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Emerging Contaminants

This emerging Contaminants Spotlight covers the topic of vapor intrusion.  Although not an

“emerging contaminant” per se, vapor intrusion,  or VI, is a continuously evolving field as evidenced by changing standards for contaminants of concern, advances in sampling and analytical technologies, and better understanding of the variability of VI and its effects on indoor air concentrations with time.

Examples of each are discussed below.

 

 

What is Vapor Intrusion?

  Volatile contaminants in groundwater or soil form vapors that migrate upward through the soil column and enter an overlying structure through the foundation via joints, cracks, utility penetrations, etc.  Once inside, the vapor can potentially reach concentration levels that become an inhalation hazard for human occupants. Common VI contaminants of concern include chlorinated solvents (e.g., tetrachloroethene [PCE] and trichloroethene [TCE]) and petroleum hydrocarbons (e.g.,benzene).  While many VI issues are the result of environmental contamination, radon gas is an      example of a naturally occurring VI hazard.

Changing Standards

In 2011, the USEPA released a toxicity profile for TCE that lowered the short-term inhalation reference concentration to 2 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³).  This change caused many states to re-evaluate contaminated sites for TCE VI risk. Some states have adopted 2 µg/m³ as an indoor air remediation target for TCE and have developed imminent hazard levels only slightly higher.  For example, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) established a residential imminent hazard TCE concentration of 6 µg/m³, above which immediate response actions must be taken to notify sensitive populations, notify MA DEP, and initiate response actions to eliminate the imminent hazard.  Regulatory thresholds vary from state to state, and it is important to understand the regulatory thresholds in the states where you’re working.

 Data Collection Challenges

Collecting representative indoor air quality data to accurately model or predict risk to human health can be challenging.  A complicating factor in conducting VI assessments is the sometimes competing need to collect indoor air samples that are representative of both:  1) worst case VI conditions, and 2) potential long-term exposure.

Indoor air concentrations change on a continuous basis due to many variables, including environmental condition (e.g. temperature, barometric pressure, wind, and precipitation), and building conditions (e.g., heating and cooling system operations, door and window positions). Another complicating factor of VI assessments is understanding whether indoor air contamination is a  result background sources such as stored chemicals in  the building, or even building materials.  Thus, it is difficult to collect a single sample and draw conclusions about VI risk.

 

The USEPA is conducting research to better understand what parameters might best serve to guide indoor air sampling programs for VI assessment.  Field screening equipment, such as portable gas  chromatographs, can help with collecting peak and  average values over time, as wells as evaluating potential background vapor concerns in discrete areas of the building without the added costs of a mobile laboratory.

 

 

Where are the Opportunities to provide Consulting Services?

Environmental business opportunities related to VI continue to grow as regulatory attention grows.  The assessment of vapor intrusion can be complex and variable.  Regulations frequently change, and current standards and guidelines should be reviewed in the states where work is being conducted.  Collecting a representative indoor air sample to assess VI can be a challenge given the variability of VI under different conditions. Advances in field instrumentation offer the opportunity to gain an improved understanding of the variability and potential sources of contamination in indoor air on a building-specific basis.

This article generously provided by GBA’s Environmental Business Council to benefit all geoprofessionals providing environmental consulting services.  It was prepared by: Jennifer Sanborn, P.E.; Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.

(all images courtesy of Internet)

Additional Resources

USEPA Vapor Intrusion Webpage:  https://www.epa.gov/vaporintrusion

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, “US EPA Trichloroethylene Toxicity Values and Office of Research and Standards Recommendations Regarding Remediation Targets and Timeframes to Address Potential Developmental Risks”, August 15, 2014.  https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/pw/tcevalsm.pdf

 

 

 

GBA Announces the Formation of the Next Emerging Leaders Class

GBA is excited to announce the  launching of the 4^th Emerging Leaders Class in 2019. The Class will include 20 to 30 representatives of GBA member-firms that have high
potential as consultants and business leaders.  Our goal is to provide those future leaders with tools to accelerate their growth and unleash their potential through education, networking, and collaboration.  While networking with other similar emerging leaders, each emerging leader will expand their knowledge through GBA’s unique business-education resources associated with risk management and business performance optimization.

