PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE New Year, New Opportunities I am very excited to take over the reins of this great organization, DFI. The team that I will be leading over the next two years is a very smart and hard working group called the Executive Committee or ExComm for short. It is a very dynamic group. I will be working with several of my long-time ‘best buddies,’ including Dr. Dan Brown, vice president; Mathew Janes, treasurer and Theresa Engler, executive director. Dr. Mike Wysockey will also be joining our group as secretary of DFI (and my newest best buddy J ). To take a few notes from outgoing President Bob Bittner’s message from the Sept/Oct issue, our group makes up a very strong team! And teamwork is indeed what makes any organization — consulting engineers, contractors, suppliers and owners — click on all cylinders. Please join me in thanking Bob for his two hard-working years of service, as well as the commitment and service of the DFI Board of Trustees. We hope to develop a special ‘Esprit de Let’s all join together to take DFI to the next level — to be the most instantly recognized authority in deep foundation design and construction. Corps’ at DFI headquarters that you will recognize when you see us at your next Technical Committee or Operational Commi t tee (Awards Commi t tee, Nominating Committee, etc.) meeting. Let’s all join together to take DFI to the next level — to be the most instantly recognized authority in deep foundation design and construction. Continued Success Our Committee Project Fund, a privately-funded research effort by DFI, has been a huge success. Since its inception in 2012, DFI has awarded over $320,000 in funding for 15 projects submitted by 13 DFI Technical Committees. Projects are endorsed by technical committees and are required to provide a usable deliverable for the industry. Research reports and other project deliverables are available to all members through the DFI Journal and the commi- ttee webpages. Proposals for 2015 funding have been sol ici ted and projects will be selected in the near future. In addition, we have returned the DFI finances back to the black column by increasing the dues levels in 2014 and holding a very successful Annual Conference in Atlanta in October. (Way t o g o , c onf e r enc e chairman — ha ha!) But, in all seriousness, I had great support from the organizing John Wolosick President [email protected] committee and conference program chairs, Antonio Marinucci and Scott Ballenger. Looking Forward Our ExComm plans to focus our attention on the core competencies of DFI, including high technical qual i ty, industry collaboration, industry impact and member benefits over the next two years. We are always looking for volunteers to help out. Join a committee! Get active! Meet new friends and clients. Confucius said, “A smart man knows everything, but a wise man knows EVERYBODY!” Get to know “everybody” by connecting with fellow members on www.dfi.org, DFI’s LinkedIn Page, or DFI’s Facebook page. Virtually, or in-person, DFI has a lot of opportunities to offer to its members. Plan To Attend Friday, April 10, 2015 DFI and the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers Spring 2015 Workshop “Subsurface Explorations and Field Testing – Current Practice” Friday, April 10, 2015, University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut Presenter: Dr. David K. Crapps, Principal at Schmertmann & Crapps, Inc. Topics will include: • Dilatometer Testing • Meaning of SPT Values • Osterberg Cells/Pile Testing • Practical Solutions to Complex Problems DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JAN/FEB 2015 • 7
