Rock Solid Leaders

Tides and Transit — Mike Seekings on Charleston’s Water, Mobility, and Tough Choices

“Between 1900 and 1980 we had about seven or eight king-tide events a year. Today, it’s closer to eighty. Resilience isn’t optional anymore—it’s survival.”Charleston City Councilman Mike Seekings joins Matt Silveston to talk about what happens when a historic coastal city faces a rising ocean. From king tides that now flood streets weekly to the rebirth of the Low Battery seawall and the launch of Lowcountry Rapid Transit, this conversation explores leadership in a city learning to live with water and move through it. Mike shares how Charleston rebuilt its most iconic wall without raising taxes, why transit is a cornerstone of resilience, and what leadership looks like when every decision carries long-term consequences. Key Themes: * The measurable rise in tidal flooding and what it means for the city’s future. * The Low Battery seawall: a century-old structure reborn through political persistence and public transparency. * Funding infrastructure through tourism revenues, not new taxes. * Why public transit and the 21-mile Lowcountry Rapid Transit project represent a new model of resilience.

Resilient Nation: Congressman Garret Graves

On this episode of Rock Solid Leaders, Congressman Garret Graves joins Matt Silveston to explore what it means to build a Resilient Nation. From leading Louisiana’s post-Katrina recovery to reshaping national policy on infrastructure and energy, Graves shares what he’s learned about preparing for storms—both literal and political. This conversation dives deep into how America can move from reaction to readiness, from rebuilding to building stronger. “Resiliency isn’t about bouncing back—it’s about bouncing forward.”

Digging Deeper: Frederic Masse on Urban Foundations and Real-Time Risk Management

DIGGING DEEPER: Frédéric Massé on Urban Foundations and Real-Time Risk Management What does it take to build safely in the middle of a crowded city? In this episode of ROCK SOLID LEADERS, Frédéric Massé (Nicholson Construction) shares hard-earned lessons from projects in Pittsburgh and beyond. From unexpected underground obstructions to managing noise, vibration, and logistics, he explains how geotechnical contractors solve the toughest challenges when space is limited and the stakes are high. Listeners will learn: * How real-time monitoring has prevented costly failures on active sites * How re-purposing exiting site features can save both time and money * Why hands-on construction experience is essential for young engineers * The rise of design-build contracting in U.S. geotechnics If you’re building in urban environments—or preparing to—this episode shows what it really takes to succeed underground.

Design REVOLUTION: Michael McGuire on DM 7.2

Forty years is a long wait for an update. The new Foundations and Earth Structures Design Manual (DM 7.2) is here — modernized, reorganized, and built to guide engineers through the most critical foundation decisions of our time. In this episode of ROCK SOLID LEADERS, Michael McGuire (Lafayette College), one of the manual’s lead authors, breaks down what’s changed, why it matters, and how it will shape the future of design education and practice. Listeners will learn: * The biggest updates in DM 7.2, from shear strength to deep foundations * Why the manual is both a roadmap for students and a tool for practitioners * Where AI fits into the next generation of engineering design tools This isn’t just an update. It’s a design revolution.

P-Y Curves and BEYOND: Anne Lemnitzer on Foundations and Resilience

P-Y curves may sound like a niche topic, but they’re central to how we design deep foundations under lateral loads. In this episode of ROCK SOLID LEADERS, we get technical. Dr. Anne Lemnitzer (UC Irvine) explains why P-Y curves matter, how they’re evolving with new research, and what that means for geotechnical and structural engineering. Listeners will learn: * How new testing is reshaping old assumptions * What engineers must consider when applying P-Y curves to real-world projects * Advice for young engineers If you’ve ever designed or relied on a foundation, this episode will change the way you think about laterally loaded piles.