Even before the 2020 economic downturn,  member firms reported an erosion in profits driven by lower net multipliers and utilization ratios along with higher operating costs.

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 2019-2020 Financial-Performance Survey in a short report, covering key financial-performance issues of surveyed firms.

This report is enhanced to include 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: Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Financial-Performance-Survey Report HERE

Dreams of Outer Space Grounded in Earth Sciences

My passion for science and engineering started in high school. I was a sci-fi fan and I was inspired by 2001 A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Cosmos and all books on space exploration. I dreamed of a career as an astronaut, working on Mars or orbiting the earth on a space station. When I considered career paths that would get me there, engineering was a logical choice. Although the adults around me encouraged me to be an educator, I was focused on headed for the stars.

I attended Clarkson University enrolled as a Mechanical Engineer. In my sophomore year, while taking Rigid Body Dynamics, I found it challenging to comprehend mechanics and moving parts. While working as a mason’s helper that summer on construction sites, where everything we built stood still, I thought to myself, I get this. Upon returning to Clarkson for my junior year, I changed my major to Civil Engineering.

I graduated in 1991 with my Civil Engineering degree in hand but did not know what type of civil engineer to be. Serendipitously, I didn’t have to choose; the economic recession of the early 1990’s chose for me. I was one of the lucky few that year to have landed a job before graduation, and I started my career sharing a small office with a geotechnical engineer. I prepared boring location diagrams, classified soil in the lab, identified boring locations and logged soils samples behind drill rigs. I really enjoyed geotechnical engineering in part, because every project had different challenges and my learning curve was steep.

I joined ECS in 1997 and while working full-time, earned a master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering. Despite my love for engineering, I found myself gravitating toward management: growing business, developing relationships with clients, improving efficiencies, and training staff. I learned over time that I enjoyed the business of engineering as much as the technical side, possibly even more, and earned an MBA in 2014.

On September 11, 2001, ten years into my career, my perspective started to change.  I had recently joined the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue team to apply my engineering background outside of work and to help the community. When I first heard of planes hitting the World Trade Center in New York, I expected that we’d becalled up to help; but being only 20 minutes away from the Pentagon, a few hours later I walked into that building while it was still burning; helping fire fighters navigate through the damaged structure searching for survivors. We spent a week there, and I saw a lot of sad, terrible things.

A couple years later I lost my first wife to breast cancer at the age of 34. I was home alone raising three young girls, the youngest only 8 months old. In two short years I went through two life changing events that helped me to understand what was most important to me in life, and to focus energy on those: My family and being a positive contributor to the success of my company and my profession.

In time, I understood why adults that encouraged me to consider teaching as a career. It is in my blood!

• In 2001, I started giving lectures about my experience at the Pentagon on 9/11.  I’ve now given my talk over 200 times, all over the country for schools, Rotary Clubs, and engineering groups (including GBA in 2003). I use the experience as an opportunity to encourage others to use their talents to help their communities.

• In 2012, I began teaching young children about engineering, hoping to inspire them to a career in engineering or space travel at a much earlier age than I discovered it.

• In 2017, I started teaching as an adjunct instructor at my alma mater, Clarkson University; instructing young professionals in a graduate level class on construction inspection.

• And now as a senior executive with ECS, one of my most important roles is working with the next generation of leaders; teaching them what I’ve learned in my almost 30-year career and prepare them to lead ECS and the geoprofessions into the future.

I’ve been very fortunate to have had a chance to be involved with GBA, a collaboration of firms like ECS that are leading the geoprofessions into the future. GBA has been a fantastic resource for me and my company, and it has allowed me to contribute to improving the geoprofessions. My time on the Board of Directors has been a rewarding experience, allowing me to develop relationships with people just as passionate and driven to improve our industry and the friendships that started at GBA will last my lifetime.

When I’m not working at ECS, engaged with GBA, or teaching future generations of engineers, I spend my spare time travelling with my wife Rosalie of 15 years, and spending time with my three daughters, Laura (23), Allison (20) and Kelley (17). As a family, we’ve been active fundraisers for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for over 15 years and together we’ve raised over $250,000 in memory of the girls’ mother and my first wife, Jen.

