December 2025
LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR!!
📰 AEG St. Louis Chapter Newsletter
December 2025 Edition
Please forward to colleagues or students who may be interested!
🌐 Visit our website: http://www.aegstl.org
📅 Upcoming Chapter Meeting
🎓 Speaker: David Ross
🗣 Topic: Dealing With Outrage: How to Successfully Navigate Stakeholder Conflict
🗓 Date: Thursday, December4th, 2025
🕠 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:20 PM
📍 Location: Microsoft Teams (Virtual Meeting)
Meeting ID: 357 520 147 957
Passcode: rW9n5fP3
Lecture Focus:
In today’s hyperconnected world, engineering and environmental geologists, unfortunately, can no longer rely solely on technical expertise. The job has become significantly harder—not because of the geoscience, but through the need to often interact with their stakeholders.
Geologists, hydrogeologists, and related professionals now operate in an era where stakeholders are more informed, more organized, and more vocal than ever. Whether it’s mining, energy, utilities, construction, or river management, community outrage and stakeholder conflict is now routine—and rising.
AEG members will learn:
Why outrage exists in the first place
Why organizations and professionals often get it wrong
Practical tools and tactics geologists can use in the field to de-escalate tension
Strategic approaches organizations can adopt to protect or rebuild trust over time.
About the Speaker:
With over 30 years of experience tackling some of the most complex and polarizing social and environmental challenges, David is regularly called upon by corporations and government agencies to advise on how to successfully navigate outrage, manage crises, or mediate deeply entrenched stakeholder conflict. He is the one called on when the people with the pitchforks and flaming torches storm your organization’s barricades!
David is the author of Confronting the Storm, a multi-award-winning book published in New York, which explores how leaders can navigate complexity, conflict, and change in a world marked by uncertainty and outrage.
📅 Upcoming Events
🧊 MU Winter Social – Hidden Valley Polar Plunge
📅 Primary Date: Saturday, February 7th
📅 Backup Date: Saturday, February 21st
📍 Location: Hidden Valley Resort
🎿 Event Highlights
Tubing Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Includes 2 hours on the tubing slope with a conveyor belt lift
Group Discount Available: Minimum of 25 participants required
Tube Passes can be purchased online in advance
Food & Drink Options:
On-site restaurant and bar available
Option to keep the event family-friendly by focusing on tubing
Optional Add-On:
Mountain Mardi Gras (Ski/Snowboard Event)
Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM on the ski slope
🎓 AEG Foundation & Diversity Field Trips Grant
Please consider contributing to the AEG Foundation in memory of Phyllis Steckel, former North Central Regional Director. Donations can be made individually or during AEG dues renewal.
Diversity Field Trips Grant:
Established by Phyllis and Richard Steckel, this grant supports Earth Science or STEM teachers working primarily with Black, Hispanic/Latino/a, Pacific Islander, and/or American Indian/Alaskan Native students.
🔗 Apply here: https://aegfoundation.org/grant-scholarships/
📧 Completed paper applications may be emailed to: staff@aegfoundation.org
💵 The St. Louis Chapter will match donations up to $500.
📣 If you donate in memory of Phyllis, please notify Luke Ducey at Luke.Ducey@wsp.com so we can match your contribution.
✍️ AEG Member Blogs
AEG now hosts member-written blogs — short articles (500–1,000 words) offering advice, insights, and professional knowledge. Topics include student engagement, field trip ideas, and meeting tips.
💡 Got an idea? Contact Sheri Maskow at manager@aegweb.org
🔁 Membership Renewal Reminder
If you haven’t renewed your 2025 membership, please do so soon!
🔐 Log in with your email and password to access renewal forms via the Membership section.
💼 Employment Opportunities
UES
Regional Director of Business Development
Driller Helper
Senior Lab Technician
Geotechnical Project Manager
🔗 Apply online
Rocksmith Geoengineering
Staff Geologist or Geological Engineer
Seeking candidates with experience in geotechnical, rock mechanics, hydrogeological, and environmental services
📧 Email: info “at” rocksmithgeo.com
EnviroStaf/LGC
Field Geologist (Lawrence, KS)
Full-time, Mon–Thurs schedule
0–3 years experience
📞 Contact: Damien Flaherty at 314-369-5755 or Damien@lgcassociates.com
Terracon
Multiple openings: Environmental Engineer, Architectural Historian, Geotechnical Manager, Geophysical Intern
🔗 Apply online
WSP
Multiple openings: Water Resources Engineer, Geological Engineer, Natural Resources Intern, Environmental Engineer
🔗 Apply online
📣 Jobseekers & Employers:
To post or update listings, contact Sean Garcia at sean.garcia@terracon.com
🔄 Webmaster Emy Ludwig will update job postings quarterly
👥 Chapter Officers (Aug 2024 – Aug 2026)
Chair: Luke Ducey – Luke.Ducey@wsp.com
Vice Chair: Ben Luetkemeyer – ben.luetkemeyer@terracon.com
Treasurer: Alex Hirsch – ahirsch@trccompanies.com
Secretary: Sean Garcia – sean.garcia@terracon.com
Past Chair: Matt Masterson – matt.masterson@wsp.com
Webmaster: Emy Ludwig – emy.ludwig@rocksmithgeo.com
Membership Chair: Amber Thrasher – amber.thrasher@rocksmithgeo.com
Region 7 Director: Caleb Kuhn – calebkuhnwg@gmail.com