technical risk management work came through him. He saw new techniques from dry soil mixing, a Scandinavian import that HB now does “every day,” to wet-soil mixing, chemical grouting, super jet grouting, and other innovations, and he began going to Europe routinely. Larry Heller, geotechnical engineering consultant, first met Burke in 1988. Heller was with GZA at the time, and Burke with HB. The two firms were working on the first jet grouting in the U.S., for under- pinning and excavation support at Yale Medical School. Heller cites Burke’s “patience and honesty” that created mutual trust on the job, and his willingness to share infor- mation with competitors, and to admit to mistakes or problems. Heller says Burke’s professionalism “advances the entire industry.” Jet grouting now accounts for 15% of HB’s $300 million portfolio. Many people in the industry consider Burke to be a jet grouting “guru.” He has been chosen to be the keynote speaker at the Jet Grouting track at the International Conference on Grouting and Deep Mixing in New Orleans in February — a “great honor,” he says. His contributions to jet grouting were also cited when he received the Wallace Hayward Baker award from the Geo- Institute last March. Joseph Welsh, now retired, sums up Burke, saying, “he is the go-to guy within the firm — he gets calls from all the HB offices with questions about technology, contractual and economic issues.” A current HB employee, Tanner Blackburn, uses different words, saying Burke’s “incredible combination of intellect, curiosity and practicality is truly unique in our industry.” Blackburn adds that Burke continuously pushes him to “think outside the box,” attributing his own enjoyment of his work for George Burke. Home Brews When asked about life beyond engineering technology, Burke mentions spending time with his daughters and grandchildren. He also mentions his fondness for music concerts, golf, and, somewhat surprisingly, home brewing beer. Fellow HB colleague Dennis Boehm colloborates with Burke and mentions a few explosions during this process. Looking Forward Burke believes the geotechnical arena is the most exciting place to be. He sees a growing market for ground improvement, and predicts that the next big technology will probably be an evolution of an existing one. He thinks there might be 5 to 10 new technologies “out there,” and that the market will evaluate these. Burke also mentions the forthcoming FHWA Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) report on these methods and on the part that focuses on the speed of construction. The RO subproject includes the full range of ground improvement techniques, and the final report is sure to grow the market in the transportation sector. Burke’s involvement with DFI goes back some 15 years, when he contributed to the Soil Mixing Committee, parti- cipating in ground improvement seminars. He also helped organize DFI’s 2006 Annual Conference in Washington, DC. Of the three main professional geotechnical organizations in North America, he says, DFI has grown to be the perfect blend between practitioner and academic. Virginia Fairweather 36 • DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JAN/FEB 2012
