NASTT Announces 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee – Dr. Kimberlie Staheli, Ph.D, P.E.
Kimberlie Staheli, Ph.D, P.E., president and principal engineer at Staheli Trenchless Consultants is the 2025 inductee into the NASTT Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame honors North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) members who have made outstanding accomplishments and exceptional contributions to the advancement of the North American trenchless industry and the society. Staheli is the 35th inductee into the Hall of Fame and as a trailblazer in the industry, the first female.
Staheli’s career began in 1992 after she received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. Her early work in the trenchless industry started at Hydro Group Inc. in Columbus, Ohio, where she gained hands-on experience with a new technology in the United States – microtunneling.
Motivated by her interest in soils engineering and tunneling, she earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University in 1996 and worked as a key member of a pioneering research team for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Waterways Experiment Station.
In 1998, she co-founded Bennett Staheli Engineers with Dave Bennett, establishing one of the first consulting firms in the United States to specialize exclusively in trenchless pipeline techniques. Recognizing the need for more detailed technical understanding of trenchless methodologies, particularly microtunneling, Staheli earned her Ph.D. in geotechnical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2006.
In 2007, Staheli founded Staheli Trenchless Consultants in Seattle, Washington, positioning herself as an expert on challenging projects in the Pacific Northwest, where highly abrasive, variable glacial soils present unique engineering challenges.
As the principal engineer, Staheli has led numerous successful trenchless projects, including those involving HDD, microtunneling, pipe ramming, and direct steerable pipe thrusting. Her approach emphasizes the importance of direct field observations, ensuring that her designs are informed by practical, real-world conditions. Even today, She continues to visit job sites, providing guidance on trenchless projects across the country.
Throughout her career, she has remained committed to advancing the trenchless industry through both practice and leadership.
Upon hearing the news, Staheli said she was, “So very honored. I just love this industry so much! NASTT has given back to me in so many ways.”
Staheli’s induction will be celebrated on April 1 during the Casino Royale at the NASTT No-Dig Show in Denver, Colorado. Casino Royale is a ticketed event. The ticket can be purchased when registering to attend the conference.
Read Staheli’s complete NASTT Hall of Fame announcement here.
