Those that attended GBA’s 2021 Fall Conference agreed that the presentations were educational, entertaining, and inspiring. Now you can watch, listen to, and learn from these speakers too, on your own schedule.

These videos are available for all GBA members on-demand at your convenience.

Watch Now

Download the handouts

Recordings Include:

FA21-01 Lessons Learned from the FIU Bridge Collapse

On March 15, 2018, six people lost their lives after the partially  constructed pedestrian bridge at Florida International University in Miami collapsed. This case study presented by Aaron J. Mann, Esq., explores the evolution of this project, including decisions made and discussions that took place in the crucial days and hours before the collapse. Rather than a purely technical discussion about the structural shortcomings of the bridge, this presentation focuses on the ethical issues encountered in the final days of the project, the investigations and lawsuits that followed, and the impact to the project team. It is our hope that we can all learn from this tragedy. (58 minutes)

FA21-02 West Fork Upper Battle Creek Diversion

Jason Thom, P.E. (DOWL) Project Award of Excellence Winner, presents this project.  The WFUBCD construction project consisted of three miles of new access road, two miles of large diameter pipeline, a concrete core rockfill diversion dam, and the pipe outfall channel. It began in 2018 and was completed on time and 1% under projected cost of $47,782,000 in 2020, despite logistics challenges and because of innovative technologies. (48 minutes)

FA21-03 Emerging Leaders Class Outro:

Vice-Chair Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP-2 (SME) moderates this full force  team of ELC panelists, who share how being a part of this class has brought value to their firms and enhanced their personal and professional development through connection, problem-    solving, and leadership opportunities. As expected, these emerging leaders bring energy, enthusiasm, and a few surprises. (37 minutes)

FA21-04 Emerging Leaders Class Recognition Ceremony:

This conference is a reunion for us all. And it’s a special reunion for our Class 4 Emerging Leaders  who,
having worked closely together for two years, almost completely remotely. We celebrate their  accomplishments         
as a team and recognize each of them individually. (13 minutes)

FA21-05 Instant Memory Training for Success: The ABC’s and 123’s for Developing a Powerful Memory

Learn from the world’s leading memory skills expert! In this fun and interactive presentation, U.S. Memory Champion Chester Santos (International Man of Memory) helps you develop life changing skills. Learn how to easily remember names to facilitate building better relationships. Chester also helps to fuel your professional and personal development by unlocking your mind’s hidden power to easily remember facts/figures, processes/procedures, famous quotes, foreign languages, exam/training material, and much more. This is an entertaining, educational, and “memorable” program! (72 minutes)

FA21-06 Joining Forces in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Conversation Among Consultants

Diversity, Equity, and inclusion (DEI) is an important topic in our industry, especially in light of changing demographics and the competition for talent. In this panel discussion moderated by  Veronica De Freitas, P.E. (Universal Engineering Sciences, LLC), a geoprofessional industry leader, Michael E. “Mike” Hutchinson, LG, LHG (GeoEngineers, Inc.), joins a DEI professional consultant, Jahmad Canley (Potential Unleashed), to discuss the challenges and opportunities they have encountered while working together to create a sustainable and inclusive culture; their experiences in executing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies in a technical organization; success stories; and ideas for how each of us can help foster a more inclusive working environment at our own firms. (51 minutes)

FA21-07 Communicate with Strength: Key Words That Undermine Your Effectiveness

Got the right words? Laugh and learn in this session filled with the latest solutions in effective communication, based on neuroscience principles. What are you saying that’s causing your staff and clients to subtly feel uncooperative or defensive? Karen E. Purves, M.A.(Innovative Impact) tells you and gives you replacement words and phrases that lead to more efficient messaging and smoother collaboration. Her goal is to educate and inspire geoprofessional leaders to communicate in a more effective manner with employees, clients, and family/friends and to leave you with an immediate, specific action plan. (50 minutes)

FA21-08 Business Effects of Shifting Cannabis Rules and Regulations

With even more states trending towards the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis, the rules and laws related to cannabis use in the workplace are also evolving, causing employers to face a host of challenges in response. Rochelle Doyea, Esq. (Cairncross & Hempelmann) and Terence Scanlan, Esq. (Cairncross & Hempelmann) discuss significant changes made to several  states’ anti-discrimination laws; how these changes impact employers’ obligation to accommodate cannabis medical treatments; best practices for employers’ drug testing procedures and policies in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements; and the employers’ duty to accommodate on- or off-duty medical or recreational cannabis use. (49 minutes)

FA21-09 Engineering Challenges of the 21st Century :An Overview of Engineering Change Lab-USA

The world is facing an unprecedented wave of change. Accelerating technological progress,  rapidly evolving societal needs, and growing environmental imperatives (including climate change) present significant, existential challenges and opportunities.

