GBA AWARDS RECIPIENTS

GBA AWARDS RECIPIENTS

GBA is a volunteer organization. Almost all the resources we produce for our members, our contributions to the geoprofessional community, and our conferences are mostly driven by volunteer leaders.

Each Spring, during our conference we recognize those that have contributed to GBA in a significant way. At our 2022 Spring Conference, awards were given to firms and individuals who exhibited extraordinary support and meritorious performance during our 2021-2022 fiscal year. Those recognized during the Annual Awards Ceremony were:

CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION

Each year we ask our Committees and Councils to provide us with the names of people that have contributed to our Association during the past year. Based on this list, we have more people contributing to GBA at a level higher than ever before.

Recipients of Certificates of Appreciation for 2021-2022

Victor Barchers, P.E.
Dave Cook, L.G., CPG                                                                         
Blake Cotton, P.E., LEED AP
Pat Donovan, P.E.
Shawnna Erter, P.E., D.GE, F. ASCE
David Faulkner, P.E.
Kurt Fraese, L.G. F.GBA
Jeff Gebhard, P.E.
Daniel Gradishar, P.E.
Charlie Head, P.E., P.G., F.GBA
June Jewell, CPA
Jonathan Knudsen, P.E.
Michael Marasa, P.E.
Jay Martin, P.E., F.GBA
Mike McMeekin, P.E., ENV-SP
Bruce Miller, P.G.
Brad Nielsen, P.E.
Margaret Panatera, P.E.
Laura Register, P.E., LEED AP, F.GBA
Prashanth Vaddu, P.E.
Woody Vogt, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE, F.ACI, F.ASTM, F.GBA
Travis Wambeke, P.E., P.G.
Steve Wendland, P.E., P.G., D.GE

AWARDS OF APPRECIATION
Special awards of appreciation were given to three volunteers who contributed to GBA in extraordinary and unique ways during the year.

Those award winners were:

Robert C.Rabeler, P.E. (SME)

Bob Rabeler realized during the pandemic that something new and radical needed to be done to conduct Peer Reviews while we were working remotely and together with Terra Insurance Company found a way to deliver Peer Reviews remotely. He also volunteered to update two important documents for the Peer Review Process, the Peer Reviewer’s Guide and the Peer Review User’s Guide.

Grace Blackburn (Blackburn Consulting)

Gary DeJidas, P.E. (GAI Consultants)

Not long ago, our Peer Review Committee saw an opportunity to create a new program where people with similar roles in member companies could come together in small groups to help each other, share best practices, and solve common problems. The same things we do throughout our association but in small groups for CEO’s, COO’s, CFO’s, and HR professionals. Imagine having a small group of like-minded people from different companies coming together regularly, with the help of a facilitator, to talk through common issues.

These two leaders saw how important one of our newest initiatives is and volunteered to facilitate Peer Groups. Both put time and energy into this effort and as a result, we have well-functioning Peer Groups and lots of happy members.

 

COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP                                                                                                                                 

Daniel K. Schaefer, P.E. (Froehling & Robertson, Inc.)

Construction Materials and Testing Business Committee Chair 2017-2022

 

Steven K. Noble, P.E., PTOE (DOWL)

Business Practices Committee Chair 2020-2022

 

MEMBER FIRM ENGAGEMENT AWARDS

For several years, GBA has been tracking the engagement of member-firms through five measurements that we found to be most important indicators of the value members were receiving from membership.

Ultimately, engagement also indicates the value of membership to your employees which we feel is paramount to delivering our mission.

For the past four years, we presented awards to those firms who have the highest measured engagement in GBA during our fiscal year. We are proud to be able to recognize winners again this year. There are four award winners, one from each category based on firm size for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.

They are:

• Earth Engineering Consultants
• BSK Associates
• SME
• DOWL

Congratulations to all our FY 2021-2022 Engagement Award Winners

PROJECT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Leighton Consulting, Inc. – Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project. In 2020, the GBA Board of Directors identified an opportunity to celebrate greatness of our members as they use GBA’s best practices to manage risk and optimize performance on notable projects. This is the second year we presented the Project Award of Excellence to one of our member firms.

The second winner of GBA’s Project Award of Excellence is Leighton Consulting, Inc. Congratulations to Djan Chandra and the Leighton Consulting, Inc. team for their work on the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement project.

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

Saiid Behboodi, P.E., G.E. (PBS Engineering + Environment)

Each year, our current President selects one person to be recognized for the contributions they made to our Association during the year of his/her presidency.

President, Tom Blackburn presented our 2021-2022 President’s Award to Saiid Behboodi in recognition of his many years of support and numerous contributions to GBA’s purpose and strategy through his enthusiastic ambassadorship, leadership and influence.

PRESIDENT’S GAVEL AWARD

Tom Blackburn, P.E., G.E., F.ASCE, F.ACEC (Blackburn Consulting)

During the awards ceremony, the Association recognized Mr. Blackburn for his years of service to the Board and for his leadership during his Presidency. Under Tom’s Presidency, GBA completed the 2024 Strategic Plan, increased communication with member firms, produced valuable  resources to benefit members, and increased engagement with alliance organizations in support of the Elevate Geoprofessional Value campaign.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, all member firms, and Staff, we congratulate all the Award winners for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.