2025 TCEL Geoprofessional Conference
The 2025 TCEL Annual Meeting and Conference is scheduled for February 7 and 8, 2025 at the Sheraton Arlington Hotel in Arlington, Texas.
The annual TCEL Geoprofessional Conference is for Texas Geoprofessional firms. This conference is an opportunity for TCEL members and guests to come together as Geoprofessionals for Management Level training on Friday and Field Technical Training on Saturday. The conference also provides an opportunity to network and gain professional development hours for our members and attendees.
Session Details
|
Friday |
Event |
Member |
Non-Member |
|
8:00 AM to 11:00 AM |
Ethical Leadership & Followership – Kyle Payne |
$150.00 |
$200.00 |
|
11:00 AM to Noon |
Case Study – Joel Carson |
||
|
Lunch |
Announcements & Sponsor Presentations |
||
|
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM |
Navigating Risks – Stephanie Cook |
||
|
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM |
Legislative Update – Stephanie Cook |
||
|
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
CTAC Program Insights: Enhancing Testing Performance and Project Communication for Managers – James “JT” F. Mesite III, P.E. |
|
Saturday |
Event |
Member |
Non-Member |
|
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM |
Giving and Receiving Feedback – Kyle Payne |
$150 |
$200 |
|
11:00 AM to Noon |
Navigating CTAC in the Field: Enhancing Technician Performance and Project Communication Managers – James “JT” F. Mesite III, P.E. |
||
|
Lunch |
Announcements & Sponsor Presentations |
||
|
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM |
Navigating CTAC in the Field: Enhancing Technician Performance and Project Communication Continued |
||
|
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM |
The Work/Life Balance Paradox – Matt Connor |
2025 TCEL/Geoprofessional Conference Sponsorship Opportunities:
The TCEL/Geoprofessional Conference is annual training conference and an opportunity for TCEL members to come together. Friday is focused on Management Level training and Saturday is focused on technical training. The conference also provides an opportunity to network and gain professional development hours for our members and attendees. Sponsorship at our Conference lets you showcase your products and services and supports the Geoprofessional Industry.
Click to be a Sponsor or for Sponsorship Details
Gold Sponsor ($2,000)
Silver Sponsor ($1,500)
Bronze Sponsor ($1,000)
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Registration Notes
Seminar Registration Fees
- Seminar fee will includes coffee breaks, lunch and all meeting materials.
- Meeting & Seminar Costs listed above.
- Walk-ins are welcome. An additional $25.00 fee for members and non-members will be charged at the door. Registration for Walk-ins must be paid at the door by credit card.
- Refund Policy: You may request to cancel your registration for a full refund, up to 72 hours before the date and time of the event. Cancellations less than 72 hours before the event may not receive a refund, however you can transfer the registration to another individual.
- The registration fees above are valid until close of business February 6, 2025 for members and non-members. This is also the date the Online Registration Closes.
- Please make checks payable to TCEL. Mail to PO Box 19325, Sugar Land, TX 77496-9325
- For Multiple Registrations, please contact Kim Icenhower at [email protected].
Hotel:
Sheraton Arlington Hotel
1500 Convention Center Dr.
Arlington, TX 76011
The TCEL room block rate of $169.00 per night.
Book your group rate for Texas Council of Engineering Laboratories
Reservation cut-off is scheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2025
Room cost includes Comp parking and WIFI in all Guestrooms
2025 Project Professional Training Schedule
Friday, February 7, 2025
8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Ethical Leadership & Followership
Presented by:
Kyle Payne
Leadership Consultant
Leaders play an important role in fostering ethical behavior at work, serving as role models for how to act and how to navigate ethical dilemmas. However, the impact they have is ultimately determined by whether and how others will follow them. In this workshop, participants will explore the phenomenon of followership and consider their contributions as ethical leaders and ethical followers. They will assess follower styles and what conditions enable ethical followers to do the right thing even when facing pressure to do otherwise. They will also practice leading and following in conversation, identifying next steps toward leading and following more effectively.
