Construction Today, Vol 20 Issue 5 - Sept 2023 | Page 18

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alongside the organization . I worked for him and the supporting organizations , which I still find very rewarding , and I ’ m proud to be part of such a team .
Industry advocate
“ I always must love what I do . If I don ’ t have a passion for the industry , I don ’ t have a passion for the outcome . I like to be involved and I think I found my niche in pile driving and drilling . I love this industry and the people in it . I work very hard to promote the sector with educational programming , working with my competitors , and supporting those that like to get involved . It ’ s important to look at how far the pile driving industry has come in the past five years , let alone over 20 , and this gives me a passion to advocate for this highly specialized sector ,” she enthuses .
“ While my experience facilitates planning and enhanced communication , alongside an extensive understanding of software , integrations , and major operating solutions , I bring more than marketing to the table . I have been able to transform our network , security and technology innovation to a whole new level ,” she explains .
“ The average tenure at ICE ® is over 30 years . So , there are some serious experts and innovators in this organization and moreover , among the wider industry . I ask questions , go onsite , listen to people ’ s suggestions and subsequently , create internal think-tanks to come up with solutions to concerns . Surrounding yourself with great people and being in the right environment helps you do what you need to do .
“ I do a lot of work with associations like the Pile Driving Contractors Association ( PDCA ), the Deep Foundations Institute ( DFI ), and the International Association of Foundation Drilling ( ADSC-IAFD ). Over the past 16 years , I have worked within these organizations , learning from everyone I meet and have been privileged enough to sit on various boards . I was Chairman of the PDCA ’ s
Communications Committee , and during that tenure helped build it from four to six editions a year . A couple of years ago , I chose to turn the publication back over to the organization and move into developing the first of its kind , Driven Pile Academy . Additionally , for the past three years , I sat as the Chairman of DFI ’ s Driven Pile and Marine Foundations ’ Committee where I developed a web series known as ! mpact , amongst other initiatives . When my term was up , I began working with a team of professionals on a foundation document to help contractors better understand driven pile and its techniques .
Professional education
“ The ADSC-IAFD has a group of women in construction that have come together , and I have been asked to create a pre-program for them about pile driving terminology to be delivered in front of an audience at IFCEE , a large foundation construction event coming up in 2024 . I ’ ve learned through the years that being a promoter or marketer is not just about showcasing innovation , it is more importantly about teaching people . At ICE ®, we call ourselves a one-stop foundation shop , and when we exhibit at shows and events , I work tirelessly to make sure all the niche experts are in place to teach the engineers and construction teams about the equipment , material , and processes . The clients that visit us can test and gain a professional development credit at the end of these highly specialized sessions , free of charge . This approach and offering helps me to sleep at night , knowing that those attending will learn enough to at least be able to ask informed questions on a jobsite , if not more . I think if you can learn directly from a manufacturer how to carry out a technique , it brings additional benefits in terms of safer operations ,” Pollyanna asserts .
As the driven pile industry continues to transition , the equipment industry is at the forefront of education through experience
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