Braintree, MA According to Helical Drilling, after 15 years and over 400 projects as Geopier Foundation Co.’s region engineer, Jim “Wheels” Wheeler, P.E., is retiring. Wheeler beginning as the original “drill and fill” Geopier Rammed Aggregate Pier technology, he led the charge together with Geopier-element installer Helical Drilling to deliver cost-effective and expertly engineered ground improvement solutions to the Northeast and forever changed the way consultants, designers and constructors approach the difficult and unique subsurface conditions in this region.

Benjamin Cote, P.E. has stepped in as Geopier’s new region engineer. Cote brings over eight years of geotechnical experience to the market and will be stepping in to fill Wheeler’s role for assisting with Geopier ground improvement projects throughout the Northeast. Cote completed his BS in Civil Engineering from University of Connecticut and his MS in Geotechnical Engineering at North Carolina State University.