GBA’s previous Emerging Leaders classes have been highly regarded for the leadership growth of the participants and for their contributions to their firms and to our profession.  This is an exceptional opportunity to unleash the potential of an Emerging Leader in your firm.

Benefits to Participants

• • Participate in GBA’s bi-annual conferences (spring and fall each year), and the Winter Leadership Summit (January each year).  These events bring together 150+ senior leaders of GBA member firms to learn about business risks, share best practices, and improve business performance.
  • Build camaraderie with fellow class participants and GBA member firm representatives through outstanding networking opportunities.
  • Complete specific tasks identified by the Emerging Leaders Class (could lead to creation of a white paper or presentation at an upcoming GBA conference).
  • Become engaged with and contribute to existing GBA Committees or Councils, which may lead to future committee leadership responsibilities.

Benefits to GBA Member Firms

• Expose your Emerging Leaders to the wide array of GBA benefits and resources.
  • Equip your Emerging Leaders with valuable insights and contacts from across the geoprofessional community.
  • Optimize your Emerging Leaders performance and skillsets through interaction and training with other top-notch professionals.
  • Expand your companies’ influence in GBA and pave the way for retiring personnel to pass the GBA torch to the next round of GBA leaders.

  Commitment and Costs
  Participants are expected to attend three GBA events each year, consisting of a Spring and Fall conference and the Winter Leadership Summit.  These events are 2 to 3 days in length and incur costs associated with conference registrations, hotel, airfare, etc.  In addition, periodic conference calls may also be required throughout the year.

  There are no fees associated with involvement in the Emerging Leaders Class.

  Applications for GBA’s 4^th Emerging Leaders Class will be accepted starting on April 4, 2019 and the first meeting of the group will take place October 3, 2019, immediately prior to our Fall Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.  For more information, contact Joel Carson.

   

   

Hoffmann, Johnston, Blackburn Lead GBA’s 2019-20 Board of Directors Slate

GBA’s Nominating Committee has announced its slate of officers and directors for the May 1, 2019-April 30, 2020 fiscal year. GBA President-Elect Arthur G. “Art” Hoffmann, P.E., D.GE (Gannett Fleming, Inc.) will become President and Chair of the GBA Board of Directors.

Those nominated for the other two officer positions are, for President-Elect and Board Chair-Elect, Kenneth R. “Ken” Johnston (GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.) and, Thomas W. “Tom” Blackburn, P.E., G.E., F. ASCE (Blackburn Consulting) for Secretary-Treasurer.

 Those nominated to serve as Directors-at-Large are: Saiid Behboodi, P.E., P.G. (PBS Engineering and Environmental);  Chuck A. Gregory, P.E. (Terracon); Martin LaRoche, P.Eng., M.Sc.(SNC Lavalin); Christopher Matthew “Matt” Moler, P.E. (S&ME, Inc.); Matthew R. “Matt” Poirier, P.E. (Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.) and Leo Titus, Jr., P.E.(ECS, Ltd.).

GBA’s Current Board of Directors

 

 

NEW CASE HISTORY Missed Historic Pipeline, Third Party Reliance, and New Employee Cost Member-Firm $800,000.

The GBA-Member Firm was retained by Client 1 to conduct a Phase I ESA on a 1000-acre tract of undeveloped land prior to the property sale.  To save money, the client did not want the title information to be purchased from a third-party and instead told the Member Firm that they would provide title information for review.

As it turned out, the client never provided the promised chain-of-title information that  would have contained important historical information about pipeline easements.

Lessons Learned:  This case history teaches six important lessons:

• It’s risky to work for both the seller and buyer of real estate.
• Inappropriate verbal communications can increase risk of liability.
• When the client agrees to provide important project information, make sure you receive it. And if you don’t, report it.
• Understand what scope is minimally acceptable to meet the project objectives.
• Check if your firm has done a previous study on or in the vicinity of a new project site.
• Make appropriate staff assignments

Comments of the GBA Member

The experience with this project caused the firm to rethink our approach for environmental assessment and remediation project opportunities.  Out of bad came good as we implemented important changes in the following areas:

• Documentation: When critical project information is not provided by the client, we document in writing our attempts to obtain the information, the fact that the information was not received and the related risk implications.
• Third Party Reliance and Follow-on Work Requests: We developed a system to address requests for reliance and related follow-on work from third parties. The system includes a process for evaluating the quality and nature of our prior work at the subject site.  The process also includes an assessment of the risk in granting reliance and accepting work from third parties as well as ways to mitigate risk if such reliance and additional work are accepted.
• New Hires: More emphasis has been placed on assuring that new hires are properly trained and oriented to the firm’s procedures, policies, and expectations. We make sure they have appropriate supervision in their early assignments and are not placed alone on projects with a client interface early in their tenure.

