Geo-U 2025

Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM to Friday, Nov 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM CST

Sonesta Bee Cave Austin Hotel, 12525 Bee Cave Parkway, Austin, Texas, 78733, United States

1. Select Seats

2. Review and Proceed

Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM to Friday, Nov 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM CST

Sonesta Bee Cave Austin Hotel, 12525 Bee Cave Parkway, Austin, Texas, 78733, United States.

November 4

  • Welcome Reception
    (5:00 - 7:00 pm)

November 5 - 6, Course Options

  • CQA of Geosynthetics Installation & GCL/CCL Installation
  • Interface Friction / Direct Shear and Slope Stability Issues Workshop
  • Strategic Application of Geosynthetic Specifications

November 5 - Technical Tour & Social Opportunity

  • Geosynthetics & Geotechnical Laboratory Tour (5:30 pm)

  • Texas BBQ Bash (6:30 pm)

November 6 - Course Completion Social Hour

  • On site, 5:00 pm

November 7 (Morning) - Certification (Optional)

  • GCI-ICP Exams

About Geo-U 2025

Geosynthetics are used in every major sector of civil engineering but are seldom taught in engineering programs. Engineers generally learn in the field. Geo-U 2025 provides high-level geotechnical professional development on geosynthetics in infrastructure while fostering meaningful, face-to-face networking. This smaller, dynamic event is focused on building community and delivering state-of-the-art and state-of-practice solutions in landfill engineering, sustainability, stormwater management, and reinforced soil applications in transportation.

** GEO-U 2025 PAYMENT TERMS & CONDITIONS

Individual Registrations

  • Credit Card payment is required for all registrations unless permission to pay by another method is requested in writing and granted.
  • Bank Transfers and Checks are accepted forms of payments for government personnel.
  • Payment must be received within 30 days of invoice for transfers and checks.
  • The educators reserve the right to cancel bookings or withhold Certificates of Course Completion if payments are not completed in a timely manner.
  • Cancellations for any registration must be sent to the GeoU 2025 manager in writing, ckelsey@minervatri.com. Within 45 days of the event, only credit towards a future TRI education event (including virtual) will be offered.

TRI Environmental

https://www.tri-environmental.com

TRI Environmental is a full-service independent laboratory and education provider that serves a variety of polymer-centric industries around the world. At our core is a deep understanding of polymeric materials and the characteristics critical to performance. TRI tests, certifies, performs research, develops equipment, and provides consulting on plastic materials used in civil, environmental and geotechnical engineering.

Contact the Organizer

Learn more aboutGeorge Koerner, PE George Koerner, PE
George Koerner, PE
Director
Geosynthetic Institute

https://www.geosynthetic-institute.org

About George Koerner, PE

Director
Geosynthetic Institute
Learn more aboutRichard Thiel, PE Richard Thiel, PE
Richard Thiel, PE
Engineer
Thiel Engineering
Mr. Thiel is an engineer with over 30 years experience specializing in containment design applications for geotechnical projects, waste containment, secondary containment of fuel, and leach mining applications. He has participated extensively in the feasibility evaluation, permitting, design, and construction of waste facilities and surface impoundments. He is experienced at being an expert witness, performing design peer reviews, economic evaluations, failure analyses, design of liner systems with soils and geosynthetics, leachate management systems including pipelines an pump stations, geotechnical site reconnaissance and resource inves­tigation programs, construction quality assurance (CQA), and assistance in developing state solid waste regulations.
https://www.rthiel.com/

About Richard Thiel, PE

Engineer
Thiel Engineering
Learn more aboutMark Sieracke, PE Mark Sieracke, PE
Mark Sieracke, PE
Principal
Weaver Consultants Group
Mark Sieracke, P.E. is an industry-recognized expert in the fields of landfill design and CQA. Mark serves as a Principal and Solid Waste Practice Area Manager for Weaver Consultants Group. Mark has served as a Technical Reviewer of the US EPA Technical Guidance Document: Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Waste Containment Facilities (EPA/600/R- 93/182, Sept. 1993). He has served as a hands-on CQA practitioner, certifying engineer, and consultant for 1000+ acres of geosynthetic installations. He contributes routinely to landfill failure investigations and constructability reviews for design engineers. Mark serves on the Waste Management Inc. (WMI) Geosynthetic Task Force, creating the corporate standards for CQA.
https://wcgrp.com/