Dr. Kyle Payne (www.kylepaynephd.com/) is a strategic talent development leader with fifteen years of experience driving process improvement and behavior change through training, coaching, and consulting. He draws upon his experience managing quality in the structural steel industry – building high-quality structures that stand the test of time in any environment – to building high-performing and continually-improving teams. As a coach and facilitator, Kyle has established a strong reputation for fostering a safe and productive environment for participants to find clarity and direction on their own terms.
As a researcher of organizational behavior, Kyle focuses on unethical behavior at work and examines the behaviors of “ethical followers” who have the courage to resist unethical behavior and call into question unethical thinking. He has published and frequently gives talks on unethical behavior and other topics of concern to organizations. He serves on the Ethics & Professional Practice Committee for the Association for Materials Protection and Performance, and he has served as a volunteer exam developer for several professional associations.
Kyle lives in Chicago with his partner Sid and their two cats Queso and Fundido. Outside of work, you’re most likely to find him visiting the Field Museum or the Art Institute, walking along Lake Michigan, or cheering on the Chicago Sky.
Friday, February 7, 2025
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Learning from Others’ Pain – Loss Prevention through Lessons Learned
Presented by:
Joel Carson
CEO,
Geoprofessional Business Association
You chose to work in a very risky profession. Whether you are a geotechnical engineer, environmental engineer, scientist, geologist, testing and inspection professional, designer, or support those fields, the environment where we work is risky. This is a good thing. Yes, risk is good because without it, the world would not need smart, creative problem solvers like you. Without risk our jobs would be boring and routine.
Managing risk is critical to loss prevention.
What are some of the project risks associated with what you do as a professional? They may include:
- unanticipated subsurface conditions
- expansive or compressive soil
- past land use
- liquefaction
- seismic events
- climate change
In addition to project risk, business is risky too. Clients, contractors, subcontractors, and sometimes, even our own employees can increase risk.
Every day we go to work, we experience risk. And with risk, mistakes happen.
The best part about this is that MISTAKES ARE OPPORTUNITIES! Mistakes are opportunities to learn and to get better. Sometimes, those opportunities to learn are painful and take lots of time, energy, and money. There is a better way.
What if we could learn from other people’s mistakes?
Joel G. Carson is the Geoprofessional Business Association’s CEO and Executive Director. He leads, directs, and manages the association’s operations to achieve its Purpose, Vision and Strategic Plan and he acts as the primary liaison for the organization with members, external parties and the public.
Prior to his selection as GBA’s Executive Director, Joel was a practicing geoprofessional consultant for more than 25 years and upon his retirement from Kleinfelder had served as a Senior Vice President, and Senior Principal owner. While with Kleinfelder, he was an active volunteer leader for GBA where he served as Task Force Leader, Committee Chair, and on the Board of Directors.
Mr. Carson is a seasoned public speaker who has presented loss prevention and business optimization topics to thousands of geoprofessionals across the globe. He will educate, entertain, and inspire your audience as he shares his experiences with your audience.
Friday, February 7, 2025
Noon to 1:00 PM
Announcements & Sponsor Presentations
Friday, February 7, 2025
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Navigating Risks for Geoprofessionals
Presented by:
Stephanie Cook
Senior Counsel
Cokinos Young
This presentation will now help us identify and avoid risks in what we write - in our marketing materials, our proposals and contracts, and in our reports. And if we write well and carefully and then follow sound, documented-retention procedures, our documentation can be our best defense in the event of a claim. Geoprofessionals will also learn that the types of projects we choose to work on and the clients we choose to work with can represent different levels of risk
Stephanie Cook is a Principal at Cokinos | Young in Austin. She has extensive experience with a wide range of business disputes, having successfully represented contractors, subcontractors, banks, insurance companies, developers, owners and individuals in complex commercial and construction litigation and bankruptcy. Stephanie has handled, tried and/or appealed a wide variety of commercial and construction cases in state and federal courts in Texas, including matters related to construction defects, delay and acceleration claims, breach of contract, mechanic’s liens, performance and payment bonds, termination, commercial leases, subcontractor and general contractor disputes, director and officer liability, fraud, lender liability, transportation claims and professional liability.