To unwind, I head out fishing on my kayak in the Chesapeake Bay, or pour the latest bourbon that I’ve added to my collection during my occasional bourbon hunting outings. If you like bourbon, feel free to follow my bourbon hunting adventures on Instagram at @amateurbourbonhunter.

I haven’t made it into space (yet), but my career as a geoprofessional has been very rewarding. It has allowed me to experience the fulfilling aspects of the engineering profession as well as use my natural abilities for leading and teaching people.

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 and the GBA Safety Committee. Each issue is explained. Appropriate preventives are offered.

Download Best Practices: HERE

GBA’s Contract Reference Guide, Fourth Edition, now is available to our members in e-book version. This searchable, flip-book allows you to read, bookmark, make notations, and take the Guide with you on any device for quick reference at your fingertips.

This new edition not only provides significant updates from the prior editions, but also includes important new topics, such as Climate Change, Indemnities and Hold Harmless Provisions in Favor of the Consultant, and Instruments of Professional Service.

A great tool for project managers and others!

GBA would like to thank Terra Insurance Company for partnering with us on this effort.  It furthers our mutual goal of enhancing education and risk management across the geoprofessional community. We would also like to thank a dedicated team of volunteer lawyers from GBA and Terra Insurance Company.  We acknowledge and greatly appreciate the energy and assistance of all involved.

Please note: In order to access e-Book version you need to have E-reader APP for Apple Products, and Kindle APP for PC’s and Android.

LINK TO EBOOK VERSION:

LINK TO PDF VERSION:

In support of our 50-year commitment to be the preferred source of business-related resources for geoprofessional firms, the Geoprofessional Business Association is focused on helping our members understand the importance of equality, diversity, and inclusion to their employees, their clients, and in their communities. Especially in these times, we all need diverse voices and experiences in the geoprofessional community. In support of our commitment we will:

1. Deliver on our strategic plan that includes: Create an abundance of warmth, friendliness, and inclusion that enhances our ability to share and learn from each other’s diverse experiences.
2. Continue supporting our Diversity & Inclusion Task Force. Their mission will remain: Promote and foster diversity and inclusion within GBA and encourage and support diversity efforts by our member firms.
3. Provide additional resources to member-firms focused on equality, diversity, and inclusion of underrepresented groups through articles, resources, webinars, and conference content.

By listening, learning, and more intentionally joining the conversation with our staff, our members, and our communities, we will engage to be part of the solution and develop meaningful actions to effect real change. At the same time, we will help our members understand the importance of diversity and inclusion to the overall health and sustainability of their businesses.

A GBA-Member Firm provided suggested changes to a sewer pipe design in order to keep construction moving forward on a five-story senior-living facility. Four years later, swelling clays caused the sewer line to back-up and the lower-level slab began showing heaving related distress. That good deed with other project related complications resulted in a $25 million claim that required an extensive defense of contract limitations of liability, standards of care, and project documentation.

Lessons Learned:

• No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
• Prevent Recommendations from Becoming Requirements
• Do Not Unilaterally Deviate from the Scope of Services
• It Pays to Be Your Brother’s Keeper
• Documentation Can Be Your Best Defense
• Consider Limitation of Liability During Your Go/No-Go Analysis

Learn from others. Don’t repeat the mistakes of the past! GBA Case Histories are being used by our members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional development and mentoring. That is why GBA case histories are so valuable, and why GBA continues to produce new ones.

GBA Case Histories are FREE to all Members.

Download GBA’s Case History #108: HERE

GBA Publications Committee

                                                         
Learn from others. Don’t repeat the mistakes of the past! GBA Case Histories are being
used by our members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional
development and mentoring. That is why GBA case histories are so valuable, and why GBA is updating them all, while adding new ones, too. Five more Case Histories have been re-issued.

GBA CASE HISTORY 86 (download):
A “dream home” built on expansive soil and nonexpansive sandstone began to move about eight months after construction. The original geotechnical-engineering report warned of that risk, noted that a slope-stability analysis had intentionally been excluded from the scope of service, and advised that a slope-stability analysis was needed. During construction, the builder releveled the excavation by as much as 18 inches, without any geotechnical-engineering observations or tests, and this was the likely cause of the problems. But the builder was bankrupt and the other parties, except for the geotechnical engineer, were insufficiently insured. To get into the geotechnical engineer’s deep pockets, the homeowner’s attorney brought in a “hired gun” expert who knew just what to say.

