Awards

ASCE Philadelphia Section Geotechnical Engineer of the Year Award

Mike Giovannitti, P.E., 2025 Geotechnical Engineer of the Year, poses with his award alongside Bob Wright of the ASCE Philadelphia Section at the chapter’s spring 2025 awards banquet.

Each year, DVGI and the ASCE Philadelphia Section honor a distinguished geotechnical professional in the region with the Section’s Geotechnical Engineer of the Year Award. DVGI is proud to announce that Mike Giovannitti, P.E., of American Geotechnical and Environmental Services (A.G.E.S.), Inc., is its 2025 Geotechnical Engineer of the Year. Congratulations, Mike, on your well-deserved recognition! We look forward to formally presenting it and honoring you at DVGI’s 2026 Student Night next spring!

Previous ASCE Philadelphia Section Geotechnical Engineers of the Year include:

2024: Ernest (Ernie) Hanna, P.E.
2023: Helen Robinson, P.E., BC.GE
2022: Jennifer Peirce-Brandt, P.E.
2021: Rick Brinker, P.E.
2020: Sarah McInnes, P.E.
2019: M. Ayub Iqbal, Ph.D., P.E.
2018: Melissa Logan Gillespie, P.E.
2017: Bob Crawford, P.E.
2014: William K. Peterson, P.E.
2012: Richard Mabry, P.E.
2011: Ara Mouradian, P.E.
2010: Theodore Thomson, Ph.D, P.E., BC.GE
2009: Robert Sabanas, P.E.
2008: Andrea Welker, Ph.D., P.E.
2007: Joseph Wartman, Ph.D., P.E.
2006: Philip Gauffreau, P.E.
2005: Allen Cadden, P.E., BC.GE
2004: George Koerner, Ph.D., P.E.
2003: Michael Byle, P.E., BC.GE
2002: Dennis Mohan, P.E.
2001: Jonathan Cheng, Ph.D., P.E.
2000: John Volk, P.E.
1997: Arthur Dvinoff, Ph.D., P.E.
1996: Pedro Repetto, P.E.
1995: Anthony Eith, P.E.
1994: Craig R. Calabria, Ph.D., P.E.
1991: Charles Sutphen, P.E.
1990: Joseph P. Martin, Ph.D., P.E.
1989: Cetin Okcuoglu, P.E.
1988: Antal Partos, P.E.
1986: William Gardner, P.E.
1985: Robert M. Koerner, Ph.D., P.E.

Delaware Valley Geo-Institute Geotechnical Project of the Year Award

DVGI members are always working on challenging and rewarding projects in the region. Each year, DVGI recognizes one particularly distinguished, recently completed project with its Geotechnical Project of the Year Award based on submissions by member organizations. DVGI is proud to announce that Roberts Children’s Health at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia by Peirce Engineering, Inc., is its 2025 Geotechnical Project of the Year. Congratulations, Peirce Engineering, on your well-deserved recognition! We look forward to formally presenting the award, and hearing you present on the project, at a fall 2025 DVGI dinner meeting!

East Service Drive support of excavation in low overhead conditions required steep tieback anchors to clear CHOP Main Hospital basement foundations.

DVGI 2025 GPOY Peirce Eng. Roberts Children’s Health Download

Delaware Valley Geo-Institute Geotechnical Project of the Year Award Nominations

We want to hear about the work YOU do! Each year, DVGI recognizes a distinguished geotechnical project recently completed in the region based on submissions by its member organizations. Submissions for the 2026 award will open in the fall of 2025 and will be accepted through May 1, 2026; these will be featured in the DVGI Newsletter in the order received; DVGI will announce the winner at its May 2026 meeting. Best of wishes in preparing your submissions – we look forward to seeing them!

Previous DVGI Geotechnical Projects of the Year include:

2024: SPARK – Gene Therapy Innovation Center by Pennoni (Philadelphia, PA)
2023: The Laurel Rittenhouse Square by GeoStructures (King of Prussia, PA)
2022: uCity Square Development by Pennoni (Philadelphia, PA)
2021: FMC Tower at Cira Center South by GeoStructures (King of Prussia, PA)
2020: Penn First Pavilion by Peirce Engineering (Phoenixville, PA)

Delaware Valley Geo-Institute