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GBA 2025 Annual Conference

 

April 24 @ 8:00 am - April 26 @ 5:00 pm

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GBA’s Annual Conference with the theme: “Guardians of the Earth” will take place April 24-26, 2025 in Savannah, GA. Join industry professionals as you engage with industry leaders, connect with mentors, and boost your professional profile.

Registration Open to:

Qualified geoprofessionals or individuals who work within a geoprofessional engineering firm or affiliate association or organization. Representatives of companies with products/services utilized by geoprofessional engineering firms should contact Sara@geoprofessional.org for information about either a non-member or a sponsor/exhibitor registration. All registrations are subject to approval by GBA. In addition, GBA, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to deny or cancel any registration for any reason. Registrations not approved by GBA will have their event registration fee refunded. No refunds will be made for travel, room, or any other direct or indirect expenses incurred by the registrant or traveling companion.

Registration Cancellation Policy | Cancellation Deadline: Friday, March 21, 2025

If you are no longer able to attend the conference, you may receive a refund of your pre-paid registration fee less a $275 fee if you cancel before Friday, March 21, 2025, 11:59 PM ET. After this date, your pre-paid registration is non-refundable.
Cancellation notice must be e-mailed to Sara Menase (Sara@geoprofessional.org) before the deadline.
Guest registration may receive a refund less a $125 administrative fee if notice of cancellation is made before Friday, March 21, 2025, 11:59 PM ET. Cancellations made after this date are non-refundable.
Any registrant who no shows will not receive a refund or credit.
This cancellation policy applies to conference registration fee only. Any optional activity with a fee may have an additional cancellation fee depending on the time of your notice to cancel the activity.

PLEASE REGISTER HERE:

FRIDAY, APRIL 25th 

KP Reddy

Founder & CEO Shadow Ventures
KP is the Founder and CEO of Atlanta-based, Shadow Ventures and a prominent figure in the world of technology and innovation. With a background in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, KP has become a global authority in AEC environments, AI, robotics, automation, mobile applications, and cloud computing. He is the author of the definitive guide to Building Information Modeling, “BIM for Building Owners and Developers,” “What You Know About Startups Is Wrong,” and his soon-to-be-released “Creating the Intangible Enterprise: The critical skills to thrive in an AI-driven world.”
KP’s extensive experience includes founding and exiting three technology companies to NASDAQ, NYSE, and privately held futures, running Enterprise Transformation at Gehry Technologies, and being the General Manager of ATDC at Georgia Tech, one of the oldest technology incubators in the country.
KP is a personal advisor to the CEOs of a number of the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the country and regularly partners with the likes of Mick Morrissey of Morrissey Goodale and Michael Beckerman of CREtech.
A few major events where KP has appeared on stage are Autodesk University, SXSW, TechCrunch Disrupt, NYC Building Congress, Foreign Direct Investment World Forum, BuiltWorlds, Blueprint, and CREtech.
He’s a frequent lecturer at universities including NYU’s Stern School of Business, Georgia Tech, Columbia University, and Harvard GSD, and he’s been featured on Fox News, NBC, BisNow, The Real Deal, the Commercial Observer, and in the Wall Street Journal.

June R. Jewell, CPA

AEC Business Solutions
June is a leading profitability expert in the Architecture and Engineering industry and author of two best-selling books, Find the Lost Dollars and RAISE Your Value. For over 25 years she ran a successful business and Deltek consulting practice, and now works with A&E firm leaders to increase profitability, improve business management processes and systems, and be more competitive in the marketplace.
June is President of AEC Business Solutions, offering business assessment tools, business management training programs, and strategic planning designed to help A&E firms to grow profitably and groom their project managers and future leaders for business success. You can learn more about June and her company at www.AECBusiness.com

Michaela Brewster, CPG

Principal, Terracon
Michaela T. Brewster, CPG is a Principal at Terracon with 20 years of environmental consulting and engineering experience. Michaela holds a Master of Engineering in Geotechnics from Missouri University of Science & Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Physical Science and Geology from Black Hills State University/South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Today, Michaela serves as the Environmental Department Manager for Terracon’s Nebraska region, where she leads teams to deliver high-quality environmental projects for clients across multiple sectors. Michaela’s environmental expertise includes due diligence, subsurface investigation and remediation projects for various state-lead and voluntary cleanup programs as well as EPA Superfund and RCRA programs with extensive knowledge in assessment and clean-up of agricultural chemicals.
Michaela is actively involved in her company, community and profession, serving as the lead for Terracon’s employee resource group – Increasing Women in Leadership (iWIL), volunteering for the ACE Mentoring Program and active in GBA as a member of the Environmental Committee and a recent GBA Emerging Leaders graduate.

Chuck A. Gregory, P.E., F.GBA

Senior Principal – Terracon
Chuck Gregory, P.E., F.GBA, a 29-year veteran of Terracon Consultants, Inc., is a senior principal in the firm also serving as vice president and regional manager overseeing offices in San Antonio, Laredo, Pharr, and Corpus Christi. Chuck has 40 years of experience as a consulting engineer with expertise in geotechnical engineering, construction materials engineering and testing, and forensic engineering. His areas of technical expertise include soil stabilization, pavement design, pavement failure analysis, and concrete technology. Along with report review and project management, other responsibilities include troubleshooting, mentoring, client development, staffing, planning, and budgeting. Chuck holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in civil engineering from Texas A&M University (Class of 1981) and has been a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas since 1987. Chuck has a long history of service and involvement in Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA). He has been a board member since 2015 and is currently the Chair of the Resource and Collaboration Committee. For his outstanding achievements and dedicated services to the engineering profession, Chuck was awarded Distinguished Engineer of the Foundation for the Texas Engineering Foundation in 2022, awarded 2015 TSPE Bexar Chapter Engineer of the Year, and received the Lifetime Service Award from the San Antonio Chapter of the American Concrete Institute in 2013.

Bryce W. Moore

Director of Construction Services – Blackburn Consulting
Bryce started with Blackburn Consulting in 2006 as a materials testing/inspection technician. He now leads Blackburn’s Construction Services. Bryce’s 18-plus years of experience includes: construction and project management, inspection, and materials testing for city and county roadways, public works infrastructure, levees, Caltrans roadways and bridges, subdivisions, water/wastewater, schools, and pipeline projects. He is Caltrans, ICC, and ACI certified.
Bryce graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Business and a certificate in Construction Management from U.C. Davis. Bryce also completed the Fundamentals of Professional Practice course.

Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP-2, PMP

Vice President and Director of Project Management – SME
Tiffany Vorhies, NACE, CIP-2, PMP is a Vice President and the Director of Project Management. She leads the charge in developing and training all of SME’s Project Managers and Assistant Project Managers to elevate their skills and capabilities and ensure SME continues to provide best in class service to our clients.
Tiffany Vorhies holds a BS degree in Construction Management from Eastern Michigan University, and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She has been with SME for 18 years and spent much of that time building our Steel, Coatings, and Nondestructive Testing (SCN) service group from the ground up. Before this, she worked in design and quality control for a truss manufacturer for nearly eight years.
She has served in several leadership positions for NACE Detroit and is known as a local expert in coatings. Tiffany is also active in the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) and is Chair of their Multimedia Delivery Committee.
In her free time, Tiffany enjoys woodworking and podcasting. Check out the GBA Podcast for some industry-related episodes, where she hosts and shares lessons learned with others.

Legal Panelist- TBD

Dori Ross, P.E.

Senior Vice President of Client Services – Sanborn, Head & Associates.
Dori is the Senior Vice President of Client Services at Bedford, NH-based Sanborn, Head & Associates. Dori works closely with firm leadership and project teams from across the firm to ensure Sanborn Head delivers the highest levels of service and quality to our clients. As a member of Sanborn Head’s Executive Committee, Dori acts as the primary liaison between Sanborn Head’s client service areas, the executive team, and functional area leaders across the firm.
Dori draws on her background as an accomplished geotechnical engineer and proven business leader to guide Sanborn Head’s performance and help the firm achieve its corporate and strategic objectives. She focuses on improving operations, creating annual business plans and longer-term strategic plans, and mentoring and developing the firm’s technical staff.
Dori has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Connecticut. She is an active member of GBA’s Business Practices Committee. She also serves on the board of directors of ACEC Massachusetts where she most recently served as Secretary and co-chaired the ACEC/MA’s Transportation Agencies Liaison Committee (TALC) for many years. Dori is a professional engineer in Massachusetts.

Jeff Gross

Owner/CEO – Gro-Nova
Jeff Gross is the owner of Gro-Nova Inc and author of Ten Tips to Empowerment Leadership, The POWER of PEOPLE FIRST, Ten Tips to Employee Retention, Creating a Stay Culture, and Next Gen Revolution, Multigenerational Leadership. Jeff is passionate about empowering teams through the empowerment leadership training he offers. He has over 20 years coaching, leading, and building high-performance teams. Jeff’s executive leadership experience includes working for small-to-large organizations including Fortune 500 companies. He has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He lives in Seattle Washington.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guoming Lin, Ph.D.

Dr. Guoming Lin is a vice president and senior geotechnical consultant with Terracon Consultants in Savannah, Georgia. He has 30+ years of experience and provided geotechnical consulting to thousands of projects including Georgia Ports, Kinder Morgan Elba Island LNG Terminal, and Hyundai EV plant near Savannah. He is a licensed Geotechnical Engineer (G.E.) in California and a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in several states. He is a board-certified geotechnical engineer (BC.GE) by the Academy of Geoprofessionals (AGP). He has authored over 20 technical papers, and was the principal engineer for one Grand Award (2006) and four State Awards (1997, 1999, 2018, 2025) in the ACEC/GA Engineering Excellence Award.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26th – SPEAKER BIOS

Lee Rubin

Performance Consultant to Corporate America & Collegiate Sports Organizations

For 30 years, Lee Rubin has been building high performance teams in both corporate America
and the collegiate sports world, setting the foundational cornerstone for a leadership and culture-building mindset focusing on the key components that create extraordinary teams.
This strong core foundation was instilled early in Lee’s life as he held the position of captain of the Penn State football team and later went on to serve as a Human Resource Executive, building senior leadership teams for some of the countries’ most prominent corporations which have become dominant leaders in their industries.
Lee has emerged as one of the most engaging and sought-after voices across the country with his unique ability to understand and articulate winning principles with tremendous clarity and practical application on team building, leadership, and peak performance. He has collaborated with and taken the stage for leading Fortune 500 Companies like Johnson & Johnson, Sony and JP Morgan, to name a few, as well as collegiate sports teams and organizations across the country.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communications with a minor in business from Penn State University. Rubin received a full athletic scholarship to play football for the Nittany Lions. Lee was a three-year starting free safety, the 1994 Florida Citrus Bowl Defensive MVP, and an All-Big Ten Conference selection and an Honorable Mention All-American.
Lee was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in Central New Jersey. Lee and his lovely wife, Carmen, have been blessed with two beautiful daughters

Dallis Fontenot

Executive Vice President, Engineered Structures, Inc. (ESI)
Dallis was Idaho’s first Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, a 2024 Idaho Business Review Women of the Year award recipient and currently serves as an Executive Vice President of ESI, a billion-dollar construction company. With a passion for equipping leaders to better serve their employees, families, and communities, Dallis specializes in business strategy, executive coaching, leadership development, and change management. She has conducted over 100 workshops and invested thousands of hours coaching leaders to discover their strengths and maximize their teams to reach new heights.

Justin Wren

Elite UFC/MMA Fighter turned Global Humanitarian and Founder of Fight for The
Forgotten
Mercilessly bullied as a child, Justin responded by transforming himself into a champion MMA fighter. Yet despite his success, he quietly questioned the significance of his own athletic accomplishments. Each time his hand was raised in victory he thought, “Is this it? Is this as good as it gets?” As he fought his way to the top and battled never-ending injuries that accompany the profession, he slid into pain-killer addiction, battled depression, and attempted suicide. He was a champion on the outside but broken within.
It wasn’t until a chance collection of circumstances led Justin to one of the most remote places on earth, to live in the rainforest among the Pygmy people, some of the most impoverished and marginalized people on the planet, that he found his true purpose – helping others.
From that experience, ‘The Big Pygmy’ returned to the ring with purpose, founding the non-profit Fight For The Forgotten (FFTF) along the way. Since 2013, FFTF has provided more than 52,000 indigenous people with access to clean drinking water, replanted thousands of trees, acquired more than 3,000 acres of land in the name of the tribe and helped 1,800 people out of slavery and into freedom. Current projects include housing, education, healthcare and sustainable livelihoods through community empowerment.
Today, Justin shares his remarkable story on stages across the country and around the world teaching others the tools, tactics and techniques to navigate any adversity, find purpose, and achieve meaningful impact in business and in life.

Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa 
1 Resort Drive
Savannah, GA 31421
Main Hotel Phone Number: 912-201-2000
CLICK HERE FOR HOTEL RESERVATION

Room Rates and Current Taxes:
Run of House Rooms $279 plus state and local tax of 13% plus a $2.50 occupancy per room per night plus a $5.00 GA Hotel/Motel Fee..

In addition, there is a mandatory Destination Fee of $20.00 per room/per night plus tax.

This fee covers several amenities including:

• In-room High-Speed Internet Access
• Complimentary Twilight golf on the Championship PGA golf course
• Golf club storage, use of chipping and putting greens and driving range (including complimentary clubs)
• Complimentary access to spa sauna, steam room
• Complimentary use of fitness center
• Use of tennis racquets, courts & croquet lawn
• Complimentary use of on property bicycles
• Nightly S’mores at dusk by the pool
• On-resort shuttle transportation

The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, is a four-diamond hotel located adjacent to the scenic Savannah River in Savannah, GA. While at the resort you will experience true Southern hospitality as elegance meets modern luxury. Enjoy a delightful ferry ride to the Savannah Historic District or indulge in the resort’s amenities, including the inviting pool. Discover serenity in the sophisticated rooms and suites with stunning views of the golf course or harbor. Delight in Southern coastal cuisine at the three on-site restaurants. Unwind in the heated pool or indulge in a rejuvenating massage at Heavenly Spa by Westin. Tee off on the exclusive 18-hole PGA Championship golf course. Conveniently located near the Savannah Convention Center, the resort offers breathtaking river and downtown Savannah views.

How to Secure a Room Reservation:

• For phone reservations you can call (888) 627-8457 and mention GBA to obtain the group rate of $279 plus 15% tax | $2.50 Occupancy Fee | $5.00 GA Hotel Fee | and $20.00 per night resort fee.

• Mention the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) or GBA’s 2025 Spring Conference to be quoted the group rate of $279.00, plus state/local taxes, a GA hotel/motel fee and the $20.00 Destination Fee – all per room, per night.

CLICK HERE FOR ON LINE RESERVATION.

Secure room reservation early: GBA’s cut-off date is Friday, March 21, 2025. Once GBA’s room block is filled the hotel and GBA cannot guarantee availability of rooms at the GBA group rate or any other room rate. NOTE: GBA’s room block usually fills early – don’t delay – secure your room well in advance of our conference dates.

Pre/Post Room Nights: Limited guest rooms may be available for up to 2 days pre/post the official conference dates of April 24-26, 2025 based on availability at the time reservations are made and at the hotel’s discretion. Should you plan to extend your stay, please contact the hotel early for best availability.

Hotel Reservation Changes and Cancellations: The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa has a Three (3) day (72-hour prior) room reservation cancellation policy. Room Reservation cancellations received less than 3 days prior to arrival will be subject to one night’s room/tax cancellation. Individuals who cancel must receive a cancellation confirmation number from the hotel.

Please Note: To minimize any charges to you, your firm, or to GBA, if you need to cancel your room reservation, please do so in a timely manner so that the guest room nights can be sold to other GBA guests. Contact Barb (barb@geoprofessional.org) or Sara (sara@geoprofessional.org) even if you have to cancel late so that GBA can try to assign your guest room to someone else.

Check-in / Check-out Times: Check-in time is 4:00 PM; check-out time is 11:00 AM. The JW Marriott Anaheim Resort cannot guarantee any early check-ins before 4:00 PM. If you would like to check-in early, you may contact the hotel’s front desk representative on your arrival day to see if the hotel has any rooms clean and ready earlier than the 4:00PM check-in time.

Early Departure Fee/Policy: The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa has an Early Departure Fee/Policy; i.e., if you reserve to depart on the 22nd , but leave a day early, you will be charged for the night you “missed” at the group room rate plus tax, unless you make arrangements with the hotel’s front desk manager in advance. Emergency and other special circumstance situations will be reviewed by the hotel on a case-by-case basis.

Beware of unauthorized hotel booking and housing agencies (Poachers): GBA is not affiliated or contracted with any outside hotel contracting company. If someone other than GBA staff or GBA’s chosen hotel (Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa) contacts you and suggests that they represent any GBA event, they do NOT. It is GBA’s recommendation that you book your hotel guest room directly with the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa. Don’t be scammed! Should you have any questions, please contact Barb Nappy at 727-457-2272 (cell) or via e-mail at barb@geoprofessional.org

Details

Start:
April 24 @ 8:00 am
End:
April 26 @ 5:00 pm