GeoHeroes - Steve Wendland
About This Episode
In this episode Guy Marcozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-marcozzi-b12744a/) interviews Steve Wendland (https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-wendland-b6a9722a/), PE, PG, BC.GE of Bedrock GeoConsult (https://www.bedrockgeoconsult.com/) about his journey from dirt-eating toddler to geotechnical expert perfectly embodies the phrase "you are what you eat." Raised in a blue-collar Kansas City family, Steve transformed childhood fascination with soil into a 40-year engineering career spanning international power projects across the world. After navigating corporate management roles at Black & Veatch and Kleinfelder—and discovering they weren't his calling—Steve found success as a self-employed consultant specializing in legal claims and contractor services. He shares candid insights about industry commoditization, the critical importance of communication skills, and why the technical career path offers a rewarding alternative to traditional management tracks for geoprofessionals.
About Our Guest
Steve Wendland (https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-wendland-b6a9722a/), PE, PG, BC.GE, started Bedrock GeoConsult in 2022 to provide expert geotechnical engineering and engineering geology consulting services in the central USA. He helps contractors, owners, legal counsel, and design teams overcome concerns with geotechnical aspects of their projects by providing third-party peer reviews, independent guidance, construction engineering support services, and expert evaluations. He also conducts geotechnical forensic analyses of structures that have been impacted by expansive clay, soft foundation bearing materials, groundwater, or poor construction. These forensic analyses include a variety of failed retaining walls, cut slopes, embankments, foundations, and floor slabs. Previously, he was the national Director of Geotechnical Engineering for Kleinfelder.
Our Host
Guy Marcozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-marcozzi-b12744a/), PE, D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, is a GBA past-president and an experienced CEO, President and Board Member with a demonstrated history of working in the engineering, science and data technology industries and in leadership for various boards of ESOP, non-profit, professional and business organizations.
Show Notes
Introduction
Steve Wendland, geotechnical engineer and owner of Bedrock GeoConsult
Self-employed for 3 years, providing geotechnical services to general contractors
Expert geotechnical work for legal claims
Lives in Kansas City with wife Molly (married 35 years), two daughters, grandchildren
Early Life and Education
Grew up in blue-collar Kansas City suburb, youngest of four children
Parents were Depression-era children who emphasized hard work and self-reliance
Father: factory worker whose education ended at age 10 due to Depression
Mother: school lunch lady at public schools Steve attended
Early interests: Lego building, creating cities in backyard "dirt pile" (later learned it was loess soil)
First job: Age 14 in school cafeteria, working before school started daily
High school: Worked 3 years at Dairy Queen, played baseball and basketball
College guidance: Math teacher told him "you're going to be an engineer" and attend University of Missouri at Rolla
Bachelor's degree: Geological engineering, University of Missouri at Rolla (1986)
Master's degree: Civil/geotechnical engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Key college decision: Joined Sigma Chi fraternity (calls it "one of the best decisions I ever made")
Career Path
Black & Veatch (11 years): Power division, geotechnical work for power plants and transmission lines
Extensive international travel (Thailand, Guatemala, Argentina, Turkey, Pakistan, Taiwan)
Promoted to management in 1996 (found it stressful and unsuitable)
Geosystems Engineering (1999-2002): Engineering manager, became partner
First exposure to ASFE/GBA
Sold firm to Kleinfelder in 2002
Kleinfelder (2002-2006): Area manager for Kansas City operations (60 employees)
Left due to management stress and dislike of operational responsibilities
Small local firm (2006-2011): Opened Kansas City office, worked through Great Recession
Kleinfelder return (2011-2021): Technical roles only
Retaining wall practice leader (nationwide position)
National geotechnical director (overseeing 220 engineers)
Self-employed (2021-present): Bedrock GeoConsult
Leadership
Management philosophy: Discovered management roles didn't suit his temperament
Key insight: Technical career path is viable alternative to management track
Relationship building: Defended general contractor at meeting, leading to 20-year client relationship with JE Dunn Construction
Golden rule approach: Treat everyone well regardless of hierarchy position
Expertise development: Made himself indispensable by becoming technical expert in areas firms needed
The Geoprofessional Landscape
Changes Over Career:
Computerized drafting and word processing eliminated many drafters and typists
Internet, email, and global telecommunications revolutionized field communication
Firm consolidation - many great geotechnical firms from 30 years ago no longer exist
Constants That Remain:
Shear strength and effective stress fundamentals
Importance of treating people well (Golden Rule)
Critical need for strong communication skills
Future Opportunities:
Ground improvement technologies to reduce expensive deep foundation needs
General contractors hiring more engineers in-house
Transition from paper drawings to augmented/virtual reality for project visualization
Industry Concerns:
Continued commoditization and poor quality work damaging profession
Contractors don't trust geotechnical information (especially groundwater predictions)
Geotechnical engineers often not considered part of design team after report completion
Life Advice
Communication Skills (Highest priority):
Take formal training (Dale Carnegie courses)
Practice through presentations to professional societies
Both oral and written communication require deliberate development
Career Development:
Make yourself a technical expert in areas your firm needs
Don't assume management is the only path to success
Consider self-employment earlier if you have technical expertise
Professional Growth:
Learn from mistakes rather than avoiding them
Seek mentoring opportunities and provide mentoring to others
Stay engaged with design teams throughout project lifecycle
Speed Round
Favorite Book: Hyperion by Dan Simmons (https://a.co/d/f3dT52x); Bible (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bible&i=stripbooks&crid=2QYZTVZEZURS7&sprefix=bible%2Cstripbooks%2C292&ref=nb_sb_noss_1)
Optimism index: 3 out of 5
Proudest accomplishments:
Mentoring younger engineers who still use lessons years later
Technical guidance that continues to benefit former colleagues
What he'd change:
Become self-employed sooner (considered it in 2010, should have done it by 2016)
Lesson learned: Good technical work creates opportunities even without aggressive business development
Advice for young professionals:
Focus on communication skills development
Build technical expertise proactively
Trust that opportunities will emerge for prepared professionals
Final Thoughts
Learning from mistakes: Essential in risky geotechnical work
Importance of quality: Poor work continues to damage entire industry reputation
Value of persistence: Bosses who chose to teach rather than fire after mistakes
GBA connection: Became involved through Joel Carson when Kleinfelder needed representation after Carson became GBA executive director
Key Takeaway:
Technical excellence combined with strong communication skills provides foundation for successful geotechnical career, whether in management or technical track.
Calls-to-action:
Visit the GBA Website at https://www.geoprofessional.org for other training resources and reference materials and/or to become a member.
Visit https://www.gbapodcast.com for future podcast episodes
Contact us at [email protected] with any podcast-related questions or comments
Subscribe
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This episode was produced by the following GBA Members:
Ryan White, PE, GE (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankwhite/) – Principal Geotechnical Engineer/Apex (https://apexcos.com/)

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