Industry News, trenchless people
It is with regret, but much fondness, that we remember the life and contribution of ISTT Chairman Emeritus Ted Flaxman who died December 8, 2020, aged 92.
Ted (EW) Flaxman, Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, had a distinguished career with Binnie and Partners (now Black and Veatch). As Past President of the Institution of Public Health Engineers (IPHE), he chaired the organizing committee of the IPHE Conference “Trenchless Construction for Utilities,’’ the 1st No-Dig Event in 1985. In his concluding address, he proposed a series of international trenchless events, the formation of the International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT), an industry journal, and an annual prize for innovation.
With customary vigor, he made all of these promises happen, and ISTT was established in 1986. Ted served as its Chairman from 1986-2003 and as a Guarantor until 2016. In 1988 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers. He received the Kurose Award in 1993 and the UKSTT’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Ted was Master of the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators in 1996 and with Ted Jackson he published a “Sweet and Wholesome Water-five centuries of the history of water bearers in London.”
A much accomplished leader, visionary and friend who did much to encourage generations of trenchless technologists, he had a keen wit and joked that his epitaph should be ‘Ted Flaxman fled taxman’!
Respectfully,
Dec Downey
Image caption: Ted Flaxman (right) with (from left) Rolf Bielecki, Dec Downey and Dr. Tohyama. Photo courtesy of Dec Downey.
Industry News, trenchless people
Insituform Technologies, an affiliate of Aegion Corporation, the world’s largest cured-in-place pipe 
(CIPP) provider in underground pipeline rehabilitation, announced that Cindy Preuss, P.E. has joined the company as Senior Business Development Manager for the Northern California and Pacific Northwest Regions.
Cindy brings more than 21 years of professional engineering experience working in the design consulting industry, where she was an important driving force for evaluating, designing, and promoting trenchless technologies for myriad pipeline projects in the West. Formerly Principal/Vice-President and Associate of HydroScience Engineers and Harris & Associates, respectively, her reputation in the industry is both impressive and significant, and Insituform is fortunate to have her aboard.
Hailing from the University of California at Berkeley, Cindy is well known both nationally and regionally through her recent service on the NASTT Board of Directors, the WESTT Board of Directors, the Northern California Pipe Users Group (PUG), and through her current service as an instructor for the NASTT Trenchless Good Practices Courses offered nationally. She is a strong asset to both the trenchless industry and the Insituform team.
Cindy will be responsible for handling business development in the Northern California and Pacific Northwest Regions, in addition to participating in R&D and strategic planning in the pressure pipe rehabilitation arena. She can be reached at cpreuss@aegion.com or at (925) 408-3815.
Industry News, trenchless people, trenchless projects
On Thursday, November 12 the NASTT Student Chapter at Rutgers University participated in a trenchless presentation discussing various projects in the Northeastern United States.
A Zoom session was hosted by Dennis Walsh – Senior Project Manager – Horizontal Directional Drilling of PSE&G and the presenter was Rich Palmer of Northeast Remsco. Scott Murray – Project Executive at Northeast Remsco arranged for Rich to present and worked with Rutgers Professor Nenad Gucunski and Student Chapter President, Ian Walczak to make it happen.
12 attendees logged on to this evening session which included project info, lots of photos and a lively Q and A session.
Many thanks to all the volunteers that made this happen and are helping our Student Chapters stay involved during the quarantine where group learning settings can be difficult to navigate.
Industry News, trenchless people, trenchless products
Since its founding over 100 years ago, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce has been steadfast in its mission is to lead the region in business and community development through collaboration and innovation. Currently, over 1,900 regional business and organizations are members of the Chamber. In 1993, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce created its annual and truly iconic Business Excellence Awards program to celebrate and honor businesses that have distinguished themselves by being a significant presence in and/or providing substantial benefit to the citizens and economy of Stark County.
To be considered, the business must be for-profit and needs to have demonstrated several of the following attributes:
• Growth in business and/or employment (i.e. growth in sales or employees, etc.)
• Stability and longevity in your industry (i.e. adaption to changing industry, viability to the industry, etc.)
• Capital investment or expansion of operations and/or efficiencies
• Innovation (expansion of products/product lines)
• Outstanding customer service
• Entrepreneurship
• Consistent Involvement in the community
This year, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce is holding its 106TH VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING, featuring Community Updates & the 2020 Business Excellence Award Honorees on Tuesday, October 27.
2020 BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD HONOREES:
Barbco Inc.
Combi Packaging
Kempthorn Motors
Mid’s True Sicilian Pasta Sauce
Morgan Engineering
Muggswigz Coffee & Tea
Sand, Sebolt & Wernow Co.
Barbco, Incorporated joins Combi Packaging, Kempthorn Motors, Morgan Engineering, Muggswigz Coffee and Tea, MID’s “True Sicilian Pasta Sauce” and Sand, Sebolt & Wernow Co., LPA in the Business Excellence Awards Class of 2020. Barbco, Incorporated is proud, honored, and humbled to be considered alongside such esteemed companies that are committed to the continued growth and economic strength of the region.
Industry News, trenchless people
Robert H. Westphal
5/4/1944 – 3/31/2020
A memorial service celebrating the life of Robert H. “Bob” Westphal will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, at Faith Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac, WI.
Bob passed away on March 31, 2020. He is remembered for his many contributions to Michels Corporation, and to the pipeline and trenchless construction industries. An industry icon, Bob devoted 55 years of his life to Michels.
A memorial service remembering the life of Bob Westphal will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, at Faith Lutheran Church, 55 Prairie Road, in Fond du Lac, WI.
Friends and family are invited to attend the service. Based on current rules for public gatherings, masks will be required. Bob’s family will meet with guests immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to The Robert H. Westphal Memorial Scholarship Fund. To contribute, send checks to Michels Scholarship Fund, Attn: Nate Redig, P.O. Box 128 Brownsville, WI 53006. Enter Robert H. Westphal Memorial on the memo line.
Memorials may also be sent to Faith Lutheran Church and School, 55 Prairie Road, Fond du Lac, WI 54935 in memory of Bob.
Industry News, trenchless people
CEO, second-generation owner, Dan Liotti announces retirement
Greenfield, Indiana — August 25, 2020 — Midwest Mole Inc., a premiere specialty underground contractor providing boring, trenchless tunneling and directional drilling services throughout the Midwest and beyond, has announced that CEO and second-generation owner Dan Liotti is retiring.
Ownership of the family business founded in 1982 by Len Liotti will be transferred to an Employee Stock Ownership, in which the company’s employees own shares. “It’s 100% employee-owned,” states Jason Miller, president. An ESOP is a kind of employee benefit plan, similar to a profit-sharing plan, providing advantages for growth and employee retention without alteration of the management structure.
The change of ownership is expected to be a seamless transition for clients and vendors, as the company continues to focus on providing cost-effective and environmentally friendly trenchless solutions, working safely and creating a welcoming work environment.
Midwest Mole is considered a trenchless technology expert, tunneling under highways, railroads, buildings and airports on municipal and private sector projects, operating as either prime contractor or subcontractor. The majority of their work involves utilities or sewer, stormwater and water pipes.
To reflect these changes, Midwest Mole has refreshed its goals and mission statement and adopted new branding, which includes an updated logo and visual identity. The employee-owned company remains committed to long-standing industry relationships and delivering quality work in the demanding world of tunneling, building on their decades of experience to expand services geographically as part of their plan of growth for the future.
For more information, please contact David Howell at david@midwestmole.com.
It is with regret, but much fondness, that we remember the life and contribution of ISTT Chairman Emeritus Ted Flaxman who died December 8, 2020, aged 92.
