PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE DFI and the Common Ground O ne of the distinguishing features, and one of the primary reasons I have been heavily involved in DFI over the last 15 years, is the institute’s role in creating a common ground for bringing together a broad range of professionals in the deep foundations industry. As young engineers advance through their education and early career choices, there are a number of forces that tend to narrow their focus to a particular field of study, a specific path and eventually to a narrow area of expertise. This process begins in about the second year of engineering school when they switch from taking general engineering classes and begin focusing on specific fields such as civil, mechanical or electrical. By the third and fourth year, the narrowing goes even further when the civil engineer must decide whether to go into structural, geotechnical, hydraulic or another selective field. After graduation, there is the deci s ion to go into construction, a design office or the service and equipment industry. This narrowing process tends to limit an engineer’s interaction with other others in the broader engineering community and limit their perspective. DFI is one of the few organizations that reverses this narrowing process and expands the horizons of engineers by creating a common ground for bringing people together from a wide range of DFI 2013 Awards: Call for Entries DFI annually showcases and celebrates the achievements and contributions of individuals, teams and companies in the deep foundations industry. We encourage you to submit your work and nominate your colleagues for recognition. Submissions for the 2013 Awards are due by April 15, 2013. • The Outstanding Project Award recognizes the superior work of DFI members. Each year, a project is chosen from several geotechnical projects submitted for consideration by DFI members. • The Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who have made exceptionally valuable contributions to the advancement of the deep foundations industry. • C. William Bermingham Innovation Award encourages and recognizes innovative contributions to deep foundation technology. The award pays tribute to the innovative spirit of Bill Bermingham, DFI past president, and his contributions to DFI and the deep foundations industry. • Ben C. Gerwick Award for Innovation in Design and Construction of Marine Foundations recognizes excellence in marine engineering. The award is a tribute to Ben Gerwick, and recognizes his exceptional achievements and contributions to the design and construction of marine foundations. For more information visit www.dfi.org/about Robert B. Bittner, P.E. President [email protected] backgrounds, skills and experi- ences to share their technical problems, information, successful solu- tions and help to identify new solutions. Three initiatives introduced by our presi- dent for the last two years, Jim Morrison, have helped to further expand the common ground for all members of DFI. The first was the push to make DFI a truly international organization. DFI established a chapter in Europe in 2005, and has held international conferences in Asia and Europe. But under Jim’s leadership over the last two years, DFI has sponsored conferences in the Middle East, Europe, India, Brazil and Mexico. In addition, we regularly involve our Regional Committee chairs in board activities by including them in the annual planning meeting and having them report on the state of practice in their regions in Deep Foundations magazine. Eventually we expect to see them become part of the DFI Board of Trustees. The second was the young members initiative to bring new members into our organization — young people just starting out in their careers, who have the drive to help energize our organization. The third initiative was the emphasis on DFI’s 15 technical committees. A major step in this direction was the funding of $250,000 over the last two years for special projects generated from within the committees. All three initiatives are making excel- lent progress. As DFI president for the next two years, my objective will be to follow through with these initiatives and provide further backing to ensure their success. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JAN/FEB 2013 • 7