This presentation by Michael P. “Mike” McMeekin, P.E., ENV-SP (Engineering Change Lab-USA) provides an overview of ECL-USA, its history, vision/mission, and key learnings about the future of engineering. We also focus on the topics of ECL-USA’s most recent summits: the future of engineering licensure, climate change and the future of engineering, and the engineering firm of the future. (51 minutes)

FA21-10 Dam Safety, Dam Politics: An Historical Perspective:

Drawing from the author’s award-winning book “Heavy Ground: William Mulholland and the St. Francis Dam Disaster,” this provocatively illustrated presentation by Donald C. “DC” Jackson, Ph.D. (Cornelia F. Hugel Professor of History, Lafayette College) provides an account of how and why the St. Francis Dam came to be built, its relationship to LA’s municipal water supply system and California’s 1917 dam safety law, the geological  character of the site and the cause of the dam’s tragic collapse, political factors influencing post-failure investigations, and how these investigations related to the impending Congressional passage of the Boulder Canyon Project Act (which authorized what is known today as Hoover Dam). (62 minutes)

Watch All the Presentations HERE

GBA is committed to promoting the value of geoprofessionals and for our 2021 photo contest we asked Members to share: “How do you depict the day in the life of a Geoprofessional?”

With over 90 photos submitted this year, the pride of geoprofessionals was on full display.

We think you will agree, these vibrant photos capture our members in field activities, meeting with colleagues and clients, and observing safety in some amazing locations.

All winners’ photos will be featured on our website and during the 2021 Fall Conference in October. Thank you to all who submitted photos.

And the winners are:

Grand Prize Winner

Photographer: Luke Ducey (Geotechnolology)
 Description: Drilling piers for the St. Louis Arch Grounds early morning. Museum renovation and expansion. Downtown, St. Louis, Missouri.
Congratulations Luke Ducey . Luke will receive a $100 gift card, Grand Prize winner’s plaque and be recognized during GBA’s 2021 Fall Conference.

Overall Runner Up:

Photographer: James “Jim” Potts, EIT (DOWL)                                                                         

Description: DOWL Geologist, Paul Pribyl performs peat probes in a wetland along the proposed Sterling Highway MP 45 to 60 Project. Jim will receive a plaque, $50 gift card and be recognized during GBA’s 2021 Fall Conference.

Overall Second Runner Up:

 Photographer: Paul Glasser, CPG (SME)

Description: Barton Malow/Homrich demolishing former Premier Parking Deck to make way for new skyscraper at the former J.L. Hudson’s Site. Hardman Construction installing  additional bracing/rehabilitating existing tiebacks. Paul will receive certificate, $50 gift card and be recognized during GBA’s 2021 Fall Conference.

Geotechnical Category Winner:

Photographer: David A. Belcher, P.E.   (Terracon)

Description: A 60-inch diameter auger drilling into bearing material (gray shale) for a bridge crossing a shallow creek onsite.

Amazon DDX3 site at DFW Airport Dallas/Fort Worth, TX.

Environmental Category Winner:

Photographer: Eric Nunn, P.E. (Inberg-Miller Engineers)
Description: Inberg-Miller Engineers performed an environmental and geotechnical investigation at a proposed commercial development in Casper, Wyoming.IME advanced 12 test borings at the proposed site and collected soil samples.

Construction Materials Testing and Inspection Category Winner:

Photographer: Travis Wambeke, P.E., P.G. (GeoProfessional Innovation)
Description: Early morning Concrete placement; this crew amassed at 3am, 500+ cy concrete slab placement, the future home of a 155,000+ ft2 manufacturing facility.

Safe Working Practices Winner:   

Photographer: Luke Ducey (Geotechnology)
Description: Wearing a beekeeper’s hat as PPE to try and avoid  getting stung by wasps that made nests in well caps while sampling groundwater.