About Mark Sieracke, PE

Principal
Weaver Consultants Group
Learn more aboutTamara Tuttle Tamara Tuttle
Tamara Tuttle
President
Atlas international Consulting
Tamara Tuttle is a business consultant devoted to helping companies tell their story and increase their reach and profits, so they can grow healthy and give back to their communities. She has an international background and extensive experience in science and technical products sales, including geosynthetics for environmental applications like waste containment, water management, erosion control, and mining. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, her consulting focuses on business development and international strategy. Her business work in market development, sales, research, intelligence, and cultural strategy has been conducted in more than 100 countries.
https://www.atlasintco.com

About Tamara Tuttle

President
Atlas international Consulting
Learn more aboutJeffrey Kuhn, Ph.D., PE Jeffrey Kuhn, Ph.D., PE
Jeffrey Kuhn, Ph.D., PE
Director
TRI Environmental
Dr. Jeffrey Kuhn, P.E., is the Geotechnical Laboratory Director for TRI/Environmental, Inc. His doctoral work principally focused on alternative/evapotraspirative cover design and evaluation for the EPA, and he performed research with expansive clays for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Prior to joining TRI, he served as a consulting engineer, where he worked on the design and installation of the Circuit of the Americas Formula One Race Track over expansive clays with tight differential movement criteria. Since 2012, he’s led the expansion of TRI’s geotechnical laboratory capabilities and reach within the geotechnical community.
https://www.tri-environmental.com

About Jeffrey Kuhn, Ph.D., PE

Director
TRI Environmental
Learn more aboutSam Allen Sam Allen
Sam Allen
Vice President
TRI Environmental
Sam Allen is the Vice President of Texas Research International‘s (TRI) Geosynthetics Services Division. He has served as Chairman of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI). He is the elected President of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS).
https://www.tri-environmental.com

About Sam Allen

Vice President
TRI Environmental

About TRI Environmental

https://www.tri-environmental.com Sponsor Logo

Sessions on Nov 04, 2025

05:00 PM

Welcome Reception

05:00 PM - 07:00 PMSonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel - Meridian 98 Backroom

Sessions on Nov 05, 2025

08:00 AM

CQA of Geosynthetic Installation and GCL/CCL, Day 1 of 2 (Geosynthetics)

08:00 AM - 05:00 PMSonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
    Mark Sieracke, PE
    PrincipalWeaver Consultants Group
    Mark Sieracke, P.E. is an industry-recognized expert in the fields of landfill design and CQA. Mark serves as a Principal and Solid Waste Practice Area Manager for Weaver Consultants Group. Mark has served as a Technical Reviewer of the US EPA Technical Guidance Document: Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Waste Containment Facilities (EPA/600/R- 93/182, Sept. 1993). He has served as a hands-on CQA practitioner, certifying engineer, and consultant for 1000+ acres of geosynthetic installations. He contributes routinely to landfill failure investigations and constructability reviews for design engineers. Mark serves on the Waste Management Inc. (WMI) Geosynthetic Task Force, creating the corporate standards for CQA.
    https://wcgrp.com/
    Sam Allen
    Vice PresidentTRI Environmental
    Sam Allen is the Vice President of Texas Research International‘s (TRI) Geosynthetics Services Division. He has served as Chairman of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI). He is the elected President of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS).
    https://www.tri-environmental.com

    Interface Friction / Direct Shear and Slope Stability Issues Workshop, Day 1 of 2

    08:00 AM - 05:00 PMSonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
      Richard Thiel, PE
      EngineerThiel Engineering
      Mr. Thiel is an engineer with over 30 years experience specializing in containment design applications for geotechnical projects, waste containment, secondary containment of fuel, and leach mining applications. He has participated extensively in the feasibility evaluation, permitting, design, and construction of waste facilities and surface impoundments. He is experienced at being an expert witness, performing design peer reviews, economic evaluations, failure analyses, design of liner systems with soils and geosynthetics, leachate management systems including pipelines an pump stations, geotechnical site reconnaissance and resource inves­tigation programs, construction quality assurance (CQA), and assistance in developing state solid waste regulations.
      https://www.rthiel.com/
      Jeffrey Kuhn, Ph.D., PE
      DirectorTRI Environmental
      Dr. Jeffrey Kuhn, P.E., is the Geotechnical Laboratory Director for TRI/Environmental, Inc. His doctoral work principally focused on alternative/evapotraspirative cover design and evaluation for the EPA, and he performed research with expansive clays for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Prior to joining TRI, he served as a consulting engineer, where he worked on the design and installation of the Circuit of the Americas Formula One Race Track over expansive clays with tight differential movement criteria. Since 2012, he’s led the expansion of TRI’s geotechnical laboratory capabilities and reach within the geotechnical community.
      https://www.tri-environmental.com

