GBA | News Archive

Stop Assumptions Before They Become Project Problems

A misunderstood comment, an unasked question, or an assumption about what someone meant can create unnecessary problems on a project team. For geoprofessional consultants, knowing how to prevent those communication breakdowns is part of becoming a stronger consultant and leader.

In a new episode of the GBA Podcast: Better Communication for Stronger Connections, the GBA Inclusion Advancement Committee continues its communication series with moderator Rob Howard, P.E. (Vice President, Geo-Technology Associates) and panelists Dee Watson, B.A.Sc., SHRM-CP (HR Administrator, Geotechnical Consultants, Inc.), Kent Bannister, P.Eng. (President and CEO, TREK Engineering), and Margaret Panatera (Principal, GZA GeoEnvironmental). They explore how word choice, active listening, curiosity, and adaptability can head off misunderstandings before they become conflict and help teams work together more effectively.

The discussion puts practical tools behind those ideas. Listeners will hear why replacing assumptions with questions matters, how pausing before reacting can change a conversation, and what leaders can do to make it easier for team members to raise questions and contribute ideas. As Panatera puts it, “If we’re willing to open our ears as much as we open our mouths, then maybe we can narrow that gap a little bit better.”

Bannister reinforces the leadership responsibility: “You have to model the behavior you would like to see in others.”

The episode builds on the first episode in the series, Communication Basics: Intentional and Inclusive Communication, which examines communication as a shared responsibility and offers practical approaches to listening, tone, curiosity, and positive intent.

Listen to the new episode here or wherever you get your podcasts, and pick up practical communication habits you can put to work with your team today.

About the GBA Podcast
The GBA Podcast delivers practical insights from geoprofessionals for geoprofessionals. Through conversations with industry leaders and subject matter experts, listeners gain actionable ideas to help manage risk, strengthen business practices, and improve project outcomes.

About the GBA Inclusion Advancement Committee
The GBA Inclusion Advancement Committee’s mission is to foster and promote a culture of inclusivity within GBA by offering guidance and support to our member firms in establishing environments where all individuals feel a sense of belonging. Interesting in joining? Let us know. New members are always welcome.

AI Won’t Fix Fragmented Operations. What Will?

AI tools can help geoprofessional firms work faster, but what happens when the information they depend on remains scattered across disconnected systems?

GBA’s next Knowledge Sharing Webinar tackles that question on Thursday, December 3, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. In “Building the Operating Model That Makes AI Actually Work,” David Gagne, President & CEO of MetaField, will examine why getting more value from AI may require firms to first rethink the operating model underneath it.

For many firms, field data lives in one tool, scheduling in another, lab information in a third, and billing somewhere else. Adding ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or another AI solution can make individual tasks faster without solving that underlying fragmentation.

Gagne will make the case for a firmwide operating model in which daily work runs through a connected system of action and the resulting data becomes structured, accessible, and ready for AI embedded directly in the workflow. Attendees will see examples involving newly acquired offices, multiple disciplines, and connected field and lab operations.

Attendees will leave with a framework for evaluating fragmentation within their own firms and understanding what it takes to create a connected system. The webinar is free and open to GBA members and nonmembers. Attendees will earn 0.5 PDHs.

Miss the Last Knowledge Sharing Webinar?
GBA members can watch the October 29 Knowledge Sharing Webinar from Seequent, Build vs. Buy: Navigating Software Strategy in Geoprofessional Practice. Presenters examine the benefits, costs, and risks of developing software internally versus investing in established platforms.

Watch the recording in the GBA webinar library.

Coming Next: Turn Your Geotechnical Archive Into an Advantage
On December 17 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, Quire will present “The Competitive Advantage Hidden in Your Geotechnical Archive.” Karl Grimm, Senior Solutions Consultant at Quire, will explore how firms can make decades of completed reports and institutional knowledge easier to access and put to work, helping engineers find useful precedents faster, reduce technical risk, and improve future reports.