GBA CASE HISTORY 87 (download):
A long-term, significant client – a regional grocery store chain – was replacing an existing outlet in a somewhat remote area. The store was one of the client’s less profitable, so the owner’s representative encouraged all involved with design and construction to keep costs low. Unfortunately, the general contractor seemed somewhat distracted, as did the architect. As a consequence, the Member Firm – engaged to provide geotechnical engineering and construction materials engineering and testing (CoMET) services – had to deal with an inadequate submittal-review process and poor scheduling. The member decided to not make waves about the situation, and that was a mistake: The new pavement system failed before construction was complete. Ultimately, the Member Firm got aggressively involved in problem remediation, and that prevented a bad situation from becoming worse. Still, the Member Firm had to contribute about $70,000 to recognize its own performance shortcomings, but – by using meditation – it salvaged its relationship with the client.

GBA CASE HISTORY 88 (download):
A GBA-Member Firm performed a geotechnical-engineering study for a 35-lot subdivision. The developer – a long-time client of the Member Firm – sold the land and development plans to a colleague. The colleague developer then sold one of the lots to a homebuilder. As it so happens, the homebuilder’s lot was located on an ancient landslide. Local authorities were concerned by the situation and told the homebuilder to contact the Member Firm, under the mistaken belief that the Member Firm still was the geotechnical engineer of record. The Member Firm responded promptly, sending a field representative to the site to perform a few basic services. Member Firm personnel assumed that the lot was being developed more or less as they had originally called for, and that was a bad mistake. It cost the Member Firm $95,000 to extricate itself from a situation it should not have gotten involved in to begin with.

GBA CASE HISTORY 89 (download):
A major health-maintenance organization (HMO) engaged the GBA-Member Firm to conduct a geotechnical-engineering study for a new office building to be constructed on a site underlain by old fill and expansive soil. The client clearly was concerned by the subsurface conditions, and that caused the Member Firm – also engaged to provide construction materials engineering and testing (CoMET) services – to work directly with the contractor when its geotechnical recommendations were overridden by the architect and the owner’s staff engineer. The Member Firm’s failure to take a more diplomatic approach caused reactions that forced it to “go along to get along.” It continued to serve, buy only to evaluate construction for compliance with the specifications as written. Because those specifications were inadequate, serious pavement distress occurred, followed by a dispute. When mediation failed to resolve the dispute, the Member Firm figured it could be in for a protracted problem, despite having a limitation of liability provision in its agreement with the HMO. Fortunately, the Member Firm’s worst fears were not realized, but that was a stroke of luck.

GBA CASE HISTORY 90 (download):
The Member Firm’s project manager studied a problem site that the owner purchased at a discount and developed an economic means of making the land usable for a new factory. The owner declined the Member Firm’s field services, however, and instead vested that responsibility in the earthwork contractor. Later, the contractor and the owner’s representative called the project manager, asking him to significantly reduce cut-and-fill requirements because the contractor’s representative said he was encountering “pretty good material.” Not fond of the owner’s representative at this point, the project manager said, “Go ahead,” without even bothering to visit the site. Soon after construction, the new plant’s floor slab began to crack and move, and the project manager knew why. The bad news: It cost the Member Firm $275,000 to correct the problem. The good news: Were it not for the firm’s fast, aggressive response, the loss could have been far, far worse.

GBA Case Histories are FREE to all Members.

Access GBA’s Entire Library of Case Histories: HERE

Nominations Being Accepted for the 2020 Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award

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.

Nominations are being accepted now through June 15, 2020. The award shall consist of a certificate and honorarium and the winner may be recognized at a future GBA event. Nominees should be licensed professional engineers but do not need to be a member of ASCE or GBA.

READ MORE

Are you a dynamic and engaging individual who can present to a large group of people? Do you have valuable content to share with geoprofessional industry leaders?

The Geoprofessional Business Association is accepting submissions for session abstracts for our upcoming Fall Conference scheduled for October 22-24, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN. Our members regularly gather at GBA twice a year conferences to network, share best practices, learn how to improve their business performance and elevate the industry.