She represents general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers on substantial construction projects, including schools, public universities, highway projects, mixed-use developments, retail centers, hotels, and office buildings. Stephanie was recognized Best Lawyers in America (2021-2025): Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Litigation – Construction.
Friday, February 7, 2025
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Legislative Update
Presented by:
Stephanie Cook
Senior Counsel
Cokinos Young
Ms. Cook will present on current legislation and proposals this year as the Legislature goes into session. Laws affecting engineers, architects and contractors including the right to repair, the statute of repose for claims, and the trendy construction defect litigation will be discussed and positions from various industry interests will be presented for discussion.
Friday, February 7, 2025
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
CTAC Program Insights: Enhancing Testing Performance and Project Communication for Managers
Presented by:
James “JT” F. Mesite III, P.E.
Program Manager
The Concrete Testing Adherence Collaboration (CTAC) program is designed to improve testing performance, drive measurable results, and strengthen communication between testing teams and project stakeholders. Exploration of the latest trends, company reporting processes, and participant feedback will provide managers with a deeper understanding of how CTAC enhances collaboration and addresses key challenges. Practical strategies for effectively communicating testing results with project teams will be shared, along with actionable next steps to help participating companies maximize the program's benefits.
James “JT” F. Mesite III, P.E.
JT Mesite is a Professional Engineer with over two decades of experience in the geotechnical and materials testing industry. For 15 years, he worked with geotechnical engineering firms, specializing in soils, asphalt, and concrete materials testing and inspection across a variety of projects, including roadways, municipal facilities, and residential, industrial, and commercial developments. This extensive experience in field, laboratory, and management roles has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of construction materials and the importance of testing consistency and accuracy.
JT has been a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Colorado since 2006 and has previously held P.E. licenses in multiple states. Currently, he serves as the Program Manager at the Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association (CRMCA), where he has been the Examiner of Record (EOR) for ACI certifications in Colorado since 2015. In this role, he oversees concrete certification programs and actively supports the development of concrete testing professionals. In addition, he is a voting member on multiple ASTM Standards Committees and ACI Certification Committees, where he contributes his expertise to advancing testing standards and certification processes.
As the national program manager of the Concrete Testing Adherence Collaboration (CTAC) program, JT focuses on improving testing consistency, enhancing communication between testing teams and project stakeholders, and driving reliable, measurable results. His work with CTAC has earned national recognition, and he has shared insights at many regional and national industry events, including at the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Concrete Convention and NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks.
JT’s leadership in the CTAC program, combined with his decades of experience and involvement in standards development, highlights his dedication to improving testing practices, fostering communication, and ensuring project success across the concrete construction industry.
2024 Project Technical Training Schedule
Saturday, February 8, 2025
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Giving and Receiving Feedback
Presented by:
Kyle Payne
Leadership Consultant
Feedback is critical to our success at work, reinforcing behaviors that demonstrate the team's values and achieve results while also correcting behaviors that get in the way of those results. However, when surveyed, employees frequently report that they do not get enough quality feedback to act on. In this workshop, participants will explore the impact of effective feedback on performance, development, and engagement. They will assess their own habits around giving and receiving feedback and identify opportunities for improvement. They will also learn and practice techniques that enable a free-flowing and impactful exchange of feedback.
Dr. Kyle Payne (www.kylepaynephd.com/) is a strategic talent development leader with fifteen years of experience driving process improvement and behavior change through training, coaching, and consulting. He draws upon his experience managing quality in the structural steel industry – building high-quality structures that stand the test of time in any environment – to building high-performing and continually-improving teams. As a coach and facilitator, Kyle has established a strong reputation for fostering a safe and productive environment for participants to find clarity and direction on their own terms.
