Engineer Bios
Jeff Kortan, P.E.
Director of Engineering
Jeff Kortan is a geotechnical engineer and the Director of Engineering for Foundation Supportworks. Jeff is involved in product design, product verification testing, preliminary design applications, project consulting, installation/sales/marketing training, as well as developing and presenting education-based material. Jeff travels throughout the United States and Canada to consult with local installers/contractors about general or project-specific needs.
Jeff graduated from South Dakota State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1993 and a Master of Science degree in Engineering in 1995.
Following graduation, Jeff worked for 7 years as a consulting geotechnical engineer for Thelen Associates in Cincinnati, Ohio, with varied experience in the areas of site development, landslide stabilization and deep foundations. Jeff moved his family to Omaha, Nebraska in 2002 where he was employed by Terracon for 4 years.
Jeff has been involved in the piering and anchoring industry since January 2006. In March 2008, Jeff was hired as Director of Engineering for Foundation Supportworks. Jeff is a licensed professional engineer in Ohio, Nebraska, and Iowa, and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI).
Outside of work, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife, Lisa, and their three sons Devin, Shawn, and Carson. Jeff also volunteers his time as the current President of the Board of Directors for the Ollie Webb Center, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Kyle Olson, P.E.
Senior Structural Engineer
Kyle is the Senior Structural Engineer for Foundation Supportworks with main responsibilities in the areas of product design and product verification testing. Kyle designs Foundation Supportworks’ products in house and routinely quality-checks fabrication of the products. Kyle also assists in the areas of preliminary design applications, consulting, and developing and presenting technical training material.
Kyle was a 1996 graduate of North Dakota State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. In his 13 years as a project engineer, Kyle designed building structures with a variety of materials including steel, concrete, and timber. Impressive to his resume is his design experience with cranes, mooring systems, and other types of heavy lifting equipment. Kyle is a licensed Professional Engineer in Minnesota and Nebraska.
In 2006-2007, Kyle consulted with a committee of helical pier manufacturers that assisted the International Code Council (ICC) in the development of acceptance criteria for helical foundation systems and devices. That experience allowed Kyle to literally start designing FSI products within his first days of employment when he started with Foundation Supportworks in April 2008.
Kyle lives in Lincoln, NE and enjoys spending time with his wife, Heather and son, Jack.
Don Deardorff, P.E.
Senior Application Engineer
Don is the Senior Application Engineer for Foundation Supportworks. Don provides preliminary design assistance for FSI installing contractors, specializing in large and challenging commercial and industrial applications involving helical piles, helical tiebacks, or hydraulically-driven push pier systems. With his industry knowledge and research experience, Don assists with product development and verification testing, and the development of technical documents and presentations.
Don's non-traditional path to FSI Senior Application Engineer started with a four-year commitment to the United States Navy, serving two years at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base and two years at the San Diego Naval Base. His naval experience as a shipboard electrician led him to civilian positions as an electrician at a hospital and then instrument technician for a natural gas distribution company.
Don then attended the University of Missouri-Rolla and graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. After obtaining his Bachelor's degree, he worked as a consulting environmental and geotechnical engineer in Missouri and Wisconsin. Don returned to the University of Missouri-Rolla in 2001 as a full-time graduate student and graduate teaching assistant.
Don was hired by Hubbell Power Systems/Chance Civil Construction in January 2005 as a Senior Engineer. He continued with graduate studies and obtained his Master of Science degree in Engineering in 2007. He is currently in the dissertation phase of the Ph.D. program. Don was hired by Foundation Supportworks in December 2009.
Don is a licensed professional engineer in Missouri and Wisconsin and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Helical Foundations and Tiebacks Committee, and the DFI Seismic and Lateral Load Committee. Don has written or co-written and published three technical papers regarding the design and installation of helical pile systems.
