The No-Dig Show, trenchless people
The Ralston Young Trenchless Achievement Award applauds savvy members under 36 who demonstrate excellence early in their careers by making valuable contributions to the trenchless technology industry and NASTT.
Please join NASTT in celebrating the 2023 recipient: Marya Jetten, P.Eng. at Jacobs in Toronto, Ontario.
Young Trenchless Achievement Award Selection Committee Chair, Chris Sivesind, Territory Manager at Akkerman and NASTT staff made a surprise call to Marya to share the news. “We had an impressive group of candidates. Marya made immeasurable contributions to the NASTT community, especially the Canadian chapters.” Chris said.
Marya, was thrilled to hear the news with her four-month old in her arms. “It is a privilege to be recognized for my passion for all things trenchless“ she said acknowledging the inspirational careers of previous recipients, some of whom are now her mentors and colleagues.
In Marya Jetten’s 12 years as an Engineer, she has gained in-depth experience in a wide variety of trenchless technologies for conveyance installation and renewals. “NASTT has provided me with a robust industry network and continuous education in trenchless technology,” she said. “I am honored to be recognized by NASTT for my contributions to the trenchless community.”
Marya is regular presenter and attendee at well-established Canadian, North American & Global conferences, where she expands her network and builds her knowledge on rapidly changing industry standards, available and applicable products for various applications and the ever-expanding boundaries being pushed for installation methods. She shares this knowledge with her Jacobs peers as the Jacobs Global Technology Leader for Condition Assessment and Rehabilitation Solutions.
“Marya’s communication skills help maintain cohesiveness within the team, recruit new members, and elevate the overall level of excellence in delivery,” said Daniel Buonadonna, Senior Technologist at Jacobs, who was thrilled to nominate Marya. “Marya uses her leadership influence to raise awareness of trenchless technologies and enable project success across the continent.”
Marya served as the Co-Chair of the Technical Program Committee for No-Dig North 2022, after volunteering for the conference in 2021. Bruce Yao, Vice President of Testing at Paragon Systems Testing who also served as Co-chair noted that her extensive project management experience was instrumental in the conference’s success. “
Her positive can-do attitude also made her a joy to work with as a team; she brought the most out of the people working around her.” Gerald Bauer, Principal Water at Stantec Consulting Ltd. Was also a No-Dig North volunteer. “She worked tirelessly in her role…doing an amazing job to make the conference a huge success,” he said. Marya also serves as the GLSLA Chapter Vice-Chair.
In addition to her chapter and committee activities, Marya has been an author and presenter at both the NASTT No-Dig Show and No-Dig North. Her six technical papers are available through the NASTT technical paper library.
Matthew Izzard, NASTT Executive Director, thanked Marya for her NASTT involvement and enthusiasm and for being among the best of the best of young trenchless professionals. Special recognition of Marya will take place at the NASTT No-Dig Show in Portland.
Join Marya and other trenchless professionals in their 20s and 30s at the combined Young Professionals/Student/Municipal Scholarship Social on Sunday, April 30 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM in the Portland Ballroom Lobby.
Industry News, trenchless projects
The North American Society for Trenchless Technology has sent out a request for proposals for Professional Engineering Services to update and revise NASTT’s Cured-In-Place Pipe Good Practices Training Course and Publication.
RFP Issue Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2023
RFP Closing Date: 5:00 PM EST – Friday, March 31, 2023
Submittal instructions are located in the document.
Industry News
ARPA-E has recently posted a new Teaming List Announcement for an upcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement: Grid Overhaul with Proactive, High-Speed Undergrounding for Reliability, Resilience, and Security (GOPHURRS).
The Teaming List Announcement can be found at: https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaIda6318a75-2811-42f3-abd9-d5032a9e675f.
Related to this Teaming List Announcement, ARPA-E held a workshop on “Improving the Reliability and Resilience of Electric Power Distribution by Cost-Effective Undergrounding and High-Performance Installation and Maintenance Technologies”. Further details can be seen on their workshop homepage: https://arpa-e.energy.gov/events/undergrounding-workshop.
Industry News, trenchless projects
The North American Society for Trenchless Technology has sent out a request for proposals for Professional Engineering Services to update and revise NASTT’s Horizontal Directional Drilling Good Practices Training Course and Publication.
