TUCSON, ARIZ. – The Tucson office of engineering consulting firm Terracon presented a $5,000 check from its foundation to the Southern Arizona Research, Science, and Engineering Foundation (SARSEF).

The Terracon Foundation Board selected SARSEF as its grant recipient. Terracon’s Tucson Office Manager Derek Koller submitted the nomination. SARSEF is a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to create Arizona’s future critical thinkers and problem solvers through science and engineering.

“We are so proud of the work SARSEF does in the Tucson community and Southern Arizona promoting science, technology, engineering, math, and critical thinking abilities to our youth,” Koller said. “You never know; there might even be some future Terracon engineers in that group.”

The Tucson office has been involved with SARSEF for years. Its employees have participated as judges for science fairs and have also volunteered with organizations that support SARSEF.

The grant will be used to fund STEM outreach programs aimed at young people in the Tucson community.

“SARSEF is thrilled to receive the support of Terracon and its employees,” said SARSEF CEO Kathleen Bethel. “Our community’s future workforce will be taught critical thinking skills and problem solving; all made possible through this grant.”

Terracon is an employee-owned consulting engineering firm with more than 4,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 140 offices with services available in all 50 states.

Terracon currently ranks 24th on the Engineering News-Record list of Top 500 Design Firms and is ranked No. 1 in Asbestos and Lead Abatement Design.

To learn more about Terracon visit terracon.com/offices/tucson/

TEMPE, ARIZONA – The Tucson office of consulting engineering firm Terracon was named 2018 Advancing Women in Transportation (WTS) Employer of the Year, Tucson Chapter.

Each year WTS/Tucson honors firms with its Outstanding Recognition Awards. Terracon’s Tucson office was honored for its strong ties to the transportation industry and its dedication to WTS and other professional organizations in the community.

“We are honored and humbled to have received this award,” said Derek Koller, Terracon’s Tucson Office Manager. “As an office, we have several employees who serve and participate with local non-profits and organizations as board members and in other capacities. We are proud of our collective efforts in the community.”

Criteria met for garnering WTS recognition:

• An organization that has enhanced the transportation industry;
• An organization with an outstanding record of hiring and promoting at all employment levels;
• An organization that encourages students, especially women to enter the transportation field by providing scholarships, grants and/or internship opportunities;
• An organization that supports WTS.

“It’s an honor for our office to receive this recognition and award,” said Bianca Rivera, Administrative Manager I Corporate Service Representative, in Terracon’s Tucson office. “We are fortunate to work for Terracon, an amazing company that encourages our involvement within our community. I’m also honored to be a part of the WTS Tucson Chapter.”

Terracon is an employee-owned consulting engineering firm with more than 4,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 140 offices with services available in all 50 states.

Terracon currently ranks 24th on the Engineering News-Record list of Top 500 Design Firms and is ranked No. 1 in Asbestos and Lead Abatement Design.

To learn more about Terracon visit terracon.com/offices/tucson/

TEMPE, ARIZONA – Terracon, an engineering consulting firm, has promoted Derek D. Koller, CHMM, to Tucson Office Manager.

Koller was promoted after serving as Terracon’s Environmental Department Manager in Tucson. He will continue to oversee the Environmental Department while taking on the additional responsibility of managing the office. The Tucson office has been performing environmental, geotechnical, and materials testing services for 25 years and will remain committed to producing quality services.

“We are thrilled that a team member with Derek’s industry experience will be the Tucson Office Manager,” said Brent M. Borchers, P.E., Regional Manager for Terracon and Tempe office principal. “He has been in the industry for the past 12 years and has been with Terracon for five years. His promotion means a lot to Terracon as we continue to grow.”

A resident of Arizona for more than 30 years, Koller began his career as an environmental consultant in 2008 after completing a Brownfields Environmental Workforce Development Training Program through the City of Tucson. He has been in the consulting firm ever since.

Koller earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health, environmental and occupational health track, from the University of Arizona. He graduated magna cum laude. He is currently getting a Masters of Public Health, industrial hygiene, also from UA.

Koller is involved in numerous industry groups including the Southern Arizona Environmental Management Society, member, president, 2015-2016; historian 2016-present; and RCRA Seminar Planning Committee Chair the past three years. He is also a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals, American Industrial Hygiene Association, and Southern Arizona Chapter CCIM.

He was recently elected to the Board of Directors for Tucson Clean and Beautiful.

Koller gives back to community by securing grants from the Terracon Foundation, a non-profit partner of Terracon that allows employees to apply for competitive grants on the behalf of organizations in its community. Last year he secured a $5,000 grant for the UA Health Sciences Department to provide stipends to graduate students.

Koller and his wife, Tanya, are the parents to three daughters ages 18, 16, and 9. In his spare time he enjoys reading and lifting weights.

Terracon is an employee-owned consulting engineering firm with more than 4,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 140 offices with services available in all 50 states. Terracon currently ranks 24th on the Engineering News-Record list of Top 500 Design Firms and is ranked No. 1 in Asbestos and Lead Abatement Design.

To learn more about Terracon visit terracon.com/offices/phoenix/