GBA has a tradition of collaborating on issues that impact the geoprofessions through GBA Case Histories. GBA Case              Histories provide unprecedented real-world learning examples related to project and business management.  Learn where others went wrong, how they handled their problems, and how you can learn from their experiences to avoid the same problems in the future.

GBA Case Histories are FREE to all members.

 

United States Society on Dams (USSD) Endorses GBA’s PROPOSED BEST PRACTICES FOR THE ENGINEER OF RECORD FOR TAILINGS DAMS

 

In February 2019, the United States Society on Dams (USSD) announced their endorsement of GBA’s recently published Proposed Best practices for the Engineer of Record (EOR) for Tailings Dams.

Their endorsement stated, “USSD views this Proposed Best Practices for the Engineer of Record for Tailings Dams guidance document prepared by the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) as a comprehensive guidance document on the subject of the Engineer of Record for tailings storage facilities for the mining industry as a whole. The opportunity for USSD to collaborate with the GBA to review and provide input to the guidance document was appreciated. USSD endorses this document as a critical reference document for the industry.”

 

Read More:  https://www.ussdams.org/about/position-statements/

GBA Releases Five More Case Histories

GBA Releases Five More Case Histories:  51-55

GBA Publications Committee

Learn from others.  Don’t repeat  the mistakes of the past!  GBA Case Histories are being used by our members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional development and mentoring.That is why GBA case histories are so valuable, and why GBA is updating them all, while adding new ones, too. We are halfway there as five more case histories have been re-issued.

CASE HISTORY NO. 51 (download)

A complicated 70-acre riverside project with “Bay mud”, became more challenging when the excavation contractor and project civil engineer ignored the advice of the Member Firm and the client sued the Member Firm for negligence that caused $2.5 million in damages.

     Although the Member Firm’s CEO got personally involved and       “saved the day,” serious problems arose.    The firm had to pay              $350,000 to extricate itself, because a judge or jury  probably               would not have understood the technical intricacies  that                       proved the member was blameless.

 

CASE HISTORY NO. 52 (download)

The Member Firm was accused of an error it did not make on a very small project, but its survey crew inadvertently said the firm was at fault. The survey crew chief’s remark, overheard by others, resulted in the firm having to pay a $125,000 award.

CASE HISTORY NO. 53 (download)

A GBA member performing bridge design ran afoul of changed conditions in a small area, causing failure of post-tensioning anchors. Nonbinding ADR – resolution by experts – was used to resolve the original dispute quickly and satisfactorily

CASE HISTORY NO. 54 (download)

A Member Firm had to spend almost two million uninsured dollars to extricate itself from a football stadium rebuilding project. Problems arose when its original recommendations were not followed. The firm was unaware of certain changes that were made, but casual language in a report made that position difficult to defend.

CASE HISTORY NO. 55 (download)

The GBA member, an environmental consultant, performed quickly, at the client’s request, to facilitate a sale. As predicted, more contamination was discovered, but the client claimed the consultant had failed to perform the work it said it would, in a timely fashion. The consultant forfeited its $40,000 fee in exchange for a settlement.

GBA Case Histories are FREE to all Members.  Access all GBA’s Case Histories HERE

Winter Leadership Summit – Success!

Winter Leadership Summit – SUCCESS!

GBA held its annual Winter Leadership Summit on January 25-27, 2019 and it was a big success.  Fifty-five leaders from 35 Member Firms convened in Denver to collaborate on projects to benefit our members and identify ways Committees can improve and better serve our Association.  We were joined by leaders from Engineers Without Borders who led a workshop titled, Leading Volunteer Groups to Greatness.  At the conclusion of the meeting, the GBA leaders had the opportunity to network during a Tailgate Party.

