Jorge Fuentes, PE, Senior Estimating Engineer, MENARD, and G-I Boston Chapter Chair
The Geo-Institute (G-I), one of nine specialty institutes established by the American Society of Civil Engineers, is dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by the geoprofession and enhancing the role of geoprofessionals. With over 60 chapters nationwide, the Boston Chapter actively organizes geotechnical lectures, courses, and seminars, and distributes scholarships to graduate and undergraduate students through the Leo Casagrande Memorial Fund.
Chapter Committee
Our Boston G-I Chapter is comprised of 19 dedicated geotechnical professionals from local consulting firms, specialty construction companies, and academic institutions. These volunteers support BSCES and the broader engineering community.
2025 Geo-Institute Boston Chapter — Year in Review
The Geo-Institute Boston Chapter is pleased to reflect on a highly successful 2025, marked by strong in-person attendance, outstanding technical content, and continued support for the next generation of geotechnical engineers.
April 22, 2025 — In-Person Technical Dinner
We welcomed Dr. Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero, Ph.D., P.E., BC.GE., Geotechnical Project Manager & Laboratory Manager at AGES Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA for an in-person dinner presentation at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.
Dr. Lobo-Guerrero presented “Slope Stabilization with Piles,” offering a state-of-the-art overview of slope stabilization using deep foundations. His presentation covered design methodologies, construction practices, and testing approaches, drawing from projects he has designed worldwide. The event generated excellent discussion and highlighted the evolution of this technique into a cost-effective and widely adopted solution over the past two decades.
October 16, 2025 — Arthur Casagrande Lecture
In October, we hosted Dr. Jonathan D. Bray, Ph.D., P.E., NAE, Faculty Chair in Earthquake Engineering Excellence at the University of California, Berkeley, at the Conference Center at Waltham Woods.
Dr. Bray’s presentation on Seismic Slope Stability drew over 90 attendees and featured insights from more than 35 years of research and professional practice. He discussed fundamental concepts, seismic performance of earth structures, liquefaction, and recently developed simplified methods for evaluating slope stability under seismic loading. The event fostered robust technical dialogue and networking.
Student Recognition — Casagrande Scholarship
We were also proud to award our Annual Dr. Casagrande Scholarship to Claire Delaney, a graduate student at UMass Amherst, in recognition of her academic excellence and promise in the field of geotechnical engineering. Claire has applied for the Leo Casagrande Fellowship, and we wish her continued success as she advances her studies and professional career. Supporting students and emerging professionals remains a cornerstone of our mission.
Looking Ahead — Geo-Congress 2026
We encourage all members and colleagues to register to attend Geo-Congress 2026, the Geo-Institute’s flagship conference:
“Geo-Congress 2026 will bring together practitioners, researchers, and industry leaders to explore emerging tools, technologies, and techniques shaping the future of geotechnical engineering. The conference offers exceptional technical sessions, professional development opportunities, and networking in a dynamic and inspiring setting.”
In Memoriam
As we look ahead, we also pause to honor the memory of Dr. Juan Pestana, a respected engineer, educator, and mentor whose contributions to geotechnical engineering and dedication to the profession left a lasting impact. His commitment to technical excellence, thoughtful leadership, and mentorship will continue to inspire our community.
Dr. Pestana earned his doctorate at MIT and joined the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Berkeley in 1994. Juan authored more than 150 research publications in the areas of: constitutive modeling, numerical modeling of earth structures, seismic site response analysis, soil properties characterization, and ground improvement for liquefaction mitigation. He earned the National Science Foundation CAREER award, ASCE Arthur Casagrande Award, ASCE Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize, and Shamsher Prakash Research Prize. He served as Program Manager at the National Science Foundation for the Geoenvironmental Engineering and Geohazards Mitigation Program, and as Director of the UC Berkeley Pavement Research Center. He joined Geosyntec Consultants as a Senior Principal in 2017 and later taught at Tufts University, as he did earlier in his career as a member of the UC Berkeley faculty for more than two decades. Dr. Pestana was an active member of the Boston Geo-Institute chapter
Juan will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him, but especially his children, who were his greatest source of pride and joy. He also leaves behind his lovely wife, Alexandra, his sister, Jannet, and many extended family members, close friends, and colleagues. All will miss his warm smile and genuine concern and kindness that was present every time he greeted someone.
“Unfortunately, no engineer can predict the future. He can only estimate risks and take measures accordingly.”
— Karl Terzaghi