2026 TCEL Geoprofessional Conference

The 2026 TCEL Annual Meeting and Conference is scheduled for February 27 and 28, 2026 at the Hilton College Station & Conference Center.

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. 

Friday, February 27, 2026

Project Professional Conference Schedule

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Project Technical conference training Schedule

2026 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

Friday, February 27, 2026

8:00 AM to 9:00 AM

Leadership:  Take the Helm

Presented by:

Craig Clutts, President
En Gedi Construction

This session describes the chain of command on a Navy war vessel from Helmsman to Skipper, and how those positions relate to corporate leadership structures with relatable responsibility levels. Audiences gain clarity on responsibility, authority, and influence within organizational hierarchies.

Craig Clutts, P.E. is a leadership coach, speaker, and bestselling author who inspires others to lead with courage, conviction, and compassion. With decades of experience as a U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps and President of En Gedi Construction, Craig has led teams through some of the most challenging environments. Craig blends military discipline, business expertise, and faith-driven values to guide leaders in building stronger teams and sustainable results. Through coaching, consulting, and speaking, Craig empowers professionals to transform their organizations, strengthen culture, and take the helm with confidence.

Friday, February 27, 2026

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Ethics Jeopardy

Facilitated by:

Pete Falletta, PE
Vice President, Senior Principal
DFW Regional Materials Manager
Terracon

The engineering profession has a responsibility to the public and to the profession.  There are laws we must adhere to, but more importantly there are responsibilities to public safety, health and welfare that require acting with integrity.  Test your knowledge and practice of engineering ethics in this session that examines ethical questions of real-life case studies and scenarios.

Mr. Peter E. Falletta, P.E., brings over thirty years of distinguished expertise in construction materials engineering and testing. As Vice President and Senior Principal at Terracon Consultants, Inc., Mr. Falletta leads the Dallas–Fort Worth regional materials team, driving forward-thinking solutions for some of the region’s most complex infrastructure projects. His leadership fosters excellence in quality, safety, and efficiency across a dynamic portfolio of public and private sector clients.

Widely regarded as an industry leader, Mr. Falletta serves on the Texas Council of Engineering Laboratories (TCEL) Board, championing high standards and ethical practices. His influence extends to shaping best-in-class quality-based selection processes and cultivating collaboration among engineering laboratories statewide.

Uniting deep engineering knowledge with visionary leadership, Mr. Falletta is a trusted partner to clients and peers. His unwavering commitment to advancing materials engineering reflects Terracon’s mission to deliver responsive, resourceful, and reliable solutions.

Friday, February 27, 2026

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Creating a Safety Culture in the Workplace

Presented by:

David Haffelder, Corporate Safety Director
Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

Creating a safety culture in the workplace requires an unwavering commitment to the safety and health of every company employee. This commitment to safety must be shared throughout all levels of the organization from the CEO to the frontline workers. An authentic safety culture not only empowers the worker to take ownership of their own safe practices but also allows them to feel confident to speak up and question supervision. We will discuss ways in which employers and employees alike can do their part to build an environment where the safety and health of all employees is valued more than production or deadlines.

David Haffelder brings an extensive and distinguished career to the construction industry, with over 30 years of hands-on experience and more than two decades dedicated specifically to safety management. His deep expertise spans various facets of the field, ensuring that jobsite safety remains at the forefront of every project.

Before joining Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, David served as the Safety Director for a prominent steel erection company, where he played a pivotal role in overseeing safety protocols for large-scale, high-stakes projects, including work at the renowned Los Alamos National Laboratory. His leadership in this capacity reinforced his ability to develop and implement comprehensive safety strategies in complex and demanding environments.

In his role with Bartlett Cocke, David takes the lead in monitoring jobsite conditions, ensuring compliance with all safety regulations, and proactively identifying and mitigating potential hazards. His commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards is instrumental in protecting the well-being of every team member and ensuring the success of Bartlett Cocke’s projects.

Friday, February 27, 2026

11:00 AM to Noon

Type IL Cements: An Engineer’s and Contractor’s Perspective

Presented by:

Jacob Borgerson, PhD, PE (TX)
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.  

