Person of the Year
2010 Person-of-the-Year: Keith Hanks
For Keith Hanks, being selected the 2010 Trenchless Technology Person of the Year came as a complete surprise. But for his colleagues and those who have worked with him in the trenchless industry, the award is most deserved.
Keith is a life-long municipal employee for the City of Los Angeles who has worked tirelessly in the pursuit of finding the most cost-effective and efficient methods to rehabilitate and replace the city’s underground infrastructure. He has developed guidelines for his city’s approved methods and materials and has been a strong advocate for the trenchless industry. He has served on industry boards and has presented papers in the advocacy of the trenchless market.
More >>
2009 Person-of-the-Year: Glenn Boyce
Finding a job that suits your talents, abilities and interests is paramount to creating a successful career. For Glenn Boyce — senior associate with Jacobs Associates — designing a profession around leadership, service and personal passion has allowed him make an impact on the industry and forge his own accomplished career.
For more than 25 years, Boyce has been working in the trenchless industry — whether it’s been lending his knowledge for a project, teaching other professionals or getting involved with industry associations — his dedication has earned him recognition from others, as well as the distinction of this year’s Trenchless Technology Person of the Year.
More >>
2008 Person-of-the-Year: Maynard Akkerman
Some people search their whole lives to discover a career they love and want to do every day. Whether the quest involves flip-flopping between jobs or pursuing different degrees, people invest months and even years finding what they are meant to do in life.
Fortunately for Maynard Akkerman, president and owner of Akkerman Inc. and Trenchless Technology’s 2008 Person of the Year, his career found him at the ripe old age of 8 and has kept him on his toes ever since. A passion for the trenchless industry first grasped Akkerman when he witnessed his father succeed with his first tunnel boring machine and it hasn’t loosened its grip yet.
More >>
2007 Person-of-the-Year: Chris Brahler
Chris Brahler is passionate about the trenchless technology industry. He loves to talk about it, research it, educate others about it and find new and exciting avenues to employ it.
As president of TT Technologies, a world leader in trenchless underground construction equipment and technology, Brahler is in the perfect position to do just that.
More >>
2006 Person-of-the-Year: Mark Bruce
Leaders are not often described as servants, but that may be the best way to describe this year’s Trenchless Technology Person of the Year: Mark Bruce. For more than a decade, he has served the trenchless industry and worked to educate and build better relationships among its professionals.
More >>
2005 Person-of-the-Year: David Bennett
In both the realm of nature and the realm of construction, a strong foundation is needed to help things grow. A building needs to be rooted in the ground before it can reach any great height, just as a tree must have strong roots in order to grow tall. It is often said that a successful business and career is the same way in order to maximize your potential, you must have a solid background and a foundation of knowledge, wisdom and integrity.
More >>
2004 Person-of-the-Year: Steven Kramer
Steven R. Kramer has spent most of his professional life exploring, researching, developing, implementing and promoting the industry of trenchless technology -- even before there was a name for the fledgling industry in the early 1980s.
Those who know him describe him as a pioneer and torchbearer for the industry -- a key figure integral in the development of tools and technology
More >>
2003 Person-of-the-Year: Irene McSweeney Woodfall
Irene McSweeney Woodfall describes herself as a "quiet advocate" for trenchless technology. But her professional actions over the last 18 years reveal otherwise.
She is an active advocate for trenchless technologies through her countless hours of work through the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) and the Northeast Chapter for NASTT. She mentors students
More >>
2002 Person-of-the-Year: Mark Wallbom
Over the past 25 years, Mark Wallbom has developed a knack for reinventing companies. From the college campus to the corporate board room, he's polished a passion for organizational development, helping struggling companies find new direction and fresh markets.
He's been courted by corporations from the banking, oilfield and
More >>
2001 Person-of-the-Year: Ray Sterling
For years, Ray Sterling's daily workload has been composed of one fundamental task, especially after taking the directorial reins of Louisiana Tech University's Trenchless Technology Center (TTC). As an industry figurehead in the trenchless arena, which is more than evident by the droves of titles that often proceed him, Sterling has strode to regiment and broadcast to municipalities, manufacturers and business professionals in the construction industry the benefits that trenchless technologies can offer.
More >>
2000 Person-of-the-Year: Joseph Barsoom
As director of engineering for the Wastewater Management Division of the City and County of Denver, Joseph Barsoom directs the operation of a large multi-divisional engineering organization with 100 employees. Joe directs the planning, design and construction of engineering projects and is responsible for the use of new design and construction materials and methods for the division.
More >>
1999 Person-of-the-Year: Frank Canon
A colorful figure widely known throughout the trenchless industry, Frank Canon is usually surrounded by persons, whether at a seminar, construction site or trade show. His focus is always on helping the contractor, regardless of what that may require: "What's good for the industry is good for Baroid."
More >>
1998 Person-of-the-Year: John Jurgens and Dave Gellings
Trenchless Resources International Inc. is a young organization founded in a partnership of Dave Gellings and John Jurgens. Though only in their third year, the company represents the combined experience of more than 35 years in the wastewater industry, with nearly a decade of that experience gained as colleagues at a premier Northwestern sewer contracting company.
More >>
1997 Person-of-the-Year: Leo Barbera
"It doesn't do any good to have knowledge if you don't share it with somebody." That motto and the commitment to trenchless equipment design, training and education that it represents has driven Leo Barbera throughout his years in the industry.
Leo has more than three decades of auger boring, manufacturing and contracting experience as co-founder of American Augers Inc. and
More >>
1996 Person-of-the-Year: Bob Affholder
His career started in 1958 when no one called it trenchless technology, and Bob Affholder has been upbeat and positive about the business from the beginning. In the 38 years since he started working as a laborer for Armco Industries Metal Products Division, Bob has seen the trenchless business grow from nothing into one of the most dynamic areas of construction. He has been responsible for some of the most dramatic changes that have occurred.
More >>
1995 Person-of-the-Year: Mike Garver
Any discussion of microtunneling in North America ultimately turns to BRH-Garver and Mike Garver, the pioneer who has done more than anyone else to bring the title of microtunneling capital of North America to Houston.
Mike's firm is involved in many more areas of construction than remote-controlled tunneling. BRH-Garver operates in many
More >>
1994 Person-of-the-Year: Richard O. Thomasson
When Richard Thomasson began his engineering career some 25 years ago, he doubtless could not have conceived of his role in the interpretation and promotion of trenchless technology. Even the term was unheard of back in 1969.
Richard has been on the forefront of the trenchless industry nearly his whole career. As a member of the Water Pollution Control Federation,
More >>
1993 Person-of-the-Year: Dr. Tom Iseley
Tom combines the traits of educator, researcher, contractor, and more. He moves easily in all three spheres, knowing the issues and problems confronting each and mastering most of them. Yet he avoids being confined or defined by any one of the roles.
Dr. D. Thomas Iseley reflects these criteria completely. He received the unanimous support of the review panel that honored him with this recognition.
More >>
