Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Educational Trust, the charitable arm of DFI, announces that Helen Robinson, P.E., PMP, BC.GE, GEI Consultants, has been named chair of DFI Educational Trust and Andrew Verity, Terracon Consultants, succeeds Robinson as secretary after serving as a trustee since 2017. Rudy Frizzi, P.E., G.E., BC.GE, LANGAN, who served as chair since 2021, is now the immediate past chair and an emeritus trustee. Zac Curanovic, P.E., Underpinning & Foundation Skanska, continues his role as vice chair and Lori Simpson, P.E., G.E., LANGAN, remains the treasurer. Howard Perko, Ph.D., P.E., Magnum Piering, has joined the board as a trustee.
“Helen’s role of trustee and secretary of the Trust makes her ideally suited to take the helm as chair,” says Theresa Engler, Executive Director of DFI and the DFI Educational Trust. “She has shown her dedication and leadership to the mission of the Trust, initiating and leading programs that support and encourage students, underserved communities and emerging professionals in the deep foundations industry.”
Robinson is a vice president, senior project manager and branch manager at GEI Consultants near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Penn State University and has over 20 years of experience in design, analysis and construction of micropiles, tiebacks, soil nails, retaining walls, braced excavation support, grouting and ground improvement methods. She is past president of the ASCE Geo-Institute Board of Governors for 2025-2026. She recently completed her term as co-chair of the DFI-ADSC joint Micropile Committee and was the first chair of the DFI Women in Deep Foundations Committee. Robinson was named 2023 Geotechnical Engineer of the Year by the ASCE Philadelphia Section and was a recipient of a DFI President’s Award in 2023.