CHAPTER NEWS
Chapter News
PDCA Presents Lunch & Learn Programs
for Florida and Texas
PDCA has always recognized the value of our PDCA Chapters.
They all do a great job of representing PDCA members and the
industry within their Chapter’s geographical area, identifying local
issues that can best be resolved by the Chapter or with the support
of PDCA resources.
Unfortunately, over the past several years the PDCA of Florida
and PDCA of Texas chapters have lost their leadership, resulting in
a prolonged period of inactivity. In an effort to re-establish the chapter
in both of these areas, PDCA has develop a long-term strategy
to develop these chapters and to find new, enthusiastic and energetic
leadership who will guide and promote the chapters through organized
events and programs designed to support the members in
those two areas.
The first part of PDCA’s strategy was to conduct Lunch &
Learn seminars in both areas at no cost to attendees. The Lunch &
Learn program consisted of a pre-seminar buffet luncheon, where
attendees could socialize and network with each other – an important
and inherent part of any PDCA Chapter event. Following
the luncheon, PDCA provided three seminars designed to educate
attendees on distinct industry topics.
The first Lunch & Learn program was held in Jacksonville,
Fla., on Oct. 18, 2018, followed by the second program in Houston,
Texas, on Nov. 8, 2018. The first two seminar topics were presented
by the PDCA Contracts and Risk Committee, with chair
and co-chair, Alex Filotti (Underpinning & Foundation Skanska)
and Rick Kalson (Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP)
respectively. Seminar topics included: “Recovering for Unforeseen
Conditions” and “Key Legal Considerations When Performing
Work Under a Design-Build Construction Contract”. The third
seminar was presented by Karl Higgins, P.E. (ECS Mid-Atlantic,
LLC) on “Differences and Similarities of Driven and Drilled, Castin
Place Piles.”
Prior to the seminars, PDCA executive director, Stevan A.
Hall, took time to discuss the relevance of PDCA Chapters and the
importance of having both areas regain their status as fully functioning
PDCA Chapters. Hall’s presentation centered around four basic
elements to support a PDCA Chapter, stating chapter programs
foster camaraderie through social/networking activities, provide professional
development using PDCA existing or chapter developed
educational programs, provide access to new technologies, and help
create and advance business development.
Each program attracted approximately 40 individuals, indicating
several things: One, a need for PDCA to conduct educational
programs, which would eventually be a part of the Chapter’s agenda
with or without the resources of PDCA as defined by the Chapter;
and two, there is enough interest within these areas to support a
PDCA Chapter. What is missing? Leadership.
PDCA requested individuals attending the program to submit
their names and contact information if interested in serving in a
leadership capacity. This opportunity is still wide open. Volunteering
is not often easy and, in some cases, takes an inordinate amount of
time. PDCA has a plan to limit this problem. Recently hired Chapter
Liaison/Membership Development director, Matt Bisbee, will be
working with all PDCA Chapters to provide support in many different
areas, including meeting scheduling, speaker identification,
announcements, write-ups on activities and events for the PDCA
newsletter and magazine, and chapter promotion through social
media platforms. PDCA anticipates volunteers needing approximately
5–8 hours a month, at most.
Please do not ignore this opportunity to help the pile driving
industry, pile drivers and PDCA. If you are interested in learning
more about how you can help the PDCA of Florida or PDCA of
Texas chapters grow, call the PDCA office at 888-311-PDCA (7322).
PDCA of the Gulf Coast Chapter
The PDCA of the Gulf Coast Chapter held its 4th Quarter Dinner
Meeting on Nov. 15, 2018, at Messina’s Restaurant in Kenner, La.
The dinner meeting was sponsored by UPPERLINE Equipment
and the meeting guest speaker presented on the topic of “Pile Driving
Applications with Liebherr Machines.”
During the meeting, Kelsey Herrington, Louisiana State
University (LSU), provided an update on the research conducted
by LSU and supported by the Chapter, Boh Bros. and Cajun Deep
Foundations. The research is titled, “An Integrated Computational
and Experimental Study of Driven Pile Set-Up in Soft Clays” and
after three years of intensive study is coming to a conclusion.
During the meeting, chapter members voted on new officers
for 2019/20. Incoming officers include president, Travis Schonacher
(SEALEVEL Construction); vice president, Kirt Jackson (Cajun
Industries); secretary, Dylan Andre (Patriot Construction
and Industrial, LLC); and treasurer, John Matthews (DeSoto
Treated Materials).
PDCA executive director, Stevan A. Hall, introduced Frank
Peters, the newly hired PDCA executive director. Both provided a
brief update on PDCA activities.
Michael Kelly, chapter immediate past president, informed Hall
and Peters that the chapter has acquired their Directors and Officers
Liability policy, which covers the officers and chapter from any liability
that may occur during the course of the year. The chapter did this
to provide the appropriate protection for the chapter and officers, but
to also be consistent with the Chapter Affiliation Agreement signed
by the chapter leadership.
Continued on page 44
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