Meet the UCA YM

Meet the 2024 - 2026 UCA YM Executive Committee

Tori Encapera - UCA YM Chair

Who are you?

 Tori Encapera, PE

What is your background?

 I graduated from Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, MO with a BS (2017) and an MS (2019) in Geological Engineering. 

Where do you currently work?

 Black & Veatch Corporation - I'm in the Civil Works Group and support Tunnels, Dams, and underground projects. I'm based out of Overland Park, KS.

Do you investigate, design, build, or manage?

 Primarily investigate and design - I have experience planning and executing geotechnical investigations for tunnels and dams in some pretty remote locations with some interesting logistical challenges. I've also gotten experience in designing rock reinforcement for highwall/roof stability and developing Geotechnical Baseline Reports. I like rocks and groundwater.

What is one thing you wish you knew when you first started working?

 You don't have to know everything, you just need to know who to ask!

Favorite Tunnels, Shafts, or Construction Reference?

Ron Heuer's RETC "Estimating Rock Tunnel Water Inflow" papers, Parts I and II.

Rajat Gangrade - UCA YM Past Chair

Who are you?

  Rajat Gangrade, PhD, PE

What is your background?

 I have a PhD in Underground Construction and Tunneling from CSM and an MS in Geotechnical Engineering from Virginia Tech.

Where do you currently work?

 HNTB as a Geotechnical and Tunneling Technical Advisor

Do you investigate, design, build, or manage?

 Design and Investigate - I have nearly 10 years of experience in delivering geotechnical and tunneling projects in North America and Asia. I've worked on BART to Silicon Valley Phase 2, West Seattle Ballard Link Extension, LA Metro Eastside Phase 2, Scarborough Subway Extension, and other large-scale infrastructure projects.

Lane Boyd - UCA YM Co-Chair

Who are you?

 Lane Boyd, PhD

What is your background?

 I went to Colorado School of Mines and received my BS (2016) in Geology and Geological Engineering and my PhD (2019) in Geological Engineering.

Where do you currently work?

 I'm a Tunnel Engineer at the firm Gall Zeidler Consultants out of their DC Metro Area office.

Do you investigate, design, build, or manage?

 One thing I love about my job is that I get to wear multiple hats! Design takes up much of my time, and the expertise I've bored into has been rehabilitation of tunnels and other underground structures. With that comes a lot of investigation, which is a fascinating phase of rehabilitation because there are so many different puzzle pieces to put together to better understand the structure.

What is one thing you wish you knew when you first started working?

 You're going to make mistakes, and that's okay. Learning from missteps helps you become a better engineer!

Favorite Tunnels, Shafts, or Construction Reference?

US DOT's "Tunnel Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, and Evaluation Manual" - affectionately known as the TOMIE.

Alex Warren - UCA YM Secretary

Who are you?

 Alex Warren, PE

What is your background?

 I graduated from the University of Mississippi with both a BS (2018) and an MS (2020) in Geological Engineering.

Where do you currently work?

 I am a Tunnel Engineer with GEI Consultants in Golden, CO.

Do you investigate, design, build, or manage?

 Design! I primarily work on preparation of Geotechnical Baseline Reports and specification for tunnel and trenchless projects. Additionally, I have experience in tunnel feasibility, evaluating design constraints and risks and translating them into constructable designs.

What is one thing you wish you knew when you first started working?

 It's okay if you feel like you're drinking from a fire hose in the beginning - it does get easier!

Favorite Tunnels, Shafts, or Construction Reference?

Geotechnical Baseline Reports: Suggested Guidelines, ASCE MOP 154 by Randall J. Essex

Kieran Pugh - UCA YM Treasurer

Who are you?

 Kieran Pugh

What is your background?

University of New South Wales, Sydney Australia: Bachelor of Engineering with Honors (Civil) and Bachelors of Commerce (Finance) graduated with both March 2019.

Fun fact: I did a semester abroad at Iowa State University - Go Clones! 

Where do you currently work?

I'm a Tunnel Engineer working for Mott MacDonald, currently based out of the Arlington, VA Office.

Do you investigate, design, build, or manage?

I'm a Tunnel Engineer on the design side. I have experience in both primary and permanent lining design for rail, road, and hydropower projects as well as tunnel remediation design experience. I prefer rocks over soils but find the design of anything underground fascinating. 

What is one thing you wish you knew when you first started working?

There are no silly questions so ask lots of them - no one expects you to know everything, you're just getting started!

Favorite Tunnels, Shafts, or Construction Reference?

CIRIA 671 Tunnels: Inspection, Assessment, and Maintenance

Journey to the Center of the Earth - the movie

Emma Moore - UCA YM Media Coordinator

Who are you?

  Emma Moore

What is your background?

 Colorado School of Mines: BS in Civil Engineering (2022) and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a emphasis on Geotechnical Engineering (2023)

Where do you currently work?

 Black & Veatch Corporation: I am in the Civil Works group and support Tunnel projects. I'm based out of Charleston, SC. 

Do you investigate, design, build, or manage?

 Design and investigate. I have experience executing geotechnical investigations for dams and tunnel projects. Additionally, I've assisted with shaft and tunnel design in soft ground. If I had to choose, I prefer soil over rock. 

What is one thing you wish you knew when you first started working?

 Experience is invaluable. Ask as many questions as you can and say yes to opportunities in the field when they arise! Seeing construction firsthand makes design much easier. 

Favorite Tunnels, Shafts, or Construction Reference?

Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering by Braja M. Das and Nagaratnam Sivakugan

Jack Lawrence - UCA YM Scholarship Coordinator

Who are you?

 Jack Lawrence

What is your background?

 I graduated from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a BS (2023) in Civil Engineering and from University of California, Berkeley with an MS (2024) in Civil Engineering. 

Where do you currently work?

 HNTB - I'm a Structural Engineer with the National Tunnels Practice based out of New York, NY.

Do you investigate, design, build, or manage?

Design - I build finite element models to simulate the structural performance of complex underground infrastructure projects.

Favorite Tunnels, Shafts, or Construction Reference?

It's tough to choose one, but at the moment I'll go with Ralph Peck's Laurits Bjerrum Lecture - "Where has all the judgement gone?"

Luis Avila - UCA YM ITA Liaison

Who are you?

 Luis Avila

What is your background?

 I graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in Civil Engineering (2014) and from Northwestern University with a MS in Civil Engineering, focusing on Geotechnics (2016).

Where do you currently work?

WSP in the U.S. in Boston, Massachusetts.

I am an Assistant Vice President of Geotechnical and Tunnel Engineering, emphasis on tunneling.

Do you investigate, design, build, or manage?

 I started out my career heavily involved in design. I was out in the field behind rigs for soil and rock sampling, then made my way into the office to write technical memoranda for a variety of different aspects of the projects I worked on. As my career progressed I was thrown into management and now I’m Deputy Project Manager for a major tunnel project.

What is one thing you wish you knew when you first started working?

 Don’t be afraid to network! Early on in my career I was shy and a bit introverted, but as I progressed, I learned how important building a network of colleagues that you can reach out to for anything is.

Favorite Tunnels, Shafts, or Construction Reference?

History of Tunneling in the United States
Editors: Michael F. Roach, Colin A. Lawrence, David R. Klug, and W. Brian Fulcher

Perhaps not a technical reference, but an excellent read that I talk to in passing with friends!