This month, we’re launching our new ✨Member Spotlight✨ program. Every month, we will honor one of the awesome women in the Geosynthetics industry. This months nomination is Amy Woods with Titan Environmental Containment & Titan USA ! Amy is a Technical Product Manager at Titan Environmental Containment. She has over 20 years of experience working in the geosynthetics field in both public and private sectors including municipal government, consulting and construction supply. She has spent the last 8 years focused on stormwater management and green infrastructure working with Contractors, Engineers and Owners to design solutions for low impact development projects. She is particularly passionate about protecting and enhancing the natural environment and using engineering techniques and new technologies to optimize this. She has managed projects in just about every region within Canada and the US and currently resides just outside of Toronto, Canada with her husband, two children and their new puppy.

Amy was nominated by a fellow WIG member. When asked why we thought she would make a great spotlight, the individual said “Amy was integral to my growth in the geosynthetics industry and really nurtured the idea of maintaining assertiveness in order to achieve growth within the company. I’ve seen Amy handle all types of situations and personalities with extreme grace. She’s such a talented and experienced Stormwater industry leader. The amount of projects that Amy has tackled single handily blows my mind, and she always took the time out to speak with me on a personal level, and get me the material I needed in a timely manner on a professional level.”Awesome work Amy! We’re so lucky to have you a part of our industry and a key WIG member!

If you would like to nominate someone for our member spotlight, please email Jordan Wiechmann at jwiechma@itape.com or Jen Miller at fabricatedgeomembrane@gmail.com.

We're so excited to announce the awesome group of women that will be leading our Women in Geosynthetics Round Table Discussion in February. Over the next few weeks, we will be posting about each individual so you can learn a little bit more about each panelist! Discussion Moderators: Fabiana Arriaga with Geosyntec Consultants, Jordan Wiechmann with IPG - Intertape Polymer Group. Panelists: Tina Oliver with Seaman Corporation, Maya Innis with International Cover Systems, Roxalana Dobransky with Layfield Group, Kristin Sample-Lord with Villanova University. We can't wait to see you all there!

Monday, Feb. 6, 2023:
1:30-3 pm - Women in Geosynthetics Round Table

3:15-4:30 pm - Technical Session 1 - Applications of Fabricated Geosynthetics:
‍• PVC Geomembranes in Agricultural Uses
• Carbon Footprint Calculator
• Liner Payment Bases
• Case Study: Lake Forest Reservoir Relining & Floating Cover Fabrication & Installation
• Evapotranspiration v. Engineered Turf Covers for Landfill Final Closure
• EPS Geofoam Done Right: Saving Time and Money

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023:
1:30-3 pm - Panel Discussion 1: How to Write a Good Geomembrane Specification

Wednesday, Feb 8, 2023:
8-9:30 am - Technical Session 2 - Fabricated Geosynthetics for Water Retention Projects:
‍• Designing & Constructing Geosynthetic Floating Covers for Municipal Water Storage & Treatment
• Operation and Maintenance Guideline for Geosynthetic Lined Water Reservoirs
• Case Study: Netherlands Motorway Underpass
• Case Study: Chambers Dam Reservoir Remediation
• PVC-EIA Alloys: Best Choice in Prevention and Protection of Water Resources

9:45–11:15 am - Panel Discussion 2: O&M Manuals for Geosynthetic Lined Water Reservoirs

February 25, 2021, 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Moderators: Jordan Wiechmann, Intertape Polymer Group and Jen Miller, Fabricated Geomembrane Institute

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute at the University of Illinois has created a group titled, “Women in Geosynthetics (WIG)” in order to promote the advancement of women in the geosynthetics industry through education, networking and mentoring opportunities. Audience participation is the focus of this highly interactive discussion

The discussion will include, but is not limited to the following points of interest:

–        How can we recruit MORE women into the Geosynthetic Industry?

–        How can we create more opportunities in the industry for women?

–        What types of educational opportunities are out there to educate women throughout the industry?

–        Mentorship Opportunities

Panelists:

Tonya Switalski (Titan Environmental)

Kasia Zamara (Tensar)

Katie Hill (Owens Corning)

Lisa Simms (East Coast Erosion)

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Register: https://geosyntheticsconference.com/register/

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The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest Associate Member, GeoTesting Express (GTX).  GTX provides state-of-the-art laboratory testing facilities to measure the mechanical and physical properties of soil, rock, geosynthetics, aggregate, concreate, and other geo-materials. GTX also prides itself for its best practices and advanced testing equipment to provide fast, accurate results.  GTX offers a combination of field expertise and knowledge, backed by supervising engineers and full-service, quick responding testing laboratories to provide value to project teams.  GTX’s testing laboratory is headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts, with an additional lab located in Atlanta, Georgia and their FGI liaison is Anna Kotas, Geotechnical Engineer, who can be reached at akotas@geotesting.com.  Please help us welcome GeoTesting Express to the FGI!!!!

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Thank you to everyone who attended the Women in Geosynthetics session and a very special thanks to the incredible panelists:  Christine Thomas (COMANCO), Tonya Switalski (Titan Environmental), Andreea Sasu (Solmax), Fabiana Arriaga (Geosyntec Consultants), and MC Jordan Wiechmann (Plastatech).  Your words were so inspirational and created an electric atmosphere of discussion and energy for all attendees.  For more information on Women in Geosynthetics, please contact Jen Miller at fabricatedgeomembrane@gmail.com or visit our webpage at fabricatedgeomembrane.com/wig