Following a busy 2011 we have strengthened our Utility Survey team with some key appointments.
In the last quarter of last year Howard Zabell joined us as Quality Manager. Howard comes with 11 years’ experience undertaking and managing utility surveys and has a series of Health & Safety and project management qualifications. He has a critical eye for detail and will be a great asset to the team. As Quality Manager Howard will be responsible for field checking and office checking of surveys together with training and mentoring the surveyors.
Howard said “Professionally, I have always been very determined and studious individual with a progressive background in surveying and management, so joining Technics Group was the definitive next step. It is my goal to further my knowledge and experience, and continually help develop those around me. Quality is highly significant to any survey business and as a Quality Manager, I have a responsibility to monitor results, initiate new challenges and provide commercial awareness.”
Outside work Howard is a keen all round sportsman, he plays for Epsom 1st XI league hockey team, enjoys triathlons and travel.
Michael Mlinaric also joined us during the last quarter of 2011. Michael joins us as a Utility Surveyor and brings with him 6 years’ experience both in the UK and in the Middle East undertaking Utility Surveys using radio location and ground penetrating radar techniques. He previously studied ‘Construction and The Built Environment’ and has taken part in a 6 month expedition to Belize and Guatemala where he helped construct a ranger centre and taught in a remote village school.
Michael said “I recently joined Technics Group and am proud to be a part of a forward thinking surveying company. I come to Technics Group with six years of having my head down foul water drains. As a keen traveller and Scuba diver I look forward to be rained on in the four corners of the UK!”
Andy Webb has been promoted from Senior Utility Surveyor to Assistant Quality Manager. We are delighted to have promoted Andy, he is a master in utility location and his experience is second to none. He has been involved in some of the most complicated utility surveys in the demanding and congested centre of London. In his new position he will be involved in the training of surveyors both in site techniques and office processing as well as quality control of the surveys they produce.
Andy said “It was a cold wet January day way back in 2003 when I started as Trainee Utility Surveyor with the Technics Group. Now 9 years on, plenty of blood sweat and tears shed, 2012 brings a promotion to Assistant Quality Manager. The future looks excellent for the Technics Group and I’m proud to still be a part of it.”
When he is not at the coalface Andy is a keen mountain biker and participant in the TG Jelly Legs Club. See http://www.technicsgroup.com/surveyor-blog/the-jelly-legs-club-ride-again/
Christian Bews joined the team as a trainee surveyor at the beginning of January. Fresh from studying an MSc in Geography, Christian has been a member of the Research Group ‘Geomorology – subsurface and subsurface competence’ under the assistance of Prof. Dr Schrott. Being a member of this group has given Christian experience with Geophysical Survey methods which he is now keen to adapt to near surface utility location. Christian has travelled extensively and was a member of the Salzburg water polo team which came in second in the 2011 championship.
With two more staff due to start in February the Technics Team is stronger than ever and is well positioned to keep our clients supported whatever their survey needs.
Technics Group undertakes many weird and wonderful surveys during the year, one of the most notable and interesting of which are the confined space exercises. These usually entail a difficult environment with challenging access and working conditions.
We recently undertook a preliminary investigation into an ex government underground tunnel and bunker complex at a secret location in Surrey. The bunker, which was a strategic out of London base, has not been used since the war. This project involves a geotechnical investigation, concrete structure investigation, GPR survey and condition survey of the complex which is approximately 10m underground, and will be carried out in phases over the course of the year. This will involve traditional survey methods, laser scanning, GPR and invasive and non-invasive geotechnical works.
As you can see from the smiles on everyone’s faces we love a challenge no matter how dark, wet and cold it is!
