The DFI Team

DFI is led by an executive director and has a dedicated staff of professionals who plan, organize and execute the ongoing activities of the association and carry out the strategic plan developed by the board of trustees.

Executive Director

Theresa Engler has been with the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) for more than 25 years. She was appointed to the position of executive director July 1, 2006, after serving as assistant director since 1998 and in other roles since 1994. Theresa is responsible for the operations, technical activities, regional chapters and marketing of DFI, and reports to the DFI Board of Trustees. Additionally, she serves as the executive director of the DFI Educational Trust.

Working in collaboration with the DFI Board, Theresa has spearheaded significant growth at DFI including new members, technical committees, educational events, publications, and regional chapters in Europe, India and the Middle East. Theresa is actively involved in the deep foundations industry and represents DFI at conferences and seminars worldwide.

She attended Fairfield University and served on the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Geo-Professionals.

She is also a member of the American Society of Association Executives as well as its New Jersey and New York Chapters and a member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). In 2015, Theresa was unanimously elected to membership in The Moles, a fraternal organization of the heavy construction industry and was named Outstanding Association Executive by the New York Society of Association Executives (NYSAE) in 2019.

headshot of Theresa Engler
Theresa Engler

Headquarters Staff

Theresa Engler  •  Executive Director

Emilio Fandino, J.D.  •  Director of Administration

Katie Kontos  •  Executive Assistant

Matthew Glisson, P.E.  •  Director of Technical Activities

Angie Gibble  •  Director of Events

Angelina Servin  •  Events Coordinator

Jaime Cettina  •  Professional Development Coordinator

KC Christie  •  Database and Membership Coordinator

Jessica Zellat  •  Senior Web Coordinator

Alexandra Damon  •  Social Media and Brand Manager

Lisa Rayment  •  Bookkeeper

Karol Paltsios  •  Marketing Consultant and Managing Editor/Advertising Manager, Deep Foundations Magazine

Nicole Robinson  •  Executive Editor, Deep Foundations Magazine

Ashley Gordon  •  Information Technology Consultant

Lorraine Engelman  •  Travel Coordinator

Publications/Orders  •  Please email shipping@dfi.org or call 973.423.4030

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