Who We Are
Mission Statement
Earth Retention is the expert at delivering innovative geostructural solutions through excellence in engineering, products,
and responsive support.
Our Core Values
Engineering Excellence
- Geostructural Design and Development
- Products
- Solutions
Mutually Beneficial Partnerships
- Team Members
- Customers
- Suppliers
Positive and Rewarding Work Environment
- Healthy Communication
- Recognition
- Opportunity
Continuous Quality Improvement
- Learning
- Sharing
- Implementing
Our Team
Chad Clark, P.E.
Chad is the founder of Earth Retention. He has 28 years of experience in the design and construction of earth retention structures and geotechnical engineering. Chad is currently licensed in 25 states and has extensive experience throughout the U.S. He has supervised the design and construction of over 20 million square feet of earth retention structures consisting of segmental block, reinforced slope, MSE precast concrete panel, cast in place concrete, soldier pile, tie-back, soil nail, and sheet pile walls. Prior to starting Earth Retention, Chad held several prominent positions at geotechnical engineering firms, geosynthetic manufacturing companies and design build retaining wall construction firms. Chad is a 1994 graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering.
Chad Clark, P.E.
Founder
Lance Carter, P.E.
Lance has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and is a registered Professional Engineer. He has more than 30 years of experience in the design, specification, and application of earth retention structures, with emphasis on segmental retaining wall and geosynthetic reinforced soil technology.
Lance Carter, P.E.
Chief Engineer
Tim Winders
Tim Winders
Chief Operating Officer
Matt Thompson, P.E.
Matt has over 20 years of experience in the design and construction of earth retention structures and sound barrier wall systems in the heavy highway, commercial, government, and private sectors. His knowledge has an emphasis on sound barrier walls used primarily for state DOT applications, and earth retention systems consisting of MSE precast panel with steel soil reinforcement, segmental block with geogrid reinforcement, and soldier pile and lagging. Prior to joining Earth Retention, Matt worked for a design-build contractor specializing in the design and construction of rammed aggregate piers, rigid inclusions, helical anchors, steel piles, and drilled shaft foundation systems used for settlement control and slope stability. Matt is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) with a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering and is a licensed professional engineer in 9 states across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Matt Thompson, P.E.
Mid-Atlantic Director of Engineering
Charles Clackett
Charles Clackett, E.I.T.
Northeast Director of Engineering
Scott Czewski
Licensed as a Professional Engineer in Michigan, Scott holds a master’s degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Geotechnical Engineering from Michigan State University and has over 30 years of experience in geotechnical studies, laboratory materials testing, temporary shoring and cofferdam design, solar system design, technical contractor support and sales, and mechanistic empirical design utilizing geosynthetics in pavements. He specializes in all aspects of the design and supply of geogrid for soil reinforcement.
Scott Czewski, P.E.
Director of Technical Sales
Jon Nirnberger
Jon brings over 25 years of experience in the geosynthetics industry, with a strong background in sales, installation, technical support, and the development and management of distribution networks across North, Central, and South America, as well as the Middle East. Prior to this, he successfully owned and operated a design-build construction company specializing in earth retention structures.
Jon Nirnberger
Vice President of Sales
Jim Kelley
Jim is a 1993 graduate of Florida State University with a BS degree in Psychology. He has a 26-year history in the civil engineering products industry as a sales manager for companies including Cast Crete Corp. in Tampa, RMC Allied Materials, CEMEX, Block USA, and now Earth Retention for the past four years. Jim enjoys spending time outdoors with his kids, hunting, salt-water fishing, and anywhere on a beach.
Jim Kelley
Southeast Sales Manager
Erik Pedersen
Erik is a 1994 graduate of Potsdam College in upstate NY and has a degree in geology. He is a seasoned sales manager with 24+ years in the hardscapes/retaining wall industry. Prior to coming to Earth Retention, he worked for Oldcastle APG and EP Henry, expanding both new commercial segmental retaining wall markets and developing top-producing sales teams. Erik resides in Bethesda, MD with his three children, wife of 19 years & their golden doodle.
Erik Pedersen
Mid-Atlantic Sales Manager
Jeremy Davidson
Jeremy had an extensive career in architecture before switching fields and joining Earth Retention when the company was formed, and now has over ten years of experience in designing earth retention structures. He played a major role in hiring, training, and managing most of the engineers with us today. He enjoys rock climbing, mountain biking, scuba diving, and being outdoors with his wife and three daughters.
Jeremy Davidson
Project Designer
Yulin Luan, P.E.
Yulin joined Earth Retention in 2016 after graduating from Georgia Tech with an M.S. degree in Civil Engineering. She gained experience and knowledge in designing earth retention systems while developing her career at Earth Retention. Yulin is a registered professional engineer in Washington State and California.
Yulin Luan, P.E.
Senior Engineer
Susan Rafalko
Susan Rafalko, P.E.
