Come join the ASCE Reston Branch for our September 2026 Meeting on Tuesday, September 15th starting at 11:45 AM. You may attend this meeting in-person or virtually.
ASCE membership is not required, but an ASCE account (free) is required for registration.
Our speakers will be Ms. Felicia Kegel Bechtel, Rettew Senior Geophysical Advisor and Special Projects Lead. Ms. Bechtel will her presentation on
Geophysics and Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) – How to Find, Map, and Manage What You Want to Hit or Miss Before Digging, Drilling, Or Building
Presentation Topic:
This presentation, “Geophysics and Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) – How to Find, Map, and Manage What You Want to Hit or Miss Before Digging, Drilling, Or Building” will introduce the applied science of geophysics as it relates to the engineering, environmental, and energy markets. By participating, you will gain a better understanding of geophysical techniques and applications through seeing real-life project examples. In addition, you will learn the benefits of using geophysics for project design, development, construction, excavation, or remediation.
Ms. Felicia Kegel Bechtel, Rettew Senior Geophysical Advisor & Special Projects Lead
About the Speaker:
Felicia Kegel Bechtel is the Senior Geophysical Advisor and Special Projects Lead for the Environmental and Geotechnology Practice at RETTEW Field Services, Inc. Felicia’s primary focus is currently on business development and client connection for Geophysics and all of RETTEW. She also provides support, mentorship, and technical proposal preparation as well as project/report review for RETTEW’s Geophysics Team.
Felicia celebrates 30+ years of experience in surface, marine, and borehole geophysics consulting. Her engineering, environmental and archaeological geophysics expertise has been applied to work in the local, state, federal, commercial, and industrial markets. From 2018 to 2022, Felicia served as RETTEW’s Director of Geophysics, which uses seismic, microgravity, electromagnetic, magnetic, borehole logging, resistivity, and ground penetrating radar surveys (among other techniques) applied to dam structural integrity, washout and leak detection, sinkhole and fracture mapping, bedrock depth profiling, tank and drum detection, contaminant plume delineation, seismic site classification, and other engineering- and environmental-related projects. As President of Enviroscan, Inc. for 25 years prior to joining RETTEW in 2018, Felicia founded the geophysical specialty company, designed marketing strategies, wrote proposals, conducted technical reviews, and managed project logistics.
Felicia holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology from Bryn Mawr College and Brown University, respectively. She volunteers in a number of venues helping young people (particularly girls) learn about careers in math and science, and is the proud parent of three grown children, almost three grandchildren, and an Australian cattle dog. Life is good.