We are looking forward to celebrating the holidays and enjoying dinner and a talk at Fates Brewing Company in Scottsdale on December 6th, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

We are excited to welcome Jeff Keaton, Principal Engineering Geologist, of WSP, Inc. to speak on “Engineering Geology: Fundamental Input or Random Variable”.

This topic became a personal research focus as LRFD was expanding to include ground conditions. Geologists and engineers view the world in complementary but different ways. Science seeks to explain all observed details, whereas engineering seeks to design with specific objectives and multiple constraints. National guidance in the United States calls for geotechnical site investigations to be performed by geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists. Site characterization should start with Geologic Models which form the basis for Ground Models (Geologic Models with engineering parameters) and Geotechnical Models (Ground Models with predicted performance based on design parameters). Fundamental geologic variability makes some details unforeseeable. Insufficient geotechnical investigations, faulty interpretations, or failure to portray results understandably can contribute to inappropriate designs or failures. If the geologist does not interpret the geology and explain it clearly, then the engineer will be forced to interpret the geology or ignore it. Incomplete or inaccurate geotechnical site characterization can lead to selection of incorrect models, geotechnical properties, and design values. A suggested Geologic Model Complexity Rating System considers two site components (geologic complexity and terrain) and two field components (geologist competency and level-of-effort) in the scoring scheme used for the Geological Strength Index (GSI) which recognizes the gradational nature of component boundaries

Jeff Keaton is a registered professional engineer and a certified engineering geologist with 50 years of experience in characterizing sites and alignments for design, construction, and condition assessments for a variety of projects on five continents.  He has been employed by large, multinational consulting companies throughout his career, currently Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc.  He was the lead engineering geologist for design of San Diego County Water Authority’s roller compacted concrete Olivenhain Dam and principal investigator of National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 24-29 to develop guidelines for evaluating scour at bridge foundations on rock.  He received AEG’s 2016 Holdredge Award for his 2013 paper “Engineering Geology: Fundamental Input or Random Variable?”  He is Honorary Member and past president of AEG, Fellow of ASCE, GSA, and ABET, past chair of ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission, and selected as a GeoLegend by GEOSTRATA (2017).  He has a BS degree in Geological Engineering from University of Arizona, a MS degree in Engineering (Geotechnical) from UCLA, and a PhD degree in Geology from Texas A&M University.

AEG Members: $30
Non-Member: $40
Student: $10
Government: $15
*Includes dinner and 1 drink
Cash/card will be accepted at the door.

http://www.azaeg.org/rsvpmaker/aeg-phoenix-december-dinner/

We are excited to usher in cooler temperatures with good food, beer, and discussion. The meeting will be at Fate’s Brewery in Scottsdale at 6:30 pm.

It is an honor to have Mark Edwards, R.G. from Atlas Technical Consultants for this event. Mr. Edwards will be discussing “Geophysics – Project Risk Reduction, Applications for Site Assessments, and Structural NDE/NDT Studies“. Modern geophysical methods provide standalone data or supplemental data for the interpretation of geologic, buried infrastructure, and/or structural conditions. Goals are risk reduction, target designation, or to obtain information useful to directing ongoing project evaluations.

Mr. Edwards currently is a Principal Geologist/Geophysicist with Atlas Technical Consultants. Mr. Edwards has over 32 years of national and international experience in geophysical and geologic evaluations, geologic resource evaluations, environmental assessments, hydrogeologic evaluations, geologic and geophysical site characterization, environmental remediation, subsurface utility engineering (SUE), and directing geological and geophysical studies for diverse projects. Many projects have been completed while meeting municipal, state, and federal regulatory requirements. A diverse background and wide variety of project experiences allow him to manage and perform geophysical, environmental, and geotechnical aspects of projects. Projects have included schools, medical facilities, power plants, dams, groundwater resource exploration and well siting, water treatment plants, transportation, commercial and residential properties, solar plants, bridges, tunnels, forensics, mineral resources exploration, open pit copper porphyry and gold and silver mines, and military bases.

AEG Members: $30
Non-Member: $40
Student: $10
Government: $15
*Includes dinner and 1 drink
Cash/card will be accepted at the door.

We are excited to get out of the heat and cool down in the barrel room at Fates Brewery in Scottsdale on June 28th at 6:30 pm. Andrew Whitsell of Cascade Environmental will be providing great information on sonic drilling & sampling techniques.

Andrew Whitsell is a Key Accounts Manager at Cascade Drilling. He joined Cascade in 2015 and has held prior positions as Project Manager and Operations Manager before transitioning into his current role. Andrew started his career in mining, working as a Geologist at Rio Tinto’s Resolution Copper Mine before moving to the upper peninsula of Michigan where he held the roles of underground geologist and project geologist at their Copper/Nickel deposit, Eagle Mine. Andrew is a licensed driller in Idaho, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and holds a licensed operator certification in New Mexico. He also holds a blue card for the Mine Safety and Health Administration as a certified trainer.

