PEOPLE & COMPANIES Robert M. Koerner, Ph.D., P.E., professor emeritus of civil engineering at Drexel University, and his wife, Paula W., both co- founders of the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) in 1986, died in December 2019. They are survived by three children and six grandchildren. Dr. Koerner was a leading engineer, professor and researcher. He focused his 40 years of research exclusively on the use of geosynthetics in a wide range of civil engineering applications, where he addressed fundamental questions related to the performance and durability of geosynthetics. Dr. Koerner was extensively published and received numerous awards including the James R. Croes Medal from ASCE in 2000 and Hero Award from the Geo-Institute in 2005. He was an Honorary Member of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from Drexel University, and then later earned a Ph.D. from Duke University in 1968. Seth Pearlman, P.E., D.GE, president and CEO of Menard Group USA, has been selected by the ASCE Geo-Institute Board of Governors to receive the 2020 Wallace Hayward Baker Award for Ingenious Innovation in the Field of Ground Modification. The award will be presented at the Geo-Institute meeting in February 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pearlman was chosen for this award because of his substantial contributions to the practice of design-build ground improvement. Pearlman earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and has more than 40 years of engineering experience in the geotechnical design-build construction industry, where he has worked on some of the most challenging ground improvement projects in the U.S. He is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania and Virginia. He is a past president of DFI and a trustee on the DFI Educational Trust Board. He is a member of DFI, Geo-Institute, ASCE, American Concrete Institute, American Society of Highway Engineers, Design Build Institute of America, Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania and The Moles. He was awarded the 2014 ASCE Henry L. Michel Award for Industry Advancement of Research and the 2016 Alumni Service Award from Carnegie Mellon University. GRL Engineers announced a new branch manager for its Georgia office and the addition of four engineers to its team. Tom Hyatt, P.E., was named Georgia branch manager. He joined GRL in June 2011 and has performed high strain dynamic testing across the U.S. and in other countries, both for onshore and on multiple offshore projects. He has analyzed low strain pile integrity testing, thermal integrity profiling, PDA testing and crosshole sonic logging data for clients around the world. Hyatt has a B.S. degree in civil engineering from Cleveland State University and has achieved Master level on the PDCA/PDI Dynamic Measurement and Analysis Proficiency Test. He is a registered professional engineer in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. Marshall Hagler, P.E., joins the GRL Florida team with over 22 years of field experience and is a pro- fessional engineer regis- tered in Florida and Ala- bama. Prior to joining GRL, he worked for the Florida Department of Transportation from 1996 to 2019, where he most recently served as the district structural materials engineer. Hamid Maherina, P.E., graduated with an M.S.C.E. degree from the University of Florida in 2013. After graduation, he worked for CDM Smith as a civil engineer, monitoring and managing roadway projects, performing CEI services, and collaborating with FDOT project managers. Abhishek Ray is a recent graduate of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology where he received his B.S. degree in geological engineering. Pr ior to graduat ion, Abhishek held two co-op positions with Braun Intertec, where he performed construction materials and laboratory testing. Rahul Yadav recently joined GRL’s Illi- nois office. After receiving his undergraduate degree in 2016, Rahul worked as a geotechnical engineer for RAO Engineering Enterprises. In 2019 Rahul earned an M.S.C.E. degree from the civil engineering program at the University of Texas at Arlington. CTL|Thompson announced the hiring of Devin Hougard as a staff engineer in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he joined an expert team that designs structural plans for residential developments. He is an engineer-in-training and has already amassed a depth of expertise in seismology, including the effects of both wind and earthquake activity, and in the design of shallow and deep foundations and slope/earth retention systems. Before joining CTL, Hougard worked as a staff engineer for Sound Structural Solutions, an engineering design firm specializing in residential and commercial structures based in Seattle. He graduated from Montana State University with a B.S. degree in civil engineering. McMillen Jacobs Associates announces promotions for nine principals in the firm’s Underground Division. Christopher Burke is the firm’s Boston office manager. He has 27 years of experience in engineering, construction, project management and forensic DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JAN/FEB 2020 • 107
