Senior Testing Technician Ryan Harlacher learned concrete from the ground up and has now spent 20 years making sure it can handle the pressure in C.S. Davidson’s Materials Testing Department.
Senior Testing Technician Ryan Harlacher lifts a hardened cylinder of concrete into the compression chamber and starts the machine. Within seconds, thousands of pounds of pressure begin to build. Minutes later, the stone-solid cylinder begins to flake—then cracks.
Ryan notes the final pressure in a log for the project manager. Through this process, he helps C.S. Davidson’s clients confirm that they’re building on a solid foundation. The results ensure that the concrete meets the required strength, protecting structures from future failure.
“You want to make sure that you’re getting good concrete, that the strength is there that’s supposed to be there, that it’s going to hold up,” he says.
From pouring to testing
Ryan didn’t start his career in the materials-testing world. He grew up around concrete, where his stepfather ran a contracting business and much of the work involved pouring and finishing slabs. Ryan spent countless hours screeding and troweling concrete to a smooth finish, hands-on experience that later translated naturally into testing.
When he joined C.S. Davidson 20 years ago, Ryan soon earned credentials from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the American Concrete Institute (ACI). He also completed the Northeast Center of Excellence for Pavement Technology (NECEPT) certification.
Over the years, Ryan has added multiple specialized certifications, including International Code Council (ICC) certifications as a Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector and a Spray-Applied Fireproofing Special Inspector.
The role of materials testing
At C.S. Davidson, the Materials Testing department plays a critical role in ensuring quality and safety for projects across the region. From evaluating soil conditions and verifying paving applications to testing the strength of concrete and asphalt, the team helps contractors and municipalities build with confidence.
For two decades, Ryan has worked on projects of every scale, from residential homes to critical infrastructure. Two standout projects for him have been the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station and the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.
“Probably my favorite was actually Peach Bottom,” he says. “They built new pads, like three-foot-thick concrete pads, for the spent fuel cells.”
Beyond the pad, he conducted testing for a wall of concrete built to protect the spent cells from landslides and natural disasters.
“It was just an interesting job. There was a lot that went on,” he says.
In Gettysburg, Ryan was involved from start to finish. Rather than bringing concrete cylinders and other materials back to the York-based C.S. Davidson lab for testing, he set up a mini lab on-site to perform the work directly at the project location.
Why testing matters
Ryan has seen firsthand how materials testing can prevent costly mistakes. He recalls a McDonald’s project that installed a concrete drive-through where the project managers skipped exterior concrete testing.
“The first winter, the entire top came off of it because it didn’t have air,” he says. “The concrete plant’s computer said it was putting air in the mix, but it wasn’t. Had someone been there testing it, they’d have known, and they wouldn’t have had to come back a year later and jackhammer it all out.”
Moments like that remind Ryan why careful testing matters long before the concrete ever sets.
As one of the department’s most experienced team members, Ryan often helps train new hires, going out with them on job sites and showing them how to perform accurate testing in the field. He also helps new employees appreciate C.S. Davidson’s culture of quality.
“It’s a great company to work for. It really is,” he says.
Built to last
As a C.S. Davidson employee-owner, Ryan appreciates the company’s employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, structure.
“It’s cool to know that you’re part owner of a company,” he says.
After 20 years on the job, he continues to enjoy the variety of projects and relationships he’s built along the way. No two days are alike. He travels throughout the region, exploring new places, connecting with contractors, and not getting stuck behind a desk.
In the end, Materials Testing is about more than breaking cylinders or measuring soil, Ryan says. It’s about building on solid ground and helping every project stand strong for generations to come.
For a career in testing and inspection, visit csdavidson.com.