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Geo-U 2025

Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025 at 5:00 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

Sale ended

1. Select Seats

2. Review and Proceed

Event Information

Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025 at 5:00 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

November 5 - Technical Tour & Geo-U Dinner

  • 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 -- Certification. Optional. Requires additional registration with the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI). 

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 Geo-U 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.

Event Location

About Organizer

TRI Environmental Organizer name

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

Speakers

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
Nov 05, 2025
08:00 AM

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

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM Sonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
Nov 06, 2025
08:00 AM

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

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM Sonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
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
Nov 05, 2025
08:00 AM

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

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM Sonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
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
Nov 05, 2025
08:00 AM

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

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM Sonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
05:15 PM

Technical Tour: TRI Environmental Geosynthetics & Geotechnical Labs

05:15 PM - 06:30 PM TRI Environmental
Nov 06, 2025
08:00 AM

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

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM Sonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
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
Nov 05, 2025
08:00 AM

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

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM Sonesta Bee Caves Austin Hotel
05:15 PM

Technical Tour: TRI Environmental Geosynthetics & Geotechnical Labs

05:15 PM - 06:30 PM TRI Environmental

Event Sponsors

Event Schedule

Session Date
Clear all ×

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
    speaker

    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.
    SocialLink
    speaker

    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).
    SocialLink
      speaker

      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.
      SocialLink
      speaker

      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.
      SocialLink
      05:15 PM
        speaker

        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.
        SocialLink
        speaker

        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).
        SocialLink
        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
          speaker

          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.
          SocialLink
            speaker

            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.
            SocialLink
            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