Client Collaboration Category Winner:

 Photographer: Ennis Smith (SME)
Description: Ean White explaining Army Corp DCP results and hand auger findings at                                                                                            the I-75 project on Corporate Drive in Troy, Michigan.

General Interest Category Winner:

Photographer: Courtney Leigh Newcity (ECS Southeast, LLP)                                                                         
Description: Courtney, a geotechnical engineer loves to explore places before they are built on. This is one of her series of photos called “Abandoned Georgia”.

Thank you to all who submitted photographs and to the photo contest selection committee:

Saiid Behbodi, P.E., G.E. (PBS)
Jeremy L. Larsen (Kleinfelder)
James Landrum, P.E. (Ollson)
Sara Menase (GBA)
Lindsay Pearsall, CPC, CTS (Aspect Consulting)
Fernando Pons, P.E., LEED AP (PONS&ASSOCIATES)
Mitch H. Quick, P.E.(STRATA)
Jeff Stewart (O’Neill Service Group)

You are cordially invited to join GBA’s President Tom Blackburn for a casual  afternoon of information and social networking with friends and colleagues from across GBA. Tom will introduce you to friends as we wind down the week and toast the weekend with a seasonal beverage. Please join us for a fun and informative hour.

Date: September 17, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM Eastern
Register: E-mail GBA Here

Topics will include:

Welcome Tom Blackburn (Blackburn Consulting) GBA President

“What Makes Consulting Firms More Valuable?” Rebecca Zofnass, (EFCG)

“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Geoprofessions” Veronica DeFreitas, P.E., (Universal Engineering Sciences, Inc.) Chair of DEI Committee. Ms. DeFreitas will share the results of GBA’s research regarding the pipeline of the profession, recent GBA podcast episodes on the topic, and our planned initiatives to help Member-Firms promote DEI best practices. Our most recent initiative includes a Best Practice document for promoting DEI in your organization.

“Post Graduation– What’s Next for GBA’s Emerging Leaders Class?” Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP-2 (SME) and Ryan White P.E., G.E. (PBS Engineering + Environmental) Vice Chairs of Emerging Leaders Class 4
As Class 4 prepares to graduate, we will learn from the Emerging Leaders Class Vice-Chairs about the future of podcasts, graduates participation in DEI initiatives and plans to deliver GBA’s message to the geoprofessional community. Tune in for an update on what the future holds for this outstanding class of emerging leaders.

Tom’s Toddy Toast: Summer Rye                                                                                                                     
This month Tom suggests we all enjoy the refreshing taste of the Summer Rye as the days get shorter and we gather enjoy each other’s company.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz your favorite rye whisky
• ¾ oz elderflower liquor (optional)
• ¼ oz simple syrup
• 1 oz apple juice
• Splash of champagne (optional)
• Add: apple slices to garnish

Mixology Instructions: Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add rye whisky, elderflower liquor, syrup, and juice. Shake and strain into a champagne glass. Top up with champagne. Garnish with apple. Let the sweet apple flavors and hints of spice prepare you for the cool fall nights.

Food pairings: Dark Chocolate is a favorite food to pair with anything. Lucky for us it’s also a good pairing for the full-bodied flavor of rye whisky. For those who want something more substantial, consider a strong cheese or smoked meat board. Keep it rich and bold to complement the flavor palate of the whisky.

History of the Rye Whiskey: Rye whiskey was historically the prevalent whiskey in the northeastern states, especially Pennsylvania and Maryland. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was the center of rye whiskey production in the late 1700s and early 1800s. By 1808, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania farmers were selling one half barrel for each man, woman and child in the country. By the 1880s, Joseph F. Sinnott’s distillery, Moore and Sinnott, located in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, was the single largest producer of rye whiskey, with a capacity of 30,000 barrels a year.
Rye whiskey largely disappeared after Prohibition. A few brands, such as Old Overholt, survived, although by the late 1960s former Pennsylvania brands like Old Overholt were being distilled mostly in Kentucky.

Differences between rye and bourbon: Rye grain is known for imparting what many call a spicy or fruity flavor to the whiskey. Bourbon, distilled from at least 51% corn, is noticeably sweeter and tends to be more full-bodied than rye. As bourbon gained popularity beyond the southern United States, bartenders increasingly substituted it for rye in cocktails such as the whiskey sour, Manhattan, and Old Fashioned, which were originally made with rye. All other things being equal, the character of the cocktail will be drier (i.e., less sweet) with rye.

