Archives: News

4thFriday Leadership Series – December 16, 2022

Featuring: Michael Allosso

Award Winning Speaker, Self-Awareness Specialist
Leadership & Communications Specialist

Topic: YOU ON YOUR BEST DAY
(Holiday Edition)

MICHAEL ALLOSSO is a master communications expert and self-awareness specialist who coaches CEO’s, teams and individuals in day-to-day communications, dynamic presentations as well as leadership excellence. He has led award winning workshops for leaders and sales teams all over the world and is a much sought-after personal coach. His client base ranges from insurance producers to construction managers, doctors to bankers, actors to politicians. As a  professional theater and film director, Michael’s keen sense of observation enables him to immediately provide his clients with practical tools to fortify their strengths and refine their weaknesses.

Michael has traveled the world bringing his You on Your Best Day® program to a wide variety of organizations and businesses and has transitioned his program seamlessly to You on Your Best Zoom Day. He is a speaker and entertainer who brings life to any in-person or virtual event.

4thFriday40 Leadership Series is a monthly webinar for GBA leaders at all levels to promote professional development, optimize influence, and facilitate achievement. In short, we want to help you to be a stronger, smarter, more successful leader.

Attend and earn one-half of a Professional Development Hour (PDH) for each webinar.

Free to all GBA Members.

Register for 4thFriday40 Leadership Series: HERE

Annual Project Excellence Award Applications are Open

GBA Awards Committee

GBA is excited to announce the 2023 Woodward L. Vogt Project Excellence Award.

With this prestigious award, GBA will recognize some of the most outstanding projects by its members who live and demonstrate the vision of GBA to great accomplishment. Winners of this award will truly showcase their hard work and contributions to society in front of all of their peers, clients and other professionals from across North America.

Winners receive a plaque, will be recognized at GBA’s Annual Awards Ceremony in
April 2023, and present their project at GBA’s 2023 Fall Conference.

Deadline for applications is January 31, 2023.

More Information HERE

NEW! Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Best Practices in the Geoprofessions

GBA’s DEI Committee

Workplace diversity has become one of the top priorities and main challenges of many organizations. There are several known benefits to an increase in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) including more profits. Yet, even with increased attention and resources around DEI, achieving workplace diversity can be a complicated and challenging undertaking, leaving some firms and employees frustrated and questioning DEI initiatives.

The DEI Committee of the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) has prepared this document to help guide GBA-member firms in their DEI journey to ultimately develop and advance DEI programs within their firms.

In this document DEI committee defines Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, explains the advantages of diversity in workplaces with proven research data, and how the geoprofessional industry is adapting and is moving toward a more diverse talent pool especially in the entry level  positions. The document also covers the barriers the firms face in implementing more diversity within their firms and gives suggestions to overcome these challenges.

Like all GBA committee-developed products, this is a living document that will be updated periodically to ensure it remains current as the discourse and research in DEI evolve.

GBA Best Practices are FREE for all members.

Download: Best Practices – Developing a DEI Initiative

 

New Case History:  Higher Ground

 GBA Geotechnical Business Committee

GBA has a long history of sharing the painful and expensive lessons its Member Firms have learned through its popular GBA Case History series. Member Firms can also learn from one another on projects that turned out successfully. Higher Ground is intended to inspire GBA Member Firms to reduce risk and improve performance through case histories with a positive outcome.

In this Case History, a GBA-Member Firm performed construction materials engineering and testing (CoMET) services for a new nine-story hospital. Another firm’s geotechnical report recognized the pavement subgrade would include poorly graded soil-rock fill and recommended a bearing ratio that the GBA Member Firm recognized as a “worst case” for design purposes. It became apparent early in the grading process that the fill should produce a higher bearing ratio.  This conclusion, based on field observations made during construction, proved to be correct. Despite a lack of precedent, the GBA-Member Firm recognized an opportunity to save the owner a significant amount on asphalt paving costs by reducing pavement section thickness.  This resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars of savings.

The result fostered a great relationship with a new client.  Unfortunately, the Member Firm overlooked an opportunity to be fairly compensated for the additional risk and value derived.

Lessons learned include:

• Be sure you are right – then go ahead!                                                                         
• Share and share alike.
• Understand the Standard of Care
• Conformation-dependent recommendations are important.

GBA case histories give all GBA-Member Firms an opportunity to conduct lunch-and-learn sessions, where participants– especially less experienced personnel –read the cases, then discuss what went wrong or right, and how to deal with similar issues in the future.