The GBA Knowledge Sharing Webinar events are a series of free online learning opportunities for GBA members and guests that directly connect them with our industry partners who are creating impactful technology to elevate the geoprofessions.

Registration Is Open for the 2027 GBA Annual Conference: Go ALL IN

Registration is now open for the 2027 GBA Annual Conference, April 14-17 in Vancouver, British Columbia. This year’s theme, ALL IN: Uncompromising Commitment to the Geoprofessions, is both a mindset and a challenge. Going all in means making the deliberate choices that strengthen firms, develop people, manage risk, improve performance, and elevate geoprofessional value.

The 2027 program is built to help attendees do exactly that, with practical ideas they can bring back to their firms and put to work.

A Program Built Around the Issues Firms Are Facing
Headlining keynotes bring new perspectives on challenges affecting leaders across industries:
• Organizational psychologist and bestselling author David Burkus will explore the science behind high-performing teams
• Workplace culture and future-of-work expert Eric Termuende will examine leadership and team performance in the age of AI
• Six-time American Ninja Warrior Angela Gargano will challenge attendees to take bold action when the path forward feels uncertain.

They will be joined by practitioners bringing the ALL IN theme directly into the realities of geoprofessional business. Sessions will explore leadership development at Freese and Nichols, BGC Engineering’s multimillion-dollar commitment to R&D and AI, diagnosing performance gaps, maintaining organizational alignment during rapid growth, and the culture changes that emerged from S&ME’s response to Hurricane Helene.

And the value extends well beyond the stage. Business Round Tables will give attendees time to work through real business challenges with peers, while networking events, sponsor visits, committee activities, and the Recognition & Awards Banquet create opportunities to reconnect with longtime colleagues and build new relationships.

New for 2027: GBA Technology Summit
Arrive a day early for GBA’s inaugural Technology Summit, taking place April 14. The Summit is designed to move beyond technology hype and product demonstrations to focus on the questions firms actually need answered:
• What problem did the technology solve?
• What did implementation involve?
• What worked and what failed?
• What business value resulted?

The program will feature real-world member-firm implementation stories, technology providers and innovators, and conversations about AI, data workflows, emerging technologies, adoption strategies, ROI, and the future of project delivery.

The Technology Summit requires separate registration and is available as an add-on to the Annual Conference. Space is limited.

Register Early and Save
Register before January 31 save $200. First-time attendees from GBA member firms can save an additional $150 using code FIRSTTIMER at checkout. The discounted hotel block will sell out, so make your travel and hotel plans early.

Go ALL IN as a Corporate Underwriter
GBA member firms can also show their support for the Annual Conference by becoming a Corporate Underwriter, helping offset the overall cost of delivering the event. Corporate Underwriters receive recognition before and during the conference, including:
• Logo and company profile highlighted in GBA’s NEWSlog, reaching 10,000+ geoprofessionals
• Logo recognition on conference promotional materials and email communications
• Logo display and verbal recognition during the opening general session
• An email to all conference registrants through the meeting app
• Customized conference graphics to help promote your firm’s support on social media

Corporate Underwriter sponsorship can be added as a related product during Annual Conference registration.

Go ALL IN in Vancouver. Invest in your leadership, your people, your firm, and the future of the geoprofessions.

Explore the full conference program

New GBA Case History: Managing Project Risk When Your Firm Serves Both Sides

GBA has published Case History #119: Shake, Rattle, Heads Might Roll, a look at how one member firm navigated construction vibration concerns between two adjacent development projects while providing services to both project teams.

The situation involved separate developers and contractors working on neighboring mixed-use buildings. When personnel reported significant vibration during sheet-pile installation, questions about possible damage and responsibility emerged before evidence of damage had been identified. The member firm also served both project teams, adding potential conflict-of-interest concerns to an already sensitive situation.

Rather than allowing assumptions to drive the response, the member firm brought stakeholders together, established communication protocols, documented existing conditions, and recommended independent vibration monitoring. The resulting data helped the teams evaluate the concern based on facts.

