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Geotechnology, Inc. expands with acquisition of Thelen Associates

 

From Illinois Business Journal news services

ST. LOUIS – Geotechnology, Inc., a locally based provider of geotechnical and environmental engineering, geophysics, water resource management, materials testing and drilling services, is poised for rapid expansion.

The company announced today that it has purchased substantially all of the assets of Thelen Associates.

Closing on the transaction occurred on Monday, Aug. 17.

Thelen is an engineering firm founded in 1971. It provides geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing services locally in the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area, and regionally in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. Thelen has provided engineering, testing and construction review services for more than 35,000 projects. Currently, it has 108 employees operating from four offices.

With the addition of Thelen, Geotechnology will have 280 employees operating from 10 offices. The company anticipates that number will increase with expanding project opportunities. This expansion allows Geotechnology and Thelen to efficiently and effectively serve clients throughout the middle part of the country.

Thelen’s projects include transportation infrastructure; commercial, institutional, industrial and retail developments; water/wastewater; dams and levees; and major sports facilities. Representative projects include the Paul Brown Stadium (home of the Cincinnati Bengals), the Cincinnati Reds Great American Ball Park, The Banks Project (a mixed-use development between the two stadiums), and the Kennedy Connector in Cincinnati, Ohio; RiverCenter high-rise office and hotel development on the Covington, Kentucky riverfront; the BB&T Arena at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky; the KY 4 (New Circle Road) project and the University of Kentucky Gatton Business School in Lexington, Kentucky; the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky; Kentucky’s new Mountain Parkway Project in South-Central Kentucky; the Lawrenceburg Levee project in Lawrenceburg, Indiana; and the Miami University Farmer School of Business in Oxford, Ohio.

Geotechnology’s purchase of Thelen’s assets is part of a long-term strategic plan of geographic expansion. Founded more than 30 years ago in St. Louis, Geotechnology opened offices in Illinois and Kansas as demand for its services increased. In 2010, Geotechnology purchased Hall, Blake & Associates in Memphis. Earlier in 2015, the company opened two new branch operations in Oxford, Mississippi and Jonesboro, Arkansas. The Thelen acquisition provides a greater presence to Geotechnology’s current Midwest and Midsouth operations.

“This business decision was made based upon careful consideration of how to best augment our resources, assets and service lines,” said Geotechnology President and CEO Ed Alizadeh, P.E., J.D. “Thelen Associates has a highly regarded reputation in the industry, along with excellent staff and equipment. Currently, Thelen Associates does not offer geophysics or environmental services, which have been highly sought after services by our other clients. With more resources available, we will be able to help our clients solve problems and grow their businesses.”

“We are excited to be a part of the Geotechnology family,” said Thelen Associates President Don Thelen, P.E. “The pace of design and construction projects is more aggressive with each passing year. Increasing our capabilities, specialized staff and technologies will afford us even more opportunities and successes.”

Geotechnology, Inc., is a professional corporation celebrating 30 years, offering a comprehensive range of consulting services in applied earth and environmental sciences, including geophysics, water resource management, geotechnical and environmental engineering, materials testing and drilling. Geotechnology has provided expertise on many major construction projects in the region, including, the Stan Musial Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, Beale Street Landing, Kit Bond Bridge and America’s Central Port. Geotechnology, Inc. is based in St. Louis, Mo., and has offices in Fairview Heights, Ill., Overland Park, Kan., Memphis, Tenn., Oxford, Miss., and Jonesboro, Ark.

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