Board Meetings and Camaraderie As they do each year during DFI’s Annual Conference, the DFI Executive Committee and Board of Trustees met. In addition, the technical committee chairs met with the trustees and staff to prepare for their committee meetings, which were held during the conference, and to prepare for the upcoming February winter planning meeting, where they all will plan the organization’s future strategy. It’s an oppor- tune time to get all of these great minds and loyal, engaged DFI members together to discuss the current status and future goals of the Institute. It also allows them all to reunite or get to know one another during the leadership dinner. During the board meeting, reports were provided regarding the state of the organization’s financials, membership, technical products produced during 2019 and successful events delivered. Staff performance was evaluated, and the board committed to dedicating resources to reward existing staff and to expand the staff to ensure the quality of the many activities with which DFI is engaged and planning for the future are achieved successfully and effectively. Much time was spent strategizing to enhance the DFI member experience through a new digital platform, which means revamping www.dfi.org so valuable resources can be made available easily and quickly to members and where all systems are integrated, allowing a streamlined process. To achieve this goal, content and association management systems were compared, the proposed 2020 operating and capital expenditure budgets were formulated, and features and online offerings were considered. Locations for future conferences were also selected. We see the digital strategy as an extension of the current DFI strength of connecting members and building oppor- tunities. The improved website and data management system will enhance our connectivity and break down economic barriers for young members and overseas members, reaching out to the global industry and extending our partnerships with other industry associations. The digital strategy will also create strategic metrics to evaluate member engagement and to improve our ability to generate camaraderie and networking within the DFI community and to spread our excellent committee- produced content further and wider. During these meetings, newly elected trustees, Peter Faust, Dipl.-Ing., of Malcolm Drilling, and Franz-Werner Gerressen, Dipl.-Ing., of Bauer Maschinen were wel- comed and re-elected trustees David Paul, P.E., Paul Geotek Engineering; Howard Perko, Ph.D., P.E., Magnum Piering; and Lori Simp- son, P.E., G.E., Langan were congratulated. Officers Matthew Janes, MBA, P.Eng., Isherwood Associates, DFI president; Michael H. Wysockey, Ph.D., P.E., Thatcher Engineering, DFI vice president; Gianfranco Di Cicco, Bauer Foundation, DFI treasurer; and James O. Johnson, Condon-Johnson & Associates, DFI secretary were elected to a second term in these positions. After the board meeting, the more than 50 leaders gathered off-site for dinner at the Gage Restaurant, where accolades were given to Dhooli Raj, P.E., Collins Engineer- ing for her magnificent vision in leading this year’s conference organizing committee. DFI President Matthew Janes with new trustees Franz-Werner Gerressen and Peter Faust DFI Executive Committee: (seated) President Matthew Janes, Vice President Michael Wysockey, and immediate Past President Dan Brown. (standing) Treasurer Gianfranco Di Cicco and Secretary James Johnson DEEP FOUNDATIONS • NOV/DEC 2019 • 31
