People

Gif Goodhue

Gifford, better known as Gif, is the Director of Technology, but the role he plays at KB International is far more diverse than the title suggests. Like most of the KB team, he wears many different hats: core research and product development, problem solving in the field, starting up major projects, and sales and marketing. As a chemist, working in the lab to develop products is part of Gif’s DNA. Bringing new technologies to market; however, is among the most fulfilling aspects of his job. One of his most notable contributions at KB is the development of our entire spread of polymer products. In fact, he holds four U.S. and several international patents for drilling, coring, tunnel boring, and deep excavation fluids. Gif earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry & Psychology at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1984 and went on to make an impact at two leading firms in the chemicals industry. He co-founded KB Technologies with his father, Ken, in 1992. He also works with professors and students at universities including Oxford and South Florida, in addition to participating in joint research with contractors and authoring white papers on a variety of geotechnical-focused topics.

Sebastian Carlier

Sebastian was working for a major contractor on the Metro de Quito project in Quito, Ecuador when KB was supplying a local contractor with Enhanced SlurryPro CDP to support diaphragm wall construction. It was obvious to the KB team that Carlier had the knowledge of polymer in the foundation industry and he was hired as Technical Sales Manager in April of 2018. Carlier handles business development and technical support for KB’s full line of products in Latin America and Southern Europe. Born in Colombia and raised in Spain, he brings the local knowledge and ability to effectively communicate with customers in these markets. Carlier earned an MBA in International Construction Management and Business from Universidad Europea, and also has a Degree in Mining Engineering; Energetic Resources, Fuels and Explosives from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid.

Saul Rodriguez-Suarez

Saul has worked in the deep foundations market since 2015. He is a mining engineer who became a technical consultant, carrying out polymer drilling projects for nearly three years. Saul then took a one-year hiatus from his professional career to expand his knowledge of Geotechnics through the CEDEX Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Mechanics program. He then served as a construction manager for a major foundation contractor, managing geotechnical projects in the north of Spain. Following that experience, he joined KB working as a technical manager for the southern Europe and Latin American markets.

Gavin Prinsloo

Gavin grew up in a drilling family in Cape Town, South Africa, and got his career started in the chemical paint industry. He serves as Regional Manager for the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia. Gavin got started with KB 14 years ago and spent the first couple of years helping KB to get traction in the Middle East. He is heavily involved in marketing and selling all of KB’s polymer systems throughout his expansive territory, which primarily involves helping drilling contractor customers to get projects up and running. KB sells directly to the end-user in Australia and Dubai, but Prinsloo has to spearhead the outsourcing of distribution in other parts of his territory. That requires collaborating with distributors to set up a local warehouse for KB’s product and helping agents to promote KB’s polymer systems. While Prinsloo is not a chemist or an engineer by training, he works closely with KB’s Technical Service Manager Ravi Subramaniam, a professional engineer with more than 30 years of experience. The two have developed a chemistry that allows them to work interchangeably.

Henry Spinks-Essam

Henry began working in the UK foundation construction industry in 2014 after completing a civil engineering degree. He began working as a graduate engineer, working up to the level of project manager within the London market with industry leading contractors. Henry joined KB in February of 2020 to cover the UK market before moving to Northern Europe after working with our products on various projects over the previous six years.

Ravi Subramaniam

Ravi is not a chemist by training, but he does have the heart of a teacher. He spent his entire 30-plus-year career obtaining “hands on experience” as a piling supervisor for several foundation contractors, including BAUER Malaysia. He joined KB full-time in 2010 as a Technical Service Manager. Ravi had been working for Dutch Foundations on a three-year project in Dubai and was using KB’s polymer. Ravi’s main role is to set up the tanks on-site to mix polymer cost-efficiently. This means that the quantities must match the project requirements. Based in Malaysia, Ravi’s territory includes everything outside of North America. He spends much of his time; however, in South America, the Middle East, India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh.

Daniel Little

Daniel was working part-time at a Tennessee Golf course and pursuing a Business Management degree at Southern Adventist University when KB’s owner Ken Goodhue discovered him. He was hired as an intern in 2015. By the time Daniel graduated in 2016, he had earned a spot as KB’s full-time Technical Sales Representative. Daniel spends roughly 60 percent of his time traveling. He has earned a spot as KB’s sole point of contact for Texas, and plays a supporting role in the Northeastern U.S., Virginia, and the Carolinas. On a typical day, Daniel writes proposals, follows up on opportunities, discusses existing projects with customers, manages the customer database, and participates in conference calls to set up jobsites.

Mark Walters

The title Market Manager is somewhat misleading considering the diverse role Mark plays at KB International. His daily routine is a combination of business development, marketing, selling, and field and office support. Mark’s focus is on drilled shafts for KB’s infrastructure and utilities projects. He spends his days building that reputation at his customers’ jobsites across the globe. Mark works closely with KB’s technical team to select the correct drilling fluids and field representatives for the job at hand. He came to KB fresh out of college, which he considers a plus since the firm was able to train him “from the ground up.” Mark also believes that a youth spent working with his father, a residential homebuilder, cultivated an interest in the building environment. He earned Bachelor of Administration with a Marketing focus from Southern Adventist University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Tennessee at Chatanooga.

Ken Goodhue

Unlike the highly technical staff at KB International, Ken considers himself a businessman. With that said, he earned a Bachelor of Science at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in Chemistry so he understands chemical technology and exactly what goes on every day at the firm. Ken spent the first part of his career working for big chemical companies, the most recent of which was Alco Chemical Corp, a polymer supplier to several industries. He sold the firm in 1989. Ken’s son, Gif, saw an opportunity to develop a system that would allow polymers to replace bentonite in the foundation construction market and KB was born. Father and son felt that the business had global potential, and KB went international by pouncing on the Southeast Asia building boom three years after it was launched. Today Ken’s primary roles at KB include setting the tone for financial management, vision, and direction. This is no small task for a global firm like KB. Ken meets weekly with the team members that run those regions, although favorite part of the job by far is sharing his knowledge with young people.

Andy Gordon

Andy’s title, Director of Field Operations, doesn’t tell the full story of his role at KB International. He launched his career here nearly 13 years ago as Director of Sales and Marketing, and has evolved to include nearly every aspect of our operation from the field, to the lab, to the office. Andy’s days are packed with customer interaction. Like most of the team at KB, he wears many hats. Whether providing technical support on the jobsite, presenting mud schools, conducting research, working on products, or collaborating on sales and marketing, Andy gravitates comfortably between the roles of lab technician and field representative. Having earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry/Geology at Augustana College and an MBA from Loyola University in Chicago followed by more than 35 years of work experience has given Andy a strong command in his field, but he also possesses the unique ability to translate information and provide training for KB’s high-tech polymeric drilling fluids to customers.

Caleb Walla

Caleb has been the Field Manager at KB since May of 2015, serving customers throughout North America, Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Before being hired by KB, he was a Diver/Pile Driver for The Kiewit Foundations Co., a KB customer. Being a former diesel mechanic and user of KB’s polymer brings added value to Caleb’s customers. Not only does he understand drilling techniques, equipment, and tooling; he can even rebuild the drill. Caleb ultimately sees his job as helping the customer to drill successful holes with KB’s polymer. This involves supporting product design, plant setup, plumbing, installing lines, and helping the contractor to get the most out of the product by advising on drilling equipment and techniques. Caleb is also a certified commercial diver, a G6 underwater welder, and a graduate of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.