David Buzzelli
Texas A&M Concrete

An industry shift from ASTM C150 Type I/II cements to ASTM C595 Type IL cements is occurring nationally, driven largely by initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of reinforced concrete infrastructure. Several cement suppliers across Texas have already made the switch. Type IL cements, also called portland limestone cements, consist of an ordinary portland cement (e.g., Type I cement) either blended or interground with a fine limestone powder up to 15 percent by weight. Several studies have been conducted over the past two decades comparing the performance of Type I/II cements to Type IL cements. These studies have shown that Type IL cements can be produced in such a way as to provide “equivalent” performance to Type I/II cements, however, more recent experience with Type IL cements in field applications has been more varied. This presentation will discuss the science behind Type IL cements and how they can perform similar to Type I/II cements in certain aspects and differently in other aspects. The impact of Type IL cement on the strength, durability, and plastic properties of concrete will be discussed. Considerations for specifying, producing, placing, and finishing Type IL cement concrete will be presented.

Jacob L. Borgerson is a concrete consultant with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.  Borgerson received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Dr. Borgerson specializes in providing concrete construction expertise in multiple areas including cracking, placement/finishing defects, low compressive strength, construction practices, mass concrete, ready-mix operations, specifications, field testing, and repair of existing structures.  He is a member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and serves on ACI Committees 207 Mass Concrete, 117 Tolerances for Concrete Construction, and 330 Parking Lots and Site Paving.  He is a licensed professional engineer in multiple states including Texas.

David W. Buzzelli has been the Vice President and Partner at Texas A&M Concrete, LLC headquartered in Houston, Texas since 2012.  He started his career in concrete construction back in 1989 where he volunteered his time building churches in the local community while still attending high school. David decided to pursue a career in concrete construction by joining a Houston based company as a concrete finisher and progressed his career through various roles and companies within the industry including Field Superintendent, Project Manager and Operations manager before becoming Vice President of Texas A&M Concrete, LLC. 

After joining ACI in 2007, David became a board member of ACI Houston chapter in 2011, and President of the Houston Chapter in 2014.  He is the current Chair of ACI C640 and was the former Secretary of the Committee.  David is a voting member of ACI C650, ACI 302, ACI 360, ACI 117, and Sub-Committee Chair for 117-0K for the Tilt-Wall Section, ACI 330, and an Associate Member of ACI 551.  He is also a current board member of the Houston Chapter and an Examiner for ACI Flatwork Finisher.  David is passionate about helping educate his customers and others about concrete by conducting training seminars for ACI Flatwork Finishers,  presenting to the local college ACI Student Chapters, and presenting at the ACI Symposium. Became a Fellow of ACI in 2024. 

David graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1993 and attended San Jacinto College from 1994 - 1995 in the Construction Management Program.  He has continued gaining his education in the concrete industry through the years by attending ACI seminars, ACI conventions and World of Concrete as well as through several highly skilled mentors who graciously took me under their wing.  

Friday, February 27, 2026

Noon to 1:00 PM

Announcements & Sponsor Presentations

Friday, February 27, 2026

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Foundation Capacity in Intermediate Geomaterials

Presented by:

Jean-Louis BRIAUD, PhD, PE, Dist.M. ASCE
Distinguished Professor
Zachry Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Texas A&M University

Intermediate GeoMaterials or IGM are intermediate between strong soils and weak rocks. IGMs vary widely, spanning from highly compacted sand and gravel to firm tills, to less dense sandstones, weathered limestone, and weathered granite. Typically, they exhibit Standard Penetration Test (SPT) N values between 50 and 200 blows per 0.3 m, uniaxial compressive strengths between 500 to 5000 kPa, and pressuremeter limit pressures between 2.5 and 50 MPa.

The modulus and unconfined compression strength of Intermediate Geo-Materials (IGM) is discussed. A distinction is made between the modulus of the intact IGM EI and the modulus of the IGM mass EM as well as the unconfined compression strength of the intact IGM quI and the unconfined compression strength of the IGM mass quM. In the second part, the pressuremeter (PMT) test parameters are discussed to show that the PMT does measure the IGM mass values. In the third part, the axial capacity of bored piles in IGM is discussed, including the ultimate side friction fu and the ultimate bearing pressure pu. A database of instrumented load tests is assembled from publicly available documents, and these two parameters, fu and pu, are correlated with the pressuremeter limit pressure pL. Then, guidelines to estimate fu and pu in IGM using pL are evaluated using the database.

