AWARDS/RECOGNITION
Geotechnology Chosen as One of Arco Construction's Top Vendors for 2006
(February 2007)
For the second year in a row, Geotechnology is being honored as one of Arco Construction's Top Vendors. Every year, Arco Construction honors a select group of vendors for their partnership and contributions to Arco projects. Geotechnology is proud to be recognized for its responsive and quality service and looks forward to continued teaming efforts with Arco. Recipients were honored with a celebration at Saratoga Lanes on February 28th, 2007. Geotechnology contributed to the following Arco projects in 2006: Hawkeye Foods, McDonnell Pointe Buildings G and H, Principia College Hay Field House Addition, Volpi Foods Addition and Olive Street Garage.
Geotechnology Awarded ACEC-Missouri Grand Award
(February 2007)
On February 10th, 2007 Geotechnology proudly received a Grand Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies - Missouri's 2007 Engineering Excellence Awards. The project Ameristar Casino St Charles Site Improvement Package, featured innovative geotechnical engineering solutions to provide a seismically safe, economical foundation system for the 25-story hotel and 9-story garage casino addition. Post-liquefaction settlement for the site had been calculated to be up to 14 inches in the event of an earthquake. Geotechnology along with the design team and Hayward Baker applied vibro-compaction, compaction grouting and micropiles to densify the soils enough to build the hotel on a mat foundation and the garage on shallow foundations, as opposes to the deep foundation alternatives. This solution allowed the project to remain on schedule, and created significant cost savings, which helped make the project feasible.
Geotechnology, Inc. Chosen as One of the Greater St. Louis Top 50 Businesses Shaping Our Future
(December 2006)
On December 14th, 2006, Geotechnology received a Greater St. Louis Top 50 Award from the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association. For the tenth consecutive year, annual awards winners are selected on a variety of factors, including the number of employees, revenue growth, acquisitions and expansion of facilities and overall contributions to the St. Louis regional economy. The firm along with the other 49 recipients was featured in St. Louis Commerce Magazine to represent the best of the best for overall business success and ability to positively affect the future of the business community. This was Geotechnology's first Top 50 Award.
Geotechnology Receives Three Conrete Quality Awards from St. Louis Concrete Council (November 2006)
On November 9, 2006 at the Missouri Athletic Club, the St. Louis Concrete Council recognized projects that showed versatility and design aesthetics of concrete. Geotechnology was awarded three 2006 Concrete Quality Awards for Quality Assurance / Quality Control services for Pinnacle Casino and Luxury Hotel, St. Louis Cardinals New Busch Stadium and CORTEX One.
Phil Jozwiak, P.E. Receives Alumni Merit Award from University of Missouri-Rolla
(October 2006)
Phil Jozwiak, was honored with the distinguished Alumni Merit Award from the MSM-UMR Alumni Association. The award recognizes outstanding achievement or service to the University of Missouri-Rolla campus and the MSM-UMR Alumni Association. Jozwiak accepted his award at the Association's annual Alumni Awards Dinner, held Saturday, October 21, 2006 in the Havener Center at the University of Missouri-Rolla. Jozwiak, who graduated from the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1966, is a past president and board member of the MSM-UMR Alumni Association.
As Vice President of Transportation/Infrastructure projects at Geotechnology, Jozwiak directs large scale projects, overseeing the firm's work with airports, mass transit, federal and state environmental programs, military bases and municipal planning, including roads, bridges, and water and wastewater treatment plants and transmission facilities.
Steve Fults, P.E. Awarded District Certified Welding Inspector of the Year Award
(September 2006)
The American Welding Society District 14 awarded Steve Fults, P.E. the Dalton E. Hamilton Memorial CWI of the Year District Award on September 1, 2006. Fults was honored for his efforts on the new Busch Stadium as the Special Inspector and Lead Certified Welding Inspector for the project. District 14 includes seven Sections, including Indiana, Lexington, Louisville, Mississippi Valley, Sangamon Valley, St. Louis and Tri-River. Fults was awarded Section CWI of the Year from the St. Louis Section in 2001. He is manager of Geotechnology's Construction Materials Testing Group.
