Smiling man with wooden mural backdrop

Thomas C. Cole, P.E. – Principal and Chief Executive Officer

Tom graduated from California State-Fresno with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1991. After graduation, he worked as a structural engineer and ultimately made a transition into the geosciences field after having exposure to several large-scale construction projects. Tom held positions ranging from field engineer, staff engineer, project engineer, and operations manager at his first geotechnical firm.

Once exposed to the challenges of management, Tom realized that he enjoyed the thrill of driving business growth while maintaining a technical role on unique projects. A competing firm convinced Tom to start an office for their growing firm, and through his relationship with the firm’s owner, decided to continue to develop his dual role within the organization—ultimately accepting a position as the company president.

After 6 successful years, Tom decided to explore new life challenges and moved to Chicago where he worked as the operations manager for a respected global civil engineering firm. However, he did not enjoy Midwest winters and decided to relocate to Colorado. Shortly after moving, Tom accepted a position with a national geosciences engineering firm located in Denver. In 2010, wanting more control over his future, Tom decided to start PCH Group, LLC providing geotechnical engineering, materials testing and special inspections as well as environmental services. Having success in the core business operations, PCH Group discontinued environmental consulting and rebranded as Cole Garner Geotechnical in 2017 with the aim of focusing solely on geotechnical engineering and construction quality control consulting.

Tom is spending more time with a golf club or tennis racket, at the gym or fishing/hunting these days.  As the Company CEO his primary focus is less on the daily operations and more on strategic initiatives.

Professional Experience

Mr. Cole has over 35 years of experience preparing geotechnical engineering studies from proposal development through work plan preparation, site exploration, in-situ load testing, laboratory testing, engineering analysis and technical report preparation. Design experience includes the determination of bearing capacities for shallow and deep foundation systems, settlement analysis, liquefaction analysis, lateral analysis for deep foundations, lateral soil pressures for retaining structures, slope stability, soil nailing, percolation and subsurface drainage and dewatering systems, expansive soil mitigation and pavement design and rehabilitation strategy development. Environmental project experience includes site characterization of petroleum, pesticide and dry cleaning sites across northern California. Duties included the design of site characterization, historical monitoring and remediation systems for various contaminants and geologic regimes.

Construction materials engineering, inspection and testing experience includes the evaluation and testing of soil, aggregates, concrete, asphalt, masonry and brick products, structural and reinforcing steel, drilled anchor assemblies, structural framing systems, penetration firestop systems, fire resistive joint systems, roofing systems, unreinforced brick shear testing and full/partial scale load testing of structural components. Materials engineering experience includes the design of lightweight structural concrete, normal weight concrete, asphalt concrete, roller compacted concrete, synthetic and clay liner systems and cement/lime additives for soil improvement.

Project Experience

Education

  • Jefferson Academy – Broomfield, CO
  • Highline Academy – Denver, CO
  • DU Recreational Field Expansion, Denver, CO
  • California State University, Sacramento, Regional & Continuing Education Building – Sacramento, CA

Residential and Mid Rise Buildings

  • Solana 3100 Pearl – Boulder, CO
  • Kent Place Apartments – Englewood, CO
  • 85. S Union Apartments – Lakewood, CO
  • Gables Cherry Creek Apartments – Denver, CO
  • Wencel Building – Boulder, CO
  • Hartley Flats – Denver, CO

Land Development

• Timber Ridge/Talons Reach, 206 Dwellings, Aurora, CO
• Westwood Mesa, 166 Dwellings, Arvada, CO
• Rockinghorse, 126 Dwellings, Parker, CO
• Mountain Shadows, 154 Dwellings, Firestone, CO
• Hillside, 179 Dwellings, Castle Rock, CO

Energy Production and Distribution

• DJ Basin Well Pad Development, Encana, NE Colorado
• Jackson Processing Plant, Ganado, TX
• Hinsdale Compressor Station, Hinsdale, NY
• Ventech Gas to Liquids Plant, Oklahoma City, OK
• Leesville Compressor Station, Leesville, OH

Parking Structures

• 12th Street Project, Modesto, CA
• California State University, Sacramento Parking Structure II, Sacramento, CA
• California State University, Sacramento, Parking Structure III, Sacramento, CA
• Sutter Roseville Medical Center Parking Structure, Roseville, CA
• UC Davis Parking Structure, Davis, CA

Healthcare

• Women and Children Center, Kaiser Health – Roseville, CA
• Emergency Room and Central Plant Expansion, Kaiser Permanente, Roseville, CA
• Medical Office Building, Kaiser Permanente – Folsom, CA
• Medical Office Building, Kaiser Permanente – Roseville, CA
• Sutter Roseville Hospital Replacement Facility, Roseville, CA
• UC Davis Tower II, Sacramento, CA

Litigation Support, Expert Witness & Legal Consulting

• Esquire Plaza, David S. Taylor Investments v. Hensel Phelps, et al. 2002
• Signature Center Investments, LLC v. AARDEX, et al. 2013

Education

Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, 1991, California State – Fresno
Post Graduate Studies, University of California, Davis Extension

Professional Licensure

Professional Engineer; Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wyoming

Professional Affiliations

American Society of Civil Engineers
Colorado Assoc. of Geotechnical Engineers (CAGE)
American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM), Committee D18 Soil and Rock

Work History

Cole Garner Geotechnical, Inc.
Principal, Chief Executive Officer
2017 – Present

Pickering, Cole & Hivner, LLC
Principal Engineer, Partner
2010 – 2017

Terracon Consultants, Inc.
Geotechnical Department Manager
2009 – 2010

URS Corporation
Operations Manager, Chicago, IL, 2008
Division President – Testing and Inspection (Signet Testing Labs, D&M Consulting & Geomatic), 2002 – 2007
Office Manager and Senior Engineer, Signet Testing Labs, 1996 – 2002

Krazan & Associates, Inc.
Office Manager and Project Engineer, 1994 – 1996
Staff Engineer, 1992 – 1994
Field Engineer, 1991 – 1992

Teter Consultants, Inc.
Structural Designer, 1989 – 1991