About Us

Our People

Our team walks the talk out in the field with the precision, accuracy and timeliness to keep your projects on track.

When you entrust your critical design or construction projects you need expertise and passion for underground solutions. At GEL Solutions you will also find a deep, personal commitment to client service in each member of the GEL Solutions team — starting with our leadership.

J. Derek Bradner, P.E., PLS

J. Derek Bradner, P.E., PLS

Principal | Director, GEL Solutions

J. Derek Bradner, P.E., PLS is Director of GEL Solutions.  Derek joined GEL in 2018, originally serving as Director of GEL Solutions’ Greensboro, North Carolina Operations. 

Prior to GEL, Derek held a career of nearly 30 years with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) where he acquired extensive experience serving in various roles. Most recently he served as Regional Engineer with the Location & Surveys (L&S) Unit, a large and multi-functional engineering and geomatics unit. Derek was responsible for overseeing and directing the planning and coordinating of multiple geomatics operations between NCDOT’s Central Region’s Division L&S Field Offices and Private Sector Engineering Firms. The Central Region includes offices in Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Asheboro, and Wilson and encompasses the three major metropolitan areas of North Carolina.

He recently completed over a 10-year term on North Carolina A&T University’s Geomatics Department’s Advisory Board. The NC A&T Geomatics Program is the only four-year degree program of its kind in the state of North Carolina.

Derek and his wife Grace have three children, John, Evan and Alannah.  In his spare time, Derek enjoys spending time with his family, attending NC State sporting events, and being outdoors.

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Scott T. Smith

Scott T. Smith

Principal | Senior Project Manager

Scott Smith has been with GEL since 1985 and serves as a Principal and Senior Project Manager for GEL Solutions, a full-service subsurface utility engineering (SUE) and geophysical consulting firm. He has over 30 years of project management and consulting experience in the geophysical, engineering, and environmental fields. Mr. Smith is responsible for managing complex SUE, geophysical, and other special projects.

He is also responsible for contract review, developing business opportunities and for training project management staff. Scott has a Bachelor's degree in biology from the College of Charleston and is an active member of several organizations involved in engineering and utility damage prevention.

He has direct field experience with a variety of geophysical technologies, and serves as field project manager for complex projects under his direction. He has performed SUE training programs for numerous organizations, and his articles on SUE and other applications of geophysical technologies have been published in several technical trade journals. He represents GEL Solutions as a speaker at local, state, and national conferences and trade shows.

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Parks H. Icenhour, Jr. P.E., PLS

Parks H. Icenhour, Jr. P.E., PLS

Principal | SUE & Surveying Services Senior Manager

GEL Engineering of NC, Inc., DBA GEL Solutions

Parks H. Icenhour, Jr.,  P.E., PLS has been with GEL since April of 2012. Prior to that he was employed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation for 38 years, most recently serving as the Area Locating Engineer for the easternmost portion of N.C.

He has extensive experience in all types of surveys including underground utility, control, topographic, etc. In his role with GEL, he is responsible for the surveying and quality control for subsurface utility engineering (SUE) services in the North Carolina office and serves as the Program Manager for GEL’s NCDOT SUE and Conventional Surveys on-call contract. He is also responsible for project management and business development.

He is registered as a Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor in North Carolina. He and his wife Lorrie have been married for 46 years.

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Richard Ringler

Richard Ringler

Regional SUE Manager

GEL Engineering of NC, Inc., DBA GEL Solutions

Richard Ringler has been with GEL since 2015 and serves as Regional SUE Manager. Richard is responsible for managing complex SUE, geophysical, and other special projects.  He is also responsible for managing operations, manpower allocation, and business development.

His experience includes the use of geophysical methods for utility mapping and subsurface utility engineering (SUE) for municipal and transportation projects.  Prior to joining the GEL team, Richard assisted the Environmental Director at Methodist University with campus inspections of labs for OSHA compliance, setting up an Environmental Simulator, and leading student research projects.

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Careers at GEL Solutions

Interested in an exciting and promising career at GEL Solutions? See our job listings and learn more about working with our team!

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