 

 

Please visit GBA’s Facebook Page for photos of the weekend.  Winter Leadership Summit Photos

Two Legal Documents Updated

The Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) has published new editions of two important legal references, both prepared for design professionals without use of “legalese”; both available free of charge. Limitation-of-Liability Case Index and Economic-Loss-Doctrine Case Index were prepared for GBA’s Legal Affairs Committee by Seattle (WA) law firm Skellenger Bender, P.S.

GBA introduced the limitation-of-liability (LOL) concept to the design and environmental professions in 1969. By applying the concept, now upheld in most states, a client agrees to limit a design professional’s liability to a given amount, most commonly $50,000 or the fee, whichever is higher. The Index describes each case in terms of its background and the points or holdings involved, and – to support additional research – identifies the case by name, jurisdiction, and citation. The cases span the period 1956 to January 2019.

The economic loss doctrine (ELD), another important protection for design professionals, bars use of tort claims (e.g., professional-negligence and negligent-misrepresentation claims) to recover purely economic losses, such as those stemming from property damage or construction delays. In states that uphold the ELD in full, claimants against design professionals may recover purely economic damages only via breach-of-contract suits, limiting claimants to design professionals’ clients. In other states, third parties, like constructors, can sue design professionals directly. Economic-Loss-Doctrine Case Index provides a state-by-state status report on the economic-loss doctrine, describing the cases involved and providing the additional information required for more research.

Download Limitation-of-Liability Case Index

Download Economic-Loss-Doctrine Case Index

 

Emerging Contaminant Spotlight – 1,4 Dioxane 

Emerging Contaminant Spotlight – 1,4 Dioxane 

The emerging contaminant 1,4 dioxane commonly referred to as “1,4 d” is an industrial compound that was first synthesized in the 1950’s. It is estimated  that 90% of 1,4 dioxane use was as a stabilizer in chlorinated solvents until this usage was eliminated sometime in the mid-to-late 1990’s. In 1990, approximately 10.5 to 18 million (M) pounds of 1,4 dioxane was produced in the United States. According to USEPA Toxic Release Inventory for 1996, approximately 1M pounds of 1,4 dioxane was released into the environment.

What is the Contaminant Source?

1,4 dioxane is also used in textile manufacturing, paint strippers, the development of dyes, grease, varnishes and waxes.  It can also be found as an impurity in aircraft de-icing fluids and some personal care products such as shampoo,makeup, deodorants and trace amounts can be produced in the production of pharmaceuticals. Recently, 1,4 dioxanehas been discovered in food packaging adhesives, food supplements and food crops sprayed with pesticides containing 1,4 dioxane. It is commonly found at polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic manufacturing facilities.

Although, 1,4 dioxane has been around for over 65 years, its emerging status derives from awareness that this compound has been discovered to be more pervasive and widespread than previously thought. Commonly associated with chlorinated solvent (trichloroethene (TCE) and trichloroethane (TCA)) release sites from its predominant past usage, 1,4 dioxane has been discovered in Public Water Supply Systems (PWSS), wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent streams and closed landfills. USEPA has determined that 1,4 dioxane is likely to be carcinogenic with inhalation and ingestion as the most likely routes of exposure.

Where is it Located?

USEPA has indicated that there are a substantial number of chlorinated solvent release sites that have not been tested for 1,4 dioxane according to research as it is not part of the typical volatile organic compound (VOC) suite of analytes. Further complicating 1,4 dioxane site characterization is the variation in laboratory analysis using different testing methods. These methods all focus on low level detection and have presented order of magnitude differences in analytical results depending on the methods used.

As can be seen from the graphics below, according to USEPA, through the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 3 (UCMR 3) sampling completed 2013-2015, 341 out of 4915 (6.9%) PWSS had 1,4 dioxane concentrations exceeding the reference concentration of 0.35 parts per billion (currently the USEPA health advisory concentration). UCMR 4, scheduled for testing approximately 6,000 public water supply system (PWSS) affected by both surface and groundwater in 2018-2020, will include 1,4 dioxane. Interesting to note that although 21% of PWSS had 1,4 dioxane detection, the detection rate has declined over time.

1,4 dioxane is readily miscible in water (hydrophilic) and does not generally sorb to soil. Resultant release to ground or surface water, or comingled plumes containing 1,4 dioxane can be more extensive than might be expected due to higher contaminant velocity than typical solvent plumes. It is relatively resistant to biodegradation; however, recent research has shown that under certain conditions biodegradation can occur.

