Ecora Expands Practice to Include Geotechnical Engineering & Materials Testing

KELOWNA, British Columbia - March 29, 2015 - PRLog -- Press Release – March. 28, 2015 – KELOWNA, Canada — March 28, 2015

KELOWNA, BC – Ecora Engineering and Resource Group announces the expansion of the engineering practice to include Geotechnical Engineering and Materials Testing with the addition of several experienced Geotechnical Engineers and a GeoTechnican to the Ecora Team.

Ecora’s new Geotechnical team has a broad range of experience having worked on multiple major infrastructure projects in Western Canada including highways, bridges, and transit as well as the resource development of Northern Canada.

The Geotechnical Engineering and Materials Testing group will be led by Michael J. Laws, P.Eng. who brings over 15 years of consulting experience to the Ecora team, with significant experience in undertaking geotechnical site investigations, embankment dams, shallow and deep foundation design, geohazards, landslide assessments and rehabilitation, seismic and numerical analysis and retaining wall design. Michael graduated from the University of Auckland, New Zealand with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and Bachelor of Science (Geology) and has worked for various consultancies in New Zealand, Fiji, and Australia before making BC home in 2008. Michael will be based in Kelowna and will support the development of the Geotechnical Engineering and Materials Testing across all of Ecora’s offices.

Michael will be joined later in the year by Mr. Cevat Catana, M.Sc., P.Eng who brings over 9 years of consulting experience to the Ecora team, with significant experience in undertaking geotechnical site investigations, shallow and deep foundations, thermal analysis, retaining wall design, and seismic analysis and design. Cevat graduated from University of Ottawa with a Master of Applied Science degree (Civil-Geotechnical) after acquiring his Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree from Middle East Technical University, Turkey. Cevat will be based in Kelowna and will support Michael in developing the Geotechnical Engineering and Material Testing across all of Ecora's offices.

To support the growth of the Geotechnical Engineering and Materials Testing practice Ecora has established an aggregate, soil, concrete and asphalt testing laboratory in Penticton to be managed by Mr. Steve Kraetzer who brings over 14 years’ experience of materials testing in British Columbia to the Ecora team. Steve is a CCIL certified Concrete Lab, Concrete Field, Aggregate Lab, Asphalt Lab, Marshall and Superpave Mix Design Technician and Radiation Safety Officer.