DFI’s 26th technical committee, the DFI Risk and Contracts Committee, will focus on raising awareness of risk management through programs and promotion, the company announced.
Alexander Filotti, M.B.A., PE, risk controller of underpinning and foundation for Skanska, Inc., was named chair of the new committee, while Richard D. Karlson, a partner in the Construction Law Group of Benesch, will serve as vice chair.
Key objectives for the committee include establishing the fundamental requirements for geotechnical risk management for all entities involved in a project life cycle, cooperating with all DFI technical committees in establishing risk management standards and providing suggested guidance for all types of geotechnical products and technique, and harmonizing DFI’s risk management knowledge with that of other deep foundation organizations.
The committee’s first project is to research and produce The Book of Risks for Geotechnical Projects in order to reflect the four major categories of risks of geotechnical projects: internal risks, legal risks, external risks ad geotechnical-exploration risks.
As chair, Filotti brings 19 years of experience in engineering and technical development related to deep foundation projects as well as development of computer 3D modeling applications for deep foundation projects. He teaches the Design of Foundations course at Hofstra University School of Engineering and Applied Science, and starting in the Spring of 2020, will teach the Risk Management course for the Engineering Management Master’s program. Filotti also serves as chair of the PDCA Contracts and Risk Committee and as a member on the Geo-Industry Risk Working Group comprised of members from ADSC, DFI, Geo-Institute, Geoprofessional Business Association and PDCA. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest (Diplomat Engineer) and an Executive M.B.A. from Hofstra University.
Vice chair Kalson’s background lies in deep foundation construction projects and contracts as risk management tools, providing counsel to subcontractors, suppliers and project owners in litigation and business consultation matters, including many ENR 400 contractors and ENR 600 specialty contractors, on all phases of the construction process on projects throughout the U.S. He is a frequent speaker on risk at industry conferences including participating in DFI’s Invited Panel on Risk: A Rational Discussion in both 2017 and 2018. Kalson is a member of the ADSC-IAFD board of directors and holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota.
Industry professionals involved in risk management are encouraged to join the committee and can learn more by clicking here.
The DFI is an international association of contractors, engineers, academics and suppliers in the deep foundations industry with more than 3,500 members worldwide. For more information about the Deep Foundations Institute, visit www.dfi.org.