The case offers several lessons that extend well beyond vibration monitoring: recognize potential conflicts early, communicate consistently with all parties, and establish facts before drawing conclusions about damage or responsibility.

Firms can use this Case History as a lunch-and-learn or team discussion tool to explore claims avoidance, stakeholder management, vibration monitoring, and potential conflicts of interest.

The resource is free for GBA members.

Download Case History #119

Not a GBA member? Learn about GBA member benefits.

About GBA Case Histories
GBA Case Histories examine real-world project and business situations that offer valuable lessons for geoprofessional consultants. These educational resources help firms strengthen risk management practices and make more informed business decisions.

Meet the 2027 GBA Annual Conference Keynote Speakers

GBA is excited to announce the keynote speakers for our 2027 Annual Conference: ALL IN, Uncompromising Commitment to the geoprofessions. These presenters will bring attendees fresh perspectives on high-performing teams, leadership in the age of artificial intelligence, and finding the courage to take bold action.

David Burkus

Best Team Ever: The Surprising Science of High-Performing Teams
Organizational psychologist, Columbia University professor, and bestselling author David Burkus is recognized internationally for his work on leadership, teamwork, and collaboration. His keynote will examine why talent alone does not create a great team and reveal what the world’s highest-performing teams do differently. Attendees will leave with a practical blueprint for creating a team culture that helps everyone perform at a higher level.

Eric Termuende

Leadership and AI: Building High-Performing (All In) Teams in the New World of Work
Eric Termuende is a workplace culture and future-of-work expert who focuses on building trust, belonging, and stronger teams amid rapid change. His keynote will cut through the noise surrounding AI to explore what the technology really means for leaders and their teams, while showing why the fundamentals of trust and connection remain essential. Attendees will learn strategies to navigate uncertainty, boost engagement, encourage experimentation, and build resilient, high-performing teams in a workplace increasingly shaped by AI.

Angela Gargano

Be The First: Why Bold, Scary Firsts Build the Strongest Version of You
Angela Gargano is a six-time American Ninja Warrior, Miss Fitness America, former biochemist, and speaker whose career has been shaped by setbacks, reinvention, and extraordinary comebacks. Drawing on high-performance psychology and her own experiences, Gargano will challenge attendees to identify the step they have been hesitating to take and give them a framework for moving forward.

More Voices, More Practical Takeaways, More Reasons to Attend

The keynotes are only part of a thoughtfully designed program created to help geoprofessional leaders strengthen their firms, lead their people, and make smarter decisions. Industry professionals rounding out the speaker lineup include:

JaNette Bridgewater, All In on Leadership Development: The Partnership Behind Great Leaders, will show how Freese and Nichols brings HR and business leaders together to develop stronger managers, build a leadership pipeline, and support long-term business success.

Matt Lato and Corey Scheip, Most Firms Dabble. We Went All In: The Business Case for R&D in the Geoprofessions, will share how BGC Engineering has invested millions of dollars in research and development and why the firm is now going “all in” on AI, including how it makes investment decisions and balances emerging technology with engineering judgment.

Rachel Hile-Broad, The Key to Changing Behavior? Solving the Right Problem., will challenge common assumptions about performance gaps and give leaders a more effective way to diagnose what’s driving performance before deciding how to address it.

Jill Black, All In on Growth: How Expanding Firms Stay United While Growing Fast, will explore how firms can use brand, culture, and communication as strategic tools to maintain alignment as they grow through acquisitions, geographic expansion, new services, and workforce change.

Joe Laps, All In When It Matters Most: How a Hurricane Sparked Lasting Culture Change, will share how S&ME’s Asheville office responded to the disruption of Hurricane Helene and used the experience to build greater ownership, accountability, trust, and connection across its team.

The Full Annual Conference Experience

The 2027 GBA Annual Conference offers plenty of opportunities to connect and participate beyond the main stage. The schedule includes a Tech Summit, Business Round Tables, committee meetings, networking events, the Annual Recognition & Awards Banquet, and other opportunities to reconnect with colleagues and build new relationships.