What is the MCL for 1,4 Dioxane

Adding to the inconsistency surrounding 1,4 dioxane

is the regulatory framework. USEPA has notestablished a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)for 1,4 dioxane. The graphic presented below showscurrent state health advisory levels. USEPA has established a 0.35 ug/L for a 10-6 cancer risk in drinking water. A reportable quantity of 100 pounds has been established by EPA under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Where are the Opportunities to provide Consulting Services?

Environmental opportunities related to 1,4 dioxane include sampling previously non-sampled chlorinated release sites, site characterization, fate and transport modeling and remediation. The development of a robust Conceptual Site Model will be important to effective remedial strategy development. Bioremediation, phytoremediation, chemical oxidation and electrical resistive heating have all been effectively demonstrated under certain geologic, hydrogeologic and geochemical conditions. Pump and treat with ex-situ treatment using fixed film, biological moving bed treatment has also been successful.

This article generously provided by GBA’s Environmental Business Council to benefit all geoprofessionals providing environmental consulting services.
(all images courtesy of Internet)

My Wish List for 2019

While 2018 was wildly successful for our members from many perspectives, it is natural as we flip the calendar to January to have high hopes for a new year. As I started to think about GBA and our members in the next twelve months, I started jotting down some thoughts about things I hope will take place in the new year.

This is my Wish List for 2019.

1. I wish everyone would say safety is the top priority and act like it. It is the most important thing a company can do for its employees and their families.
2. I wish more geoprofessionals realized they are heroes because they make the world a safer and healthier place for all the citizens of the world.
3. I wish geoprofessional consultants would recognize their value is more than they normally charge their clients.
4. I wish our members would use more of GBA’s reference material for personal and professional development. It is FREE and it will help to improve your business practices, manage your risk, and optimize your business performance.
5. I wish more would participate in our Committees because collaboration is fun, rewarding, and valuable to our profession.
6. I wish each staff member would seek mentorship from seasoned veterans. The best way to unleash your potential is to learn is from other people.
7. I wish geoprofessionals would more regularly share their time and talent through community service and philanthropy.
8. I wish we all will take time this year to reflect on GBA’s contributions in the past 50-years, celebrate our successes, and look to the future as we build on that foundation.
In short, I hope we can build on all the significant accomplishments from last year and make 2019 the best year ever. On behalf of the entire GBA Staff, we look forward to serving you.

 

 

 

Joel G. Carson

Executive Director

Geoprofessional Business Association

GBA Ambassador Initiative

                                                     GBA Ambassador Initiative

Improving Engagement through Principal Contacts

GBA Staff has identified an opportunity to more closely connect with the primary contact person from each Member-Firm to grow our database, promote engagement, and improve the value of GBA. We are calling them GBA’s  Ambassador to their firm.

The following is an overview of the step-by-step process used by GBA staff to execute on this opportunity.

Step 1: Your Responsibility (Take Charge or Pass It On)
Intent – Make sure we have the right primary contact in our database and make them aware of their responsibilities.

Step 2: Your Employees Are Depending on You (Update our Database)
Intent: Populate and update our database with as many employees of member-firms as possible.

Step 3: Make It Easy – Show Them the Way (Provide a Step-by-Step Path)
Intent – Show ambassadors how to access all of GBA’s benefits so they can pass it on to all their employees.

Step 4: Promote NEWSlog (Easy Way to Cash In)
Intent – Promote readership of GBA NEWSlog by our members.

Step 5: Celebrate Success! (Share success stories – success breeds success)
Intent – Show Ambassadors how to promote GBA membership and highlight the success of engagement in their firms. Also promote the GBA Annual Awards Program

Step 6: Keep It Going!! (Provide Ambassadors with tools to help their businesses)
Intent – Promote new publications, upcoming events, and member benefits as they become available.

With the support of an ambassador from each member firm, we hope to increase member engagement and increase the overall value of membership in GBA. We are committed to help all our members to be smarter, stronger, and more successful.

 

2018 Fall Conference Videos Now Available On-Demand!

Those that attended GBA’s 2018 Fall Conference in Nashville agreed that the presentations were educational and inspiring.  Now you can watch, listen to, and learn from these speakers, too, on your own schedule, and without leaving your office.

As added value to all members, GBA records all presentations  at our twice annual conferences and makes them available to all through our on-demand platform.

