PEOPLE & COMPANIES Long-time DFI member, John William Fowler, died in February at the age of 89. Fowler served in the U.S. Navy and then graduated from Clemson University with highest honors in civil engineering. His career began with the American Bridge Comp. in Chicago. During his 30-year career with Tidewater Construction Corp., he eventually became corporate chief engineer and executive vice president After his 1985 retirement, Fowler started up and operated an engineering consulting firm until his death. He was licensed in 19 states, and was a specialist involved in projects for ship and transfer terminals, piers, tunnels, bridges, paper mills and other industrial plants. Fowler was an active member of numerous professional organ- izations, including DFI since 1987. He was past president of ASCE and Engineers Club of Hampton Roads, a member of The Moles, and served on the Clemson University Engineering Advisory Board. He is survived by his wife, Carol; sister, Betty; three sons, a stepdaughter and a stepson; and four grandchildren. Melvin Israel Esrig passed away on February 6 at the age of 86. Esrig earned a B.S. degree in business administration from City College of New York, a B.S.C.E. degree from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute (now NYU), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in civil engineering from the University of Illinois. He joined the faculty of civil engineering at Cornell University in 1962, and resigned as a tenured associate professor in 1970 to join Woodward-Clyde Consultants. Esrig retired from Woodward-Clyde in 1996 to enter private practice as a consultant in geotechnical engineering. Esrig published more than 50 technical papers on his research and practice. He was recognized with the Hogentogler Award of ASTM for his paper, with Robert Kirby, on piles in clay. Esrig was an active member of DFI (since 2000), ASCE, ASTM and The Moles. He is survived by his three children and their families. His wife, Stella, predeceased him. in geology from LaSalle and is a licensed professional geologist in Pennsylvania. He is actively involved in several professional organizations, formerly serving as vice president and treasurer of ADSC and as a member of its national board. McDermott is a member of DFI, The Moles, ASCE and General Building Contractors Association. Michels Corporation pro- moted Sean Nicholson from director to vice president of health, safety and environment (HSE), where he will execute a Dan MacLean of Geo- Foundations Contractors has been named the new chair of the International Society for Micropiles (ISM), succeeding acting char, Allen W. Cadden of Schnabel Engineering. MacLean is business development manager at the regional office of Geo-Foundations Contractors in Acton, Ontario, Canada. He is actively involved in industry associations and groups, and is a member of DFI, ADSC, Canadian Geo- technical Society, Canadian Dam Associ- ation and Professional Engineers of Ontario. MacLean is currently the research chair and a national board member of the ADSC. Helen Robinson, P.E., has joined GEI Consultants in its Exton, Pa. office as a senior project manager. She brings more than 15 years of experience in providing design, analysis and construction management services for geostructural projects. Robinson specializes in design of micropiles, tiebacks, soil nails, drilled shafts, sheet pile cofferdams, retaining walls, braced excavation support, grouting and ground improvement methods. She has authored or co-authored over 20 publications on practical technological applications and design in geotechnical engineering. Robinson is chair of DFI’s Women in Deep Foundations Committee. Martin McDermott, P.G., has joined Moretrench as a division manager in the Philadelphia area office for its Geotechnical Group. He has more than 30 years of geotechnical construction experience, with particular expertise in drilled shaft construction. His primary focus is the company’s drilled shaft/secant pile wall operations in the Northeast and New England regions. He holds a master’s degree in engineering geology from Drexel, a B.A. comprehensive and unified HSE program throughout Michels’ operations in the U.S. and Canada. As director of HSE, Nicholson established programs to support Michels’ top-down commitment to a culture where the safety of people, property and the environment is the prime objective. He will expand the programs to support pipeline construction operations, customer needs and governmental regulations across the company’s utility and infrastructure construction operations, and will continue efforts to improve the safety culture across the energy and construction industry. Deep Foundations Contractors (DEEP), of Gormley, Ontario, Canada, was awarded the Canadian Construction Association National Award for Safety Excellence for its success in establishing solutions in advance of any problems, and for its continued dedication to its safety culture. The award recognizes achievements in program development, staff training, industry contribution, safe work record accom- plishments, and for demonstrating outstanding achievement and commitment to the pursuit of safety in the construction workplace. Operating with the highest regard for safety continues to be DEEP’s primary corporate value. Year-over-year improvement in safety performance begins with the senior management team’s active involvement in extensive employee training and education, including pre-job planning. DEEP’s annual safety month provides valuable direction and motivation DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JULY/AUG 2017 • 105
