Joel Rinkel Appointed to Geotechnical Services Chief Engineer and Jeff Krusinga to Geotechnical Services Group Leader

SME | Published on February 5, 2025

We are thrilled to announce an exciting change in the leadership structure of SME’s Geotechnical Services group. Joel Rinkel, PE has been appointed Geotechnical Services Chief Engineer and Jeff Krusinga, PE, GE is now our Group Leader of the Geotechnical Services Group. This change is designed to strengthen both SME’s technical and operational excellence.

After more than 30 years with SME, Joel has transitioned from his role as Group Leader to the role of Chief Engineer, focusing on driving technical and project excellence in the geotechnical group and in other groups where cross over services enhance SME’s performance.   Joel will continue to nurture relationships with many of our industry partners. Joel reflected on his appointment and journey with SME, “as a co-op in 1992 and 1993, I kicked off my career at SME, and 1994, I was hired full time and began my path forward. This path afforded me the opportunity to explore my passions for problem solving and bringing value to the construction industry. In this new role, I am excited to continue to find new and creative ways of maximizing my experience and contribute to our Team’s, client’s, and SME’s successes. It’s exciting to know that SME is empowering me to explore and expand my role, which will help me drive organizational success as a leader and construction consulting expert.” SME’s chief technical professionals ensure technical quality of project deliverables, oversee quality control, provide regulatory guidance, manage design and construction risk, develop and strengthen client relationships, refine group operations, pursue business development, and provide senior mentorship. In this role, Joel will enrich our commitment to delivering tailored, practical solutions for a variety of design- and construction-related challenges. Additionally, he will be instrumental in seeking out and hiring top technical talent for SME.

To support the operational growth and professional development of our Geotechnical Team, Jeff has taken on the role of Geotechnical Services Group Leader.  Jeff’s appointment is a testament to his outstanding leadership, operational excellence, and commitment to nurturing talent within our organization.  In March, Jeff will have been with SME for 28 years and 35 total years in our profession.  Jeff looks forward to working with the talented group of engineers in our Geotechnical Group.  His vision and passion for fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment have been instrumental in our success.  We are confident that under Jeff’s guidance, our Geotechnical Services Group will reach new heights, delivering exceptional results and driving forward our strategic initiatives.  This appointment necessitates that Jeff move on from his Regional Leader role in SME’s Kalamazoo office after over nine years, and Jeff looks forward to supporting the next Regional Leader in Kalamazoo as they transition into that role.

Jeff and Joel, with nearly a combined 60 years of experience at SME, will focus on technical excellence, improving internal processes, fostering collaboration, and ensuring team growth in their new roles. Please help us congratulate Joel and Jeff as they begin this new chapter in their professional journey.

These leadership changes represent our commitment to aligning strengths with SME’s strategic goals. We are committed to empowering our leaders to leverage their unique talents and strengthen both our client-focused and team-centric initiatives. This transition underscores SME’s dedication to remain an industry leader with first class engineering solutions while fostering an environment where Team Members can excel and grow professionally. We look forward to the continued success and innovation this leadership team will bring to our Geotechnical Services Group.