GBA Emerging Leaders Class

GBA has published over 100 case histories based on real-life events that have happened to geoprofessional firms. GBA Case Histories are unique because our members share real-life stories of problems that impacted their businesses. They also include the outcomes of corrective action, and lessons learned.

This episode in the series explores Case History #86 where the GBA member firm conducted a geotechnical engineering study and performed COMET services during earthwork for a builder on a single-family home in an area where expansive shales are interbedded with sandstone. The member firm advised for slope-stability analyses. Eight months after construction was complete, the foundation started to move, creating distress in the slab and some walls. Remediation attempts were unsuccessful and as a result the project went to litigation.

Listen to Podcast: New Podcast – Case History #86: Dream Home or Nightmare?

Board Member Spotlight – Brad Melocik

My father was an engineer. As a child, I had no idea what he did at work, but he was an amazing problem-solver and could fix anything. For that reason, I held him, and his title, in high esteem. Through my childhood and into high school, I had an affinity for water—I enjoyed fishing, surfing, water skiing—and that love of water eventually bled into the classroom, where I was fortunate enough to take classes in marine biology and Chesapeake Bay biology. I was introduced to books like The Last Waterman, where I learned that the area where I lived in Maryland had been teeming with fish and wildlife before development and pollution.

These experiences helped me realize the importance of the relationship between human society and the natural environment; with an interest in water and a desire to study the environment, I attended the University of Florida and aimed at becoming an environmental engineer. As I completed the requisite courses of the standard engineering curriculum, I quickly learned which areas of study piqued my interest and, just as importantly, those area of study that did not. With the fundamental courses successfully behind me and the opportunity to select more of my  own classes to suit my interests, I gravitated to all things water resources. Finally, as I moved into my senior year, I secured an internship at a small local engineering firm working on the St. Johns River in South Florida to develop water quality sampling devices. Not long after, I was able to work on those farms and irrigation channels for the installation and implementation of the devices that I had been developing… and I was hooked!

My passion really grew after graduation, when I moved back to Maryland and got a job working for a medium-sized engineering firm in their transportation department. My new boss asked me if I had a pair of waders (of course I did) and then asked if I could show up early (5 a.m.) on my first day. Over the next five years I was lucky enough to work in the field performing geomorphic assessments and scour analyses for bridge structures, which fueled my passion. As part of my training, I had the opportunity to travel west to Colorado to attend Dave Rosgen’s Wildland Hydrology courses in stream morphology and restoration, which in turn developed into a newfound love for the mountain west.  After a few hunting trips to Wyoming and Montana that solidified my feelings, I realized that I needed to move to an area where I could experience the mountains.

This led my wife, Allison, and I to travel to Alaska in March of 2004 to visit some friends in Anchorage and to see if we could possibly make a life for ourselves amongst the mountains of Alaska. I had previously spent nearly a month in Alaska during the summer of my freshman year in college, and this trip reminded me of why Alaska is so special. The sun was shining, the mountains came right down to the water, and the people were friendly and helpful. While we were there, our friends had a party and invited their friends in the engineering field. That night I learned about DOWL, and my life would change forever.

We moved to Anchorage in June of that year, and I started my career at DOWL a couple weeks later as a member of the transportation group, where my work included managing the drainage aspects of projects, but also working on retaining walls, sidewalks, roadways, culverts, etc.  The experience was invaluable, and I was able to see these projects through multiple lenses, make connections in the industry, and learn how to manage multi-disciplined teams.

Now, as a professional with more than 20 years of experience under my belt, I’m enjoying the time spent with GBA activities. My journey with GBA began in 2007, when I enrolled in Fundamentals of Professional Practice (FOPP), and continued in 2011, when I joined GBA’s New Leaders Committee. My experience with GBA has been a great one. I felt a connection with my fellow committee members immediately, and I enjoyed attending the GBA conferences. Eventually I landed in the Emerging Issues and Trends Committee and later served as Chair. The connections and work I do with GBA continues to challenge me to move forward and think differently. The conferences and committee work give me time to step back, look at the big picture beyond deadlines and project budgets, and focus on things like employee retention, technology, and engaging myself and others around me. My GBA friends have been a great help, readily providing me with assistance, guidance, and answers to my questions. This group fosters a community within the geoprofessional field that brings me back time and time again. I am grateful for the opportunity to expand my involvement with GBA and look forward to contributing in meaningful ways to this empowering organization.

