YSU Geology Chairman Jeff Dick Joins KU Resources

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Jeffrey C. Dick, chairman of the geological and environmental sciences department at Youngstown State University, has joined KU Resources Inc. to provide the environmental consulting firm his expertise on its work related to constructing midstream pipelines.

KU Resources is a consulting firm in Duquesne, Pa., with a staff of 40 that specializes in environmental management and site development engineering.

Dick remains full-time with YSU where he is director of its Natural Gas and Water Resource Institute.

The agreement benefits both Dick and KU, the chairman of the YSU geology department said. KU can take advantage of the knowledge and experience he’s gained in his 35-year career in geology – he earned his doctorate in the discipline at Kent State University – and Dick can tap into the broad spectrum of services and expertise that KU Resources provides.

KU is looking to enter the Mahoning Valley and work in brownfield redevelopment, Dick said.  He can identify and propose solutions to sites where the water and soil are contaminated or suspected of being contaminated.

KU will avail itself of Dick’s expertise in its involvement in the construction of the pipelines that transport natural gas in the Utica and Marcellus shale plays to processing plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Dick developed and oversees the first community-based program that monitors groundwater quality in the Utica shale in Ohio and helped establish the Natural Gas and Water Resources Consortium at YSU. The consortium identifies best practices and helps to shape public policies related to the exploration and production of natural gas.

“Jeff’s technical expertise and industry contacts should help us develop new business opportunities and maintain existing relationships,” said Dave Kerschner in a prepared statement. Kerschner and Mark Urbassik, also a partner, founded KU in 1997.

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