Andrew received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geology from Northwest Missouri State University in 2010 and Master of Business Administration from the University of Arizona in 2017.  Andrew resides in Overland Park, Kansas. In his free time, he enjoys golfing with his wife, Megan, and fly fishing.

AEG Members: $30
Non-Member: $40
Student: $0 (Paid for by Cascade)
Government: $15
*Includes dinner and 1 drink
Cash/card will be accepted at the door.

AEG Phoenix Summer Dinner | June 28th | Arizona AEG (azaeg.org)

Join the Phoenix Chapters of the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG) and ASCE AZ Geo-Institute (G-I) at the 15th Annual Student Night on March 29th, 2022 from 5:30-8:30pm at Arizona State University.

It is a great opportunity to grow your network and meet with likeminded individuals!

If you are interested in sponsoring, or attending the event as an industry individual, please sign up at the link below:

AEG-GI Annual Student Geo Career Fair at ASU (constantcontact.com)

Thursday March 3, 2022 6:30 PM

We will be kicking off the year in-person at one of our favorite places, Fates Brewing Company in Scottsdale. There are a lot of exciting changes happening that we would like to update you on and we have a fantastic speaker lined up!

Ashley Herndon – VP of Adams Contracting, Inc

Biography: 

Ashley Herndon, Vice President of Operations for Adams Contracting, Inc.  Adams Contracting provides drilling, blasting, rockfall and slope stabilization services throughout the state of Arizona. Ashley joined the company in 2008 as an administrator.  Having taken an interest in learning the business and dynamics of the trade work, she began perusing through plans, going on site walks, she eventually moved into the responsibilities of estimator and project manager. Using learned skills, Ashley now oversees the Operations of the company itself.  Still honing in on learning techniques to help elevate her education in her area of expertise, she continues to attend slope stabilization workshops, even having traveled to Switzerland to attend the geo-summit. Projects highlights include drilling and blasting single boulders to mass excavation, monitoring crews repelling off 300’ cut slopes, delegating crews to helicopter to cell tower sites and working remote access locations to install rockfall mitigation components.

AEG Members: $30
Non-Member: $40
Student: $10
Government: $15
*Includes dinner and 1 drink
Cash/card will be accepted at the door.

Please join the Phoenix Chapters of the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG) and ASCE Geo-Institute (G-I) at the 14th annual student night on April 6th, 2021 from 4-8pm.

Agenda:

4:00 pm – start event and announcements

4:15 pm – webinar Deirdre Gilmore: “What they don’t teach you in college”

5:00 pm – Industry lightning talks

6:00 pm – Student- industry mixer and interviews

8:00 pm – End of the event

Register Now by clicking this link!

This will be an online event, with a webinar by Deirdre Gilmore about: “What they don’t teach you in college“.

About Deirdre Gilmore: 

For over 21 years Deirdre has focused on business/marketing planning, strategic project pursuits, and supporting professional consulting firms, aka architects/engineers/contractors (A/E/C) by implementing the tactics needed for success. When she started in A/E/C it became quickly clear that while technical staff (that’s you) are excellent at your respective crafts, none of you had been taught the skills it takes to be successful in you careers beyond the technical expertise. And thus, a training career was added to teach the soft skills required to success in the consulting business. In addition to training hundreds of A/E/C professionals each year, Deirdre is the President & Lead Strategist at TankGirl Marketing. Whether it is creating and implementing a strategic vision, or digging deep to win a specific project, she ensures firms are ready for battle with the right strategy to execute the plan.

The webinar is followed by a series of short pitches in which the geo-engineering companies attending the event will introduce their company and share their working experience as geo-engineers.

Afterwards there is opportunity for students with an interest in geo-related engineering disciplines to learn how diverse the geo-engineering field is and what types of positions are available as a professional. Students have the opportunity to meet with professionals for reconnaissance interviews for the students and lightening talks by professionals. This is also a night for professionals to meet students and learn what they are studying and what they hope to do once they graduate. Don’t miss out on this terrific networking opportunity!                                

The event will be held online. The link will follow shortly upon registration. For companies wanting to sponsor a virtual booth at the event, the cost is $200 per booth (or $150 for government agencies) which will include admission for two representatives. Companies represented with a table will also have sponsorship recognition in a slideshow and have there logos included on the announcement. Please contact Leon van Paassen at AEG at 480-479-7116 with questions, or email aeg.arizona@gmail.com. I look forward to enjoying this career fair with you! 

Sincerely,

Leon van Paassen

AEG email at: aeg.arizona@gmail.com 480-479-7116