GBA-Member Firms use case histories to learn from others’ misfortunes, so you don’t have to learn through misfortunes of your own!

Case Histories are FREE for all GBA Members

Download Case History #113:  HERE

 

Year-End Workplace Benchmark Poll

 

Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) in partnership with the AEC HR Summit is launching a historic “State of the Workplace” Industry Report.

These are critical days for our industry. Though business is booming for many, the threat of a recession, high inflation, declining workforce demographics, and unprecedented demands for pay and benefits have shaken even the most confident and optimistic leaders. We are hoping this survey brings you some much needed market intelligence – what firms are doing today, and tomorrow, to proactively prepare for 2023 and beyond.

We have created this short survey to help gauge where you are, and where you are going – while also seeing what other firms are currently planning.

Specifically, we will be asking questions related to latest workforce practices, including:

• Salary and merit budgets
• Recruiting trends – and where to find new candidates                                     
• Turnover trends – both voluntary and involuntary
• Retention and Engagement trends
• Recognition and Bonus Programs
• The hybrid and ‘work from home’ workforce statistics
•  Benefit trends – including fully insured and self-ensured options
• Time off policies
•  401K match allocations
•  Career Development
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  …  and much more!

We’d like to hear from you no later than Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Please complete this survey (anticipated to take less than 10 minutes) by clicking HERE. Please note, this survey is completely confidential and anonymous. Feel free to contact us if you have questions.

Everyone who participates in this survey will receive a summary report which you can share with your leadership team.

You’re also invited to join us for a complimentary live webinar on December 6, 2022 at 2:00 EST as industry leaders Bob Kelleher and Joel Carson jointly share the results of this survey, including their consultative insights. You may sign up for the free webinar HERE. The summary will be sent out after the webinar and those who participate in the survey will also receive a recording of this webinar to share with their respective team(s).

We hope you can participate!

Survey Link
Webinar Registration

4thFriday40 Leadership Series – November 18, 2022

Multi-Level Leadership: Stop Waiting, Start Leading

E. Lynn Price is a speaker, author and  attorney with over twenty years ofexperience providing creative business solutions to clients and executives. Over the last two decades, she has successfully negotiated over 11,000agreements and counting.

Lynn will emphasize, leadership is not a position, it’s a mindset! It’s looking for opportunities to influence others. Multilevel leadership means leading your peers, your superiors, people outside of your organization, and those within your community – not just your subordinates. Don’t wait to get a new title or a new position to start being a leader. Instead, learn how to focus on leadership opportunities that are surrounding your right now.

4thFriday40 Leadership Series is a monthly webinar for GBA leaders at all levels to promote professional development, optimize influence, and facilitate achievement. In short, we want to help you to be a stronger, smarter, more successful leader.

Attend and earn one-half of a Professional Development Hour (PDH) for each webinar.

Free to all GBA Members.
Register for 4thFriday40 Leadership Series: HERE

In Memory of David E. Thompson, PE, GBA Fellow, and Retired Chairman and CEO of Haley & Aldrich

Source: Abbie R. Goodman, Executive Director, American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA)

David E. Thompson, 82, of Hamilton, formerly of Brookline, retired chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Haley & Aldrich Inc. of Boston, passed away from pancreatic cancer on October 31, 2022.

He was the adored husband of Deborah E. (Marks) Thompson. Born in Norwood, he was the son of the late Robert and Frances (Campbell) Thompson.

He was a graduate of Brookline High School with the class of 1958. David  excelled in  sports at    Brookline High and was a co-captain of the football and indoor-outdoor high school track teams. He was named to the Boston Globe and  Herald All-Scholastic football teams and the national high school All-American  Football Team. David also received the Stanley M. Livingston Cup Award and the Joseph P. Helpern Memorial Trophy Award. Mr. Thompson was awarded the Bennett Memorial Scholarship            for Academics and Athletics and furthered  his education by attending Tufts University in Boston. While at Tufts, he was elected co-captain of the football team and was named a member of the ECAC All East Football Team for two years.

David was truly talented in this sport and was awarded the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1991 as well as being named the Clarence P. Houston Award as Athlete of the Year. Mr. Thompson was honored as only one of eight National Scholar Athletes by the National Football Foundation at the NCAA banquet in New York City. His award was presented to him by the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy and the Master of Ceremonies was Bob Hope. The National Football Foundation also inducted him into the College Hall of Fame in 1961 and awarded him the Earl R. Blaik Fellowship award for graduate studies.