From developing stronger teams and navigating AI to managing growth and investing in innovation, the Annual Conference will give geoprofessional leaders new ideas and expert insights to strengthen their firms today and position them for what’s ahead.

Registration opens on October 28.

How Small Assumptions Can Create Major Project Risk

Every geoprofessional eventually learns the same lesson: projects rarely fail because of a single dramatic mistake. More often, problems arise when assumptions go unchallenged, warning signs are overlooked, or professionals work beyond their areas of expertise.

The latest episode of the GBA Podcast’s Case History Series examines exactly that challenge.

In the episode on GBA Case History #111 – Incomplete Characterization of Site Conditions Costs Everyone! – hosts Elizabeth Brown (JLT Consultants) and Abi Corbett (SME) discuss a riverfront condominium development where incomplete site characterization contributed to significant dewatering challenges, project disputes, arbitration proceedings, and millions of dollars in costs.

The episode explores topics that affect every geoprofessional firm, including understanding site conditions, selecting appropriate investigation methods, recognizing the limits of individual expertise, managing project risk, and meeting the standard of care.

One observation from the episode captures the importance of understanding the full project context: “When you’re next to a tidal river, the river is part of your site. It’s not just scenery. It’s a geologic force.”

The discussion also emphasizes the importance of professional judgment and self-awareness. As the hosts note, “Good training isn’t just about skills. It’s about knowing when to ask for help.”

For project managers, emerging leaders, and technical professionals alike, the episode offers a valuable reminder that risk management begins long before construction starts. Understanding site conditions, asking the right questions, and recognizing when additional expertise is needed can help prevent problems that affect clients, projects, and firms.

New GBA Peer Groups Forming Now

GBA believes in the power of peer connections to drive personal, professional, and company growth. The GBA Peer Group program connects individuals from different companies with similar roles, providing an invaluable platform for knowledge sharing, problem solving, and collaboration.

Current active Peer Groups include those for:
• CEOs (small/medium and medium/large firms)
• Executive Geoprofessional Women
• COOs
• CFOs
• HR Leads
• Recently Retired Executives
• Geotechnical Practice Leaders
• Marketing Leaders

GBA Peer Groups offer tailored opportunities to elevate your professional journey and gain fresh, diverse perspectives from others in similar roles across the industry.

New Peer Groups for 2026-27
This is your chance to join others in a role like yours, expand your network, and access support and advice that can help you solve your toughest challenges and grow your career. GBA is exploring the formation of groups around the vital functions and roles of:
• CEOs/Presidents
• Business Unit Leaders (Area, Regional, Branch, Divisional Managers)
• Environmental Practice Leaders
• Project Managers

Why Join a GBA Peer Group?

1. Networking: New collaborations, partnerships, and access to valuable resources.
2. Knowledge Sharing: Insights into emerging industry trends, technology, and innovative approaches.
3. Leadership Development: New skills and improved professional capabilities.
4. Emotional Support: Support for shared challenges, successes, and concerns with people who can relate.
5. Career Advancement: Enhanced professional reputation and increased visibility, opening doors to career opportunities and advancement.
6. Collaboration and Partnerships: Collaboration that may lead to joint projects, partnerships, and business opportunities.
7. Professional Inspiration and Motivation: Higher goals and continuous improvement through interaction with ambitious and motivated professionals.

Generally, groups meet (virtually) four to eight times a year to discuss common concerns, collaborate on challenges, and identify opportunities for personal and professional growth, as well as company improvement. GBA provides group facilitators to help identify topics and organize the sessions so value is derived by each participant.

Become a Facilitator
We are also seeking facilitators to lead these dynamic groups. If you have a passion for helping others grow and enjoy fostering productive discussions, this is a unique opportunity to shape the success of the Peer Groups while expanding your network and gaining fresh perspectives.

