engineers in Seattle set an admirable example by repurposing company 3D printers to make face shields. Inspired volunteers from the community joined the effort to dramatically increase output.
Koppers, Inc. lab tech Siw Kruse whipped up a batch of hand sanitizer to replenish dwindling company supplies. The Stickney, IL office coordinated with a local hospital to donate more than 1,500 pieces of PPE.
Golder associates helped replenish blood banks in hard-hit New Jersey.
Derek Clyburn of ECS Limited leads advocacy in North Carolina to encourage designation of engineers as "essential" during the COVID-19 lockdown. Tectonic also lends support to this ASCE movement.
International Construction Equipment (ICE®) in Charlotte, NC compiled a web-based resource page with continually updated material related to COVID-19 impacts on the manufacturing sector and American infrastructure construction projects; it includes state by state public project breakdowns.
Maury Gaston from AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe in Birmingham submitted a commentary about the coronavirus disease and its impact on the manufacturing sector in Business Alabama.
Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal published an advisory on best practices for facility cleaning and disinfecting practices by Mark Hudock, SVP at GZA Environmental. Heather Shoemaker and Marianne Payne of GZA in Philadelphia discuss how facility managers can begin adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic for InSite Newsletter.
New member shout-out! A proud small business itself, Premier Geotech and Testing, makes a point to encourage everyone to support Louisiana small businesses during the health crisis. Or maybe they were just hopeful to get a selfie with Drew Brees?
John King of Pile Drivers, Inc. is a known PDCA prankster. The South Carolina contractor also quietly epitomizes association goodwill, solidarity and loyalty. He recently spearheaded an intercontinental caper to send needed assistance to Jill Harris, publisher of PileDriver magazine, who was unable to obtain critical supplies for her toddler due to presumed consumer hoarding. Read Jill's touching account of John's gesture.
A Coronavirus Commentary...
In our "new normal," we can expect things will be hoarded. Also, our kids will be home schooling, (thanks ECS who shares these free and fun home-based engineering activities). In many cases, you are working remotely which means video web-conferences with colleagues, clients and customers. But you've gotten creative and tested the boundaries of Zoom and others; the folks at GZA Environmental experimented at home by combining beer and Zoom. TRC Companies, Inc. also embraced the morale boosting value of a Zoom #virtualhappyhour.
On a break, you might watch something on Netflix or Amazon Prime; Atlas Tube shares what they consider a collection of "binge-worthy" documentaries on architecture and design if you are seeking enriching entertainment during quarantine. Finally, our wardrobes have been modified with the addition of face masks and rubber gloves. But Equipment Corporation of America (ECA) reached back into company archives and found evidence of their employees who overcame the homemade clothes pandemic of 1919; PDCA concurs with ECA's sentiment that together, we can survive COVID-19. |
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| From the Association & Chapters |
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Remember January when coronavirus was just a mention in an occasional news report? That's when PDCA past president Scott Callaway of Cajun Industries in Baton Rouge recorded Between 2 Piles [WATCH 5:14], a multi-media, interview transcribed in PileDriver magazine Issue #1 2020. The video contains material not in print, like when Scott accidently disrespects country music legend Garth Brooks. Production credits: set design by Scott Nigels who crafted the makeshift studio in the South Carolina yard of Palmetto Pile Driving, videography by Emmett Waggenspack of Coastal Contractors in Baton Rouge who operated the i-Phone camera, and post-production by The Ranch studios in New Orleans.
The PDCA COVID-19 Resource Center now includes a full list of Executive Orders for each U.S. State.
Save the Date: PDCA will host the webinar, Steel Sheet Pile Guides Review on May 19th at 2 P.M. EDT. Two of the co-authors, Gerry McShane of Service Steel Warehouse and Dick Hartman of Hartman Engineering will present a review of all three guides; Installation Guide, Corrosion Guide and Retaining Wall Cost Comparison Guide. Forthcoming registration is free to PDCA members; non-members can join for $50. All attendees will receive 1.0 Hour PDH and direct download access to all three publications. |
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Engineering Consulting Services, Inc. (ECS) promotes Tony Fiorillo to President as Henry Lucas steps down, he will finish 2020 as CEO and Chair the Board through 2022; ECS also names Evan Landis, P.E. to the Chantilly, VA office. Nucor Executive Vice President Ladd Hall sets a June retirement date after 39 years on the job; Alan Behr of Nucor Steel Texas will succeed him. Dan Brown and Associates announces recent transitions; Dan Brown, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, assumes the role of Chief Engineer, Tim Siegel, P.E., G.E., D.GE elevates to Chief Executive Officer, Paul Axtell, P.E., D.GE becomes Chief Operating Officer,Robert Thompson, P.E., D.GE has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer, and both David Graham, P.E., and Ben Turner, Ph.D., P.E., ascend to Senior Engineers.
