Who is DFI?

• An international network of heavy construction professionals dedicated to quality and economy in foundation design and construction
• A forum open to all construction professionals
• A technological association devoted to gathering, storing and disseminating practical information
• An alliance of professions and trades
• A resource for identifying and locating the specialists
• An initiator and participant in research

For over thirty years, DFI has gathered professionals in the deep foundations sector of the construction industry, to create a place for discussion, inquiry and debate. In so doing, DFI has brought the disciplines together where they have learned from each other, creating a better informed, more communicative foundations industry.

Description of the Organization

Deep Foundations Institute was incorporated in 1976 in the State of New Jersey as a 501(c)(6) non-profit association. DFI can best be described as being a technical association of firms and individuals in the deep foundations and related industry. The Institute membership is worldwide.

Our key strengths are:

• Offering networking opportunities for our members
• Communication of information concerning the state-of-the-art and new technologies
• Offering opportunities for members to influence the industry through publications produced by volunteer committees
• Offering educational conferences, seminars and workshops in the industry.

Mission Statement

The Institute is organized to serve as a primary means through which members of the Institute may participate in improvement of the planning, design and construction aspects of deep foundations and deep excavations. The basic mission of the institute includes but is not limited to the following:

1. To affiliate contractors, engineers, owners, material suppliers, equipment manufacturers and other persons concerned with the planning, design and construction of deep foundations and protection of deep excavations.
2. To improve and extend knowledge of new ideas and practices of geotechnical design, construction and installation.
3. To encourage and participate in the practical application of research related to deep foundations and deep excavations.
4. To gather, catalog and disseminate information to effect the most economical design and construction for support of structures on deep strata and for protection of deep excavations.
5. To improve understanding by the public and by government bodies of the deep foundation industry.
6. To establish contacts with other groups working on related goals in the United States and abroad.
7. To participate in or conduct such other activities as will best promote these foregoing purposes.

The 2008 Executive Committee and Board of Trustees

President:	Seth L. Pearlman (2010)	DGI-Menard, Inc., Bridgeville, PA
Vice-President:	Rudolph P. Frizzi (2009)	Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Elmwood Park, NJ
Secretary:	Patrick Bermingham (2009)	Bermingham Foundation Solutions, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Treasurer:	James A. Morrison (2009)	Kiewit Engineering Co., Omaha, NE
Immediate Past President:	Tracy Brettmann (2009)	Berkel & Co. Contractors, Inc., Richmond, TX
Other Trustees:	Robert B. Bittner (2008)	Ben C. Gerwick, Inc., San Francisco, CA
	Maurice Bottiau (2010)	Franki Geotechnics B, Saintes, Belgium
	Dan Brown (2008)	Auburn University, Auburn University, AL
	James S. Graham (2009)	James S. Graham, P.E., Rye, NY
	Steven M. Hain, Jr. (2008)	Steven M. Hain Co. Inc., Garland, TX
	Bernard H. Hertlein (2010)	STS Consultants, Vernon Hills, IL
	Matthew Janes (2009)	Isherwood Associates, Vancouver, BC, Canada
	Douglas Keller (2008)	Richard Goettle, Inc., Cincinnati, OH
	Samuel J. Kosa (2008)	Monotube Pile Corporation, Canton, OH
	Kirk A. McIntosh (2010)	MACTEC Engineering & Consulting, Inc., Jacksonville, FL
	Raymond J. Poletto (2008)	Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers, New York, NY
	John Wolosick (2010)	Hayward Baker, Alpharetta, GA
	Mike Wysockey (2010)	Thatcher Engineering Corporation, Gary, IN
Trustee Emeritus & International Director:
	William F. Loftus	William F. Loftus Associates, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Executive Director Emeritus & Consultant to the Board:
	Manuel A. Fine	Manuel A. Fine, Consulting Engineer, Hamilton, Canada

DFI President

Seth Pearlman is currently President of DGI Menard Inc. of Bridgeville, PA, a leading specialized ground improvement contractor. Prior to joining DGI Menard in 2004, Mr. Pearlman was with Nicholson Construction Company for 17 years and has almost 30 years of experience in the geotechncial industry. He earned a BS and an MS in Civil Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and is a registered professional engineer in the states of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Besides being an active DFI member, Seth is also a member of the Geo-Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Concrete Institute (ACI), American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE), Design Build Institute of America (DBIA), Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), Tau Beta Pi Engineering Society and The Moles. He serves on an Advisory Council to the Carnegie Mellon University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

DFI Executive Director

Theresa Rappaport was appointed to the position of Executive Director effective July 1, 2006. She served as Assistant Director and Operations Manager of the Deep Foundations Institute since 1998. Prior to her work with the DFI, Theresa worked as Administrative Assistant for the National Timber Piling Council and Marketing Analyst for C.M. Almy & Son Inc.

Theresa graduated from Rye High School and attended Fairfield University. She resides in Warwick, NY with her husband and three sons. She served on the board of the Kings Elementary School PTA for 8 years and remains active in the Warwick Valley School District parent/teacher associations. Theresa is also a member of the American Society of Association Executives and their chapters in New York and New Jersey.

DFI Headquarters Staff

Staff Management is effected by a staff consisting of an Executive Director and support staff. The Executive Director is responsible to the Executive Committee, chaired by the President.

Charter Members

The following Corporations and Individuals are recognized as the charter members of the Deep Foundations Institute:

CORPORATE

Associated Pile & Fitting Corp.	Mississippi Valley Equipment Co.
Richard Goettle, Inc.	The H.C. Nutting Co.
Gulf Foundation, Inc.	Pacific American Commercial Co.
Jordan Pile Driving Co.	Schnabel Foundation Co.
MKT Geotechnical Systems, Inc.	S.K. Whitty & Co., Inc.
McClelland Engineers Inc.

INDIVIDUALS

DFI By-Laws

The most recent version of the DFI By-Laws is as amended through January 2007.

Annual Student Paper Competition

The Deep Foundations Institute annually holds a Student Paper Competition which is open to graduate and undergraduate students of engineering and construction.

• Details
• Past Recipients
• Call for Papers

Annual Young Professor Paper Competition

The Deep Foundations Institute annually holds a Young Professors Paper Competition as a means to help bridge the gap between practice and study.

• Details
• Past Recipients
• Call for Papers

Hal Hunt Lecture

The Hal Hunt Lecture was established in 1989 to recognize notable communicators in the Deep Foundations Industry. The Lecture was named in honor of Hal W. Hunt, one of the initial organizers of DFI, a trustee on the first DFI Board and first Executive Director.

• Past Hal Hunt Lecturers

John Mitchell Lecture

The John Mitchell Lecture was established at the 4th International Conference on Piling and Deep Foundations in Stresa, Italy in 1991. The Lecture was named in honor of John Michael Mitchell, one of the earliest organizers of DFI International Conferences and a pioneering supporter of DFI's role globally.

• Past John Mitchell Lecturers

Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award of the Deep Foundations Institute was established by the DFI Trustees in 1980 to recognize the accomplishments of distinguished individuals in the deep foundations construction industry.

• History
• Past Recipients
• Nomination

Outstanding Project Award

Commencing in 1997, DFI initiated an award for the outstanding geotechnical project. Projects on which papers are presented at the previous year's annual conference are automatically entered for consideration as well as any other project nominated from the membership.

• History
• Past Recipients
• Nomination