2025 Annual Conference Proceedings

AM25-01 Thriving in the Tech Age: AI & the Changing Role of Consulting Engineers
This video is only available to members; join GBA today to watch it.

The AI revolution is here, poised to upend every industry in its wake. But how will this new technology actually change the engineering profession? In the face of algorithms and machine learning, intangibles that are uniquely human – skills like creativity, adaptability, and leadership – will be the clear drivers for growth. After synthesizing hundreds of conversations with AEC executives, KP Reddy presents a roadmap for the skills required by employees in the future to thrive and shows how executives can lead their companies in creating amazing enterprise value. (67 minutes)

AM25-02 6 Keys to Building a Championship Engineering Firm
This video is only available to members; join GBA today to watch it.

Today’s engineering firms are faced with many challenges including labor shortages, commoditization of engineering services, and rapidly advancing technologies. To be competitive and highly profitable, it is critical to have a clear strategy that addresses all these challenges, and have it guide your decisions and employee behavior.

In this presentation, June Jewell presents six strategies to ensure you can not only compete but have a winning competitive advantage in your markets:

1. Empowering project managers
2. Creating a culture of excellence and accountability
3. Selecting better clients
4. Leveraging innovative processes and systems
5. Implementing a clear strategy that drives decisions and behavior
6. Know and communicate your value (53 minutes)

AM25-03 How Field Notes are Used as Evidence
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In this skit, the GBA audience experiences example deposition scenarios highlighting ways in which field documentation and critical communications from field staff can become significant pieces of evidence when lawsuits occur. We explore a hypothetical scenario that combines many lessons learned for a relatable storyline that applies to all disciplines within the geoprofessions. Presenters collaborating from within the GBA Environmental, Geotechnical, Construction Materials and Testing, and Legal Affairs committees (Keith F. Mobley, P.E., G.E. (Northern Geotechnical Engineering – Terra Firma Testing); Bryce W. Moore (Blackburn Consulting); Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP-2, PMP (SME); Chuck Gregory, P.E. F.GBA (Terracon); and James Hamilton, Esq. , P.E. (GAI Consultants)) highlight areas where small mistakes can lead to big consequences, and how GBA materials and best practices can help protect your firm. (40 minutes)

AM25-04 Business Snapshot Survey
This video is only available to members; join GBA today to watch it.

For more than 20 years, GBA’s Business Practices Committee has invited member-firms to participate in a brief qualitative survey on their businesses, the state of the economy, and the greater geoprofessional industry. Dori Ross, P.E. (Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.) shares the most recent survey results and reviews important trends to help you assess how your firm is performing relative to others in the nation and provides important trends you can use as you plan for a healthy and robust future where everyone succeeds together in championing excellence in geoprofessional consulting. (12 minutes)

AM25-05 Building Community: Internally and Externally
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Building community internally and externally goes hand-in-hand in both serving your employees and the local community. The benefits are many and creating a culture of service creates long lasting and meaningful relationships for all. This presentation by Jeff Gross reviews: 1) Why Serve Your Community, 2) Benefits of Serving Your Community, and 3) How to Serve Your Community. (38 minutes)

AM25-06 Hutchinson Island Ferry Landing Bulkhead Collapse
This video is only available to members; join GBA today to watch it.

This presentation focuses on the critical infrastructural challenges caused by the bulkhead collapse of the ferry landing on Hutchinson Island in Savannah, Georgia. The ferry landing between the Savannah Convention Center and Westin Hotel experienced movements in the morning of June 18, 2022, resulting in a substantial crack in the brick-paved plaza. Guoming Lin, Ph.D., G.E., BC.GE. (Terracon) was called in by the City of Savannah to assist the emergency response. This presentation reconstructs the progressive failure process and emergency response and discusses findings in the investigation and repair design considerations. (30 minutes)

AM25-07 President’s Annual Report, Recognition of 2024-2025 Board of Directors, Elections, and Remarks
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GBA President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C (Verdantas) provides his annual report and recognizes the 2024-2025 Board of Directors before overseeing the Elections for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. (31 minutes)

AM25-08 Teamwork and Collaboration: 5 Components of Extraordinary Teams
This video is only available to members; join GBA today to watch it.

Machines are evaluated based on the output of the entire unit, not the impressiveness of their individual parts. Extraordinary teams, like great machines, require certain components that hold their pieces together. While most organizations focus exclusively on building the skills of their individual members, elite organizations invest in the “stuff” that transforms a collection of talented individuals into extraordinary, machine-like teams. This keynote by Lee Rubin is packed with insights, humor, and tools to help listeners take their respective teams to a higher level. (59 minutes)

AM25-09 Empowering Your Guardians: A Blueprint for Strategic Leadership
This video is only available to members; join GBA today to watch it.

This presentation draws on Dallis Fontenot’s journey from executive assistant to executive vice president at a billion-dollar construction company. Overcoming numerous obstacles, Dallis has learned to leverage CliftonStrengths to maximize her leadership potential and unlock the potential of her teams. Embracing one’s natural talents and strengths as a superpower is crucial for self-awareness and discovering one’s greatest potential. This presentation guides the audience in identifying their strengths and those of their team members to build a cohesive and effective organization.

Dallis shares insights on discovering powerful partnerships and creating a personal board of directors, including roles such as coach, mentor, complementary partner, role model, expert, and accountability partner—akin to the diverse team dynamics of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Each member’s unique strengths contribute to extraordinary results.

Additionally, Dallis discusses empowering employees to be guardians of their roles. Leaders can provide resources, tools, and autonomy, fostering ownership and accountability. This approach encourages individuals to take calculated risks in pursuit of excellence, promoting a culture of sustainability and success.

Join Dallis to unlock your leadership potential, harness your natural superpowers, and inspire those around you to reach new heights. (52 minutes)

AM25-10 Purpose. Performance. Impact.
This video is only available to members; join GBA today to watch it.

Justin Wren shares his personal story from humble beginnings in rural Texas and a childhood shaped by relentless bullying. He eventually rose to mixed martial arts stardom, fighting in front of thousands in person and millions around the world, only to lose it all to drugs and depression. But he fought back again, first on behalf of other victims of bullying, and later, through an almost unbelievable turn of events, on behalf of the Pygmy people of the Congo and Uganda. A three-time survivor of malaria, Justin has fought opponents both large and small throughout his life, and along the way he has evolved into an astonishing force for good in the world.

Justin takes audiences through an exploration of the power of service, the profound difference we can make in the lives of others, and the ripple effect that extends far beyond what we can imagine – including the transformation that occurs within ourselves when we choose to live purposefully and serve selflessly. He also unravels the secrets of the overcomer’s mindset, the unyielding spirit that separates the victors from the defeated. Audiences will learn how to transform pain into fuel, setbacks into comebacks, and doubts into unwavering belief—in order to overcome obstacles and win this fight called life. (68 minutes)