News & Events 2018
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EVENT: Joint Geotechnical Workshop – December 6th (Wilmington, DE)
Are you in the Wilmington, DE area on December 6th and in need of PDH’s? If so join GeoStructures and Aero Aggregates for a half-day course that kicks off with a networking lunch. For more information and a list of topics visit:
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EVENT: ASCE 30th Central Pennsylvania Geotechnical Conference – Hershey, PA (November 1st)
GeoStructures recently attended the ASCE 30th Central Pennsylvania Geotechnical Conference in Hershey, PA. On Thursday evening, Geo hosted the annual Casino night for their valued customers and many went home big winners! Many thanks to all of our customers who continue to make this a fun and successful event. Already looking forward to next year!
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EVENT: GeoStructures Technical Workshop – New Brunswick, NJ (November 13th)
A technical conference focusing on the various design/build solutions for your projects!
You’re invited to GeoStructures’ Annual Workshop in New Brunswick, NJ. The conference is an opportunity to learn more about earth and foundation support technologies.
Topics include:
■ Design of Geopier RAP Systems & Rigid Inclusion Systems
■ Ductile Iron Piles – A New Micropile Alternative
■ Value Engineering your Floor Slab
■ Everything you need to know about Performance Specifications
■ Adding Value to Your Project – Lessons Learned
■ When do I use a Ground Improvement System?
Eight (8) PDHs provided. Lunch will be provided and there will an opportunity to network with colleagues before and after the program.
Registration fee $35.
To register visit: https://bit.ly/2D9a4BW/
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NEWS: Ben Lay, PE Joins Team Geo!
Ben Lay, P.E. recently joined GeoStructures as the Northeast Regional Manager based in Jersey City, NJ. He will be responsible for working with Design-Build GC’s to develop and implement solutions using GeoStructures Ground Improvement, and Piling Technologies. Ben comes to Geo from Moretrench where he served as a Senior Estimator and Project Manager. Prior to that, he worked for Clark Foundations, LLC as a Project Manager in the DC Metro area. Ben has a BS in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University. In his free time, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah, and dog Bailey. He also enjoys time at the beach with family and watching the Philadelphia Eagles.
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NEWS: Best Wishes to Intern Joe Novak!
GeoStructures was thrilled to have Joe Novak intern over the summer. Joe gave Geo a presentation before heading back to VA Tech discussing his time here and what he learned. Best wishes to Joe as he finishes up his last semester!
During my summer with GeoStructures, I was able to familiarize myself with the design methodologies and processes that go into the different forms of ground improvement provided by the company. Throughout my internship, I performed many of the tasks that the engineers conducted. Some of these tasks included creating preliminary ground improvement designs, putting together Geopier Foundation Company (GFC) packages when using GFC products, putting together final designs, and attending engineering, sales and operations meetings. In addition, my internship allowed the opportunity to go out to the field to observe ground improvement product installations, to observe various tests that are performed on ground improvement products to confirm design parameters, and to perform quality control of the ground improvement installation and tests. Overall, I have greatly valued the experience and knowledge that GeoStructures has provided, and this experience will definitely benefit my growth as an engineer.
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NEWS: Gregg Piazza Joins Team Geo!
Gregg Piazza, PE recently joined GeoStructures as a NE Regional Engineering Manager. He comes to Geo from Mueser Rutledge where he managed their Washington, DC office for the last 3 years, following over 20 years in their NYC office. Gregg has considerable experience in the NE, working on structural and geotechnical engineering designs for deep and shallow foundations, waterfront structures, support of excavation, underpinning, railways, tunnels and emergency response. Major projects include NJ Transit’s Hoboken Terminal Complex Rehabilitation, Hoboken, NJ, Post-hurricane Sandy Casino Pier Rehabilitation, Seaside Heights, NJ, USTA Arthur Ashe Tennis Stadium, Queens, NY, Port Elizabeth Maher and Sealand Terminal’s Berth Deepening Projects, Elizabeth, NJ, Bush Terminal Building #24 Underpinning, Brooklyn, NY, USNA Center for Cyber Security Studies, Annapolis, MD, and the CSX Virginia Avenue Rail Tunnel in Washington, DC. Gregg has a BS in Applied Mathematics from the University of Vermont and a ME in Structural Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. He is currently a member of DFI’s Marine Foundations Committee. Geo looks forward to Gregg helping our NE Team with his connections in the NE and all our teams with his insight into the “minds of structural engineers”. In his spare time, Gregg enjoys building, cooking, being active in his kid’s lives, youth ministry and family time.
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NEWS: Darrell Wilder, PE Joins Team Geo!
Darrell Wilder, P.E. recently joined GeoStructures as the Northeast Senior Sales Engineer of Special Projects based in Philadelphia, PA. He will be responsible for working with Design-Build GC’s to develop solutions using GeoStructures Ground Improvement, Piling, Diaphragm Walls and Microtunneling Technologies. Darrell comes to Geo from GEI where he managed their Exton, PA office. Prior to that, Darrell worked for Schnabel Engineering’s GeoStructural Group. At both companies, he worked with contractors to develop value added designs for some of the most challenging foundation projects on the East Coast, such as the stabilization of the Jefferson Memorial and the Ellis Island Seawall. Darrell has a BS from Clarkson University and a MS in Geotechnical Engineering from Syracuse University. In his free time, Darrell enjoys time with his wife, Amy and their three kids, Joseph, Owen and Claire, coaching numerous lacrosse teams, and is the head Pitmaster at Big O and Joes BBQ.