As a researcher of organizational behavior, Kyle focuses on unethical behavior at work and examines the behaviors of “ethical followers” who have the courage to resist unethical behavior and call into question unethical thinking. He has published and frequently gives talks on unethical behavior and other topics of concern to organizations. He serves on the Ethics & Professional Practice Committee for the Association for Materials Protection and Performance, and he has served as a volunteer exam developer for several professional associations.
Kyle lives in Chicago with his partner Sid and their two cats Queso and Fundido. Outside of work, you’re most likely to find him visiting the Field Museum or the Art Institute, walking along Lake Michigan, or cheering on the Chicago Sky.
Saturday, February 8, 2025
11:00 AM to Noon
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Navigating CTAC in the Field: Enhancing Technician Performance and Project Communication
Presented by:
James “JT” F. Mesite III, P.E.
Program Manager
The Concrete Testing Adherence Collaboration (CTAC) program focuses on improving testing consistency, enhancing communication, and driving reliable project outcomes. An overview of the program’s purpose will provide context for its role in strengthening collaboration between technicians, site teams, and project stakeholders. A live demonstration of the CTAC app will highlight key steps for completing field questionnaires accurately and efficiently. Strategies for effective communication with site teams and project managers will also be shared to ensure timely issue resolution and consistent testing practices, empowering technicians to contribute to project success.
James “JT” F. Mesite III, P.E.
JT Mesite is a Professional Engineer with over two decades of experience in the geotechnical and materials testing industry. For 15 years, he worked with geotechnical engineering firms, specializing in soils, asphalt, and concrete materials testing and inspection across a variety of projects, including roadways, municipal facilities, and residential, industrial, and commercial developments. This extensive experience in field, laboratory, and management roles has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of construction materials and the importance of testing consistency and accuracy.
JT has been a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Colorado since 2006 and has previously held P.E. licenses in multiple states. Currently, he serves as the Program Manager at the Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association (CRMCA), where he has been the Examiner of Record (EOR) for ACI certifications in Colorado since 2015. In this role, he oversees concrete certification programs and actively supports the development of concrete testing professionals. In addition, he is a voting member on multiple ASTM Standards Committees and ACI Certification Committees, where he contributes his expertise to advancing testing standards and certification processes.
As the national program manager of the Concrete Testing Adherence Collaboration (CTAC) program, JT focuses on improving testing consistency, enhancing communication between testing teams and project stakeholders, and driving reliable, measurable results. His work with CTAC has earned national recognition, and he has shared insights at many regional and national industry events, including at the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Concrete Convention and NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks.
JT’s leadership in the CTAC program, combined with his decades of experience and involvement in standards development, highlights his dedication to improving testing practices, fostering communication, and ensuring project success across the concrete construction industry.
Saturday, February 8, 2025
2:00 AM to 3:30 AM
The Work/Life Balance Paradox
Presented by:
Matt Connor
Coach Connor
Recent surveys have shown that over 77% of the workforce in the US has experienced burn out and the lack of work/life balance was commonly listed as one of the reasons. In this entertaining and interactive session, we will discuss everyone’s personal search for the “Holy Grail…” The magical and ever elusive Work/Life Balance. What is it exactly? Does it even exist? Who has it? How did they get it? How do I get it? The answers to these questions seem to evade us no matter where we look. Maybe we are asking the wrong questions. This workshop will provide some insight into our “lack of balance,” challenging the usual reasons and excuses why it’s missing and applying some new thinking and ideas to swing the scales back in our favor!
Matt Connor: With over 30 years of relationship-driven, executive-level marketing and business development experience, Matt’s talent lies in creating authentic and effective connections and networks, inspiring teams, and guiding individuals to achieve both personal growth and professional success.
Matt is a Certified Gallup Strengths Coach and forges sincere connections with his audience and adds meaningful value regardless of subject, setting or size. Speaking nationally on a variety of topics, he delves into universal challenges such as: Burnout, Work Life Balance, Leadership, Employee Engagement, and more.
