IECA Officer Announcement
IECA Region One membership voted to newly elect Jonathan Koepke, CPESC, LEED-AP (new Treasurer); Jerry B. Sanders, CPESC (new Educational VP); and Thomas W. Schneider, CPESC (new Marketing VP).
During the February Board Meeting, IECA Directors also voted new officer positions, which include:
President: Brock Peters
Admin VP: Charlie Riling
Educational VP: Jerry Sanders
Marketing VP: Tom Schneider
International VP: Craig Benson
Secretary: Beth Chesson (re-elected)
Treasurer: Jonathan Koepke
Directors: Julie Etra, Nicky Araujo
Past President: Phil Handley
IECA thanks its three outstanding directors whose terms expired this past February: Gustavo O. Salerno, CPESC, PE (Treasurer, term: 2012-20165); Ronald J. Faucher, CPESC (Director, term: 2003-2015); and Michael R. Chase, CPESC, CPSWQ, CESSWI (Past President, term: 2005-2015).
Get to Know Your Newest Board of Directors
Koepke, IECA Region One’s new treasurer, is the vice president and general manager for ENCAP, Inc., in Sycamore, Illinois. He has been with ENCAP since 2006. His areas of expertise include streambank stabilization and restoration techniques, polyacrylamide use for erosion and sediment control, and revegetative techniques on construction sites. His current duties at ENCAP include overall business management and business development, as well as technical direction and employee development for the company. His duties at ENCAP are vertically and horizontally integrated, and include project estimation and bidding, project management, and, from time to time, equipment operation and crew leadership.
Sanders, newly elected educational VP, is president and CEO of Sanco Design, Inc., a general contracting firm specializing in creek channel and slope stabilization, and managing partner in Sanco Storm Water LLC, a stormwater management company that specializes in stormwater pollution plans, audits, inspections, and training. Since 1995, Sanders has been an active member of the International Erosion Control Association, serving on numerous committees as a committee chairman of the Technology Sections and Professional Development Committees. He is currently serving as chairman of the Educational Tracks Committee, and is a member of the Professional Development Committee.
Past president of the South Central Chapter and current co-chair IECA Standards and Practices Committee, IECA Region One’s new marketing VP Schneider is head of Stormwater Compliance at Stormcon LLC. He brings 23 years of experience and extensive training in stormwater regulations focusing on construction site erosion and sediment control. Schneider works directly with local, state, and federal agencies as well as working one-on-one with clients to develop and implement stormwater programs that will fit their needs. He currently sits on the Environmental Law Section Council of the Dallas Bar Association. In the past, he has been invited to testify in front of congressional subcommittees in regard to NPDES issues. He has also applied for and received several patents for products related directly to the erosion and sediment control industry.
Presenter of the Year: Wesley C. Zech
“My presentation focused on testing we have conducted in evaluating the performance of standard inlet protection practices using large-scale, channelized flows indicative of conditions experienced on construction sites,” says Zech.
“The intent of the research was to make improvements to standard practices to obtain better in-field performance and results. Improved practices will better serve the industry in protecting receiving water bodies from sedimentation and other construction-generated pollutants. I am honored to be recognized by the industry and IECA for our work regarding the improvement of various erosion and sediment control practices. I’d like to extend my sincere appreciation to our sponsor ALDOT for funding this research, and to all the students and research technicians who have dedicated many hours to this effort, which played a vital role in the development of the presented material,” concludes Zech.
Wesley C. Zech is the Brasfield & Gorrie Associate Professor of Construction Engineering and Management in the Department of Civil Engineering at Auburn University. Zech attended the University at Buffalo where he earned his B.S., M.E., and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering. He currently teaches courses in the areas of construction engineering, construction safety and health management, and erosion and sediment control. A primary focus of Zech’s research program is in the area of evaluating the performance of erosion and sediment control practices using large-scale testing techniques.
10 Minutes With Beatriz Fernandez Garcia
Each issue, IECA honors one outstanding member who has shown dedication not only to the organization, but to the erosion and sediment control industry. We honor these members to show gratitude and support for all of their accomplishments. This issue, it’s our pleasure to feature an outstanding member: Beatriz Fernandez Garcia.
Garcia has been in the industry for 11 years. This creativity and multidisciplinary professional says that her motivation is driven from her passion and desire to make a difference in her field.
Q: How did you get started in your field of practice?
