Seth L. Pearlman Named President of DGI-Menard,
A Specialized Ground Improvement Contractor
Formed in a Recent Merger of DGI and Menard Soiltreatment

Pittsburgh, PA (January 2, 2004): Seth L. Pearlman, PE, has been named president of DGI-Menard, Inc., a new venture formed by the recent merger of DGI, a leading Vertical Wick Drain installer in the US, and Menard Soiltreatment, Inc., the US affiliate of Menard Soltraitement, one of the world's leading specialized ground improvement contractors.

Before joining DGI-Menard, Pearlman was with Nicholson Construction Company for 17 years; most recently as vice president. Pearlman earned a BS and an MS in Civil Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania and Virginia. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) and the Board of Directors of the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP). He is a member of the Geo-Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Concrete Institute (ACI), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE), Boston Society of Civil Engineers and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Society.

DGI-Menard is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. The company offers a full range of ground improvement technologies including:

• Vertical wick drains
• Menard vacuum^TM consolidation
• Dynamic compaction^TM
• Dynamic replacement^TM
• Vibro densification
• Vibro stone columns
• Vibro concrete columns
• Controlled modulus columns^TM

"The newly formed company brings together two organizations with significant expertise in ground improvement techniques," says Seth Pearlman, president of DGI-Menard. "The new DGI-Menard offers extremely economical solutions for preparing the ground for large, flat construction projects such as commercial warehouses, port and airport platforms, heavy industrial storage areas, roads and railways."

DGI-Menard is affiliated with Reinforced Earth Company, the inventor and market leader of the Mechanically Stabilized Earth retaining wall industry. DGI-Menard, Reinforced Earth Company, Menard Soltraitement and Freyssinet, a specialist in prestressing and cable stayed structures, form the Freyssinet Group, the world's leader in specialized civil engineering and a division of VINCI Construction, one of the world's largest construction companies.

###