The Ralston Young Trenchless Achievement Award applauds savvy members under 36 who demonstrated excellence early in their career by making valuable contributions to the trenchless technology industry, achieving noteworthy professional success, and actively participating in NASTT. With their talent and ability, these impressive people are the future of trenchless.
KYLE R. FRIEDMAN, PE
Mountain West Trenchless Lead
Brierley Associates
Kyle is a geotechnical engineer specializing in underground construction, trenchless technologies and tunneling with both a B.S. and M.S. in civil engineering with a geotechnical concentration. A registered Professional Engineer in multiple states, his experience in the trenchless industry extends the full life of a trenchless project, including trenchless alternative analyses, developing and conducting geotechnical site investigations, preparing Geotechnical Data Reports (GDR) and Geotechnical Baseline Reports (GBR), design of trenchless crossings and specification development, HDD alignment selections and optimizations, as well as tunneling observations during construction.
Kyle has had an impactful presence within the trenchless community including 9 papers and presentations at various conferences within the trenchless and water/wastewater communities. He has been a key member of the field team during construction of several complex projects, including two award-winning projects: the Empire State Trail Box Tunnel and the Lake Isabella Dam Safety Modification Project.
The candidate has also been an active volunteer within NASTT and RMNASTT since 2019 and is currently an executive board member and Treasurer for the RMNASTT Chapter and is on the No Dig 2025 planning committee.
“Kyle actively advances and advocates for NASTT’s mission in every aspect of his career. He learns as much as possible about trenchless project success and risk mitigation while pushing the limits of current technologies. Committed to industry growth, he shares his knowledge with owners and contractors to promote awareness, understand possibilities, highlight limitations and ensure successful projects and satisfied teams.” – Anna Crockford, Senior Engineer, Brierley Associates
“Kyle plays a key role in the NASTT Rocky Mountain Regional Chapter and its annual Trenchless Elevated conference and Clay Shoot. He is instrumental in organizing, securing participation, moderating, and speaking at these events. Because of his involvement, these events provide valuable insights for trenchless contractors, engineers and owners.” – Jason Langer, General Manager, Underground Infrastructure Technologies
PHILL PERRON
Vice President, Projects
The Crossing Group
Phill is a Canadian professional with an accomplished career spanning logistics, supply chain management, and trenchless technology. Born in Kingston, Ontario, he earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the Royal Military College of Canada and a master’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom.
He served for a decade as a Supply Chain Operations Officer in the Royal
Canadian Air Force. As part of a multi-generational military family, he was proud to contribute to Canada’s missions both at home and abroad. Over the course of his military career, he completed multiple missions and tours, earning commendations for exemplary service.
After transitioning from military service, Phill joined Lockheed Martin, where he supported the $60 billion C-130J Hercules In-Service Support Contract between Lockheed and the Government of Canada. In 2019, he brought his logistical expertise to The Crossing Group as Corporate Supply Chain Manager. There, he applied his military-honed skills to optimize operations for the company’s extensive fleet of over 60 trenchless spreads, significantly enhancing efficiency and agility.
Phill regularly attends the NASTT No-Dig Show and encourages young professionals and others to expand their networks and knowledge through NASTT education and regional chapter participation. He has been published in NASTT Trenchless for Gas Infrastructure Magazine and participated as a reviewer and subject matter expert editor for NASTT’s HDD Good Practices Guidelines, Fifth Edition. He is co-presenting “PacWave South Trenchless Construction – Geotechnical Considerations” on Tuesday, April 1 at the 2025 No-Dig Show in Denver.
“A distinguished Royal Canadian Air Force veteran, Phill has risen rapidly in the trenchless industry, becoming an executive at The Crossing Group by age 33. He leads the largest trenchless scope of the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project and is dedicated to advancing the craft side of trenchless, developing young professionals into skilled technicians. His leadership and commitment to safety, efficiency, and industry growth have earned him respect across the field. His passion for education and mentorship makes him a true champion.” – Thomas Swinney, PMP, US Project Coordinator, The Crossing Group
“What sets Phill apart is not just his technical acumen but his visionary leadership. He commands the respect of everyone he works with, from the most seasoned professionals to the newest recruits. His leadership style, shaped by his experience as an officer in the Air Force, exemplified the importance of discipline, safety and mission-driven work. These qualities translate seamlessly into his role at The Crossing Group, where his approach to safety and performance sets a high standard for everyone around him. – Romeo Shiplee, PE, Director of Geotechnical Engineering, Campos EPC, LLC
Special recognition of Kyle and Phill will take place at the NASTT 2025 No-Dig Show in Denver at the Opening Breakfast.