John Baker, P.E. Honored Award of Merit from Engineers' Club of St. Louis
(July 2006)
John A. Baker, P.E., was presented the Award of Merit from the Engineers' Club of St. Louis for his outstanding performance and contributions reflecting credit to the engineering profession and to the Engineers' Club of St. Louis. The award, which was presented this summer at the club's annual dinner, recognizes an engineer's achievement over the course of his/her career.
Baker has worked in the engineering profession for 41 years and is currently Senior Vice President and Manager of the Geotechnical Group for Geotechnology, Inc. Baker is one of six engineers that co-founded Geotechnology in 1984 and the only remaining co-founder still with the firm. He has helped grow the firm from six to 120 employees in three locations making it one of the largest privately owned consulting firms in the Midwest. Baker has managed three of the four technical groups and served as interim manager of the Kansas City branch office. He is currently also the firm's Secretary and Quality Assurance Officer.
Baker served as principal-in-charge of three of the firm's largest contracts: Special Inspections and Construction Materials Testing for the St. Louis Cardinals New Downtown Ballpark; Quality Assurance Testing for the City of St. Louis Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Expansion; and Quality Assurance Testing for the Metro Cross-County Expansion in St. Louis.
Baker is past president of the Engineers' Club of St. Louis and was granted Honorary Member status.
Geotechnology Receives Excellence in Paving Award for New Runway
(May 2006)
Geotechnology, Inc. was awarded the Excellence in Paving Award in recognition for the firm’s high quality testing services performed on the new Runway 11-29 at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The award was presented by the Missouri/Kansas Chapter of the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).
Geotechnology’s responsibilities on the airport expansion project as the prime quality assurance firm included mass-grading observation and fill control of 16,000,000 cubic yards of soil, and field testing of 240,000 cubic yards of runway concrete pavement. Geotechnology established an on-site testing laboratory complete with curing tanks and a compression machine to test over 1,400 flexural beams.
Geotechnology, with its subconsultants TSi Engineering and AFRAM Corporation, performed fill control and compaction testing of soil, aggregate and base courses, as well as field and laboratory testing of concrete, asphalt and steel. The new runway opened in early 2006.
Geotechnology Construction Materials Testing Group Reaches 2,500 Consecutive Days With No Loss Time Accidents
(May 2006)
On May 30, 2006, the Construction Materials Testing (CMT) Group of Geotechnology, Inc. reached 2,500 consecutive work days with no loss time accidents. This means the group has maintained an excellent safety record for over 8 years performing activities such as drilled pier inspection, concrete testing, asphalt testing, compaction testing of trench backfill, structural steel and welding inspections, load tests, and tank and piping inspections.
This goal accomplished by the Materials Testing staff includes more than 40,000 man-days on construction sites in the Midwest. Nearly 4 million vehicle miles were logged without an injury accident. The Materials Testing Group employees provided high quality services while complying with safety guidelines for confined space entry, trench safety, the use of scaffolding, ladders and harnesses, sight and hearing protection, burn protection, severe heat and cold, and driving safety.
ARCO Honors Geotechnology as Top Vendor for 2005
(February 2006)
Geotechnology was chosen as one of ARCO Construction’s top vendors for 2005. For the past 10 years ARCO has honored outstanding vendors every year for their efforts and contributions to ARCO projects. Of more than 500 vendors including suppliers, consultants and subcontractors, Geotechnology is being recognized as one who consistently rises above the others and exceeds expectations.
Geotechnology is proud to have provided ARCO Construction with responsive and quality services for the past 15 years. In 2005, Geotechnology provided exceptional services on these ARCO projects: Mason Ridge Office Park, Principia College Field House, the new Ashley Furniture store in O’Fallon, Missouri, Lambert Pointe Building F, Mid USA Motorcycle Parts Office & Warehouse, Laboure Centre and Andy’s Seasonings.
Geotechnology Sponsors Kids in the Middle Annual Bugabaloo Event
(January 2006)
Geotechnology is sponsoring Bugabaloo 2006, the annual dinner and fundraising auction for Kids in the Middle, a nonprofit organization that helps children and families in the St. Louis area cope with divorce and other transitions. The organization provides a variety of counseling, education and support services. Bugabaloo 2006 will be held at the newly renovated Roberts Orpheum Theater in downtown St. Louis on April 29, 2006. A live and silent auction will be held during the event, and all funds raised will be donated to Kids in the Middle.
