News

Terracon Receives 2023 Phoenix Award for Brownfields Excellence

Savannah, Georgia Industrial Complex Recognized for Brownfields Redevelopment

OLATHE, Kan. – Terracon, an employee-owned firm with a long history of providing excellence in engineering consulting services, announces it has been recognized with a 2023 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  Phoenix Award for the SeaPoint Industrial Terminal Complex project in Savannah, Georgia. The awards were presented to practitioners for projects that reflect the progression of brownfield redevelopment at the recent National Brownfields Training Conference (Brownfields 2023) in Detroit.

The National Brownfields Training Conference brings together stakeholders from government, industry, and the community to share knowledge and best practices on the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated properties, known as brownfields. The conference's goal was to promote the cleanup and revitalization of contaminated sites across the United States.

“Terracon is pleased to be recognized for the outstanding work we’re contributing to sustainable development,” said Belinda Richard, Senior Principal and National Manager of Terracon’s Brownfields Program. “The SeaPoint project, a manufacturing and logistics hub with deep-water river access, Class I rail, and highway connections, was completed two years ahead of schedule and a few million under budget so we’re honored to have our rigorous effort recognized.”

Innovators in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields program since 1995, Terracon has been a part of more Phoenix Award-winning teams than any other consultant in the United States. Terracon’s knowledgeable team combines reconstruction with environmental remedy and has now received 17 Phoenix Awards. 

About Terracon

Terracon is an employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 6,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. Explore with us by visiting terracon.com.

Terracon Announces Key Business Sector Promotion

Jeff Magner promoted to Director of Technology/Digital Infrastructure

OLATHE, Kan. – Terracon, a leading national consulting engineering firm comprised of engineers, scientists, architects, facilities experts, and field professionals announces a strategic organizational change to support client service, innovation, and project delivery as the company continues to grow.

Jeff Magner, P.E., has been promoted to director of Terracon’s Technology (Digital Infrastructure) business sector. In this role, Jeff will lead the safe and profitable growth of this business unit and collaborate in developing Terracon’s strategy to execute services delivered with an outstanding client experience.

“Now more than ever, our clients expect high-quality services provided on shortened timeframes.  Speed to market is essential for our clients to meet their business goals, and Terracon invests in innovative tools that deliver information faster,” Magner said.

A licensed professional engineer, Jeff has over 25 years’ experience in geotechnical engineering, construction observation/materials testing and client account management. He joined Terracon in 1994 and previously held roles including project engineer, geotechnical services manager, office manager, regional manager, and firm principal. He is based in Terracon’s Des Moines, Iowa, office.

Terracon is an employee-owned consulting firm comprised of more than 6,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. The firm provides on-time and real-time data-driven insights, provided by talented employee-owners, to create an unmatched client experience that spans the lifecycle of any project, any size, anywhere. ​Terracon consistently ranks as a top 25 design firm by Engineering News-Record. For additional information about Terracon, visit terracon.com.

Terracon Announces Key Healthcare Sector Promotion

Stephanie Davis promoted to Director of Healthcare Sector

OLATHE, Kan. – Terracon, a leading national consulting engineering firm comprised of engineers, scientists, architects, facilities experts, and field professionals, announces a strategic organizational change to support client service, innovation, and project delivery as the company continues to grow.

Stephanie Davis, CPSP, has been promoted to director of Terracon’s healthcare sector. In this role, she leads sector staff, the healthcare sector leadership team, and divisional operations teams serving healthcare clients. She will also develop and lead division-level teams; identify and move priority pursuits along the pipeline to revenue; and manage national accounts.

“Our healthcare clients deserve the dedicated resources, strategic focus, and leading innovation that we can deliver through a national business sector,” said Davis. “I’m excited to be leading our team, which is perfectly positioned to serve as a partner in caring for our communities.”

Davis joined Terracon in 2013 as a client development manager for the Gulf Coast division. Since 2021, she has served as the director of healthcare client development, developing and executing growth strategies for the healthcare business sector, and helping teams secure millions of dollars in major project wins. Davis holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Auburn University.

