September/October 2021 - 7

MICHAEL H. WYSOCKEY, PH.D., P.E.,
PRESIDENT
DFI to Host Outstanding Conference
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
DFI is excited to return to an in-person
annual conference, October 12-15. Las
Vegas has never been the meeting
location before, but hopefully will become
a regular stop. We attempt to move
the annual meeting across North America
for member accessibility, in addition
to meeting in Europe (every 4 years in
concert with the European Federation of
Foundation Contractors [EFFC]) and in
various cities in India annually.
It's great to be gathering together
again. While we have learned
much about being effective
virtually, there is no substitute
for spending real time
with the DFI community. We
will continue to offer an online
component for technical
content for those who cannot
travel, but many will prefer to
be at this five-star event. I
know I need to have my boots
on the ground in Vegas. The networking
opportunities are a clear advantage of
being present, as conference conversations
are among the best learning
opportunities available. Another
advantage is the interactions in the
exhibit hall, which just can't currently
be duplicated through any online
platform. And a new addition in the
exhibit hall this year will be our Live at
Game Day podcast, hosted by Chris
Woods, vice president of Densification
(some of which will appear live on DFI's
YouTube channel).
Before the conference officially
begins, there is a DFI Board meeting
and technical committee chairs
meeting on Monday, October 11, and
committee meetings on Tuesday. The
best way to get involved in DFI and
make the most of your membership
is through technical committee
participation. This is where all the
action is that moves the industry
forward. Each committee welcomes
anyone and everyone to attend their
meetings to learn about relevant
activities. The Women in Deep Foundations
(WiDF) Committee also is
hosting a networking reception on
Tuesday evening.
The best way to get involved in DFI and
make the most of your membership is
through technical committee participation.
This is where all the action is that
moves the industry forward.
DFI46 will have a strong program
thanks to dedicated industry professionals
who serve on the Conference
Organizing Committee (see pages 28-37).
They are led by Conference Chair Tim
Avery, P.E., senior business development
manager of Keller, and Technical Program
Co-Chairs Martin Hudson, Ph.D,
P.E., G.E., director, geotechnical engineering
at Turner Engineering of Turner
Construction Company, and Ramin
Motamed, Ph.D., P.E., associate professor
at the University of Nevada, Reno.
A few highlights are the Hal Hunt
Lecture on communication delivered by
Jim Abbott, who was born without a
right hand and pitched for 10 seasons in
Major League Baseball, and four
keynote lectures this year: starting off
the conference, Michael McGettigan,
P.E., of McGettigan Consulting, on the
unique soils of Vegas, Armin Stuedlein,
Ph.D., P.E., of Oregon State, with
Matthew Gibson, Ph.D., P.E., of Clarity
Engineering, on the seismic response of
rigid inclusions; Donald W. Davies, P.E.,
S.E. of Magnusson Klemencic Associates
discussing low cost, low carbon
foundation options, and Jie Han, Ph.D.,
P.E., F.ASCE, of The University of Kansas,
covering geosynthetic-reinforced
column-supported embankments,
are to begin the second
day.
The awards banquet on
Thursday night also is not to be
missed. The DFI Distinguished
Service Award is special to me
this year as the recipient is
distinguished indeed: Dale
Biggers, P.E., from Boh Bros. (see
page 41). Dale is one of the great
gentlemen in our industry, and I'm
honored to be presenting him the
award. We also present the Outstanding
Project Award (see cover story) and
paper competition awards.
It seems that the Delta variant has
launched a new wave of problems for
getting back to normal. DFI membership
is a generally hardy lot, though. And
hopefully, things will improve before
October to help encourage participation.
My father's medical/vaccination advice
typically involved Jack Daniels and has
been widely discredited by the CDC, but
it can be useful for networking.
I will be in Vegas to greet all who can
make it. Please come and say hello.
Contact Michael H. Wysockey at mwysockey@thatcherfoundations.com
DEEP FOUNDATIONS * SEPT/OCT 2021 * 7
September/October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September/October 2021