Dr. Jean-Louis Briaud is a Distinguished Professor and Holder of the Spencer J. Buchanan Chair in the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University, a Distinguished Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a Professional Engineer. He received his bachelor’s degree in France in 1972 and his Ph.D. degree from the University of Ottawa in Canada in 1979. His expertise is in soil mechanics and foundation engineering. He has been President of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, and President of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Among other awards, he has received the ASCE Ralph Peck Award and the Terzaghi Award from the USA, the CGS Geoffrey Meyerhof Foundation Engineering Award and the Cross Canada Lecture Award from Canada, The Terzaghi Oration Award from India, the Jennings Lecture Award from South Africa, and was named a Geo-Legend by GeoStrata Magazine. Over the last 45 years, Dr. Briaud has lectured in some 80 countries and conducted about 30 million dollars of research. He has supervised 60 PhD students and 100 Master students. He has taught several thousand undergraduate students and received the Zachry Award of Excellence in Teaching from Texas A&M University. He is the author of a book entitled Geotechnical Engineering and one entitled The Pressuremeter. He has published about 300 articles and reports in geotechnical engineering. His technical contributions include developing three major engineering tools with two patents, providing solutions to protect embassies against terrorist trucks, avoiding bridge collapse due to soil erosion during major floods, minimizing house damage due to swelling soils, and advancing the development of geothermal energy. He plays tennis and jazz piano at the amateur level.

Friday, February 27, 2026

2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Governance:  Optimize your Organization

Presented by:

Craig Clutts, President
En Gedi Construction

Introduces five powerful elements for structuring teams that clarify alignment, delegate responsibility appropriately, and improve organizational efficiency. A transformative blueprint for building strategic leadership at every level.

Craig Clutts, P.E. is a leadership coach, speaker, and bestselling author who inspires others to lead with courage, conviction, and compassion. With decades of experience as a U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps and President of En Gedi Construction, Craig has led teams through some of the most challenging environments. Craig blends military discipline, business expertise, and faith-driven values to guide leaders in building stronger teams and sustainable results. Through coaching, consulting, and speaking, Craig empowers professionals to transform their organizations, strengthen culture, and take the helm with confidence.

Friday, February 27, 2026

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Leadership Through Negotiation: Engineering Influence and Collaboration

Presented by:

Lynn Price, JD
Lynn Price Consulting, LLC

In technical environments, leadership isn’t just about authority—it’s about influence. This session explores how you can apply the principles of negotiation to lead more effectively, manage up with confidence, and foster collaboration across teams and disciplines. Attendees will learn practical strategies to navigate differing viewpoints, build consensus, and move complex conversations toward productive solutions. Through real-world examples and proven negotiation techniques, participants will leave equipped to lead with clarity and credibility—whether managing projects, peers, or individuals on the jobsite.

E. Lynn Price is a speaker, author, and attorney with over twenty-five years of experience providing creative business solutions to clients and executives. Over the last two decades, she has successfully negotiated over 11,000 agreements and counting.

She is the author of the bestselling book “Negotiate It! How to Crush Your Fears, Develop Your Negotiation Muscle, and Gain Power in the Workplace” which was highlighted in the Forbes article “The Best Books That Will Make You A Master Negotiator” as well as landing as #24 on BookAuthority.com’s list of “100 Best Negotiation Books of All Time” and “11 Best New Negotiation Books to Read in 2019.” Lynn is currently listed as #18 on Global Gurus' "World's Top 30 Negotiation Professionals for 2025.”

 Lynn was a Principal with Terracon Consultants, a national engineering firm where she managed the legal department and served as corporate secretary. As the leader of the corporate legal department, her department was awarded the “Top Corporate Department” multiple times by the company’s business leaders. Lynn adopted a “Be a Resource, Not a Roadblock” philosophy for both herself and her department.

2026 Project Technical conference Schedule details

Saturday, February 28, 2026

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Context-Aware Worker Intent Interpretation for Human-Robot Collaboration in Construction

Presented by:

Dr. Xin Wang
Assistant Professor
Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University

With years of technical development, construction robots and/or autonomous machines have shown the potential to enhance productivity and safety in the construction industry. However, robots and autonomous machines have not been widely adopted on construction sites. There are various reasons contributing to the low adoption of robots in construction including operational and personnel barriers. An intuitive and accurate human intent representation can help contribute to resolving the above barriers. Therefore, the research objective of this study is to propose a context-aware human intent representation to support human-robot collaborations on construction sites. It consists of two parts: (1) recognition building, and (2) context-enhanced recognition. In the first part, a novel vision-based method and a novel wearable sensors-based method are developed to recognize hand gestures performed by the workers. Further, a comparison study is conducted to analyze their pros and cons. In the second part, the collaborative object context and machine context are incorporated into the gesture-based interface to improve the interaction efficiency and enhance the functionality. Experimental evaluation on different construction sites has demonstrated that the proposed method could serve as an effective interface for human-robot collaboration on construction sites. The expected contributions of this study include improving interaction efficiency with construction robots, decreasing onsite safety issues, promoting the adoption of robots in construction, etc.