Senior Engineer
Ericka Williams
Erika, E.I.T. is an engineering star performer at Earth Retention. She is a graduate of Ohio State University with a B.S. in Civil & Environmental Engineering, and minors in Construction Engineering and Mathematics. In college she was very active in the Alpha Omega Epsilon sorority. Erika is currently a Volunteer Archivist for National Archives and Records Administration.
Erika Williams, E.I.T.
Project Engineer
Nick Thiel, P.E.
Nick is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and has been with Earth Retention since 2017. He graduated from James Madison University with a major in Engineering and a minor in Mathematics, and has prior experience in site civil engineering, environmental engineering, and construction. He was raised and currently resides in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and enjoys spending time outdoors and with his family in his free time.
Nick Thiel, P.E.
Senior Engineer
Shruti Vaghe
Shruti is a London-based Civil Engineer with over a decade of experience in the construction materials and products industry. She has specialized in geosynthetics, advising on design and product development for major infrastructure projects across the U.S. Shruti is close to completing her MBA at Bayes Business School, where she was awarded the Global Women’s Leadership Scholarship.
Outside of work, Shruti enjoys pub quizzes, playing chess, and is occasionally forced into hikes by her husband.
Shruti Vaghe
Design Engineer
Thao Truong
Thao Truong is a staff engineer specializing in the design of geogrid-reinforced retaining walls and over-steeped slopes. She received her engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2019. Having passed her FE exam in 2020, she is now an E.I.T. Engineer, on her path to achieving PE status in a few years. Thao is from Vietnam and has been on the Earth Retention team since 2019. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, chess and traveling.
Thao Truong, E.I.T.
Design Engineer
Omkar Shirke
Omkar graduated from University of Texas at Arlington in 2019 with a Masters in Construction Engineering and Management. His educational background includes civil engineering, design of earth structures, concrete design, and project management. Omkar has also achieved full certification in Oracle’s Primavera P6 enterprise project management software. As an Engineer in Training (EIT) aiming to achieve his P.E. License, he has over 2.5 years of experience at Earth Retention and is now applying his university education in solving real world engineering problems. In his spare time, he enjoys solo-traveling, hiking, cycling & camping.
Omkar Shirke, E.I.T.
Design Engineer
Vikas Cinnam
Vikas Cinnam, P.E.
Design Engineer
Robert Cupp
Robert graduated from Ashworth University’s Computer Aided Design Technician Program. He has been a senior CAD operator at Earth Retention for 3.5 years and supports the engineering team. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, traveling and cooking (he was a former chef for 10 years).
Robert Cupp
Lead CAD Operator
Sean Feagins
Sean is a CAD Operator with experience in retaining wall design and construction. He is a fan of anything scifi/fantasy, enjoys choreographed fights with his son, and letting his daughter paint his nails.
Sean Feagins
CAD Operator
Alpana Gantayet
Alpana is an expert at manipulating construction project search platforms for the generation of sales leads for Earth Retention’s sales team and our clients. She is based in her Indian office and communicates with our management team in the U.S. daily. She has a MBA in Marketing from Indian Institute for Technology & Management (ITM) and Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Telecommunication from Jagannath Institute for Technology & Management (CUTM) India. Her previous professional background includes significant positions at Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. (Times Group), Reliance Securities and Fugro Survey India Ltd. Alpana has two children, a husband who is a Naval Submarine Officer, and lives on the coast of northeast India.
Alpana Gantayet
Market Research Analyst
Denise Kirk
Denise retired in 2017, after a 25-year career in the Petroleum Pipeline Industry. After enjoying a satisfying career and a few years of retirement travel, she decided she missed the excitement of working and joined our team in 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering in her local community and spending time with her family and friends, including her 7 grandchildren.
Denise Kirk
Office Manager
Azael Martinez
Azael finished his Architecture Degree in Mexico from the Institute of Technology of Zacatecas in 2015. In his free time, Azael enjoys, exercise, designing, and playing sports.
Azael Martinez
Logistics Manager
Alex Poole
Alex Poole
Field Inspector
Rodolfo Nicholas
Rodolfo is originally from Veracruz Mexico and has worked in construction for over 18 years. Rodolfo oversees shipping, receiving, packing and delivery, and has worked with Earth Retention since 2015. In his free time, Rodolfo enjoys spending time with family, visiting people in need, and volunteering at his church.
Rodolfo Nicholas
Material Handler
Revolutionizing the way you think about retaining wall projects.
Leverage our industry expertise and robust supply chain to complete your project on time, within your budget, built to last.
Contact Us
Reach out via our website, or give us a call. We’ll give you our full attention, and find solutions for all your project needs. Let us help you get your next project off the ground!
Make A Plan
We understand your project’s distinct needs and craft a plan to tackle them. Going beyond consulting, we join you on the journey from start to finish – gathering feedback and providing insight every step of the way.
Design Your Project
Our team is here to craft the solutions you need. From consultation and design, all the way through sourcing materials, we are prepared to build whatever your project entails.
7 Biggest MSE Retaining Wall Mistakes & How To Avoid Them
To help you avoid painful and costly mistakes, we’ve created this PDF.