David was also a standout co-captain of the indoor-outdoor track teams and earned all-New England recognition for his performance in the hurdle event. In 1962, David entered the military as a proud member of the United States Marine Corps. He earned the rank of captain and served his country during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Marine Corps Football Team and served as co-captain.

David joined the Inter-Service All Star Team in 1962 and played in the Service Super Bowl in Seoul, Korea in 1963. He was discharged from active duty honorably in 1966 and subsequently served two more years in the active marine corps reserves while earning his master’s degree in civil engineering at Tufts University in 1968. Mr. Thompson had over 40 years of experience in geotechnical engineering and is recognized as a leader in his field.

He joined Haley & Aldrich, Inc. in Boston in 1967 and had served in senior management positions with the firm for over 20 years. He was CEO from 1990 until 2000 and served as chairman of the board from 1995 until 2005.

During his tenure with the firm, he helped it evolve from a local practice with one office in Boston to a nationally recognized practice with 21 offices throughout the United States and two subsidiaries.

David served as a project manager or principal-in-charge on over 1,000 projects completed by the firm. Following his retirement, David continued to provide consulting and expert services.
He actively participated as an expert witness at litigation, mediation, and arbitration for many years and was also a frequent lecturer in professional practice issues. I recall that he lectured with David Hatem on campus at Tufts over many years.

Mr. Thompson also published numerous technical papers throughout his career. David served proudly on the boards of numerous business associations throughout his career. He was the president of ASFE/The Geoprofessional Business Association, chairman of ASFE’s Council of Fellows and president of the National Council for Geo-Engineering and Constructions.

He also was the chairman of the Foundation for Professional Practice and Chairman of Terra Insurance Company. He was also active in ACEC/Massachusetts and The Engineering Center Education Trust.

Mr. Thompson was the recipient of the John I. Parcel-Leif J. Sverdrup Civil Engineering Management Award in 2001 by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

In addition to his devoted and loving wife Debbie with whom he shared 18 years of marriage, he is survived by two sons, Paul Thompson and his wife Pamela of Ipswich, and Scott Thompson and his wife Nga of Nashua, N.H.; four grandchildren, Michelle Goodrich of Wilmington, Rhiannan Mulkern of Danvers and Steven and Julie Thompson of Nashua, N.H.; one great-granddaughter, Adley Goodrich of Wilmington and one sister, Margaret Anderson of Billerica.

Thompson family would like to thank everyone at Care Dimensions for their kindness and support of David.

A Celebration of David’s Life will be held at the Myopia Hunt Club, 435 Bay Road, South Hamilton on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.

Interment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations in David’s name may be made to Care Dimensions, c/o the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.
Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.

May his memory be a blessing.

4thFriday40 Leadership Series – October 21, 2022

John Doehring, will again be a GBA featured presenter, this time in support of the 4thFriday40 Leadership Series. John will share with us how forward-thinking and future-focused leaders today are aggressively pursuing new ideas, new approaches, and new methods – to accelerate their success into the Fast Future world ahead. Please join us for a high intensity, engaging, and entertaining, look at how these new, innovative approaches to strategic planning, leadership development, and operational execution can lift your firm beyond well the good – and blast off to extraordinary!

4thFriday40 Leadership Series is a monthly webinar for GBA leaders at all levels to promote professional development, optimize influence, and facilitate achievement. In short, we want to help you to be a stronger, smarter, more successful leader.

Attend and earn one-half of a Professional Development Hour (PDH) for each webinar.

Free to all GBA Members.

Register for 4thFriday40 Leadership Series: HERE

New! GBA Case History 112

GBA is happy to announce the publication of Case History 112 – in which a Member Firm provided field support
for a mining client drilling two holes to characterize the subsurface and install instrumentation. After installation, the instrumentation was found to be partially
blocked and not usable. Conflicting proposal, contract, and legislative language – particularly around the term “supervisor” – contributed to unclear roles and responsibilities, and a claim from the client for compensation from the Member Firm. A geoprofessional member of the client’s senior management (with prior experience in consulting) worked with Member Firm senior management to settle the claim with a compromise.

Case History 112, dubbed “Glue…Who knew?” includes valuable lessons-learned including:

• Question Assumptions
• Clarify Roles and Responsibilities
• Words Matter
• Build Strong Relationships

GBA case histories give all GBA-Member Firms an opportunity to conduct lunch-and-learn sessions, where participants– especially less experienced personnel – read the cases, then discuss what went wrong, what could have been done to mediate the problems, how issues that arose may be like issues in ongoing projects, and how to avoid similar issues in the future.

