From overseeing and participating in the construction of the current Busch Stadium to public works projects in the City of Blue Springs, 1980 alumnus Ed Alizadeh has participated in many engineering and environmental projects as the CEO of Geotechnology. The company specializes in projects in environmental sciences, drilling, construction observation, construction materials testing, geophysical surveys and geotechnical engineering.  

“[I] joined Geotechnology in 1989 as a staff engineer after working for five years as a petroleum engineer with Amoco Production Company in New Mexico. The company was just entering the underground storage tank assessment and remediation market and [I] was immediately thrust into that work,” Alizadeh said. “Within five years, [I] was promoted to project manager and later to environmental department manager.”

In 1996, Alizadeh was promoted to president of Geotechnology and he has continued to grow and expand the company.

“Since [I] began as president, the company has opened branch offices in Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi and acquired the assets of two other firms to allow expansion into Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio,” Alizadeh said.

For those wanting to pursue a career in science or technology, Alizadeh emphasizes the importance of embracing math and science.

“We are trying to help kids see the fun and excitement in STEM careers, but it revolves around math and science. [When] I was younger I loved physics because it explained everything that I loved about sports,” Alizadeh said. “Science is really tied into everything we do. These phones we carry around, that is all about math and science. Embrace those topics because you have to get through those because those are the gateway to any career in engineering or science.”

Outside of Geotechnology, Alizadeh has participated in national organizations to give back to the community.

“[I] have served as president of the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA), [which is] a national organization representing the business interests of the geotechnical and environmental consulting industry,” Alizadeh said. “[I] also served as chairman and board member of the American Consulting Engineers Council of Missouri (ACEC). [I] was recognized as the 2013 Outstanding Engineer in Private Practice by the St. Louis Chapter of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers.”

As Alizadeh has gotten older, he has realized the importance of giving back to the community and how rewarding it is for him since he did not participate in any community work in high school.

“There is really much more reward in doing something in the community that helps people than there is in closing a deal in business. I think it is really kind of a lifeblood of our community and really our country. We try to be free enterprise and drive people to achieve a lot but we also want to help and share and bring the whole community up. I think that benefits everybody,” Alizadeh said.

Alizadeh thanks former West principal Dr. Burr for creating a schoolwide environment involving the importance of achievement, learning and being the best, which has stuck with him since he graduated.

“I really learned a lot just in how I apply [myself] in business, that you can create an environment and the leadership sets the tone. Dr. Burr clearly set the tone in that school and it reverberated throughout. It applied in our academics, our athletics, the extracurricular activities, we had a top rated band and it was just a great time to be at Parkway West when I was there,” Alizadeh said. “I took a lot from my West experience about achievement and trying to achieve high goals. I can really say that while Dr. Burr actually recently passed and has not been at West for a while, the environment is still there.”

While West has made an impact on Alizadeh’s life, it has also made an apparent impact on his family as well.

“Both of my girls graduated from Parkway West in the last eight years and took the AP tracks and did really well in school and in athletics; they are now productive citizens in the world. I think it says a lot about the Parkway education and getting people ready to go out and be productive.”