Jeremy Cox, named AET, Inc. West Region Manager, will oversee operations in Wyoming, North Dakota, and western South Dakota; Robert Temme, becomes West Region Director of Business Development. AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe has placed four new sales professionals: Dustin Covington, Zach Miller, Wyatt Robinson and Stu Sanders. Dewberry elevates Ben Revette in Boston, adds Siamak Esfandiary in Virginia and Wael Youssef in New York. Haley & Aldrich, Inc. names Lynn Gresock to the Boston office, Athena DeNivo to the New York office. Gary Mang joins Holland LP as new Northeast Regional Sales Manager. Kirt Jackson is a new Project Manager at Patriot Construction & Industrial in Duson, LA.
Other notes of interest:
Happy Retirement to Larry Brewer who departs Holland LP after 40 years with the company.
Marvin Barker at Duson, LA-based Patriot Construction and Industrial named 'Safety Champion.'
"I never said most of the things I said." Noting his quotable nature, Junttan must consider John King of Pile Drivers, Inc. as the Yogi Berra of the pile driving world. We can think of less flattering comparisons!
Pro sports have been deemed non-essential, but moving pile and other goods is critical. When Captain John Lowery of Canal Barge Company, Inc. in New Orleans saw the NFL pass by 12 years ago, he embarked on a career trajectory in river transportation. Today, he regularly visits with students from his old high school to advocate exploring careers on the water.
Holes, Inc. in Houston hit the jackpot four years ago when they hired equipment operator Brandon Mullens; unbeknownst to HR at the time, they also secured their very own visual marketer. Brandon has been doing photography and videograpy for years; he owns Texas Style Photography. While he is comfortable with many subjects, his passion is construction project photography. Check him out!
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Tectonic Engineering Consultants establishes Mountainside, NJ office to replace Short Hills location; adds East Brunswick, NJ office.
Lodge Lumber Co. in Houston reaches 80 years in business; it offers a philosophical sentiment about the ongoing health crisis. Congrats to the company and thanks for the optimism.
Atlas Foundation celebrates an end to dial-up Internet; that should improve the download speed of the electronic version of the next PileDriver magazine.
Cape Romain Contractors subcontracted and Insight Group consulted on the award-winning Drum Island restoration project in Charleston, SC.
Clark Construction earns three 'Build America' Awards.
CZM-US Foundation Equipment UPDATE: we shared video of the groundbreaking last year when they began construction on the new Savannah, GA corporate office. Fast forward to today, move-in is complete and production is underway in the factory; congratulations... By the way, Happy 97th Birthday (4/26) Loris Clo, Founder of CZM!
Deep South Construction is armoring a ridge to mitigate pending damage from sea level rise and erosion; a delegation of local officials visited the jobsite near Delacroix, LA for a progress update.
Same issue, different waterfront Dewberry will lead resilience planning for the City of Virginia Beach as it battles sea level rise. In a different agreement, the firm continues to assist City adaptation efforts.
GeoEngineers, Inc. of Redmond, WA participated in an award-winning coastal restoration project.
Giken earns international recognition.
Group Industries snags hardware; a safety award and an excellence award head to the trophy case.
Haley & Aldrich, Inc. helps rehabilitate Navy's oldest, operational ship USS Constitution in Boston.
The John Lawrie Group steps up to support youth golf development in Scotland.
Service Steel Warehouse in Houston is a proud sponsor of the Sweet Heat Elite Mont Belvieu, a premier youth softball league for girls. |
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Geostrata Magazine features an article co-authored by Ross McGillivray, P.E. of Orlando-based Ardaman & Associates which discusses controlling foundation risk in design-build projects.
New Orleans City Business newspaper includes Canal Barge Company, Inc. CEO Merrit Lane as one of the city's "Driving Forces," a compilation of 40 influential business leaders in the Crescent City.
Construction Dive published a Q&A with Monique Holley of Clark Construction, the project superintendent on Arlington, VA's highly anticipated HQ2 for Amazon.
Construction in Focus highlights Golder's 60-year history in consulting.
Albany Business Review names Tectonic to its list of top engineering firms in the New York region.
That's all for this installment of 'A Pile of News;' PDCA wishes all Members health, safety and prosperity. |
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| Thanks for reading 2020's fifth 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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