GBA-Member Firms use case histories to learn from others’ misfortunes, so you don’t have to learn through misfortunes of your own!

Case Histories are FREE for all GBA Members

Download Case History 112 – “Glue…Who knew?”: HERE

New! GBA Case History 111

GBA Council of Fellows and Resource Collaboration Committee

GBA is happy to announce the publication of Case History 111 – which
chronicles the member firm, working as an expert consultant found evidence
of incomplete geotechnical and environmental characterization of the subsurface
conditions at a site adjacent to a river. Also disturbing were the stated
findings of a third-party independent consultant.

Case History 111 includes valuable lessons learned including:
• Understand and consider the geologic setting before beginning a project.
• Don’t skimp on lab tests.
• Local regulations may require specific environmental laboratory testing
for a variety of reasons.
• Train staff not to do work that is beyond their experience or expertise.
• Understand the Standard of Care.

GBA case histories give all GBA-Member Firms an opportunity to conduct lunch-and-learn sessions, where participants – especially less experienced personnel – read the cases, then discuss what went wrong, what could have been done to mediate the problems, how issues that arose may be like issues in ongoing projects, and how to avoid similar issues in the future.
GBA-Member Firms use case histories to learn from others’ misfortunes, so you don’t have to learn through misfortunes of your own!

Case Histories are FREE for all GBA Members

Download Case History 111, Incomplete Characterization of Site Conditions Costs Everyone!: HERE

2022 Photo Contest Winners Announced

GBA is committed to promoting the value of geoprofessionals and for our 2022 photo contest we asked Members to share: “How do you depict the day in the life of a Geoprofessional?”

Over 50 photographers submitted this year and through the images they captured, the pride of geoprofessionals was on full display. We think you will agree, these vibrant photos capture our members in field activities, meeting with colleagues and clients, and observing safety in some amazing locations.

All winners’ photos will be featured  during the 2022 Fall Conference in October.

Thank you to all who submitted photos.

Grand Prize Winner

Photographer: Dallin Lindsay, Strata, Inc.
Photo Information: Teton County, Wyoming
Caption: Jackson Hole Airport Runway
Full Depth Reclamation, Beginning of the night shift FDR Observations

 

Overall First Runner Up

Photographer: Laura Mooney, CTL|Thompson, Inc.                               
Photo Information: Breckenridge, CO Reiling Drench in French Gulch

Caption: Up in the high country, a lot of our investigations include narratives of mining history on the site, for both environmental and geologic hazards. During the Ranch at Breck investigation, I created a map of placer mining activity on the site (shafts, audits, prospect pits, and historic structures) using historic hand-drawn BLM surveys from the 1800s. We followed up with a geologic hazard assessment. I also investigated the surrounding properties, which in this case included several larger mining areas such as the Sallie Barber mine, the Iowa Mill, and French Gulch, which the Reiling used to move up and down, dredging the creek for gold. The Reiling is now a historic site, so there are informational plaques around it and the hike to it. It operated in the early 1900s, dredging rock and leaving behind miles of those dredge rock piles along French Creek and the Blue River.

 

 

                                                                                      Overall Second Runner Up

Photographer: Samantha Sorensen, CTL|Thompson, Inc.
Photo Information: Near Denver, CO
Caption : Piers drilled at this location are used to increase foundation stability for private homes. At least 5 feet of bedrock must be dug through, here we are reaching a complete depth averaging 42 feet. The drill creates 18-inch diameter holes that are later filled with rebar and cement

 

 

 

 

 

Category Winners

Safety Category

Photographer: Joseph Meiburger, P.E., LEED AP, ECS                     
Photo Information: Annapolis, MD US Naval Academy Chapel
Caption : The chapel dome at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland undergoes a rehabilitation to the structure and cladding. The rehabilitation required an elaborate scaffolding system to allow construction workers and inspectors safe access to the work area.

 

 

 

 

 

Client Collaboration Category

Photographer: Jared Cohen, CTL|Thompson, Inc.
Photo Information: Vail, CO Vail Mountain Resort
Caption: Due to settlement of the existing lift tower                                                                    foundation, a new footing and tower was being constructed to replace the failing one. CTL|Thompson performed a rebar inspection for the footing and tested the concrete during placement. The photo represents the staging area during concrete placement operations.

We were staged at the top of the ski resort and concrete was flown to the footing by the helicopter with an attached cable and bucket assembly. At the time of the photo, we were performing pre-placement physical property testing of the concrete for spec compliance. Additional concrete testing was also performed during the placement.

