Rick is a geologist in training who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Washington University. He made the decision to become a geologist in 8th grade after taking a strong interest in a geology course and was blown away by the fact that people can get paid to look at rocks! This course shifted his view of the landscapes of Western Washington and he feels that being a geologist is like being a detective, saying that “the earth has left us clues to the past; we just have to piece them together”.

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Rick began as a field inspector and has extensive knowledge on the processes of utility replacement, roadway reconstruction, and the construction of various features such as retaining walls, culverts, building foundations and more. More recently, Rick has focused on HWA’s pavement projects, becoming heavily involved in pavement coring, logging geotechnical borings, Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) testing, and Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing.

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Rick enjoys his work in the pavement department and finds it gratifying to see the roads that he has worked on become reconstructed. He will often go out of his way to drive on the new roads and takes great pride in his role in the project!

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Rick’s favorite part about working at HWA is the people, being surrounded by like-minded people who have common interests makes the job not always feel like work!

 

Licenses & Certifications 

• Geologist-in-Training

• 40-Hour HAZWOPER

• American Concrete Institute, Concrete Strength Testing Technician

• APNGA Portable Nuclear Gauge Safety & U.S. D.O.T. Hazmat Certification

• American Concrete Institute, Field Testing Technician (Grade 1), License #02061283

• Western Alliance for Quality Transportation Construction (WAQTC) Density Testing/Embankment Technician

 

Hobbies

• Fishing

• Whitewater Rafting

• Getting his hands dirty in the garden

• Spending time with his two cats - Kirk and Pearl

• Spending time at local rivers - picnicking and looking for neat rocks!