Academy Inducts 8th Class of Diplomates

The Academy of Geo-Professionals (AGP) held its 8^th Induction Ceremony as part of the Geo-Institute’s (G-I) Hero and Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, February 26^th.  Over 500 members of the geotechnical community were present for the event in Atlanta, Georgia at the Westin Hotel, the second tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere.

After the student awards, AGP President, John Anderson, PhD, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE took to the stage to begin the Academy’s portion of the event.  Dr. Anderson started his presentation by introducing the Academy to the audience.  The Academy, halfway through its sixth year in existence, has over 275 Diplomates.  The requirements are quite stringent, with the minimum requirements being a P.E. license, Masters degree and at least eight years of progressive, post-PE experience required to be eligible for the Board Certification.

Dr. Anderson then asked each of the Diplomates to stand as their names, companies and locations were announced with a PowerPoint slide being shown.  The inductees were:

• Mark J. Carlson, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, Kelchner, Springboro, OH
• Mickey M. Davachi, PhD, PE, SE, D.GE, M.ASCE, Coffey, Calgary, AB, Canada
• Ashraf S. Elsayed, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, Geotechnology, Inc., Memphis, TN
• Delwyn Fredlund, O.C., PhD, F.E.I.C., P.Eng, D.GE, M.ASCE, Golder Associates, Inc., Saskatoon, SK, Canada
• Edward J. Garbin, Jr., PhD, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, Hayward Baker, Inc., Tampa, FL
• Wayne Karem, PhD, PE, PG, D.GE, M.ASCE, Vector Engineers, Inc., Shelbyville, KY
• John E. Lens, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, GeoDesign, Windsor, VT
• Joseph W. Petraus, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc., Kirtland, OH
• Namasivayam Sathialingam, PhD, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, HNTB Corporation, Santa Ana, CA
• Boris Simpser, PhD, D.GE, M.ASCE, Dr. Boris Simpser, Ingeniero Consultor, Colonia Daniel Garza, Mexico
• Mark H. Stanley, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, HDR Engineering, Folsom, CA
• Bryan Sweeney, PhD, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, Haley and Aldrich, Boston, MA
• Rupert G. Tart, Jr., PE, GE, D.GE, M.ASCE, Golder Associates, Inc., Arlington, WA
• Michael J. Thelen, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc., Lansing, MI
• Chad Underwood, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, Engineering Partners International LLC, Eagan, MN

After the induction, Dr. Anderson called up Robert Holtz, PhD, PE, D.GE, Dist.M.ASCE to the stage in recognition for his work as a Founding Board Member of the Academy.  Dr. Holtz was given an award for his work and thanked for being instrumental in developing the Body of Knowledge for the Academy, giving instant credibility to the Board in the academic world, being involved with putting together the Ethics Sessions at the G-I Congress each year as well as his five years of service on the Board of the Academy. 

Congratulations to the new inductees!