Plan now to be a part of this event!

The Conference Theme: Recovery, Revitalization and Resurgence Beyond Crisis

GBA Member Firms will soon be looking beyond the COVID-19 crisis to recovery, revitalization and resurgence of their businesses. The 2020 Fall Conference will focus on leadership behaviors, business strategies, and proven tactics critical to managing corporate performance beyond crisis to take advantage of the emergent new business environment.

Looking beyond the pandemic, companies will do well to develop leadership that supports innovation, challenges assumptions and encourages risk taking and creativity. Leaders will necessarily assess business processes to improve efficiency and fully leverage their assets for the growth cycle as economies recover globally.
The COVID crisis has revealed not just vulnerabilities but also opportunities to improve the performance of businesses. Opportunities to push the envelope of technology adoption are accelerating. Rapid learning about what it takes to drive productivity when labor is remote or unavailable is driving fundamental change. Leaders are assessing the results of what we’ve been through: a stronger sense of what makes business more resilient to shocks, more cohesive, and better able to deliver solutions to clients.

Given that stronger performance is increasingly associated with a greater range of dynamic leadership teams, client types, and service offerings – and recognizing the relatively low priority many companies put on such diversity – the Fall Conference will provide valuable insight to improve your performance by expanding the range of experience and thought in your firm.

Post COVID-19, you can elevate performance, innovate delivery processes, diversify your business, and thrive in a new economy. Please join us as your GBA partners gather this Fall to help you recover, revitalize and resurge beyond the crisis.
Submission deadline is Monday, June 8, 2020

Download the Abstract Submission Form: HERE

Thank you to all the essential workers that continue to provide valuable services to keep all of us healthy, safe, and fed. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused unbearable stress and anxiety to all essential workers. Still, you have risen to the challenge to keep all essential services running. You are the unsung heroes during this pandemic.

We sometimes overlook the geoprofessionals who continue to keep essential projects moving forward  with safety and with high quality our profession demands. Working behind the scenes, you are helping to make sure when this pandemic is over, we will all be able to return to a safe world.

Thank you for being superheroes!

GBA Council of Fellows

Charles “Charlie” L. Head, P.E., P.G. (Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.) and Woodward “Woody” L. Vogt, P.E., D.GE, F. ASCE, F.ACI, F. ASTM (Paradigm Consultants) have been appointed to the prestigious Council of Fellows of the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA).

Charles “Charlie” L. Head, P.E., P.G. is a co-founder of Sanborn Head, and in his roles as CEO and Board Chair, he is focused on the successful implementation of the firm’s strategic plan.  Charlie received his bachelor’s degree in geology from St. Lawrence University, a bachelor’s  degree in civil engineering from the University of New  Hampshire, and a master’s degree in  civil  and  groundwater engineering from Colorado State University.

Mr. Head served as GBA’s President during the 2017-2018 fiscal year, is on the Board of Directors for Granite United Way and has served on the Board of Trustees of the Concord Community Music School. He currently sits on the University of New Hampshire’s Department of Civil Engineering Advisory Board. Charlie is a 2017 graduate of Leadership New Hampshire.

Woodward L. “Woody” Vogt, D. GE, P.E., is president of Paradigm Consultants, Inc. in Houston. He has more than 40 years’ experience providing geotechnical, construction materials, and investigative and forensic engineering services.

Prior to serving as GBA’s 2018-2019 President, Woody served on the GBA Board of Directors, and was a founding member of the GBA Construction Materials Engineering and Testing (CoMET) Council and chaired the GBA Accreditation and Certification Task Force. Woody is a Diplomate of Academy of Geo-Professionals and a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, ACI International, and ASTM International. He participates in committee activities of ACI International and ASTM and is past chair of ASTM E36 – Accreditation and Certification. Woody has served on the board of directors of the International Council for Certification of Construction Inspectors and is past board chair of the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation. He served as president of TCEL/Geoprofessionals Serving Texas and the Houston Chapter of TCEL. Woody received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology (“Georgia Tech”) and is a licensed professional engineer in Texas and Louisiana. A contributor to many GBA publications, Woody heads the GBA Editorial Committee and has authored four case histories and the GBA publication “Moist-Curing Room Design, Construction and Maintenance” published by the GBA CoMET Business Council.