Next Steps
If you’re ready to take your professional development to the next level and contribute to your long-term success and that of your firm – don’t miss out! Peer Groups form quickly, and spaces fill fast. Whether you’re interested in joining as a participant or a facilitator, please fill out the interest form below.

Build or Buy? Upcoming GBA Webinar Explores Software Strategy for Geoprofessional Firms

As geoprofessional firms adopt new technology, many face an increasingly important decision: Should they develop their own software tools or invest in established commercial platforms?

GBA’s next Knowledge Sharing Webinar will help firm leaders and technology decision-makers evaluate that choice. Build vs. Buy: Navigating Software Strategy in Geoprofessional Practice will be presented by Seequent on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

Programming in geoprofessional practice can take many forms, from scripts and low-code platforms to APIs, custom applications, and AI-enabled “vibe coding.” These tools can help firms address specific needs and experiment with new workflows, but developing software internally can also introduce risks and costs that are easy to underestimate.

Presenters Mark Skinner, CEng MICE, CITP MBCS, and Carl Grice will examine the technical and cultural factors that encourage geoprofessionals to create their own solutions. They will discuss issues such as security, compliance, maintainability, access, transparency, quality assurance, privacy, and return on investment.

Attendees will also learn how established software platforms can be integrated and extended to support innovation, connected workflows, and competitive advantage without preventing firms from meeting their specific business and technical needs.

The webinar is free and open to GBA members and nonmembers. Attendees will earn 0.5 PDHs.

Continue Learning with GBA’s Industry Partners

Before the October 29 webinar, GBA members can watch Seequent’s previous Knowledge Sharing Webinar, Understanding Ground Risk: It All Starts with the Data, and explore how connected, standardized geotechnical data can support better risk assessment, collaboration, and decision-making. The recording is available in the members-only GBA webinar library, where you can also find recordings of other Knowledge Sharing Webinars, including the September 24, 2026 event with Esri: From Static Reports to Spatial Insights with Geotechnical and GIS Integration.

Upcoming Knowledge Sharing Webinars

All webinars begin at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.
• November 19, 2026: Presented by BoreDM
• December 17, 2026: The Competitive Advantage Hidden in Your Geotechnical Archive, presented by Quire
• January 28, 2027: Presented by ConeTec
• February 25, 2027: Presented by SpectraQEST

When Expertise Meets Evidence: Lessons from Case History #73

A new episode of the GBA Podcast Case History series examines a dispute that escalated from a routine construction project into a high-stakes legal battle over expert testimony, standards of care, and professional credibility. In an episode exploring GBA Case History #73, The Professor Did Not Do His Homework, hosts Elizabeth Brown, P.E. (JLT Consultants) and Abi Corbett (SME) explore how a forensic investigation helped a contractor successfully defend compliant work that had been wrongly deemed defective.

The case centers on an electrical duct bank constructed for a Department of Defense project. After a government inspector alleged the concrete installation was noncompliant, the contractor faced demands to remove and replace completed work. A GBA member firm was retained to conduct a forensic evaluation, reviewing records, performing testing, visiting the site, and developing evidence-based conclusions.

Throughout the episode, Brown and Corbett discuss the contrast between two expert witnesses: one who built conclusions from direct investigation and testing, and another who relied heavily on theory and a disputed interpretation of standards. As Corbett notes, “It feels like that should be automatic for anyone: Get the data, get the evidence, then make an opinion.”

The discussion highlights practical lessons for geoprofessional consultants involved in investigations, dispute resolution, expert testimony, and risk management.

New Best Practices Help Firms Strengthen Heat Illness Prevention and Heat Stress Awareness

As summer winds down in North America, the importance of heat safety does not disappear. Many geoprofessionals continue working outdoors during warm fall conditions, while indoor environments such as laboratories, warehouses, equipment facilities, and other non-air-conditioned spaces can present heat-related hazards throughout the year.

