Four of the 16 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.
Clayton Signor, vice president of TX Pile, LLC, is the new chair of the Driven Pile Committee, following Tom Nichols of Geothermal International. He joined TX Pile in 2007 as a project manager, where he brings an educated approach to design and estimating of driven piles. He has a Master Degree in Construction Management from Vanderbilt University and a Master Degree in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Marine Lasne, corporate sustainability manager of Soletanche Freyssinet in France, took over the reins of the Sustainability Committee from past chair, Tony Suckling of Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering. She is responsible for developing and coordinating the Soletanche Freyssinet Group sustainability strategy, as well as producing dedicated operational tools. In 2011, she was designated by the EFFC to lead the task force in charge of developing a European Carbon Calculator, a project supported jointly by the EFFC and DFI. She has a civil engineering degree and a Master Degree in Environmental Management and Engineering.
Don Robertson, P.E., principal engineer, Applied Foundation Testing, has stepped up to chair the Testing and Evaluation Committee, following Dr. Edward Hajduk of University of Massachusetts. Don co-founded Applied Foundation Testing in 1997, which specializes in load test programs throughout North America and the Caribbean. A graduate of Florida State University, Don previously worked as an engineer at the Florida Department of Transportation.
Ed Laczynski, P.E., geotechnical construction services manager, G.A. & F.C. Wagman, succeeded Dr. Terry Holman of Geosyntec as chair of the Tiebacks and Soil Nailing Committee. Ed has extensive experience in the mid-Atlantic area designing and constructing excavation support systems, permanent walls, micropile foundations and other ground anchor systems. Ed supports Wagman’s foundation division performing in-house work for the heavy highway and building companies, and manages the company’s work as a foundation and specialty geotechnical subcontractor. Ed holds degrees from Virginia Tech and George Washington University.