Dr. Xin Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University. He was a postdoctoral researcher in the Industrialized Construction Innovation at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) (Now renamed as National Laboratory of the Rockies). He completed his Ph.D. degree from the Department of Civil and Environment Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2024. During his Ph.D. study, he obtained the M.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2021. Before that, he received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from Tongji University, Shanghai, China, in 2016 and 2019, respectively. His research interests include human–machine interaction, construction automation and robotics, artificial intelligence in construction, building energy efficiency. So far, he has published eight peer-reviewed high quality journal articles as the first author. He won the Best Paper Award and the First Place in student research presentation in Transforming Construction with Reality Capture Technologies (TCRC) Conference in 2022. He is also the recipient of the Best Paper Award across all the tracks (~ 400 papers) at the 2024 CI & CRC Joint Conference.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

The Hidden Leadership Test: Mastering the Art of Conflict Resolution

Presented by:

Lynn Price, JD
Lynn Price Consulting, LLC

How leaders respond to conflict reveals more about their effectiveness than any technical skill or title. This session examines how you can navigate disagreements, personality clashes, and project pressures with clarity and composure. Participants will learn practical strategies to de-escalate tension, find common ground, and turn conflict into collaboration. Using real-world examples from technical environments, this session highlights conflict resolution as a critical leadership skill—one that strengthens teams, improves outcomes, and builds trust in the field and beyond.

E. Lynn Price is a speaker, author, and attorney with over twenty-five years of experience providing creative business solutions to clients and executives. Over the last two decades, she has successfully negotiated over 11,000 agreements and counting.

She is the author of the bestselling book “Negotiate It! How to Crush Your Fears, Develop Your Negotiation Muscle, and Gain Power in the Workplace” which was highlighted in the Forbes article “The Best Books That Will Make You A Master Negotiator” as well as landing as #24 on BookAuthority.com’s list of “100 Best Negotiation Books of All Time” and “11 Best New Negotiation Books to Read in 2019.” Lynn is currently listed as #18 on Global Gurus' "World's Top 30 Negotiation Professionals for 2025.”

 Lynn was a Principal with Terracon Consultants, a national engineering firm where she managed the legal department and served as corporate secretary. As the leader of the corporate legal department, her department was awarded the “Top Corporate Department” multiple times by the company’s business leaders. Lynn adopted a “Be a Resource, Not a Roadblock” philosophy for both herself and her department.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

11:00 AM to Noon

The Blue Line:  Work as Planned vs. Work as Performed

Presented by:

Zy Bobbitt, CHST, CWI, MSI

Engineering is a science.  In science, a hypothesis is formed, a variable is identified, an independent variable is assigned, an experiment is performed, and the results are documented.  As science has evolved over time, new discoveries are made and science changes.  This is true of engineering.  Sometimes the changes come from catastrophic failures, and it is through the benefit of hindsight that a simple and linear explanation for the failure can be identified.  People are part of the world of science and engineering.  People are not always linear and sometimes intuition guides the process of science and engineering.  So, it could be said that there is an art to science and engineering.  When a person improvises or makes a change and the change is successful, they are heralded as thinking “outside of the box”.  But, if the change causes a failure, the person is admonished.  In this way, people work and make decisions based upon the information they have at the time.  In the event of a failure that involves a person and the failure results in an injury or incident, hindsight will only allow for a picture of that moment.  Changing the way that we ask questions and view the work as performed and not the way the work was planned allows a view into the art and science of how our workers make sense of the world during their tasks and what goal conflicts they may encounter.  This is where learning begins and we can change the system rather than the person.