Terracon is an employee-owned consulting firm comprised of more than 6,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. The firm provides on-time and real-time data-driven insights, provided by talented employee-owners, to create an unmatched client experience that spans the lifecycle of any project, any size, anywhere. ​Terracon consistently ranks as a top 25 design firm by Engineering News-Record. For additional information about Terracon, visit terracon.com.

Terracon Foundation Scholarship Awarded to University of Colorado Boulder Graduate Student in Geotechnical Engineering

Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Educational Trust Awards Caroline Bessette

OLATHE, Kan. – The Terracon Foundation announced $2,000 has been awarded to Caroline Bessette, a student pursuing a doctorate degree in civil/geotechnical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, to support her studies. The scholarship is the second award following the establishment of the DFI Educational Trust/Terracon Consultants Scholarship Fund in 2020. An endowment of $50,000 from the Terracon Foundation funds this annual educational scholarship.

Bessette was recommended for the scholarship by Shideh Dashti, Ph.D., associate professor of geotechnical engineering and geomechanics at University of Colorado Boulder (UC Boulder). She is currently working on her doctoral degree research project focused on the mitigation of liquefaction consequences in stratigraphically variable sites. Bessette earned a master’s degree in civil/geotechnical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Polytechnique Montréal in Montréal, Canada. She is currently working as a graduate research assistant in geotechnical engineering at UC Boulder.

Originally from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in Québec, Canada, Bessette's interest in civil engineering stemmed from the prospect of contributing to the design and construction of vital structures that shape our modern world. After graduating with a specialization in geotechnical engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, Bessette refined her skills at the SM Group in Canada, progressing from an intern to an engineer-in-training in geotechnical and environmental engineering. Seeking to deepen her knowledge and expertise for design-oriented roles, Bessette pursued a master's degree, delving into research and discovering a passion for earthquake engineering and risk reduction. This path led her to CU Boulder through a Mitacs Globalink-supported internship during her master’s degree studies, where she conducted dynamic centrifuge tests at the Center for Infrastructure, Energy, and Space Testing (CIEST). Inspired by the experience, Bessette enrolled in a Ph.D. program at CU Boulder, receiving honors from the National Research and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Driven by her dedication to resilient, sustainable solutions, Bessette aspires to contribute to community safety and infrastructural resilience through her research.

The DFI Educational Trust manages 20 scholarship programs funded by endowments, donations, and fundraising events. Since 2006, the Trust has awarded $1.6 million in scholarships and grants to 450 students studying at colleges and universities across the United States and the province of Ontario, Canada. Donations to the DFI Educational Trust scholarship funds can be made online at www.dfitrust.org.

The Terracon Foundation encourages employees to submit grant requests each year for organizations focused on education as well as the built and natural environment. To date, the Terracon Foundation has granted nearly $4 million to community organizations, universities, dependents of employees, and disaster relief efforts. For more information about the DFI Educational Trust/Terracon Consultants Scholarship, contact Andrew Verity.

Terracon is an employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 6,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. Explore with us by visiting terracon.com.

Terracon Launches Alternate Delivery Group Focused on Transportation Infrastructure

OLATHE, Kan. – Terracon, a leading national consulting engineering firm comprised of engineers, scientists, architects, facilities experts, and field professionals announces the creation of its Alternate Delivery Division, a team of professionals dedicated to working on design-build, public-private partnership (P3), construction manager/general contractor and other alternate delivery projects.

Terracon’s alternate delivery group is designed to deliver a consistent experience to clients while continuing to evolve to meet the changing needs of the fast-paced transportation industry.

With a focus on quality, consistency and reliability, the alternate delivery division led by David Lipka, P.E., who has recently been named national director. Lipka brings more than three decades of experience in geotechnical and materials engineering services to the team, including extensive experience in the delivery of design-build, progressive design-build, P3 and other alternate delivery methods for transportation and infrastructure projects.

In addition to Lipka, the leadership team includes three national managers who will oversee and lead project performance, serve as project executives, and will guide the client experience in their regions across the United States. The national managers include Rick Chesnut, P.E., P.G. for the western U.S., Michael Wigger, P.E. for central U.S., and Scott Gutowski, P.E. for the eastern U.S.

Terracon is an employee-owned, multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 6,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. Explore with us by visiting terracon.com.