When I am not working, I can be found with my family at the hockey rink or outside  enjoying the great outdoor opportunities that Alaska has to offer. Mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and hunting bring me closer to nature and help me maintain perspective and balance in my life. My happy place is a cabin in Cooper Landing, about 100 miles from Anchorage; it’s the perfect mix of remote wilderness, mountains, river – and community. Somehow, through perseverance, dedication, and a dash of luck, I’ve been fortunate enough to find myself in the type of place I dreamed of years ago when I left Maryland at the onset of my professional journey.

Resource Collaboration Committee                                                                                     

A public-school district (the “District”) retained the Member Firm to perform geotechnical-engineering studies for several buildings at two schools. The Member Firm’s geotechnical reports both contained identical recommendations for “select” fill to be used in constructing the building pads for the schools.

The District retained different design teams for the two schools and the Project Specifications for the two schools, not surprisingly, differed significantly, and neither were completely consistent with the recommendations that the Member Firm provided in their geotechnical-engineering report.

A field representative testing compaction of the building pad fill identified inconsistencies and discovered onsite mixing of native soil with import material, a clear violation of the geotechnical recommendations. The earthwork sub-contractor was forced to remove and replace the structural fill for all the nearly completed pads which triggered a legal dispute. The Member Firm avoided losses emphasizing the importance of field representatives that know project specifications, observe daily field activities closely, and communicate with project management to identify construction defects and potential risks.

Lessons Learned include:
• Project Risk is Inversely Proportional to Project Size, and Complexity, and Budget
• Trust Your Gut
• If You See Something, Say Something
• Half a Loaf Isn’t Always Better than None
• Protect Yourself. Don’t Rely on Others

Case Histories are real-life stories about GBA member-firm experiences. They provide background, problems, outcomes, and lessons learned. There is no easier way to learn expensive and time-consuming lessons than from others that went through the pain first and shared their experiences so we can all learn.

GBA Case Histories are free to all members.

Download Case History #110: HERE

On July 15, 2021, Victor “Vic” Donald, P.E., M. ASCE (Terracon)  was notified of his selection as the 2021 winner of the Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award for “his superior ethics, innovative spirit, and love of learning and leadership that has shaped and forever changed the engineering profession.” This annual award is bestowed on one professional engineer annually through a joint award between GBA and ASCE.

Please take a moment to congratulate Vic Donald on this prestigious award and significant milestone in his career.

In 2005, GBA and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) instituted the Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award to promote and recognize civil engineering leadership in professional practice and ethics. The Foundation for Professional Practice, also established by GBA and ASCE, donated the funds to support this annual award which recognizes an engineer-leader for a specific accomplishment or for lifetime achievements that demonstrate superior ethics and leadership while participating in professional practice or service to the public.

Mr. Donald will be presented with an award and honorarium, and he will be recognized at GBA’s 2021 Fall Conference to be held October 21-23 at the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa. He will also be recognized at a future ASCE event.

Read More about GBA and ASCE’s Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award: HERE

We are coming out of the most disruptive business cycle in recent history due to the COVID-19 pandemic but most of our members report record financial performance.

How does your firm stack up?

For more than 15 years, GBA has been collecting key financial metrics from member-firms so our members can measure their success, improve business performance, and optimize efficiency. The newest GBA Business Brief — available only to members is free for all members and compiles data from GBA Business Practices Committee’s 2020-2021 Financial-Performance Survey, in a short report, covering key financial-performance issues of surveyed firms.

This report includes more data and trendlines so our members can track their progress on key financial indicators for companies that match your firm’s size.

In the spirit of our Association, GBA publications are a collaborative effort of GBA Member-Firms. They are provided to GBA   Members to make them stronger, smarter and more successful and they are FREE to all members.

Download Business Brief: FY 2020-2021 Financial-Performance-Survey Report

You are cordially invited to join GBA’s President Tom Blackburn for a casual afternoon of information and social networking with friends and colleagues from across GBA.

Tom will introduce you to friends as we wind down the week and toast the weekend  with a seasonal beverage. Please join us for a fun and informative hour.

