Bruce Savage earned his BS from SES in 1983 and now works as Principal and V.P. at Geotechnical Consultants, Inc, in Columbus, Ohio.
Contact: savagebruce@gmail.com
"Summer field camp: the fantastic views, trip to Capitol Reef National Park, camping way up higher than I had ever been before, and all the hiking in the heat of the day!"
Where has your degree taken you?
I’ve stayed in Ohio my whole life. I began my career as a driller’s helper and field technician with GCI in 1983. I went back to school in 1983 and earned M.S. in Geology at University of Cincinnati in 1985. I went to work in 1985 as a research and development scientist with Chi-Vit Corporation (no longer in business) in Urbana, Ohio, until 1989. There I used my mineralogy education in developing mineral-based formulas for the porcelain enamel and steel-making flux products markets. I returned to GCI in 1989 and started working as an environmental geologist. There we provided environmental assessment and remediation services for our clientele, who are mainly real estate developers and local governments. I obtained American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) in 2001, and Ohio EPA Certified Professional (CP) certification in 2002. I am now a part owner, principal and vice president with GCI. GCI provides geotechnical engineering and environmental assessment and remediation services throughout Ohio and surrounding states.
How do you feel your experience, specifically as an SES/geology student at OSU, prepared you for your career or life in general?
As undergrads, our professors cautioned that a minority of us would be able to obtain work as geologists, and that fossil fuels would not support significant geology employment in the future. That gave me the drive to go higher. I have been fortunate enough to be able to obtain a graduate geology degree and to work in earth / environmental sciences for more than 30 years.
What is your favorite memory as a student?
That has to be summer field camp: the fantastic views, trip to Capitol Reef National Park, camping way up higher than I had ever been before, and all the hiking in the heat of the day! Also, the discovery of and fascination with geology as an academic field of study during my sophomore year.
What advice do you have for current and future students?
Trust in God, work hard, do the right thing for your clients (customers, the public), and everything else will fall into place.