To help firms strengthen prevention efforts and support safer operations, the GBA Safety Committee has released two new Best Practices resources: Heat Illness Prevention and Regulatory Landscape and Protect Yourself from Heat Stress. These resources provide practical guidance for both firm leaders and employees who manage or work in environments where heat exposure is a concern.

The first resource, Heat Illness Prevention and Regulatory Landscape, focuses on employer responsibilities, heat illness prevention programs, and the evolving regulatory environment. It outlines key prevention measures, discusses state-level heat illness standards, and highlights practical steps firms can take to reduce risk.

DOWNLOAD NOW

The second resource, Protect Yourself from Heat Stress, provides practical guidance for field and facility personnel. It explains common heat-related illnesses, outlines warning signs and response actions, and offers straightforward prevention strategies. The resource also emphasizes that indoor workplaces can face significant heat-related risks even when direct sunlight is not a factor.

DOWNLOAD NOW

The transition into fall offers firms an opportunity to evaluate lessons learned from the summer season and strengthen their heat illness prevention efforts before warmer conditions return. These resources can support employee training, safety planning, field operations, and ongoing risk-management initiatives across a wide range of work environments.

GBA members are encouraged to download both Best Practices resources and use them to support year-round safety awareness, prevention planning, and leadership discussions within their organizations.

GBA Best Practices are member-exclusive resources that provide practical guidance on the business, risk management, leadership, and operational challenges geoprofessional firms face every day. Designed to be concise and actionable, they help firms avoid common pitfalls, strengthen decision-making, and improve business performance.

2026 GBA Photo Contest Winners

GBA is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Photo and Video Contest, which challenged participants to capture what it means to be ALL IN: Uncompromising Commitment to the Geoprofessions. This year’s entries showcased the expertise, teamwork, safety, leadership, innovation, and project impact that define the work of GBA member firms. Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to everyone who shared their vision of the geoprofessions through this year’s contest.

Overall Grand Prize Winner

Photographer: Chloe Bjerklie, EIT | DOWL
Location: Yakutat, Alaska
Caption: The Ankau Bridge at sunset. This photo was taken during the geotechnical exploration that supported design of a new bridge for the community of Yakutat. The old timber bridge provides access to recreational and culturally significant land and the community is ready to replace it with a new, safer structure.

Overall Runner-up

Photographer: Chamath Senevirathna, P.E. | D.W. Kozera
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Caption: Dynamic testing of H-piles at the Hellenic Cables Manufacturing Facility project site, where safety was prioritized without compromising productivity. Rather than climbing the hammer leads to position the pile hammer, the crew used a manlift while wearing full fall-protection harnesses to safely access the work area. This proactive approach minimized fall hazards and demonstrated a strong commitment to safe work practices. The image highlights how thoughtful planning, proper equipment, and a safety-first mindset protect workers while ensuring the successful execution of complex construction activities.b

Overall Second Runner-up

Click on image for full video with sound.

Videographer: Andy Siemens, P.E., G.E. | Siemens & Associates
Location: Oregon
Caption: Seismic crew recording a shot as part of a geophysical exploration of a landslide that closed an important Oregon highway. The Siemens crew is working with the state to characterize the landslide and develop re-opening plans to restore service for local residents who have been economically damaged by the closure in many ways.

Category Winner: Technical Excellence

Photographer: Steve Slaymaker | CMT Technical Services
Location: Green Valley, Arizona
Caption: A CMT inspector conducts welding inspections from inside a large-diameter concrete tank/pipe section, viewed through the access opening at Quale Creek Water Treatment Plant’s 10 MG tank project.

Category Winner: Teamwork & Collaboration

Photographer: Jack Powell, R.G., L.G. | Apex Companies
Location: Mulino, Oregon
Caption: Geotechnical drilling at Mulino Elementary School after a sunset rainstorm for a seismic retrofit project.