The association established the Council in 1975 to provide guidance for GBA’s direction and to pursue other activities its members deemed appropriate. The appointments of Messrs. Head and Vogt were announced during GBA’s 2020 Spring Conference by GBA President, Arthur G. “Art” Hoffmann, P.E., D.GE (Gannett Fleming, Inc.).

Please join us in congratulating Messrs. Head and Vogt for their appointment into the GBA Council of Fellows.

Kenneth R. “Ken” Johnston (GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.)    is the new President of the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA), a not-for-profit association of geoprofessional firms. Accepting office during ceremonies  at GBA’s annual meeting held virtually for the first time in GBA’s 50-year history.

Mr. Johnston is the 50th individual to serve as GBA’s president and chair the group’s board of directors. Other directors who will serve during GBA’s 2020-2021 fiscal year are:
• President-Elect: Thomas W. “Tom” Blackburn, P.E., G.E., F.ASCE (Blackburn Consulting)
• Secretary/Treasurer: Leo Titus, Jr., P.E. (ECS, Ltd.)
• Chuck A. Gregory, P.E. (Terracon)
• Martin LaRoche, P. Eng, M.Sc. (SNC Lavalin)
• Guy Marcozzi, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, F. ASCE (Duffield Associates, Inc.)
• Christopher Matthew “Matt” Moler, P.E. (S&ME, Inc.)
• Matthew R. “Matt” Poirier, P.E. (Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.)
• Steve Wendland, P.E., R.G., D.GE (Kleinfelder, Inc.)

Mr. Johnston is the Senior Principal at GZA GeoEnvironmental and the firm’s chief administrative officer. He previously served as GZA’s senior vice president, responsible for risk management, contracts, and real estate and, before that, was the firm’s vice president of operations. Mr. Johnston holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Norwich University. He earned his master’s degree in business administration at New Hampshire College. An avid bicyclist, Mr. Johnston has completed the Pan Mass Challenge for 25 consecutive years, raising more than $170,000 for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He is actively involved in the Board of Fellows at the Business & Management School at Norwich University, currently serving as the Board’s chairman.

During GBA’s 2020 Spring Conference, Mr. Johnston thanked the Association Members for their confidence in his leadership, especially during these challenging times for our Members and our Association.

More: GBA Board of Directors

Those that attended GBA’s 2020 Spring Education  webinar series 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.

Presentations included:

The Return of the Economist: The Impact of an Unprecedented COVID-19 Supply Shock
Anirban Basu, MPP, MA, JD – (Sage Policy Group, Inc.)

Planning, Preparing and Executing for the Looming Recession
Lee James, CPA, CBI, CMC®, F.GBA (Lee James & Associates)

Negotiate It! How to Crush Your Fears, Develop Your Negotiation Muscle,
and Gain Power in the Workplace
Lynn Price, J.D. (Lynn Price Consulting)

Recession Tune-up (Overhaul)
Guy Marcozzi, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, F.ASCE (Duffield Associates, Inc.)

Gripped by COVID-19 – An Economic and Geopolitical Outlook
Past the Media Headlines
Bernard Baumohl (The Economic Outlook Group)

As added value to all members, GBA recorded the 2020 Spring Education Series and made them available to all through our on-demand platform. These videos make great lunch-and-learns for professional development of small groups or your entire staff.

Watch On-Demand: HERE

GBA announces the launch of its first podcast series titled COVID Concerns.

This series captures conversations with industry leaders on important topics that will help you lead your geoprofessional consulting firm, large or small, in response to the global pandemic.

GBA’s 4th Emerging Leaders Class led the podcast effort in response to our members’ demand to deliver important loss prevention and business optimization topics as easily downloadable audio content.

As the preferred source of business-educational resources for geoprofessional firms, COVID Concerns is the first in a series of podcasts planned for delivery of important GBA topics to our members and geoprofessionals worldwide.

Subscribe Now!

Begin listening on any mobile device by subscribing to GBA’s podcast. Simply copy and paste the following into the URL into your search drive: Subscribe here

Alternatively, you can listen online at https://www.gbapodcast.com/.