These videos make great lunch-and-learns for professional development of small groups or your entire staff.

The presentations include:

Principles for Building a High-Performance Culture – Brent Gleeson (Taking Point)

When Good Intentions Go Terribly Wrong: The Michaels Case – Terry Scanlan, Esq. (Skelllenger Bender)

Industry Acceptance of New Technology for Soil Density Testing – Robyn Myers (Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.)

How the Geoprofessional Avoided a Lawsuit and Saved the Owner $6 Million! – Michael Byrne, Esq. (Byrne & O’Neill, LLP)

Leveraging Field and Sensor Data to Drive Your Company’s Newest Revenue System – Todd Williams (Dillion Kane) and Bob Tuttle (Agile Frameworks)

Working for the Buyer and the Seller: Beware of Being “In the Middle” – Mike Covert, P.E. (Terracon Consultants)

Holding the Hand of General Contractors for Fun and Profit – Steve Wendland, P.E. (Kleinfelder)

Real Benefits of Using Technology for Safety Management: A Practical Discussion – Richard Ecord, Jr., CIH, CSP (GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.)

StoryBrand and Five Things Your Website Should Include – Donald Miller (StoryBrand)

Retaining Wall – Case Study (Coming Soon!) – Dan Harpstead, P.E., F. GBA (Kleinfelder, Inc.)

Uncomfortable Truths:  Somebody Needs to Tell Folks 
What They Don’t Want to Hear and It Might as Well Be Me – Ed Wilson, P.E., G. GBA (L. Edward Wilson and Associates, Inc.)

Bringing the Geoprofession to Life – Barry Thacker, P.E. (Schnabel Engineering)

Watch Videos and download presentation handouts are available now:  Watch Videos

President Vogt’s Six-Month Update Presentation

President Vogt’s Six-Month Update Presentation Presented during GBA’s 2018 Fall Conference November 3, 2018 ~ Nashville, TN

The last time I had the chance to address  our members was shortly after the gavel had been passed and I was new in my role as President.  I am happy to be here today to share my six-month update.

 Introduction

When we were in Chicago, I had the opportunity to roll out GBA’s 2020 Strategic Plan which was formulated under the leadership of our most recent Past President, Charlie Head.  I shared with you our plan which included three objectives:

1. 1. 1. Strengthen GBA’s Brand
      2. Turbocharge the Member Experience
      3. Celebrate Successes

   Each of those objectives will require several years of effort to complete which is expected for a strategic plan.  They are the destinations which we are driving on our path to 2020.

   I am happy to report however, since April we have made progress using those objectives as our crosshairs to our targeted future.

   During our Summer Board meeting we focused time and energy to make sure we have the platforms to achieve all three objectives and 6-months into our fiscal year we have many successes and several initiatives are underway under each of our strategic objectives.

                             STRENGTHEN GBA’S BRAND 
   Sharpen our focus to deliver on the Value Proposition     

   Our first objective is to “Strengthen GBA’s Brand”.  While the GBA brand has always been built on a strong foundation of collaboration, the Board is looking for ways to strengthen our Brand.  We are actively recruiting new members to GBA and helping each new member-firm engage immediately after they join.  We are meeting with existing members to improve engagement and on-boarding new members, so they can access our material and become involved in committees and councils as quickly as possible.

   One exciting new development that will significantly strengthen our brand was discussed earlier by Rich Johnson when he introduced our Peer to Peer Groups.  These groups are where member firms can come together and help each other manage risk and optimize business performance in a uniquely GBA way.  I am so excited about this initiative.  Thank you, Rich and the Peer Review Committee.

    TURBOCHARGE THE MEMBER EXPERIENCE     
   Develop a unique “member experience” to further drive value and connection
   
   

   The second objective is to Turbocharge the Member Experience.  We are working on initiatives to improve warmth and friendliness, enhance the engagement of our Committees and Councils, and expand opportunities to engage more employees from each member firm, especially those who are under-represented.

   I am happy to announce we are again launching a New Leaders group in 2019.  This effort has been so valuable in the past to bring fresh ideas, and new energy to our Association.  It has also been a valuable platform for new leaders to grow through their involvement in GBA.  This will be the 4^th New Leaders Class for GBA and we are looking forward to another successful group.