Category Winner: Safety in Practice

Photographer: Karl Higgins, P.E. | Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates
Location: Prince George’s County, Maryland
Caption: This was a large project whereby we mobilized three of our own drill rigs. Each rig operator, helper and Field Engineer wore the necessary PPE. Each of the three rig work areas was organized with respect to soil spoil collection, reducing tripping hazards and overall safety of our staff. The operators placed tarps and plywood to help contain soil spoils and again reduce slip/trip hazards. I was very proud of my staff and their execution on this project.

Category Winner: Projects & Community Impact

Photographer: Michael Van Helden, Ph.D., P.Eng. | TREK Engineering
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Caption: Geoprofessionals deep in the boreal forest of northern Manitoba, completing hand auger investigations as part of a study for the construction of a new bridge crossing to provide year-round access to a remote indigenous community, who currently has access via a winter ice road crossing, or a summer ferry crossing.

The information they gathered, combined with aerial photo review and terrain analysis, provided valuable insights to route the bridge and roadway alignment to minimize geotechnical risks. Our team hiked through the forest over a couple of days to explore numerous locations along potential alignments. Our safety practices included routine check-ins via satellite communication devices, and never working alone.

This project will enhance transportation access to the community of Norway House First Nation, improving access to critical supplies and offering new opportunities in the community.

Category Winner: Video

Click on image for full video with sound.

Videographer: Christopher Gardner, CPSM | Earth Systems
Location: California

GBA Seeks Subject Matter Experts for GCAP

The Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) is seeking experienced geoprofessionals to serve as subject matter experts (SMEs) for our Geoprofessional Career Ascent Program (GCAP). GCAP is a professional development pathway that helps geoprofessionals build the business, consulting, management, and leadership skills needed throughout their careers.

The program includes the highly successful Embark Class for early-career professionals and Ascend Class for emerging managers. The classes are delivered through cohort-based learning experiences led by industry SMEs and supported by professional learning facilitation.

Embark introduces early-career professionals to the essential business and consulting skills that lay the foundation for a successful geoprofessional career. GBA is seeking SMEs to lead sessions on the following topics:
• Fundamentals
• Communication
• Soft Skills
• Ethics
• Proposals
• Business Development
• Contracts
• Risk Management
• Project Management

Ascend helps participants transition from technical contributor to project, client, and people manager. GBA is seeking SMEs to lead sessions on the following topics:
• Understanding Personality Styles
• Execution
• Time Management
• Delegation
• How to Train
• Managing Conflict
• Growth Mindset
• Emotional Intelligence
• Giving and Receiving Feedback
• Client Management Skills
• Listening Skills

More Than Teaching

Selected applicants will participate in specialized training led by GBA Learning Consultant Brock Simmons. The training series includes three virtual workshops covering:
• Principles of participant-centered training
• Context versus content in training design
• CPR of content design
• Effective use of scenarios and practical examples
• Checklists for effective training delivery and content preparation

Those who have volunteered as GCAP SMEs for past cohorts report that the experience is both energizing and rewarding, and the skills they learned benefit not only their GCAP sessions, but also their work in their own firms.

Geoprofessionals interested in being considered for GCAP teaching opportunities (beginning in 2027) are encouraged to submit an application:

APPLY NOW

Learn More About GCAP:
GBA Geoprofessional Career Ascent Program

Explore the Classes:
Embark | Ascend

Knowledge Sharing Webinar Series Returns: From Static Reports to Spatial Insights

The GBA Knowledge Sharing Webinar Series returns this year with practical, business-focused presentations from trusted industry partners. The series begins on September 24 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time with a webinar from Esri titled “From Static Reports to Spatial Insights with Geotechnical and GIS Integration.”

GBA believes we can provide value to our members and business partners when we create opportunities to share knowledge about important issues affecting the geoprofessions. When we learn together, we can elevate geoprofessional value.

Presented by Michael Davidson, Ph.D., P.E., Product Manager at Esri, this session will explore how geotechnical engineers and GIS analysts can work together to improve collaboration, increase data accessibility, and support more informed project decisions.