      Strategic Application of Geosynthetic Specifications, Day 1 of 2

      08:00 AM - 05:00 PMSonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
        George Koerner, PE
        DirectorGeosynthetic Institute

        https://www.geosynthetic-institute.org
        05:15 PM

        Technical Tour: TRI Environmental Geosynthetics & Geotechnical Labs

        05:15 PM - 06:30 PMTRI Environmental
          Tamara Tuttle
          PresidentAtlas international Consulting
          Tamara Tuttle is a business consultant devoted to helping companies tell their story and increase their reach and profits, so they can grow healthy and give back to their communities. She has an international background and extensive experience in science and technical products sales, including geosynthetics for environmental applications like waste containment, water management, erosion control, and mining. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, her consulting focuses on business development and international strategy. Her business work in market development, sales, research, intelligence, and cultural strategy has been conducted in more than 100 countries.
          https://www.atlasintco.com
          Jeffrey Kuhn, Ph.D., PE
          DirectorTRI Environmental
          Dr. Jeffrey Kuhn, P.E., is the Geotechnical Laboratory Director for TRI/Environmental, Inc. His doctoral work principally focused on alternative/evapotraspirative cover design and evaluation for the EPA, and he performed research with expansive clays for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Prior to joining TRI, he served as a consulting engineer, where he worked on the design and installation of the Circuit of the Americas Formula One Race Track over expansive clays with tight differential movement criteria. Since 2012, he’s led the expansion of TRI’s geotechnical laboratory capabilities and reach within the geotechnical community.
          https://www.tri-environmental.com
          Sam Allen
          Vice PresidentTRI Environmental
          Sam Allen is the Vice President of Texas Research International‘s (TRI) Geosynthetics Services Division. He has served as Chairman of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI). He is the elected President of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS).
          https://www.tri-environmental.com
          06:30 PM

          Geo-U BBQ Blast

          06:30 PM - 08:30 PMTBA

          Sessions on Nov 06, 2025

          08:00 AM

          CQA of Geosynthetic Installation and GCL/CCL, Day 2 of 2 (GCLs & CCLs)

          08:00 AM - 05:00 PMSonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
            Jeffrey Kuhn, Ph.D., PE
            DirectorTRI Environmental
            Dr. Jeffrey Kuhn, P.E., is the Geotechnical Laboratory Director for TRI/Environmental, Inc. His doctoral work principally focused on alternative/evapotraspirative cover design and evaluation for the EPA, and he performed research with expansive clays for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Prior to joining TRI, he served as a consulting engineer, where he worked on the design and installation of the Circuit of the Americas Formula One Race Track over expansive clays with tight differential movement criteria. Since 2012, he’s led the expansion of TRI’s geotechnical laboratory capabilities and reach within the geotechnical community.
            https://www.tri-environmental.com

            Interface Friction / Direct Shear and Slope Stability Issues Workshop, Day 2 of 2

            08:00 AM - 05:00 PMSonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
              Richard Thiel, PE
              EngineerThiel Engineering
              Mr. Thiel is an engineer with over 30 years experience specializing in containment design applications for geotechnical projects, waste containment, secondary containment of fuel, and leach mining applications. He has participated extensively in the feasibility evaluation, permitting, design, and construction of waste facilities and surface impoundments. He is experienced at being an expert witness, performing design peer reviews, economic evaluations, failure analyses, design of liner systems with soils and geosynthetics, leachate management systems including pipelines an pump stations, geotechnical site reconnaissance and resource inves­tigation programs, construction quality assurance (CQA), and assistance in developing state solid waste regulations.
              https://www.rthiel.com/

              Strategic Application of Geosynthetic Specifications, Day 2 of 2

              08:00 AM - 05:00 PMSonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
                George Koerner, PE
                DirectorGeosynthetic Institute

                https://www.geosynthetic-institute.org
                05:15 PM

                Course Completion Happy Hour

                05:15 PM - 06:15 PMSonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel

                Sessions on Nov 07, 2025

                08:00 AM

                GCI-ICP Exam: Geosynthetics Section

                08:00 AM - 10:00 AMSonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
                10:15 AM

                GCI-ICP Exam: Compacted Clay Liners Section

                10:15 AM - 11:15 AMSonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel