DFI Awards

Ben C. Gerwick Award for Innovation in the Design and Construction of Marine Foundations

The Ben C. Gerwick Award for Innovation in the Design and Construction of Marine Foundations, established in 2008, is awarded to an individual, team or company, and pays tribute to Ben Gerwick, recognizing his innovative spirit and his many contributions to the design and construction of marine foundations. Gerwick had a 62-year professional career as a contractor, educator and construction engineer.

Ben C. Gerwick, Jr. represented the highest level of engineering excellence both personally and professionally. The phenomenal achievements of his 62-year career include world-class innovations in marine foundations. He reached the pinnacle of his profession as a contractor, an educator and a construction engineer.

The award is presented annually at the SuperPile conference or every third year at the International Foundations Conference & Equipment Expo (IFCEE). DFI provides an annual donation to the DFI Educational Trust General Fund from the proceeds of these conferences.

Ben C. Gerwick Award Honorees

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.

C. William Bermingham Innovation Award Honorees

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.

Rudolph P. Frizzi, P.E., G.E., BC.GE, managing principal, LANGAN, is the recipient of DFI’s highest award bestowed to an individual, the Distinguished Service Award (DSA). This award recognizes individuals who have made exceptionally valuable contributions to the advancement of the deep foundations industry. The award is being presented at the DFI 49th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations, held October 7–10 in Aurora, Colorado.

“Rudy is a champion for the future of the deep foundations industry,” says Theresa Engler, DFI executive director. “As the chair of the DFI Educational Trust (Trust) he has rallied companies and individuals to encourage and support students and has been mission-focused on developing programs to attract the highest quality students to the industry. As a result, he has helped to build the Trust into a strong, stable and impactful organization. On behalf of DFI, I am excited to celebrate Rudy and his service to the industry at our annual conference.”

Rudy Frizzi’s geotechnical engineering and project management experience is extensive, with particular emphasis on foundation design and construction in urban areas, and large-scale land and waterfront public and private development projects throughout the U.S. and internationally.

With nearly 40 years in the industry, Frizzi has interacted on projects located in practically every continent worldwide, and has performed geotechnical investigations and designs, prepared plans and technical specifications, and observed field testing and construction as geotechnical “engineer of record” on countless projects. In addition, Frizzi has provided expert geotechnical consultation and trial testimony on over 100 excavation and foundation litigation cases. He has also prepared and presented over 50 technical presentations at universities, conferences and seminars.

Frizzi has been a Trust board member since 2013 and has held the chair position since 2021. He is a past president of DFI (2009-2010), a past trustee of the DFI Board of Directors (2002-2012), and the current liaison to the DFI Student Chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is an active member of the ACE Mentor Program of America, American Council of Engineering Companies and American Concrete Institute. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Ohio State University and his master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Distinguished Service Award Honorees

Legends Award

The DFI and the DFI Educational Trust established the DFI Legends Award to honor three practitioners – an engineer, contractor and manufacturer/supplier – that have made significant contributions and advancements to the research, design, construction, manufacturing and use of deep foundations.

The following criteria are considered by the committee in selecting the recipients:

• Impact, value and sustainability (contributions they made are still pivotal to the technological advancements we have today) of achievements
• Legacy
• Pioneering contributions
• Exceptional industry leader; visionary, mentor
• Technological ingenuity, innovation and/or application of advancements of design, construction or equipment
• Steadfast professionalism, character and integrity
• Ingenuity of design and construction techniques
• Broad impact on industry

DFI Legends Award Honorees

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.

DFI Outstanding Project Award Honorees

President’s Award

Established in 2016, the DFI President’s Awards are given at the discretion of the DFI president to recognize the efforts and service of DFI members to advance the work of DFI.

DFI President’s Award Honorees