RFP Issue Date: Thursday, December 5, 2022
RFP Closing Date: 5:00 PM EST – Friday, January 27, 2023
Submittal instructions are located in the document.
Industry News, trenchless people
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic — W. Michael “Mike” Byrne, age 99, peacefully passed away at home on Sunday morning, October 16, 2022. Mike embodied the spirit of The Greatest Generation in his drive and his passion for helping those in need, be it his family; his fellow Mansfielders; or the underserved communities in the country he held dear to his heart, the Dominican Republic.
Mike was the son of Ruth (Cannon) and Lawrence Morris Byrne, and was born July 1, 1923, in Minot, North Dakota. At age 3, his family moved to Port Huron, Michigan, where he grew up—but in 1931, at the height of The Great Depression, Mike’s father left his mother and five siblings. To help make money for his mother, Mike started working at the age of 8. His jobs were many and varied, from selling newspapers and flowers on the street corners, to selling jewelry and whiskey (Mike was a very proud Irishman). He also worked at Hayden’s Upholstery. When Mr. Hayden died, he left his 1927 Ford Model T to Mike; at age 12, Mike owned his first car. To his last days, Mike always said, “We were poor, but because of my mother, we never knew we were poor.”
In 1943 he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps; he became a 2nd Lt. Bombardier/Navigator. After the war, Mike worked for Evans Products Co. in Detroit. In 1949, the Small Appliance Division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation recruited Mike and he moved to Mansfield, Ohio. He worked at Westinghouse for the next 15 years; it was there he met “the most beautiful lady in town,” his future wife, Lois Hershey.
Mike rose through the ranks at Westinghouse, eventually becoming the National Marketing Manager and overseeing the company’s sales and marketing efforts. For a three-year period, he was transferred to New York City’s Manhattan office before returning to the Mansfield office.
In 1966 Mike started his own business, Michael Byrne Manufacturing, a manufacturer of horizontal earth boring machines. This business eventually expanded into tunneling, coal augering and environmental clean-up machines and equipment. For his efforts in manufacturing, Mike was inducted this past September into the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum’s “Champions of Industry.”
In Mansfield, Mike was active in many businesses and organizations and was always willing to lend a hand. From the early ’60s to the mid ’80s, he was the agent for Greyhound Bus Lines and Western Union. He was the first president of the St. Peter’s High School Booster Club and a member of the St. Peter’s Board of Education; he was on the founding board of the St. Peter’s Summer Festival. He was also on the founding board of The Store (now The New Store), which provides clothing to children in need.
When he moved to the Dominican Republic in his later years, Mike was still very active and passionate about making a difference in people’s lives. He and Lois helped fund and subsidize the construction and operation of a primary school in the city of Puerto Plata. Together they also founded and funded a nationwide program and worked with CitiHope International to import and distribute medicine and medical supplies for the poor. Mike was most proud of this program and its evolution; it is now heavily funded and supported by Rica, the largest juice and dairy products company in the Dominican Republic.
Mike’s hobbies were not many—he always said he was too busy working—but he was an avid fisherman and enjoyed woodworking.
Mike is survived by his children Terrence Byrne, Jeremiah Byrne, Laura (James) Weist, Leslie (David) Eichinger, Lynn Stone, Lisa (Mike) Bumb, Brian (Carol) Byrne, (Shawn) Byrne Felton; 19 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren who lovingly knew him as “Great Mike.” Mike was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Lois; and his son Chris. A memorial service with family and friends will take place at a later time, with whiskey and memories flowing freely.
We are all so thankful for Mike’s extraordinary life and for all the lives he touched. Condolences can be sent to condolences.wmichaelbyrne@outlook.com; memorial contributions may be made to The New Store, P.O. Box 2525, Mansfield, Ohio 44906.
Funeral home : Funeral arrangements are being handled in the Dominican Republic
Mike will be inducted into the Manufacturer’s Hall of Fame this year. View a video honoring his life and industry contributions here.
Please join NASTT in celebrating the 2023 recipient: Marya Jetten, P.Eng. at Jacobs in Toronto, Ontario.
