PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE A Busy DFI A s we enter the summer, I am astounded by the quantity, quality and success of DFI events that have already occurred this year. We have recently completed an excellent SuperPile ’19 , a fantastic Helical Piles – Tiebacks – Anchors Tradeshow and Educational Seminar with all manner of demonstrations, as well as numerous fundraisers, short courses and DFI Traveling Lecture series events. SuperPile ’19 in Seattle featured three days of activity, including high-quality presentat ions enhanced by panel discussions, the Osterberg Memorial Lecture and Ben C. Gerwick Award, and a spectacular Women in Deep Foundations (WiDF) Committee event at the Space Needle, resplendent with views of Mt. Rainier and the Puget Sound at sunset. Along with eight technical committee meetings, the daylong Impact Testing for Site Characterization Seminar organized by the DFI Testing and Evaluation Committee and chaired/moderated by D. Michael Holloway, P.E., Ph.D., consultant, kicked off SuperPile ’19 to make the event a full experience for all to reap rewards. Personally, I found the quality of the case histories to be exceptional. It becomes an easy economic equation to set aside valuable time and resources to attend when I am able to take two or three new ideas from the event that I know I will use in the coming year to create value for my staff and clients. With more than 500 attendees and a full range of suppliers and manufacturers present, the networking opportunity is surpassed only by our annual meeting. SuperPile ’19 was led by conference chair, Dominic Parmantier, P.E., Condon- Johnson & Associates, and program chair, Armin Stuedlein, Ph.D., P.E., Oregon State University; they and their team are to be commended and thanked. Excellence doesn’t just happen, it is earned. Bill Bonekemper, Helical Pile World (HPW), DFI and the team of Howard Perko, Ph.D., P.E., DFI trustee, Magnum Piering; Gary Seider, P.E., Helical Piles and Tiebacks Commi t tee chair, Hubbell Power Systems; Karen Dawson, P.E., indoor program chair, Jacobs; and Matt Conte, CPC, outdoor program chair, Conte Company, turned it on for a strong finish in organising and recruiting the 250 participants for the HPW-DFI tradeshow and seminar. Rave reviews for this new concept were plentiful from those who attended. It was a novel event that starts a whole new chapter for DFI in terms of content, live demos and practical learning. The DFI Traveling Lecture [email protected] Matthew Janes, M.B.A., P.Eng. President It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become. series proved to be an outstanding success with John Wolosick, P.E., D.GE, Hayward Baker, criss-crossing North America to deliver a selection of highlights from an astounding career. John is to be thanked for the extra effort he made to accommodate so many, well beyond his mandate. While all of this was going on, many members stepped up to support events. The WiDF Committee hosted a well- attended event in New York City with inspirational women speakers setting the stage for our future female leaders. Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero, Ph.D., P.E., A.G.E.S. ; Dave Mi l ler, P.E. , ADM Consulting and chair of the DFI Soil Mixing Committee; and Franz-Werner Gerressen, Dipl.-Ing., Bauer Maschinen, traveled to Brazil and represented DFI well as keynote speakers at the SEFE9 conference and expo event, and are to be thanked for their dedication of time and effort for such a long haul. Similarly, Antonio Marinucci, Ph.D., MBA, P.E., V2C Strategists and executive at the 4 International Congress of Deep Foundations of Bolivia, introducing the attendees to the many activities of DFI and then presenting a short course and serving on a panel. No less were the efforts of Dave Paul, P.E., Paul GeoTek Engineering and DFI trustee; Seth Vaidya, P.E., Langan editor of Deep Foundations represented DFI th Engineering and Environ- mental Services and India Support Committee co-chair; and Jack Mulvoy, P.E., DSI Underground, to travel to India at short notice to represent DFI as we assist with the Chennai Metro Rail construction and plan a three- day seminar on deep foundation tech- nologies to be held in Chennai this fall. Seepage Control Committee members collaborated to present a workshop on watertight excavation support techniques for the City of Toronto. The working group, led by Nadir Ansari, P.Eng., D.GE, Isherwood Associates; Mark Montgomery, P.Eng., Keller Foundations; and Dave Wiley, GFL Infrastructure Group, sup- ported strongly by DFI member com- panies, compiled industry consensus presentations on anchors, secant piles, sheet and pipe piles, soil mixing, diaphragm walls, trenching and jet grouting. Over 100 city officials and local developers attended this workshop aimed at introducing new technologies to influence construction practices and policy in the city. I am, of course, leaving out so many other volunteers and DFI staff that make this organization stand out. You, the volunteers, the sharers of knowledge and experience, make DFI events the leading forum for high- quality applied technology that keeps our delegates praising the organization, extolling our virtues, spreading the word and returning to our events. It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JULY/AUG 2019 • 7