“Consistent with our Mission Statement, we like to focus our efforts on giving back to the communities in which we live, especially local organizations in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas since that is where our employees live and work,” Alizadeh said. “I have become very active with Kids in the Middle over the last four years and currently provide my personal support as President of the volunteer Board of Directors for the agency. I am excited by the positive contribution Kids in the Middle makes in the community.”
Geotechnology Helps Engineering Students and Honors Friend with Academic Fellowship
(January 2006)
In December 2005, the firm made a $3,500 donation to the University of Missouri-Rolla for the Ronald M. Eckelkamp Memorial Fellowship, which the company established in 2003. The Fellowship was established to honor the professional contributions, dedication and spirit of Eckelkamp, one of the founders of Geotechnology. Over the past three years, the firm has contributed a total of $20,000 to the Fellowship, which provides financial assistance to graduate level civil engineering students pursuing a masters degree in geotechnical engineering.
“The careers of many of our professionals have been furthered by their education from the University of Missouri-Rolla, including our friend Ron Eckelkamp,” said Ed Alizadeh, president. “We want to promote his legacy by encouraging others in the same engineering field to which he dedicated himself.”
Geotechnology Participates in United Way of Greater St. Louis Campaign
(November 2005)
To kick off the holiday season every year, the members of Geotechnology participate in the United Way of Greater St. Louis campaign held before Thanksgiving. This year, Campaign Coordinator Stephen Graham, an environmental scientist, spearheaded the fundraiser for the company, challenging his co-workers to reach this year’s goal of $5,500. Employees went above and beyond this goal by donating $6,300 to the campaign. Funds raised from the campaign support a network of 200 local health and human service organizations in the 16-county Missouri and Illinois region. These programs work to increase the safety, health and independence of the residents in our bi-state region.
Brad Hicks Named Certified Welding Inspector of the Year (2005)
Brad Hicks was named Certified Welding Inspector of the Year by the St. Louis Section of the American Welding Society. Hicks joined Geotechnology in 2000 as a non destructive testing technician in the Construction Materials Testing Group. He has 18 years of experience in quality control non destructive testing of structural steel, reinforcing steel, and bolted and welded connections. His extensive knowledge of welding and metallurgy enables Geotechnology to determine the weldability of century-old steels necessary for rehabbing historic buildings. Hicks has been assigned as the Chief Structural Steel Inspector at the new Cardinal Ballpark and previously worked on the CitiMortgage World Headquarters building in O’Fallon, Missouri, as well as the Eads Bridge renovation, which connects downtown St. Louis and East St. Louis, Illinois. He is proficient with AWS and ASTM welding codes and routinely writes welding procedures and certifies welders.
Darlene Erny and Elaine Keys Honored by St. Louis Concrete Council
(November 2005)
Darlene Erny and Elaine Keys, project administrators with the Construction Materials Testing Group, were honored by the St. Louis Concrete Council at its annual awards banquet for working in the concrete business for 35 years. Erny joined ANCO Testing Laboratories in 1969, which Geotechnology acquired in 1996. Keys joined ANCO in 1973 and both women continue to be an integral part of the CMT office. “I’ve always enjoyed my job and working along side fellow employees,” said Erny.
Team Geotechnology Participates in National City MS 150 Bike Tour
(September 2005)
On September 10th and 11th, 2005, Team Geotechnology rode 150 miles over the course of both days, raising $7,488 to help find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. Six members participated on the Geotechnology team, including Wayne Holtzmann-captain, Phil Jozwiak, Barbara Jozwiak, Stuart Hoffman, Sean McGary, and Pamela Rede. For the past three years, a Geotechnology team has participated in the Missouri bike tour to raise funds for the MS Society. The Gateway Chapter’s National City MS 150 Bike Tour raised more than $1.9 million this year. It is the largest organized cycling event with 100 tours in 48 states. Proceeds from the MS 150 support local and national research and provide programs and services to more than 5,000 people – as well as over 35,000 individuals who are touched by the disease – who are living with MS in a 90-county service area covering the eastern half of Missouri and the southern third of Illinois.
