DFI Magazine March/April 2020 - 7

PRESIDENT'S

MESSAGE

Why Are DFI Events and Conferences So Good?
s I canvass DFI members about what

A DFI means to them and what they value,

I am continuously informed that our
conferences (Annual Conference on Deep
Foundations, SuperPile and S3) are
industry-leading events in terms of quality,
content and networking opportunities. I
listen closely to why these features have
meaning and value to each individual. For
some it is the social events, activities and
contests that are crafted to stimulate new
introductions, or in-person access to
committee chairs and board of trustee
members. Others mention how DFI
mentors students and young members by
identifying them and fostering their
inclusion in conversations. To many it is the
deliberate mixing of members in the exhibit
areas, the exposure and the conversations
generated there. I am delighted to hear that
so many find the DFI technical sessions rich
in content with applied theory, practical
innovation and case histories that allow
appropriate time for a full presentation of
the authors' work - this is what I find most
valuable and interesting.
Our events have enjoyed sustained and
strong growth over the years, with consecutive record attendance. SuperPile is
now as well attended as our fall Annual
Conference was only a few years ago.
The high quality and increasing
attendance of DFI events is no accident.
Our staff and guiding members apply great,
proven geotechnical theory to generate
such results: the Terzaghi and Peck
Observational Method! Through the
application of the Observational Method,
our events are designed for success,
observed, tested, measured and improved.
Our staff and board canvass and listen to
our members and attendees, critically
evaluate past events and performance,
attend competing and sister organization
events, brainstorm innovations, and chase
any possible improvements that may

benefit our members' event
experiences. We don't always get
it right, but the batting average is
high. We constantly perform
SWOT analyses, review surveys,
ask key attendees what worked
well and more. Recent innovations include having Manufacturer, Supplier and Service Provider
(MSSP) technical and business sessions,
improving and evolving the conference
app, using higher-profile Hal Hunt
lecturers, hosting 5k fundraisers, offering a

SuperPile is now as well
attended as our fall Annual
Conference was only a few
years ago.
faster and smoother registration process,
and live broadcasting of Legends and
keynote speaker sessions. Soon to come are
interactive conference apps that allow
access to authors and session chairs, richer
and more interactive conference webpages
on the DFI website, further simplified and
accelerated registration, online conference
access packages for those who cannot
attend in person, and continued highquality multimedia presentations.
As DFI continues to evolve, we look for
new, more creative and effective ways to
provide networking opportunities, and to
attract and involve junior members and
students. To do so we need to continue to
hear from you, our members. Ideas can
come from your successful corporate
initiatives, perhaps a spouse's conference
where you attended as a companion or
from a colleague's experience. So, what will
our events become as we constantly strive
for a more rewarding attendee experience?

Matthew Janes, M.B.A., P.Eng.
President
matthew@isherwood.to

We foresee a more diverse
content delivery experience
where conflicting parallel session content
will be available via video, increased online
access will occur for remote attendees, and
improved session referencing and searchability will be available that includes links
to existing, related DFI content.
The rich content in existing DFI
publications is underutilised and often
missed by members seeking additional,
high-quality, relevant resources. DFI can
do a much better job of getting our content
into our members' hands and the hands of
nonmember industry professionals. The
more nonmembers find and experience
our content, the more new members will
join DFI, attend events, discover our
members' valuable services, and share their
own ideas and innovations.
What will a DFI conference experience
be like in 5 or 10 years? Will it be virtual?
Will in-person conferences exist? As we ask
these questions, I am reminded of an indepth analysis that Boeing performed on its
business model: Was it a strong model?
Will people still fly in the future? With the
high costs of fuel, infrastructure, plants and
equipment, and the carbon footprint ...
T h ei r co n c lu s i o n w a s th a t fl i gh t,
essentially, makes little sense ... However,
they also concluded that that business
model was as strong as ever based upon one
simple premise: People find great value in
getting together.
As we strive to improve, remember:
"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity"
- Albert Einstein

DEEP FOUNDATIONS * MAR/APR 2020 * 7

DFI Magazine March/April 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of DFI Magazine March/April 2020