Schedule - Pennsylvania Drilling and Blasting Conference

2025 Schedule Coming Soon

The 21st Pennsylvania Drilling and Blasting Conference will be help November 13–14, 2025. The updated schedule will be posted as soon as it is available. The 2023 conference schedule is shown below for reference.

2023 Conference Schedule

Thursday: General Sessions

Time	Session
7:30–7:45 a.m.	Welcome and Conference Logistics, Danny Leach
7:45–8:00 a.m.	Benefits of ISEE, Steve Shivak Session chair: Danny Leach
8:00–8:30 a.m.	Nitroglycerin Overexposure, Brian Lewis Session chair: Danny Leach
8:30–9:00 a.m.	Beaver Dams, Steven Smith Session chair: Danny Leach
9:00–9:30 a.m.	Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Nadya Michel Session chair: Danny Leach
9:30–10:00 a.m.	Common Blast Design Mistakes, Frank Chiappetta Session chair: Danny Leach
10:00–10:30 a.m.	Break — Presidents Hall
10:30–11:00 a.m.	Blasting Records, Stuart Brashear Session chair: Matt Tomlin
11:00–11:30 a.m.	Microseconds Matter, Keith Best Session chair: Matt Tomlin
11:30 a.m.–noon	Effect of Microphone Deployment Methods on Airblast Measurements, Mike Mann Session chair: Matt Tomlin
Noon–1:30 p.m.	Lunch — Presidents Hall and Senate Suites
1:30–2:00 p.m.	Explosive Avalanche Control, Braden Schmidt Session chair: Aaron Christ
2:00–2:30 p.m.	Oversized Reduction through Caprock Management, Robert McClure Session chair: Aaron Christ
2:30–3:00 p.m.	Structure Response and Public Relations, Ken Eltschlager Session chair: Aaron Christ
3:00–3:30 p.m.	Break — Presidents Hall
3:30–4:00 p.m.	PA Act 287 for the Excavator, Erika Dominick Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
4:00–4:30 p.m.	Driving Continuous Improvement, Josh Schoonover Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
4:30–5:00 p.m.	Millennials in the Workplace, Kyle Scribe Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
5:00–6:00 p.m.	Reception — Presidents Hall

Thursday: Drilling Breakout Sessions

Time	Session
7:30–7:45 a.m.	Welcome and Conference Logistics, Danny Leach
7:45–8:00 a.m.	Benefits of ISEE, Steve Shivak Session chair: Danny Leach
8:00–8:30 a.m.	Nitroglycerin Overexposure, Brian Lewis Session chair: Danny Leach
8:30–9:00 a.m.	Beaver Dams, Steven Smith Session chair: Danny Leach
9:00–9:30 a.m.	Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Nadya Michel Session chair: Danny Leach
9:30–10:00 a.m.	Common Blast Design Mistakes, Frank Chiappetta Session chair: Danny Leach
10:00–10:30 a.m.	Break — Presidents Hall
10:30–11:00 a.m.	Blasting Records, Stuart Brashear Session chair: Matt Tomlin
11:00–11:30 a.m.	Microseconds Matter, Keith Best Session chair: Matt Tomlin
11:30 a.m.–noon	Effect of Microphone Deployment Methods on Airblast Measurements, Mike Mann Session chair: Matt Tomlin
Noon–1:30 p.m.	Lunch — Presidents Hall and Senate Suites
1:30–2:00 p.m.	Explosive Avalanche Control, Braden Schmidt Session chair: Aaron Christ
2:00–2:30 p.m.	Oversized Reduction through Caprock Management, Robert McClure Session chair: Aaron Christ
2:30–3:00 p.m.	Structure Response and Public Relations, Ken Eltschlager Session chair: Aaron Christ
3:00–3:30 p.m.	Break — Presidents Hall
3:30–4:00 p.m.	PA Act 287 for the Excavator, Erika Dominick Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
4:00–4:30 p.m.	Driving Continuous Improvement, Josh Schoonover Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
4:30–5:00 p.m.	Millennials in the Workplace, Kyle Scribe Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
5:00–6:00 p.m.	Reception — Presidents Hall

Time	Event
10:30–11:15 a.m.	Improving Drill Blast Cycle Using Technology, Joey Accardo Session chair: Scott Mueller
11:15 a.m.–noon	Leveraging Drone Data to Improve Safety, Accuracy, and Efficiency of Drilling Operations, Elijah Williams Session chair: Scott Mueller