   
    CELEBRATE SUCCESSES
   Highlight the accomplishments of members that promote our values, purpose and strategy while elevating our profession and contribution to our overall success.

   I am also happy to report on the progress we are making on our third initiative “Celebrate Successes”.

   We have a lot of successes to celebrate.  One of the biggest opportunities to celebrate is our long and rich history.  As we heard from Matt Poirier, in about six-months we will gather on Maui to kick off a one-year celebration of our 50^th Anniversary.  Talk about a celebration!  Thanks to Matt and the 50^th Anniversary Task Force for putting together 12-months’ worth of celebration!

   Also, as Laura Reinbold and Jay Martin shared with you yesterday, GBA is launching an annual awards program to recognize those volunteers that give so much back to the Association.  We will continue to celebrate all the volunteer champions in our Recognition and Awards Banquet each Spring and will add these annual awards to that program.  Thanks for putting that program together Laura and Jay.

   More Areas of Success

   In summary, we made significant progress on our three strategic objectives in the past six-months.

   It is also important to know we are making progress in other areas. GBA continues to produce new and updated valuable reference material at a record pace and your downloads of those documents has never been higher.  In the past two years we are averaging almost 20 downloads of GBA reference material each business day.  That is over 5,000 downloads each year.  Amazing numbers!  Thanks to Chuck Gregory, Chair of the newly formed Publications Committee and to the members of the Document Review Board, Kurt Fraese and Jim Withiam for keeping pace with all the publications.

   Thanks also to our Committees, Councils and Task Forces.  They are the engine that drives all these publications and programs and I have never seen the activity level of these groups so high.  Thanks to all the leaders of those groups and all the volunteers that support them.

   As with your businesses, the true test of health is often financial.  As you heard from Art Hoffman’s Treasurer’s Report, we are fiscally responsible and financially healthy with more money in our reserve accounts than we have had in many years.

    Looking Forward

   With six months gone, I am excited about the next six months.  We will continue working on the three strategic objectives, continue looking for ways to provide more value to all our members, and  to look for more members to join our Association.

    Closing

   In closing, I want to thank you for coming to Nashville for our Fall Conference.  I want to thank you also for all the support you provide to GBA in so many ways.  Lastly, I want to thank the Board and the GBA Staff for all the support they have provided me in the first half of my Presidency.  I look forward to seeing you all on the beautiful island of Maui in April.

   Thank you.

    

    

    

Call for Abstracts – 2019 Spring Conference – Maui, Hawaii

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call for Abstracts – 2019 Spring Conference – Maui, Hawaii

We are looking for dynamic, engaging speakers with something valuable to teach industry leaders involved in the Geoprofessional Business Association. We would love to receive an abstract submission from you for our upcoming conference in Maui, Hawaii, where GBA will kick-off our 50th Anniversary Celebration!

Deadline: December 1, 2018

 

Read More: PRESENT AT A CONFERENCE

 

Nashville Mayor Proclaims Geoprofessional Week

 

Nashville Mayor Proclaims Geoprofessional Week

As we prepare to gather for our 2018 Fall Conference in Nashville this week, Mayor David Briley, graciously provided an official proclamation of Geoprofessionals’ Week by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.

His proclamation included:

 

WHEREAS,  The Geoprofessional Business Association reminds us that the quality of our environment is a fundamental concern of our community,

 WHEREAS, The Geoprofessional Business Association highlights that efficient, durable, and cost-effective infrastructure is as essential to our economy as it is to the welfare of our citizens’ everyday lives,

 WHEREAS, The Geoprofessional Business Association underlines that our environment, our infrastructure, and the integrity of our construction are of paramount importance to the thousands of individuals of many technical disciplines who are proud to be known as geoprofessionals,

 WHEREAS, The Geoprofessional Business Association raises awareness that the health, safety, and welfare of our community depend upon geoprofessional services and the geoprofessionals who provide them,

 WHEREAS, The Geoprofessional Business Association recognizes that the nation’s geoprofessional consultancies participate actively in The Geoprofessional Business Association in order to enhance their ability to provide their services more effectively,

 Let’s celebrate our many contributions to the health, safety, and welfare to the world as we gather to learn, network, and enhance professionalism of geoprofessional businesses world-wide this week as we prepare to gather in Nashville, Tennessee.

View Proclamation of Geoprofessionals’ Week Here