Date: July 9, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM Eastern
Register: E-mail GBA Here

Topics will include:

Welcome Tom Blackburn, P.E., G.E., F.ASCE; F.ACEC (Blackburn Consulting) GBA President

“Critical Success Factors for a Healthy Business” David Coduto (Terra Insurance Co)
Terra Insurance Company is the highest rated professional liability carrier in the United States according to AM Best’s capital adequacy ratio analysis (BCAR). According to Best, our loss ratios are fractions of those of our competitors, and we believe that the CSF concept has helped us get there. When these factors are implemented in an engineering firm (along with other risk management and loss prevention measures and techniques), they tend to drive down expensive claims and enhance profitability. (10-minutes)

“How Do Member-Firms Keep Track of Subsurface Data?” – Carrie Foulk, P.E., G.E. (BSK Associates) Chair of Geotechnical Business Committee
Ms. Foulk will discuss what geoprofessional firms are using to provide easy access to their previously acquired subsurface exploration data. What software systems are available or are being developed to provide a graphical database? What are our member firms using? (10 minutes)

“Introduction to GBA’s Resource Collaboration Committee” Chuck Gregory, P.E. (Terracon Consultants, Inc.) Chair of the Resource Collaboration Committee. The mission of the RCC is to Collaborate with other GBA Committees, GBA Staff and non-GBA sources to facilitate updates of most valuable reference material. Mr. Gregory will give us an update on Case Histories Made Easy. (10 minutes)

Tom’s Toddy Toast: Summer Shandy
This month Tom suggests we all enjoy the refreshing taste of the Summer Shandy as we relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Ingredients:

• 8-12 oz of your favorite summer beer. For best results, consider lighter beers like wheat beers, pilsners,  and light lagers

• 6-12 oz your favorite fruit juice or soda, though lemonade, lime soda, and ginger ale are traditional go-to’s. Bonus: consider watermelon, cranberry ginger, or pineapple for a refreshing new summer flavor

• Add: Orange, lemon, or lime slice for garnish

Mixology Instructions: Pour the beer into the glass, about half full. Pour the lemonade or soda into the glass. Add garnish. Voila! A frosty glass or mug keeps the drink cooler in hot summer weather.

Food pairings: Keep it light! Shrimp quesadillas, fish tacos, pineapple salsa & chips or light summer salad fresh from the garden

History of the Shandy: First appearing in Britain in the 1850s as a shandygraff, the shandy was born of innovation. Facing shortages of critical beer supplies, inn keepers needed a way to fill demand from thirsty customers. Though often relegated to the working classes and their shandy-antics, a version of the shandy has popped up across the globe. It’s German cousin, the radler, was born of a need to satisfy a crowd of bicyclists in need of refreshing beer to quench their thirst and their spirits. The renowned author Charles Dickens noted the shandy was “the perfect alliance between beer and pop.” The shandy maintains its widespread popularity due to its simplicity, easy availability of ingredients, and ability to change flavors to suit every taste.

GBA’s FY2020-2021 Annual Report was prepared for the Board of Directors and all Member-Firms to report progress and highlight key accomplishments of the Association during the fiscal year 2020-2021. It is intended to keep all members current with significant accomplishments of the Board, Committees, and Task Forces and all the volunteers that support it.

Includes Updates on:

• Association Membership                                                             
• Annual Awards
• Conference Attendance
• New and Updated Publications and Podcasts
• Alliance Organizations
• Association Finances
• GBA Committees
• Other Notable Accomplishments
• Plans for Fiscal Year 2021-2022

Please check it out and share your thoughts with us HERE

Download Annual Report: HERE

GBA is committed to promoting the value of geoprofessionals and we want to see it through your eyes. For our 2021 Photo Contest,  we’d like to know:

How do you depict the day in the life of a Geoprofessional?

Is it field activities? Is it meeting with colleagues and clients? Is it performing testing in the laboratory? How is safety incorporated into your work? How are you positively impacting the world? Capture those vibrant moments and express what being a geoprofessional means to you!

Contest Starts – June 1, 2021
Contest Ends – August 31, 2021

Submit Photos to: GBA Photo Contest

Prizes Awarded:

One (1) Overall grand prize winner will receive:                                                                                                                                                                     

• A $100 Gift Card
• A photo mention in GBA NEWSlog
• Recognition at GBA’s Fall 2021 Conference.                                                                                                                                                             
• Winners Plaque
• Mention on GBA’s digital presences.

