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 2013 Executive Committee and Board of Trustees

President:	Robert B. Bittner (2014)	Bittner-Shen Consulting Engineers, Inc., Portland, OR
Vice-President:	Patrick Bermingham (2015)	Bermingham Foundation Solutions, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Secretary:	Matthew Janes (2015)	Isherwood Associates, Burnaby, BC, Canada
Treasurer:	John Wolosick (2013)	Hayward Baker Inc., Alpharetta, GA
Immediate Past President:	James A. Morrison (2015)	Kiewit Infrastructure Engineers, Omaha, NE
Other Trustees:	David Borger (2014)	Skyline Steel LLC, Parsippany, NJ
	Maurice Bottiau (2013)	Franki Foundations Belgium, Saintes, Belgium
	Dan Brown (2014)	Dan Brown and Associates PLLC, Sequatchie, TN
	Gianfranco di Cicco (2013)	GDConsulting LLC, Lake Worth, FL
	Rudolph P. Frizzi (2015)	Langan Engineering & Env. Services, Elmwood Park, NJ
	Bernard H. Hertlein (2013)	AECOM Technical Services, Inc., Vernon Hills, IL
	James O. Johnson (2015)	Condon-Johnson & Associates Inc., Oakland, CA
	Douglas Keller (2014)	Richard Goettle, Inc., Cincinnati, OH
	Samuel J. Kosa (2014)	Monotube Pile Corporation, Canton, OH
	Kirk A. McIntosh (2013)	AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc., Jacksonville, FL
	Raymond J. Poletto (2014)	Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers, New York, NY
	Arturo L. Ressi di Cervia (2015)	Kiewit Infrastructure Group, Woodcliff Lake, NJ
	Mike Wysockey (2013)	Thatcher Engineering Corp., Chicago, IL
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

Robert B. Bittner, P.E., is a professional engineer with 40 years experience in construction engineering and project management on major marine structures worldwide including the Itaipu Dam in Brazil and the Oresund Tunnel connecting Denmark and Sweden.

His work focuses on minimizing construction cost of major marine structures through the design and development of innovative construction methods and equipment.

Bob is currently president of Bittner-Shen Consulting Engineers, Inc., a firm specializing in the design of innovative marine structures including bridge foundations, marine terminals, offshore GBS structures, locks and dams. Prior to starting his own firm in 2009, he was president of Ben C. Gerwick, Inc. At Gerwick, he provided construction-consulting services worldwide and managed the design of several marine structures including an innovative float-in dam on the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Additionally, he led the Gerwick team that developed a new float-in cofferdam system that has been successfully used on the foundations for the New Bath-Woolwich Bridge in Maine, the New Carquinez Bridge in the San Francisco Bay Area, the new Port Mann Bridge in Canada, and three major bridges in Asia.

He has a B.S. (Civil Engineering) and a M.S. (Construction Management) from Stanford University. He was chair of the DFI Marine Foundation Committee for six years.

Past Presidents

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 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 October 2012.

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

Outstanding Project Award

The Outstanding Project Award (OPA) was established in 1997 to recognize the superior work of DFI members. Each year, a project is chosen from several geotechnical projects submitted for consideration by DFI members.

• About the Award
• Past Recipients
• Nomination

Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) was started in 1981 to recognize individuals who have made exceptionally valuable contributions to the advancement of the deep foundations industry.

• About the Award
• Past Recipients
• Nomination

C. William Bermingham Innovation Award

The C. William Bermingham Innovation Award was founded in 2012 to recognize the innovative spirit of Bill Bermingham, DFI past president, and his contributions to DFI and the deep foundations industry. The award encourages and recognizes innovative contributions to deep foundation technology.

• About the Award
• Past Recipients
• Nomination

Ben C. Gerwick Award

The Ben C. Gerwick Award for Innovation in the Design and Construction of Marine Foundations was established in 2008 to recognize the innovative spirit of Ben C. Gerwick and his phenomenal contribution to the marine foundation industry over his 62 year professional career as a contractor, educator and construction engineer. The award encourages and recognizes innovation in the marine foundation industry.

• About the Award
• Past Recipients
• Nomination