Kenny Hemmen Invited to Present Paper at AEG’s National Conference in Las Vegas
(September 2005)
Kenny Hemmen, senior project manager and senior hydrogeologist at Geotechnology, Inc. made a technical presentation concerning groundwater trends and natural attenuation at this year’s Association of Engineering Geologists (AEG) Annual Meeting held in Las Vegas. Hemmen also presented to the local St. Louis AEG Chapter in November.
The presentation focused on the understanding of reductive dechlorination of chlorinated organics in groundwater. Demonstrating and understanding this process as part of site characterization assists in developing appropriate and cost effective corrective measures on behalf of Geotechnology’s clients.
Hemmen submitted an abstract related to the use of groundwater trends to demonstrate reductive dechlorination. The abstract was accepted through a selective process by the annual meeting’s technical committee and was presented at the meeting, which included more than 500 professionals.
Kenny Hemmen is a Certified Ground Water Professional (CGWP) and a Registered Geologist (RG) in Missouri and Illinois. He has worked with Geotechnology since 1990 and currently works on the Industrial Market Team. Over the past 15 years Hemmen has cultivated his expertise working on a variety of projects related to landfills, the Missouri Voluntary Cleanup Program, Superfund, Brownfields, and underground storage tanks for major oil companies. Hemmen obtained a bachelor’s degree in Geology from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in Geology-Hydrogeology from the University of Georgia.
Shell Oil Products Commends Geotechnology for Safety Performance
(March 2005)
Shell Oil Products commended Geotechnology for achieving the maximum number of points in the Health and Safety section of Shell’s Balanced Scorecard and Cost Savings Programs. Geotechnology conducted all of its work safely for Shell in 2004, which means the firm maintained a Recordable Incident Rate of less than three, plus no OSHA, EPRS recordable or EPRS non-recordable incidents, and attended Shell-conducted Safety Information Reviews.
Geotechnology Receives Engineering Excellence Award for Long Road Crossing Project (February 2005)
Geotechnology won an Honor Award in the Engineering Excellence Competition from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri for the Long Road Crossing Project. The awards are issued annually for projects that demonstrate a high degree of achievement, value and ingenuity. On behalf of Kehr Development, Keystone Construction retained Geotechnology to perform a geotechnical evaluation for a retail center in Chesterfield, Missouri. The subsurface soil data collected on this Missouri River floodplain site indicated that site soils could undergo significant settlement when subjected to modest loads. Due to poor drainage, it would take two to three years to let the soil drain and settle naturally before the site would be ready for construction.
Geotechnology design engineers met this site challenge by designing a combination of special vertically installed “wicks” to drain the soil coupled with a preload soil embankment to simulate the building load. By optimizing surcharge embankment height and wick drain spacing, settlement was accelerated, which enhanced the construction schedule and hastened the owner’s occupancy. The project success increased the value of this and adjoining properties, which improved the tax base and benefited the local economy and community.
Geotechnology Receives Honor Award from ACEC Missouri (February 2004)
Geotechnology, Inc., received an Honor Award from ACECMissouri for work on the Christian Brothers College High School campus. The 2004 Winter Meeting, held in Kansas City in early February, was also the setting for the 30th Annual Awards Banquet.
The project addressed the issue of several visible sinkholes, as well as the potential for additional hidden sinkholes, within the footprint of the school's planned expansion. Geotechnology conducted 2D dipole-dipole resistivity surveys to locate the sinkholes, with the result that the project was able to move forward using a lower-cost shallow foundation system after the paleosinkholes were excavated and filled with more suitable material.
Geotechnology is Awarded Five Quality Concrete Awards (November 2003)
Geotechnology, Inc., was awarded five Quality Concrete Awards by the St. Louis Concrete Council. Geotechnology completed Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Construction Materals Testing projects at CitiMortgage Headquarters, the Eads Bridge, the Fee Fee Creek Bridge, The Contemporary Art Museum, and the Grand Basin/Post Dispatch Lake Reconstruction in Forest Park.