DFI Appoints New Technical Committee Chairs

Four of the 15 DFI Technical Committees have new committee chairs. It is the role of the Technical Committees to focus on the unique issues of major methods and technologies within deep foundations and excavation, and to keep DFI members and the industry up to date with the state of practice through publications, guidance documents, peer-review of papers, educational events and committee reports in Deep Foundations magazine.

Paul Axtell, P.E., D.GE, principal engineer, Dan Brown and Associates, PC, is the new chair of the Drilled Shaft Committee, following Tom Hart of Black & Veatch. Axtell primarily focuses on foundation engineering for transportation structures. Recently, he has been the lead foundation designer for several major bridges around the nation, most of which include full-scale foundation load tests. Axtell received his undergraduate engineering degree from the University of Missouri and his graduate engineering degree from the University of Texas. He is a registered professional engineer in several states and is a Diplomate in the Academy of Geo-Professionals.

Roderic A. Ellman, Jr., P.E., partner, Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers (MRCE), took over the reins of the Marine Foundations Committee from Gerry Houlahan of Moffatt and Nichol. He joined MRCE in 1980 and is an experienced Structural Engineer with an expertise in marine engineering, waterfront structures and cofferdam design. Ellman has directed numerous large-scale projects, including the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the Route 9A Pedestrian Underpass. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Oneonta and the Polytechnic Institute of New York.

Kwabena Ofori-Awuah, P.E., manager and practice leader, KCI’s Geotechnical Engineering Practice has stepped up to chair the Seismic and Lateral Loads Committee, following Mark Petersen of CB&I. He has more than 27 years of professional experience in civil, geotechnical engineering and earthquake engineering in both the public and private sectors. He is currently the Dam Owners Engineer and the geotechnical engineer of record for new and remedial design and construction of several dams. He has a B.S. from University Of Science and Technology in Ghana, an M.S. from University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

Gary L. Seider, P.E., engineering manager, Hubbell/CHANCE® Civil and Utility Helical Products, Hubbell Power Systems, Inc., succeeded Howard Perko of Magnum GeoSolutions as chair of the Helical Piles and Tiebacks Committee. Seider supervises the civil construction & utility application/project engineering staff, assisting in the proper use of CHANCE® helical anchors/piles and Atlas Resistance® piers, and contributing his expertise to the development of new helical anchor/pile and pushed steel pier products and applications. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla.