GBA Annual Awards and Past Winners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each year, during the Annual Recognition and Awards Banquet, GBA celebrates the accomplishments of our members and their contributions to our Association.

As an overview, GBA’s annual awards include:
A. Exceptional Service Award
B. Engagement Awards
C. President’s Award
D. Woodward L. Vogt Project Excellence Award
E. Committee Service Award (retiring Chairs and Vice Chairs)
F. Board Service Award (at the completion of 3-year term)
G. Presidents Service Award Gavel

Below is a summary of each award and past award winners.

A. Exceptional Service Award
Special awards of appreciation may be given to volunteers who contributed to GBA in extraordinary and unique ways during the year. These efforts exceed the effort and value of contributions normally recognized by certificates of appreciation.

Past Winners of this award are:
2019 – Kimberly Morrison, P.E., R.G. (EOR Mine Tailings Dams)
2021 – Woodward L. Vogt, P.E., D.GE, F. GBA, (Case History Library)   
Andrew K. Baston, Esq. (Model Contract Documents)
2022 – Gary DeJidas (Peer Group Facilitator)
Grace Blackburn (Peer Group Facilitator)
Robert C. Rabeler (Peer Review Document Updates)
2024 – Ryan White, P.E., G.E., F. ASCE
Tiffany Vorhies, PMP, NACE CIP-2
2025 – Victor S. Barchers, P.E.

B. Engagement Awards
For several years, GBA has been tracking the engagement of member firms through five measurements that we found to be most important indicators of the value members were receiving from membership. Ultimately, engagement also indicates the value of membership to employees which we feel is paramount to delivering our mission.

Past Winners of this award are:
2019

  • Terracon
  • SME
  • Earth Systems
  • Geoprofessional Innovation Corp (GPI)                               

2020

  • Terracon
  •  SME
  •  Sanborn Head and Associates
  •  Blackburn Consulting

2021

  •  S&ME
  • Building & Earth Sciences, Inc.
  • MC Squared, Inc.
  • Crawford & Associates, Inc.

2022

  • SME
  • DOWL                                                                             
  • BSK
  •  Earth Engineering

2023                                                                                                 

  • Terracon
  •  CTL|Thompson
  • Blackburn Consulting
  • Northern Geotechnical Engineering – Terra Firma Testing

2024

  • Terracon
  • GeoEngineers
  • Strata, Inc.
  • PBS Engineering + Environmental                                                                                         

2025

  • Terracon
  •  Geo-Technology Associates, Inc.                                   
  • Geotechnical Consultants, Inc.
  •  Grounded Engineering

C. President’s Award
Each year, our current President has selects one person to be recognized for the contributions they made to our Association during the year of his/her presidency. Candidates will also be considered for their historic accomplishments and contributions to the Association, especially in support of the President.

Past Winners of this award are:
2019 – Kurt L. Fraese, L.G., F. GBA
2020 – James L. Withiam, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, F.GBA                                                                 
2021 – David L. Coduto
2022 – Saiid Behboodi, P.E., G.E.
2023 – Woodward L. “Woody” Vogt, P.E., D. GE, F. GBA, F. ACI, F. ASCE, F. ASTM
2024 – Mark Kramer, P.E., F. GBA,
2025- Kevin P. Hoppe, P.E., F. GBA

D. Woodward L. Vogt Outstanding Project Award
In 2020, the GBA Board of Directors identified an opportunity to celebrate greatness of our members as they use GBA’s best practices to manage risk and optimize performance on notable projects through the Outstanding Project Award. The award was renamed the Woodward L. Vogt Outstanding Project Award in 2022 to recognize the contributions made by a past-president and live-long advocate of high-quality geoprofessional services.

Past Winners of this award are:
2021 – DOWL
2022 – Leighton Consultants, Djan Chandra                                                                               
2023 – GeoProfessional Innovation Corporation, Selway Road
2024 – S&ME
2025 – ANS Geo Inc.

E. Committee Leadership Service +Awards
Committee Service Awards are bestowed on Chairs and Vice Chairs who have completed their terms and transitioned leadership roles to others.

Past Winners of this award are:
2021 – Richard D. Heckel, P.E., D.GE. (Geotechnical committee)
Bradley M. Melocik, P.E., P.H. (E.I.T)
Teresa L. Peterson, P.E., C.M.E., LEED AP O&M, ENV SP (E.I.T)
2022 – Steven K. Noble, P.E. (Business Practices)
Daniel K. Schaeffer, P.E. (COMET)
2023 – Elizabeth Clarke (COMET)                                                                   
Victor Barchers, P.E. (EBC)
Terrance J. Scanlan, Esq. (LAC)
Stuart “Stu” Thompson (PRC)
2024 – Veronica De Freitas, P.E. (IAC)
Grace Blackburn (PRC)
2025 – Jason Stoops, P.E.
Tiffany Vorhies, PMP, NACE CIP-2 (MMD)
Bruce A. Savage, C.P.G. (PRC)
Shawnna Erter, P.E., BC.GE (GBC)

F. Board of Directors Service Awards (Joel)
Board of Directors Service Awards are bestowed on Directors who have completed their terms of service.

Past Winners of this award are:
2020 – Saiid Behboodi, P.E., G.E.
2021 – Chuck A. Gregory, P.E.
Matthew R. Poirier, P.E.
2023 – Steve Wendland, P.E., P.G., D.G.E.
Martin LaRoche, P.Eng.
2024 – Brad Melocik, P.E., P.H.
2025 – Victor R. Donald, P.E.

G. President’s Service Gavel Award
President’s service Gavel Award is bestowed on the immediate Past President after completing their service to the Board of Directors as President.

Past Winners of this award are:
2019 – Woodward L. Vogt, P.E., D.GE, F. GBA, F.ACI, F. ASCE, F. ASTM   
2020 – Arthur G. Hoffmann, P.E., D.GE
2021 – Kenneth Johnston
2022 – Thomas Blackburn, P.E., G.E., F. ASCE, F. ACEC
2023 – Leo J. Titus Jr., P.E.
2024 – Matt Moler, P.E.
2025 – Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C