Subsurface information is among the most important sources of project data, yet it often exists across disconnected systems and static reports. During this webinar, attendees will learn how GIS can provide a framework for organizing, analyzing, and sharing geotechnical information, helping project teams better understand subsurface conditions and project risks.

Using a transportation infrastructure case study, Davidson will demonstrate how borehole data can be integrated with GIS workflows to create enriched 3D visualizations that support design and construction activities. Rather than searching through hundreds of pages of boring logs, project teams can evaluate subsurface conditions in their geographic context and make more informed decisions.

Attendees will learn how to:
• Connect geotechnical and GIS workflows to create a shared understanding of subsurface conditions.
• Move beyond static reports with spatially enabled subsurface analysis.
• Transform borehole data into actionable 3D insights that help reduce project risk.

The GBA Knowledge Sharing Webinar Series includes timely presentations designed to help geoprofessionals stay informed about emerging trends, technologies, and business challenges affecting the industry. These webinars are free to attend and are open to members and non-members of GBA.

You only need to sign up for the webinar series once – you do not need to sign up for each webinar individually. Additional Knowledge Sharing Webinar Series dates are October 29, November 19, December 17, January 28, 2027 and February 25, 2027.

New Best Practices: Safe Work Near Moving Equipment

Incidents involving moving equipment can have severe consequences, making them one of the most significant safety risks facing geoprofessionals in the field. To help member firms better protect their employees, GBA has released “Safe Work Near Moving Equipment,” a new Best Practices resource that provides practical guidance for reducing risk when workers are on foot near moving equipment and vehicles on construction sites.

The resource recognizes a reality many geoprofessional firms face: they are often subcontractors and cannot control every aspect of a jobsite. It focuses on actions firms can take independently while also encouraging coordination with contractors and other onsite partners.

This field-tested guidance is designed for firms looking to establish safer working conditions and implement more robust controls around pedestrian-equipment interactions. Rather than relying solely on training and awareness, the document emphasizes direct, tangible measures that help protect workers even when mistakes occur. It also reviews hazard controls, situational awareness practices, and emerging technologies that can support safer operations.

Top Takeaways
• Take proactive steps to protect employees, even when working under another contractor’s site management.
• Combine worker awareness with practical safeguards designed to reduce the likelihood and severity of incidents.

Download: Safe Work Near Moving Equipment

GBA Best Practices are member-exclusive resources that provide practical guidance on the business, risk management, leadership, and operational challenges geoprofessional firms face every day. Designed to be concise and actionable, they help firms avoid common pitfalls, strengthen decision-making, and improve business performance.

Not sure if your firm is a GBA member? Learn about member benefits here: Why Join GBA.

The Risk Hidden in “As Needed” CoMET Services

The latest episode of the GBA Podcast Case History Series examines Case History #98 – How Did That Get There?, a project-management case involving geotechnical engineering services, CoMET services, reused materials, unclear scope, and a retaining-wall failure that ultimately led to litigation. Hosted by GBA Multimedia Delivery Committee Chair Elizabeth Brown, P.E. (Principal Geotechnical Engineer at JLT Consultants) and Abi Corbett (Project Consultant at SME), the episode walks listeners through a shopping center redevelopment project where a seemingly small phrase, “as needed,” became a central risk-management issue.

Brown and Corbett explore how undefined scope, limited observation, reused backfill materials, and contractor quality-control issues contributed to a dispute after a retaining wall deflected several years after construction.

Listeners will gain practical reminders about documenting assumptions, distinguishing quality assurance from quality control, communicating service limitations, and defining contract terms before they become the subject of a claim. As Abi notes in the episode, “That’s something I like to really get out in the open first thing with my projects is to very clearly say that QC is responsible for QC. I am just spot checking.” Elizabeth reinforces the broader lesson: “If you know a project is high risk, you can’t afford vague language. You need clarity and documentation and communication at every step.”

This episode offers a timely reminder that risk management does not end with a go/no-go decision. It must continue through scope development, field documentation, client communication, and dispute resolution.

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