DFI Events at IFCEE 2018 IFCEE 2018: The Int e rna t iona l Foundations Congress and Equipment Expo is being held March 5-10, 2018, at the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace in Orlando, Fla., and is hosted by DFI, ADSC (The Internat ional Associat ion of Foundation Drilling), ASCE Geo-Institute, and PDCA (Pile Driving Contractors Association). DFI is hosting several events at the conference. Osterberg Lecture DFI’s 2018 Osterberg Memorial Lecture will be held at IFCEE on Thursday, March 8, 7:30 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. The recipient of the award and presenter of the lecture is John A. (Jack) Hayes, P. Eng., D.I.C., president of Loadtest, Inc. Hayes is being recognized for his pioneering work with Osterberg cell (O-cell) load tests. Hayes, one of the founders of Loadtest, has helped to transform high-capacity load testing worldwide. He has involved himself with all aspects of O-cell load testing including administrat ion, project development, specification, field assembly and installation, instrumentation, testing, analysis and reporting. Loadtest has carried out over 1,000 O-cell bi-directional load tests during his tenure. The annual Osterberg Memorial Lecture and Award was established in honor of Dr. Jorj O. Osterberg, one of the true pioneers of geotechnical engineering, to recognize innovat ions in deep foundations construction related to engineering design, testing or education — all aspects of Jorj Osterberg’s lifelong contributions. Ben C. Gerwick Lecture The 2018 Ben C. Gerwick Award for Innovation in the Design and Construction of Marine Foundations will be awarded to Akio Kitamura, founder and president of Giken, at IFCEE on Thursday, March 8, 8:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Kitamura is being recognized for trailblazing the field of the press-in-piling technology. Rotary press-in piling method DEEP FOUNDATIONS • NOV/DEC 2017 • 43 Kitamura will be at IFCEE to receive the award. A colleague from Giken will join him to make a presentation on the Silent Piler technology. The Gerwick award is presented annually to an individual, team or company, and pays tribute to Ben Gerwick, recog- nizing his innovative spirit and his many contributions to the design and construc- tion of marine foundations. Gerwick had a 62 year professional career as a contractor, educator and construction engineer. Women’s Business Skills Workshop Tuesday, March 6 12:30-4:30 This half day workshop — a partnership between ADSC, DFI, G-I, AND PDCA — will help build professional skills for women in the geotechnical engineering and foundations industry. Topics include exploring differences in gender communi- cation styles, improving negotiating skills, developing mentoring networks and inspiring successful corporate initiatives to support women in the foundations industry. Jack Hayes, P. Eng., D.I.C. In 1975, Kitamura invented the Silent Piler, the first commercially available pile driving machine based on press-in-piling technology, which virtually eliminated noise and vibration associated with pile driving. For 40 years, he has been promulgating the advantages of press-in-pile technology. The effect of Kitamura’s innovation extends beyond the realm of marine foundations, affecting the entire world of civil engi- neering construction. Communications and Negotiations Modules Nancy Watt, Nancy Watt Communications The value of noticing gender differences in communication is critically important to stemming the tide of women leaving the geotechnical and foundations industry. Long seen as soft skills, the cost of poor com- munication inevitably results in increased employee turnover, poor customer service, ineffective change management, failed project delivery and high litigation costs. This important discussion will improve communication to expand women’s mobility in the workplace and cultivate integrity and achievement in all facets of an organization…especially the bottom line. Watt is a communications professional, writer, trainer, speaker and a graduate of Second City Comedy Improv Conservatory in Toronto. She regularly conducts dynamic and experiential learning workshops for industry, healthcare and education using the