One (1) Overall runner-up winner will receive:

• A $50 gift card
• A photo mention in GBA NEWSlog
• Runners Up Plaque
• Recognition at GBA’s Fall 2021 Conference.
• Mention on GBA’s digital presences

Five (5) Category Winners (Geotechnical, Environmental, Construction Materials Testing

and Inspection, Safe Working Practices, and Client Collaboration) will receive:                                                                                           

• Recognition at GBA’s Fall 2021 Conference.
• Category Winner Certificate
• Mention on GBA’s digital presences

2020 Photo Contest Winners are shown: HERE

Submission information and contest rules: HERE

Working outdoors when it’s hot can create an array of safety challenges that firms and  individuals need to be aware of and plan for. Some of the key issues include sun and UV-ray exposure, heat, Lyme Disease and other tick-borne diseases, West Nile Virus, and poison ivy and related plants. Each of these issues is expanded upon in this GBA Best Practices monograph, developed by GBA’s Construction-Materials Engineering and Testing Business Committee. Each issue is explained. Appropriate preventives are offered.

Download Best Practices: HERE

GBA Legal Affairs Committee

Developed by GBA’s Legal Affairs Committee, the GBA Guide to Third-Party Reliance provides comprehensive discussion of both authorized and unauthorized reliance and includes exhibits that contain sample materials firms can finalize with the assistance of qualified legal counsel. Contents include:

Third-Party Reliance Defined                               

• Who or what are third parties?
• What is authorized reliance?
• What is unauthorized reliance?

Dealing with Reliance Requests

• Should we charge a fee for third-party reliance?
• To whom should we grant reliance?
• How do we document a grant of reliance?
• Some clients ask us to include third-party reliance language in the report itself. How do we handle that?

Dealing with the Potential of Unauthorized Third-Party Reliance

• How can we protect ourselves when contractors use our reports to develop bids?
• Should we include advisory letters in our contracts and reports?
• What about communicating directly with contractors that are likely to use our reports?
• What happens when specifications require CoMET services?

Exhibits

The guide also includes 11 exhibits that contain sample materials firms can finalize with the assistance of qualified legal counsel. The exhibits include (but not limited to):

• Sample Letters Authorizing a Third Party to Rely on a Geotechnical-Engineering Report and GeoEnvironmental Report.
• Sample Contract Clauses about Document Use and Third-Party Reliance
• Sample CoMET Advisory Letter to a Contractor
• Sample Letter to Client about Contractors’ Use of Report for Bid Preparation
• Sample Cease-and-Desist Letter
• Sample Application for Authorization to Use

GBA Guide to Third-Party Reliance also includes an interactive table of contents and an interactive index.

Download GBA Guide to Third-Party Reliance: HERE

Geoprofessional consulting firms continue to join GBA to access the many benefits of membership. Please join us in welcoming the following firms who have recently joined GBA.

BLE

BLE is a geotechnical, environmental, and construction materials engineering firm, but we’re much more. We’re a team of engineers and environmental professionals who relish technical challenges and strive for precision. We believe that the quality of our work sets the standard for every engagement and enhances its outcome. We approach each project with integrity and efficiency, ensuring that we deliver the best solution for you.

Read More: HERE

Diaz•Yourman & Associates

Diaz•Yourman & Associates (DYA) is a privately held geotechnical consulting services corporation, founded in December 1992 on the strong basis of 30 years prior geotechnical engineering experience. Since then, DYA has grown in size, capacity, and breadth of services to become one of the leading geotechnical firms in California. DYA has built its reputation by responsively serving our clients’ needs and adding value to their projects with integrity and competence. Our technical hallmarks are applying the latest technologies, innovation, and construction knowledge to develop practical solutions for successful projects.

More Here: HERE

Hull & Associates

Hull & Associates, LLC is a project development and engineering consulting firm specializing in Environment, Energy and Infrastructure markets. We are located in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions with offices in  Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, St. Clairsville, Newark and Toledo, Ohio; Austin, Texas; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Our services are transportable nationwide.

Read More: HERE

Somat Engineering, Inc.

Somat Engineering, Inc. (Somat) is an award-winning infrastructure solutions provider, offering engineering, environmental, and management services to government and private clients. Founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1986, Somat also maintains offices in Ohio, Maryland, and the District of Columbia (DC). Somat Engineering of Ohio, Inc. and Somat Engineering DC, LLC are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Somat Engineering, Inc.

Read More:  HERE