Zy Bobbitt is a native Texan born and raised in the Montrose area of Houston near downtown.  Zy became extremely active in his high school JROTC program and went to Virginia Tech and obtained his B.S. in Psychology with an intent to become a police investigator.  By random chance, Zy found himself entering the world of engineering testing as a laboratory technician in Roanoke, VA.  He later transferred into the field where he discovered that his background in psychology helped him to navigate the complex world of construction personalities.  His natural curiosity and drive led him to an interest in structural steel, and he was able to obtain both his CWI and later ICC-MSI while working in over 30 jurisdictions in 9 different states and Canada.  In 2014 Zy was offered the role of safety officer in his office in Austin, TX and safety became such an intriguing and complex subject to him that he went on to obtain his Construction Health and Safety Technician certification through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and he is currently completing his Master of Engineering in Advanced Safety Management at the University of Alabama Birmingham under the tutelage of recognized professors like Dr. Ivan Pupilidy and Dr. Crista Vessel, authors of, “Human and Organizational Potential”.  Zy’s passion for HOP and safety is what drives him to continue asking challenging questions to organizations to help people connect and keep each other safe through learning.  Zy currently lives in Round Rock, Texas and is the Senior Regional Safety Lead for Braun-Intertec.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Noon to 1:00 PM

Announcements & Sponsor Presentations

Saturday, February 28, 2026

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Firestopping:  A Critical Line of Defense

Presented by:

Ruben Alba Alcalde, Master Special Inspector
Braun Intertec

In 2012, the International Building Code implemented firestopping to the Special Inspection program.

Firestopping is a critical component of construction, yet it is often overlooked. Typically this is due to a lack of understanding rather than intentional disregard. While firestopping systems may go unnoticed throughout most of the structure's lifespan, improper installation can have catastrophic consequences during a fire, both to life and property. This session will cover the fundamentals for understanding the role of firestopping systems, inspections, products, and common misconceptions and installation mistakes.

Ruben Alba Alcalde, Master Special Inspector with Braun Intertec, holds certifications through ICC, ACI, IFC, ICRI, and PTI.  Ruben uses his experience to deliver thorough, reliable inspections that help ensure projects meet code, stay on track, and maintain long-term structural integrity.  He values clear communication, accountability, and delivering results that owners, engineers, and contractors can trust.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Inside Concrete: Using Petrography to Understand, Diagnose, and Improve Material Performance

Presented by:

Blake Restelli, PG
Concrete Petrographer
ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC

This presentation introduces the principles and practical applications of concrete petrography within the broader context of construction materials science. Attendees will gain an understanding of how petrographic analysis serves as a powerful diagnostic and quality assurance tool across all phases of a project—from initial due diligence and design through construction, commissioning, and long-term maintenance. Through real-world examples and case studies, the session will demonstrate how petrography helps identify material deficiencies, evaluate durability and performance, verify compliance with specifications, and guide informed decision-making that enhances the longevity and reliability of concrete structures.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the fundamental concepts of concrete petrography and how it supports the evaluation of construction materials.
2. Recognize the value of petrographic analysis during key project phases, including planning, design, construction, and maintenance.
3. Identify common material-related issues that can be diagnosed or prevented through petrographic examination.
4. Apply insights from petrographic investigations to improve quality control, extend service life, and optimize asset management strategies.

Blake Restelli, PG, is a concrete petrographer and materials scientist with ECS Group of Companies based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has nearly a decade of experience in geology and materials science, with a focus on applying petrography to engineering, construction, and durability-related challenges. Blake is a licensed Professional Geologist in Kentucky and holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Slippery Rock University. He is an active member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI). His work includes concrete materials failure analysis, managing petrographic investigations, overseeing laboratory testing, and interpreting data to deliver clear, ethical, and unbiased technical conclusions.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Construction Quality Assurance on Mass Timber Projects: Inspection and Observation

Presented by:

Mark Bartlett, PE, Senior Regional Director | TX
Woodworks - Wood Products Council

and

James Lutz, Commercial Project Manager
Timberlyne

This presentation explores inspection considerations for mass timber projects, including special inspections and structural observations, and how to effectively communicate the requirements and review the results. It is intended to provide a basis of compliance with the building code and best practices for mass timber installation.

Mark Bartlett is the WoodWorks Senior Regional Director for Texas, a non-profit organization that provides free project support for commercial and multi-family wood buildings, a robust nationwide education program, and a wide range of published resources.  Before joining WoodWorks in 2017, Mark spent 11 years as a practicing structural engineer, eight years as a field engineer with Simpson Strong-Tie, and six years in engineering business development.  He is a registered professional engineer in Texas and Oklahoma.  Mark received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in structures from Lehigh University.

James Lutz graduated with a construction science degree from Texas A&M University. With over ten years of experience in commercial and residential construction, he joined Timberlyne Mass Timber Commercial team as a project manager.

Since joining the team, he has been involved in over twenty commercial projects. While managing these mass timber projects, James has played a key role creating and maintaining the project timeline, managing project submittals, identifying key project risks, project client communication, projects production and install schedule.