PEOPLE & COMPANIES Dan Brown and Associ- ates (DBA) has had six staff transitions recently. Dan Brown, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, immediate past president of DFI, has transitioned to the role of chief engineer, where he continues to focus on developing practical solutions to complex and challenging foundation issues. Tim Siegel, P.E., G.E., D.GE, a senior prin- cipal engineer at DBA, has been promoted to chief executive officer. Siegel currently serves as co-editor of the DFI Journal and is the chair of the DFI Ground Improvement Committee. Paul Axtell, P.E., D.GE, a senior principal engineer at DBA, has been promoted to chief oper- ating officer. Axtell con- tinues to serve as chair of the DFI Drilled Shaft Committee, a position he’s held for eight years. Robert Thompson, P.E., D.GE, is a senior principal engineer at DBA and has been promoted to chief financial officer. He is a member of DFI’s Driven Pile Committee. In addition to the leadership transi- tions, both David Graham, P.E. , and Ben Turner, Ph.D., P.E., have both been promoted to the position of senior engineer. Graham has been with DBA since 2009 and is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Turner joined DBA in 2016 and is based in Los Osos, California. Stephen Stroud recently joined Robert- son Geo as technical sales manager for its North and South American markets. Over his career, Stroud has gained extensive skills and expertise in logging operations, commercial management, sales and business development. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in geological sciences from Arizona State University, and has 10 years of experience in borehole geophysics, including geophysical logging in exploration, mining, environmental and groundwater applications. Along with his experience in borehole geophysics, he has over four years of experience in marketing and sales. He was responsible for the management and coordination of geophysical logging for various large-scale projects, such as the Harbor Bridge project in Corpus Christi, Texas. Stroud’s goals are to create new opportunities and relationships, and to educate clientele by introducing the company’s new and improved geophysical technologies, while providing outstanding customer service. Robertson Geo also added a YouTube channel this spring where they provide tutorials and workbox videos related to company geophysical logging solutions and software. Br i an I r s ch j o ined Schnabel Engineering as an associate of the Dams and Levee Engineering Business Unit. Irsch has 22 years of experience in geotechnical investigations and construc- tion management on civil engineering and environmental projects. He specializes in providing design and technical oversight of various grouting programs, using state-of- the-art techniques for new dam construc- tion or the rehabilitation of existing dams, including foundation preparation in karst, highly fractured/jointed rock and faulted geologic formations. Irsch will be based in Schnabel’s Greensboro, North Carolina, office, and will use his unique expertise and extensive experience to serve clients across the country by providing field management and engineering support services for a variety of dam investigation, rehabilitation design and construction projects. Irsch has a bachelor’s degree in applied geology from Illinois State University and is a licensed Professional Geologist. He is a member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists and the Florida Association of Professional Geologists. CZM Foundation Equipment, a manufac- turer of foundation, utility, piling and landfill drilling equipment, has opened a new 48,000 sq ft (4,459 sq m) headquarters in the Interstate Centre II industrial park in Ellabell, Georgia. CZM broke ground on the new facility that allows more room for the production of drilling rig machines and after sales inventory in September. The new factory is on 16 acres (96.47 ha) and has two main production bays, eight overhead cranes, four jib cranes and a 4,000 sq ft (372 sq m) paint booth. CZM has also introduced new technology within the building for stock parts and engineering, and anticipates increasing its workforce by 25 percent over the next 2 to 3 years. The previous factory, located in Pembroke, will now be the East Coast hub for after sales and service, with five full-time employees. That location will be for service and repair of machines and Kelly bars. CZM Foundation Equipment is the American division of CZM Corp., a leading foundation equipment manufacturer in South America, which was founded in Brazil in 1976. JD Fields & Company recently acquired Alameda Pipe & Steel, a steel products manufacturer based in Gardena, Cali- fornia. The purchase of the newly branded Alameda Pipe and Fab enables the 35-year- old JD Fields, which has operated as a company of two business units focusing on steel pipe for the oil and gas sector and steel foundation products for civil infra- structure, to continue its evolution into a one-stop, vertically integrated supplier and manufacturer of steel products. DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JULY/AUG 2020 • 113