Thursday: Underground Breakout Sessions

Time	Session
7:30–7:45 a.m.	Welcome and Conference Logistics, Danny Leach
7:45–8:00 a.m.	Benefits of ISEE, Steve Shivak Session chair: Danny Leach
8:00–8:30 a.m.	Nitroglycerin Overexposure, Brian Lewis Session chair: Danny Leach
8:30–9:00 a.m.	Beaver Dams, Steven Smith Session chair: Danny Leach
9:00–9:30 a.m.	Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Nadya Michel Session chair: Danny Leach
9:30–10:00 a.m.	Common Blast Design Mistakes, Frank Chiappetta Session chair: Danny Leach
10:00–10:30 a.m.	Break — Presidents Hall
10:30–11:00 a.m.	Blasting Records, Stuart Brashear Session chair: Matt Tomlin
11:00–11:30 a.m.	Microseconds Matter, Keith Best Session chair: Matt Tomlin
11:30 a.m.–noon	Effect of Microphone Deployment Methods on Airblast Measurements, Mike Mann Session chair: Matt Tomlin
Noon–1:30 p.m.	Lunch — Presidents Hall and Senate Suites
1:30–2:00 p.m.	Explosive Avalanche Control, Braden Schmidt Session chair: Aaron Christ
2:00–2:30 p.m.	Oversized Reduction through Caprock Management, Robert McClure Session chair: Aaron Christ
2:30–3:00 p.m.	Structure Response and Public Relations, Ken Eltschlager Session chair: Aaron Christ
3:00–3:30 p.m.	Break — Presidents Hall
3:30–4:00 p.m.	PA Act 287 for the Excavator, Erika Dominick Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
4:00–4:30 p.m.	Driving Continuous Improvement, Josh Schoonover Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
4:30–5:00 p.m.	Millennials in the Workplace, Kyle Scribe Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
5:00–6:00 p.m.	Reception — Presidents Hall

Time	Event
10:30–11:00 a.m.	Drilling Pressures, Richard Purdy and Tim Lewis Session chairs: Tom Hairhoger, Dale Marker
11:00–11:30 a.m.	Underground Limestone Blast Optimization, Robert McClure Session chairs: Tom Hairhoger, Dale Marker
11:30 a.m.–noon	Underground Emulsion Systems, Tom Leach Session chairs: Tom Hairhoger, Dale Marker
Noon–1:30 p.m.	Lunch — Presidents Hall and Senate Suites
1:30–2:30 p.m.	Surface Vibrations from Underground Limestone Blasting, Mike Mann Session chairs: Tom Hairhoger, Dale Marker
2:30–3:00 p.m.	Drilling Accuracy, Steve McIntyre Session chairs: Tom Hairhoger, Dale Marker
3:00–3:30 p.m.	Break
3:30–4:00 p.m.	Design Practices of V-cut and Burn Round, Jim Winfield Session chairs: Tom Hairhoger, Dale Marker
4:00–4:30 p.m.	Underground Electronic Wireless Systems, Brian Hostetler Session chairs: Tom Hairhoger, Dale Marker

Friday: General Sessions

Time	Session
7:30–7:45 a.m.	Welcome and Conference Logistics, Danny Leach
7:45–8:00 a.m.	Benefits of ISEE, Steve Shivak Session chair: Danny Leach
8:00–8:30 a.m.	Nitroglycerin Overexposure, Brian Lewis Session chair: Danny Leach
8:30–9:00 a.m.	Beaver Dams, Steven Smith Session chair: Danny Leach
9:00–9:30 a.m.	Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Nadya Michel Session chair: Danny Leach
9:30–10:00 a.m.	Common Blast Design Mistakes, Frank Chiappetta Session chair: Danny Leach
10:00–10:30 a.m.	Break — Presidents Hall
10:30–11:00 a.m.	Blasting Records, Stuart Brashear Session chair: Matt Tomlin
11:00–11:30 a.m.	Microseconds Matter, Keith Best Session chair: Matt Tomlin
11:30 a.m.–noon	Effect of Microphone Deployment Methods on Airblast Measurements, Mike Mann Session chair: Matt Tomlin
Noon–1:30 p.m.	Lunch — Presidents Hall and Senate Suites
1:30–2:00 p.m.	Explosive Avalanche Control, Braden Schmidt Session chair: Aaron Christ
2:00–2:30 p.m.	Oversized Reduction through Caprock Management, Robert McClure Session chair: Aaron Christ
2:30–3:00 p.m.	Structure Response and Public Relations, Ken Eltschlager Session chair: Aaron Christ
3:00–3:30 p.m.	Break — Presidents Hall
3:30–4:00 p.m.	PA Act 287 for the Excavator, Erika Dominick Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
4:00–4:30 p.m.	Driving Continuous Improvement, Josh Schoonover Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
4:30–5:00 p.m.	Millennials in the Workplace, Kyle Scribe Session chair: Kirk Whitaker
5:00–6:00 p.m.	Reception — Presidents Hall

Time	Event
8:00–8:30 a.m.	Stability Analysis of a Slope Supporting a Water Tank in Proximity to a Quarry, Doug Rudenko Session chair: Dave Harrison
8:30–9:00 a.m.	So, You’ve Had an Incident, Chris Catalano Session chair: Dave Harrison
9:00–9:30 a.m.	Blasting Induced Ground Vibration and its Implications on Dynamic Stress Evolution of Limestone Pillar through Field Monitoring, Shimin Liu Session chair: Dave Harrison
9:30–10:00 a.m.	In Case of Emergency, Kim Gdovichin and Donna Walters Session chair: Dave Harrison
10:00–10:30 a.m.	Break — Presidents Hall
10:30–11:00 a.m.	DOT Requirements, Donald Orye Session chair: Ron Ruby
11:00 a.m.–noon	Regulatory Panel, Chris Catalano, Karin Blevins, Scott Fazzone, Josh Hoffman, Joe Martini, and Donald Orye Session chair: Ron Ruby
Noon–12:30 p.m.	Closing Session

While reasonable efforts will be made to adhere to the advertised package, Penn State Conferences reserves the right to substitute speakers and/or seminar content.