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NEWS: Larry Moore, PE Joins Team Geo!
Larry Moore, P.E. recently joined GeoStructures as the Chief Operating Officer based in Purcellville, VA. Larry comes to us from Clark Construction Group, LLC where he was VP of Engineering. Larry’s 20+ years of experience includes being the Managing Director of Clark Foundations where he worked on some of the largest and most complex foundation projects in the region including The Wharf in DC, CSX Virginia Ave Tunnel, Dulles Metrorail Silver Line, Museum of the Bible, 655 New York Avenue, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Larry has significant expertise in pile driving, excavation support, secant walls and diaphragm walls. He is the current President of the Pile Driving Contractors Association- PDCA and is a member of The Moles, ASCE, DFI and ACI. He holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from the Catholic University of America and a Master of Civil Engineering degree from Cornell University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in CA, VA, MD, and DC. In his spare time, Larry enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, and spending time with family.
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NEWS: Zach Scarboro, PE Joins Team Geo!
Zach Scarboro, P.E. recently joined GeoStructures as the Southeast Sales Engineer based in Charlotte, NC. He will be responsible for working with clients in southern Virginia and North Carolina and helping them solve their ground improvement and foundation support challenges. Prior to joining GeoStructures, Zach was a geotechnical consultant working on projects in NC, SC, and VA, followed by 7 years with the Geopier Foundation Company where he supported Geopier Licensees in the design and construction of Geopier projects in North America, Europe and Asia. Zach has a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. When away from work Zach enjoys golfing and spending time outdoors with family and friends.
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EVENT: Annual Chili Cook-Off (March 16th)
On Friday, March 16th, Geo held the annual Chili Cook-off! What an exciting time judging 8 different chili recipes, watching the NCAA tournament, and celebrating 2 employees’ 20 year anniversary!
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Interview with Valerie Merida, PE of GeoStructures
In honor of Women in Construction week, we interviewed GeoStructures’ Preconstruction Design Director, Valerie Merida, PE. Valerie joined GeoStructures in 2004 and oversees a team of design engineers that continue to successfully support customers by preparing engineering designs for the construction of ground improvement technology.
When did you realize you wanted to be in the A/E/C industry?
I first became interested in engineering in high school, but it was not until my first internship that I knew I wanted to be a civil engineer.Is there someone in your life that led you to this career?
My dad was probably the one who led me toward this career. He is not an engineer, but he was a councilman in the small town where I grew up. He was always focused on fixing and updating the town infrastructure and was always excited about new roads and sewers.What was your first job in the industry?
I was a summer engineering intern for PennDOT after my freshman year in college. It was a highway interchange reconstruction project. It was my first experience with construction and I loved it.What has been the most surprising part of being a woman working in construction?
I am surprised that more women do not want to work in construction. It is fun seeing something you have designed being built.What is your favorite part of your career?
The favorite part of my career is that every day is different. Each day brings a new challenge and problem to be solved. I am fortunate to be able to work on interesting projects surrounded by great people.Who inspires you?
I have had so many great women in my life that have inspired me. My mother, grandmothers, and aunts have all been great examples of hard work, honesty, and dedication to their family. They inspire me to set the same example for my daughters.What is the biggest challenge of being a woman working in construction?
For women in construction, I think the beginning of your career is the most difficult. Being the only woman on a construction site in addition to being inexperienced can make it difficult to command respect.What advice would you give someone starting out?
Find a place to work where you enjoy not just your job, but the people you work with. Having a strong team around you makes the good days better and the hard days easier.What would surprise us about you?
I have played golf at St. Andrews in Scotland. It is an amazing place if you love golf. -
EVENT: Annual Geopier Conference – Austin, TX
Geopier Foundation Company held its’ annual conference in Austin, TX last week. Geopier licensee’s from around the world gathered for a few days to discuss lessons learned, market trends, and new product technology.
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EVENT: Annual Groundhog & Customer Appreciation Party (February 6th)
Many thanks to our customers and friends who joined us at Maggiano’s in Tysons Corner last night for the Annual Groundhog & Customer Appreciation Party. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership in the many years to come.
Congratulations to our raffle prize winners of Washington Nationals tickets or an Amazon gift card!
Debra Pennington, PE – Granzow Structural Engineers, PLC
Bruce Bush – Triad Engineering, Inc
Surinder Singh, PE, SE, F-ASCE – Emc2, Inc
Mike Armendariz – Bozzuto Construction -
NEWS: Chad Verdin Rejoins Geo
GeoStructures is pleased to announce the return of Chad Verdin to our team at GeoStructures as Project Engineer.
Chad joined GeoStructures in 2006 as a member of the shop working on heavy equipment and fabricating attachments for ground improvement machines. During his undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech, he returned during the summers and continued to work in both the shop and on projects managing grouting operations and performing construction quality control. After graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering, Chad joined the design team. During this time, he continued to gain more responsibility preparing final engineering designs for ground improvement technology, such as Geopier®, Impact® Pier, and Rigid Inclusions. In 2016, Chad decided to return to Virginia Tech to pursue his master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering and upon graduation in December 2017 has returned to Geo to help the engineering team in pre-bid and final designs. During his spare time, you can find Chad on a tennis court or planning a trip to the Caribbean to scuba dive. We are excited to see what the future holds for Chad at Geo and honored to have him back on the team full-time!
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Happy New Year!