 

 

CoMET Category

Photographer: Ethan Talabo, E.I.T., G2 Consulting
Photo Information: Trenton, MI

Caption: Overlooking a 300-foot deep former limestone quarry, turned landfill, as they raise grades using coal ash (coal combustion residuals, or CCR).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental Category

Photographer: Gyan Bade, Hillis Carnes                                                                                             
Photo Information: Lovettsville, VA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geotechnical Category

Photographer: Travis Halverson, P.E. Jorgensen Geotechnical, LLC                                                   
Photo Information: Alta, WY
Caption: Observing helical pier test probe installation for a proposed residence in Alta, WY with the Tetons in the background

Join Us for 4thFriday40 Leadership Series

Leaders must understand how to optimize business performance.  No A&E professional wants to become a commodity – viewed as the same as everyone else. When two or more firms appear to be the same, price becomes the key differentiating factor. A&E services have become commoditized due to heavy competition, fee pressure, and self-sabotaging behaviors motivated by negative, self-limiting beliefs. Fear of losing, fear of upsetting clients, even fear of being “too expensive” are causing your firm to lose out on higher fees, change orders, and upsells.

Business Management Expert, author, and past GBA Conference keynote speaker, June Jewell will be the next presenter for the 4thFriday40 Leadership Series.  This is a monthly webinar for GBA leaders at all levels to promote professional development, optimize influence, and facilitate achievement. In short, we want to help you to be a stronger, smarter, more successful leader.

June will reveal her 5-Step process all business leaders can use to help you break the trap of commoditization, stop competing on price and embrace your true value so you can get better clients and higher fees.

Free to all GBA Members.

Register for 4thFriday40 Leadership Series:  HERE

 

 

Best Practices: Project-Records Retention

GBA Business Practices Committee

This is the updated version of previously published Practice Alert on  Project-Records Retention. Accurate records are critically important for resolving a dispute or defending a lawsuit. Not having the information you need when you need it can be disastrous. But sometimes retaining too much information can be disastrous, too. This revised publication gives recommendations on what project records you should keep and what not to keep. It also gives recommendations on how long and where those records should be kept. It is a guideline for the firms, but this will be also depend on the company policies.

The GBA Best Practices series of documents, available to members only, provides guidance on geoprofessional business-practice issues. As indicated by the name, Best Practices, it is a combination of great ideas and proven actions our members have gathered through collaboration into one document. The document was produced by GBA’s Business Practices Committee and reviewed by GBA’s Legal Affairs Committee for all members to consider when establishing or updating document retention policies.

GBA Best Practices documents are free for all members.

Download: PROJECT-RECORD RETENTION

NEW! Best Practices: Establishing a Mentoring Program in Your Firm

GBA Business Practices Committee

This Best Practices document, highlights proven tactics to help member firms establish a sustainable mentoring program that enhances professional development, elevates employee engagement, and propels your employees to achieve their highest potential through meaningful relationships with others.

This Best Practices document:

• defines mentoring (contrasting it to coaching);
• identifies the many benefits of mentoring, for the firm, for mentors, and for protégés;
• discusses types of mentoring programs;
• provides a program overview and addresses the five basic program phases;
• offers guidance on program leadership and leadership levels and how these vary based on firm size;
• speaks to an array of program issues, introduced as questions;
• advises about keeping the program current; and
• identifies resources you can use to establish a mentoring program in your firm.

The GBA Best Practices series of documents, available to members only, provides guidance on geoprofessional business-practice issues. As indicated by the name, Best Practices, it is a combination of great ideas and proven actions our members have gathered through collaboration into one document. The document was produced by GBA’s Business Practices Committee for all members to consider when implementing or updating their mentorship programs.

GBA Best Practices documents are free for all members.

Download Best Practices: ESTABLISHING A MENTORING PROGRAM IN YOUR FIRM

 

4th Friday 40 Webinar Series Continues with Steve Farber

GBA Multimedia Delivery Committee

Best Selling Author and past GBA Conference keynote speaker, Steve Farber rejoins GBA as the next presenter for the 4th Friday 40 Leadership Series. This is a monthly webinar for GBA leaders at all levels to promote professional development, optimize influence, and facilitate achievement. In short, we want to help you to be a stronger, smarter, more successful leader.

Attend and earn one-half of a Professional Development Hour (PDH) for each webinar.

Free to all GBA Members.

Put the 4th Friday Leadership on your calendar and invite your friends and colleagues to join you. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

More Information: HERE