About

Kord J. Wissmann

Kord J. Wissmann, Ph.D., P.E., BC.GE is the founder of Intechnics, Inc., a geotechnical engineering consulting company based in Mooresville, North Carolina. Kord has more than 35 years of experience in geotechnical engineering as a consultant, designer, and specialty contractor. From 2002 until 2024, Kord led specialty foundation contractor Geopier Foundations with a focus on developing and engineering ground improvement alternatives to traditional foundation options. Under Kord’s leadership, Geopier has expanded to provide multiple ground improvement systems applied to projects in 33 countries over six continents.  Kord holds 30 U.S. patents, has authored more than 35 papers, and is a past president of the Geo-Institute.  Kord holds a Bachelor of Science and Doctorate degrees in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.  Prior to joining Geopier, Kord held positions with Harding Lawson Associates, Fluor Daniel, and Shannon & Wilson, Inc.

KORD J. WISSMANN, Ph.D., P.E., BC.GE

CAREER MILESTONES

2001 to 2024 – President / Chief Engineer, Geopier Foundation Company, Inc., Davidson NC.  Responsible for company operations, business planning, engineering activities, design approach development, and research/development.  

1998 to 2001 – Vice President / Chief Engineer, Geopier Foundation Company, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ.  Responsible for corporate-wide engineering, design, and research activities.

1995 to 1998 – Senior and Principal Geotechnical Engineer, Shannon & Wilson, Inc., St. Louis, MO.   Specialized engineering in soil and site improvement, ground modification, driven piles, seismic studies, finite element analyses, cellular cofferdam designs, tunnel support design, dewatering and relief well systems, in-situ testing.

1989 to 1991 – Design Geotechnical Engineer, Fluor Daniel, Inc., Irvine, CA.  Project geotechnical engineer responsible for geotechnical engineering and design of multi-million dollar oil refinery expansion developments and power generation projects in the United States and Asia.

1988 to 1989 – Staff Geotechnical Engineer, Harding Lawson Associates, Tustin, CA.  Responsible for geotechnical site investigations, engineering analyses, and report preparation.

SUMMARY OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Dr. Wissmann’s diverse experience spans company leadership, research and development, geotechnical engineering, and business development activities.  Most recently, Dr. Wissmann served as President and Chief Engineer of Geopier Foundation Company, directing commercial activities, leading research into new ground improvement developments, and supervising the technical activities of Geopier’s worldwide network of geotechnical engineers. Dr. Wissmann has directed the growth of Geopier to achieve a 12-fold increase in revenues over his 22 years of company leadership.  

Dr. Wissmann is the recipient of 301 U.S. patents covering ground improvement techniques and other civil engineering applications.   He is the co-inventor and developer of the Geopier’s Impact Pier, Rampact Pier, Armorpact Pier, Geopier3, SRT2, GeoSpike, X1, GCC, Densipact and FlexPier systems.  Dr. Wissmann’s leadership has been instrumental in Geopier’s global growth with local construction partners in more than 30 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

Prior to joining Geopier Foundation Company, Dr. Wissmann was Project and Principal Engineer for Shannon and Wilson in St. Louis MO, where he specialized in the analysis, design, and construction of marine structures on the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio rivers. Dr. Wissmann’s work included the analysis, design, and construction observation of single line and cellular cofferdams, levees and earthen dams, dewatering systems for temporary construction and flood events, and liquefaction hazard assessments for critical structures such as additions to nuclear power plants. While in St. Louis, Dr. Wissmann also served as an adjunct professor at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois where he taught foundation engineering in 1997, 1998, and 1999. 

Earlier, Dr. Wissmann was Associate Design Engineer at Fluor Daniel, Inc. in Irvine, California, where he worked on the geotechnical engineering and design of very large industrial projects in the United States and Asia.

AWARDS, RECOGNITIONS

  • President, Geo-Institute of ASCE, 2015 
  • Governor, Geo-Institute of ASCE, 2012 – 2016
  • Academy of Distinguished Alumni Award, Virginia Tech, 2016
  • Outstanding Civil Engineering Young Alumnus Award, Virginia Tech, 2000
  • Inducted as Academy of Geo Professionals Diplomate in 2010
  • Author or co-author of more than 35 published technical papers and journal articles.
  • Lecturer for more than 100 short courses and workshops
  • Numerous military honors and decorations while serving as Civil Engineering officer, United States Air Force Air National Guard

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

Dr. Wissmann’s experience includes geotechnical analysis and design for foundation systems, soil improvements, seismic and liquefaction susceptibility assessments, gravity and MSE retaining walls, braced excavations, cellular cofferdams, levees and earth dams, geotechnical instrumentation, scour studies, pavements, machine foundations, and other structures.  With extensive experience spanning the United States and many foreign countries, Dr. Wissmann has worked with soil conditions including organic silts and peat, loose liquefiable sands, residual materials, expansive soils, and collapsible soils.  A partial list of key projects that Dr. Wissmann has worked on is as follows:

AFFILIATIONS

    • ASCE Geo-Institute: Soil Improvement Committee Chair, 2016-2017, President, 2015-2016, Governor, 2012-2017, Soil Improvement Committee, Vice Chair, 2011-2017, Organizational Members Council, Chair, 2009-2011, Organizational Members Task Force, Chair, 2008-2009, AGP Task Force, Member, 2006-2007, Geo-Congress Session Chair, 2004, 2007, 2012
  • ASFE/GBA
    • Emerging Issues and Trends Committee, Vice Chair, 2008-2009, Emerging Issues and Trends Committee, Member, 2005-2008, External Relations Committee, Vice Chair, 2010-2011