DATE AND TIME
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 12:00 PM
LOCATION
Western Illinois University – Quad Cities, 3300 River Drive, Moline, IL 61265 or online.
REGISTRATION
ABOUT THE PRESENTATION
Retain or Replace? Applying Risk-Based Design to Aging Structures
Increasingly, older navigation and flood risk reduction features are being replaced because they do not meet the latest design codes or updated safety standards. Incorporating a risk-based design framework can lead to substantial cost savings by allowing engineers to retain or modify existing structures while still ensuring that failure risks remain within acceptable limits. This presentation illustrates the risk-based design process and benefits through a real-world example on the Kansas City Levee project. The approach is particularly relevant for districts managing aging infrastructure, where full replacement may not be feasible or cost-effective.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Gina Horner, P.E. is a section manager and senior project engineer within the bridge group of HNTB’s Central States office, Overland Park, KS location. She has over 30 years of experience in the design of bridge projects. Gina served as the design lead for the gatewell structures on the KC Levees project. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering and a master’s degree in civil/structural Engineering both from the University of Kansas.
Denis Hoerner, P.E., is a senior project manager and structural lead in HNTB’s New Orleans office. He has over than 23 years of USACE experience in coastal and riverine flood risk management and navigation. His expertise spans the full project lifecycle-including planning, feasibility, design, risk assessment, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of critical infrastructure such as pump stations, floodwalls, levees, navigation locks, drainage structures, spillways, dams, and bridges. Before joining HNTB, Denis served as a USACE regional technical specialist for the Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) and a subject matter expert for the Inland Navigation Design Center (INDC) and gained extensive experience in risk assessment and management under the USACE Risk Management Center (RMC). Denis holds a bachelor’s degree in civil/structural engineering from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from the University of New Orleans.
Mark Mathu, P.E., is a senior structural engineer with more than 40 years of experience at HNTB, specializing in the design, analysis, and coordination of complex structural systems for large, multidisciplinary infrastructure projects. Throughout his career, he has provided structural leadership across a wide range of major transportation and facility programs, including extensive work on USACE. Mark’s expertise spans structural modeling, design oversight, technical review, and interdisciplinary integration, making him a trusted technical resource across the firm. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil/structural engineering from Marquette University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and a master’s degree in civil engineering.