GeoHeroes - Steve Wendland

GeoHeroes - Steve Wendland About This Episode In this episode Guy Marcozzi interviews Steve Wendland, PE, PG, BC.GE of Bedrock GeoConsult about his journey from dirt-eating toddler to geotechnical expert perfectly embodies the phrase "you are what you eat." Raised in a blue-collar Kansas City family, Steve transformed childhood fascination with soil into a 40-year engineering career spanning international power projects across the world. After navigating corporate management roles at Black & Veatch and Kleinfelder—and discovering they weren't his calling—Steve found success as a self-employed consultant specializing in legal claims and contractor services. He shares candid insights about industry commoditization, the critical importance of communication skills, and why the technical career path offers a rewarding alternative to traditional management tracks for geoprofessionals. About Our Guest Steve Wendland, PE, PG, BC.GE, started Bedrock GeoConsult in 2022 to provide expert geotechnical engineering and engineering geology consulting services in the central USA. He helps contractors, owners, legal counsel, and design teams overcome concerns with geotechnical aspects of their projects by providing third-party peer reviews, independent guidance, construction engineering support services, and expert evaluations. He also conducts geotechnical forensic analyses of structures that have been impacted by expansive clay, soft foundation bearing materials, groundwater, or poor construction. These forensic analyses include a variety of failed retaining walls, cut slopes, embankments, foundations, and floor slabs. Previously, he was the national Director of Geotechnical Engineering for Kleinfelder. Our Host Guy Marcozzi, PE, D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, is a GBA past-president and an experienced CEO, President and Board Member with a demonstrated history of working in the engineering, science and data technology industries and in leadership for various boards of ESOP, non-profit, professional and business organizations. Show Notes Introduction Steve Wendland, geotechnical engineer and owner of Bedrock GeoConsult Self-employed for 3 years, providing geotechnical services to general contractors Expert geotechnical work for legal claims Lives in Kansas City with wife Molly (married 35 years), two daughters, grandchildren Early Life and Education Grew up in blue-collar Kansas City suburb, youngest of four children