A: Right after graduation, my time-crunch to search for potential jobs had begun. I had become more determined and focused than ever before. I wanted to acquire my dream job. During that time, two companies, Bonterra Iberica and Paisajes del Sur, continued to have a spotlight having given an extra effort while remaining successful. I believe that everything has its perfect timing. After graduation, I had the pleasure of working in other companies locally and internationally while gaining exposure and learning skills. Four years later, I was accepted in Bonterra Iberica, a company that taught me how to excel in all I do and continually hones my skills.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your professional experience?
A: I’m an environmental professional and very dedicated and passionate about restoration and erosion control, which is the primary focus of my design work. Soil is vital to humankind, and I firmly believe that it is important to follow an environmentally responsible lifestyle. In this light, I strongly encourage everyone to join the effort of taking steps to preserve our soil, the basis of life.
The company I work for, Bonterra Iberica, is a great example of how a business can be used as a force for a good cause. The company has a big contribution to the rise of economy, and it is committed to the environment and open about the responsible practices behind the products.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your life outside work?
A: I was born in Granada, Spain. With an increasing globalized setting, the need to travel and understand other cultures was important to me. I’ve done quite a bit of traveling for work, and [I’m] loving every minute of it. Meeting people from different parts of the globe allows me to gain a new, richer understanding why it is vital to know more about cultures, values, beliefs, and perceptions. I have always found that traveling abroad rekindles a certain amount of love for the place that I am living.
Two of my greatest pleasures in life are the love of nature and sports. I am inspired and live in awe of nature, with a sense of never-ending wonder and discovery in knowing that the love of mankind extends to the love of nature, which brings peace, passion, protection, and a lot more. I believe God created all things beautiful, and it’s just amazing that in all of this, He thinks of us. It simply makes my heart come alive.
I do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and other dance styles to de-stress myself. Many of the sports I am involved in and follow are about teamwork. They are about working together with each other’s strengths and weaknesses collectively trying to improve, compensate, and utilize these to a greater good.
Q: What drives you to succeed professionally?
A: I have always been motivated by the desire to do a good job. Mixing the knowledge I have plus my creativity and multidisciplinary characteristics can lead me to excel and be successful in my line of work.
I am a very active person who looks forward to improving my skills. I’m always looking for new and innovative ideas to bring the projects to completion. I am passionate about my work, and truly enjoy working toward the next big goal.
Q: What is something people don’t know about you?
A: I’m a dreamer. I believe in my dreams, I visualize, plan, implement, enjoy every step of the way, achieve, and finally live my dream.
Q: What’s your IECA member experience?
A: I have been an IECA member since 2012. My attention was captivated by the continuing education, vast resources, and the highway of information and business opportunities in the erosion and sediment control industry. Being a member of IECA helps me make a difference in solving the different problems caused by soil erosion.
Indeed, IECA is a fun way of connecting and collaborating with the people who share your passion for doing good. It brings together great leaders from all continents, cultures, and occupations to share ideas in providing solutions to others’ needs. By combining our distinct skills and expertise, we tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems. I continue to get the chance to apply my personal experience and professional skills to solve these challenges and create positive changes. I was chosen to be part of the IberoAmerican Board of Directors and it has inspired me to achieve more.
Q: What are your goals to further your IECA experience?
A: I plan to encourage other professionals to join us. I will also continue to collaborate voluntarily with IECA doing my best to make it grow.
Speaking professionally, Spain is experiencing crises, but for me it’s not an obstacle to reach my goals. It’s not the end of the dream, but a stepping stone to success. All I have to do is to keep up the faith and never give up, no matter what challenges I am facing.
Q: What are the most impactful issues regarding erosion and sediment control today?
A: Everybody talks about pollutants in the water and atmosphere, noise, climate change, loss of biodiversity, and other environmental problems. However, society usually doesn’t take the erosion control problems seriously. Not only is this visually unappealing, it can negatively affect the environment and the people. This can lead to problems such as destruction of fish habitat, degradation of drinking water supplies, clogged drainage facilities, road washouts, landslides, and increased flood hazards. The soil is the basis of life.
Q: What’s your best advice you can give someone new to the industry?
A: Join IECA. IECA has always been known to be a dynamic association in products and technologies. There’s always room for everyone to learn, grow, and improve. They offer high-quality training courses, and webinars and have an incredible multidisciplinary network of professionals. IECA keeps the members to constantly move forward and expand knowledge and experiences for greater good. My motto is, “Together we will arrive farther.” It stands for UNITY—unity in making a difference in this industry.
Q: How would you want to be remembered in the industry?
A: I’d like people to remember me as a diligent expert in erosion control. I pride myself on my creative, organizational, listening, and communication skills. I have a strong work ethic. In line to all of these, I would like to be the bridge in answering people’s environmental needs and provide solutions to their problems.
