Issued by:
Laura L. Hunt, 414-229-6447; llhunt@uwm.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MILWAUKEE — Geotechnical and construction issues surrounding the rebuilding of the Marquette Interchange in Milwaukee will be the topic of the Great Lakes Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering Conference at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) on May 13.
The conference will begin at 8 a.m. at the UWM Union Ballroom at 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd. Frank Busalacchi, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT), and Jerry A. DiMaggio, an engineer with the Federal Highway Administration, will be the keynote speakers. The talks will be given consecutively, beginning at 8:10 a.m.
This is the first time in 13 years the annual conference will be held in Milwaukee, says Hani Titi, UWM assistant professor of civil engineering and mechanics, and a coordinator of the event. A number of other topics related to geotechnical applications for transportation infrastructures will be offered to registered participants. The last session begins at 4:15 p.m.
Busalacchi, who was appointed secretary of the state DOT in January of 2003, was formerly the secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 200 based in Milwaukee, one of the largest Teamster unions in the state.
Busalacchi has done much to help southeast Wisconsin grow, serving as president of the Summerfest Board of Directors and as chairman of the construction committee for the Miller Park Baseball Stadium project. He also was a member of the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission advisory committee to the southeast freeway study.
As secretary of the Wisconsin DOT, Busalacchi leads one of the largest state agencies with over 3,800 employees, dozens of satellite and district offices, and an annual budget of more than $2 billion.
DiMaggio is principal geotechnical engineer and National Program Manager with the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington D.C.
A certified master trainer and licensed contract arbitrator (AAA), he has provided technical expert design and construction assistance on more than 900 transportation projects in all 50 states, throughout South America, and in several Middle Eastern countries.
DiMaggio is currently a member of several national committees and task forces related to the development of technical guidelines, specifications and testing standards for geotechnical and foundation practice. Also he is a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Delaware, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Akron in Ohio.
To register or for more information, contact Hani Titi at 414-229-6893, hanititi@uwm.edu, or log onto www.uwm.edu/CEAS/glggc/.
