GBA Annual Report Showcases a Year of Momentum for the Geoprofessions
The Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) has released its 2025-2026 Annual Report, highlighting a year of expanded member engagement, new professional development opportunities, practical business resources, and forward-looking initiatives designed to help geoprofessional firms lead through change.
This year’s report reflects GBA’s continued focus on helping member firms reduce risk, strengthen business performance, develop leaders, and prepare for a rapidly changing professional landscape. During FY2025-2026, GBA:
• Convened the Crystal Ball Workshop on AI and automation
• Invested in new technology including ChatGBA
• Became an International Code Council Preferred Provider
• Launched Cohort 6 of the Emerging Leaders Program
• Established the Geoprofessional Women’s Group, and
• Strengthened global collaboration through a formal partnership with the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists in the United Kingdom.
The report also documents significant progress in leadership development through the Geoprofessional Career Ascent Program (GCAP). Nearly 100 early professionals graduated from the Embark Class, and GBA introduced the Ascend Class for new managers, helping member firms build stronger talent pipelines at multiple career stages.
In remarks to a recent Embark graduating class, GBA President Dan Schaefer, P.E., emphasized the importance of professional engagement beyond day-to-day project work. “Join associations, attend conferences, volunteer for committees, and build relationships with peers across our industry, and GBA is one place you can do that,” he said. “The earlier you get involved, the more impact it’ll have on your career and our profession.”
GBA also continued to expand its library of technical, business, and risk-management resources. The Association released six new and updated publications, including
• Best Practices: Value-Driven Proposals
• General Guidelines for Geotechnical Specifications
• Business Brief: Using AI & Automation to Solve Geoprofessional Workforce Challenges
• Best Practices: Establishing a Mentoring Program in Your Firm
• Business Brief: Insurance Coverage for AI-Related Risks, and
• Best Practices: Crane Pad and Working Platform Design and Inspection.
Members downloaded GBA reference documents approximately 4,100 times during the year.
GBA’s multimedia reach also grew. The Association published 55 podcast episodes across series including Case Histories, GeoHeroes, 12 Days of GBA, The 1st Word, and A Look into the Crystal Ball, generating approximately 7,800 listens, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. GBA also published 32 videos, which received approximately 1,330 views, a 10 percent increase.
Member participation remained strong across GBA events and committees. The 2025 Fall Leadership Summit drew 96 registrants from 50 member firms, while the 2026 Annual Conference welcomed 268 registrants from 96 member firms, with 22 conference sponsors.
2026 FALL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2027 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
GBA’s committees included 86 active members, held 123 meetings, represented 98 companies, welcomed 54 new committee members, launched a Safety Committee, onboarded and trained five new peer reviewers, and supported the Embark Class by providing facilitators and subject matter experts.
The 2025-2026 Annual Report also shows how GBA’s accomplishments align with the Association’s 2027+ Strategic Plan, which focuses on member success, impact, and vibrancy through relevant professional development, technology-driven strategies, expanded access to resources, and greater promotion of the value geoprofessionals bring to society.
Looking ahead to FY2026-2027, GBA plans to graduate Emerging Leaders Cohort 6, plan the 2027 Crystal Ball Workshop, host our first Technology Summit, develop a mobile application, co-host a CEO Summit with CalGeo, launch a redesigned website, and convene members at the 2027 Annual Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The report captures more than activity. It reflects the collective work of GBA’s volunteers, leaders, committees, staff, and member firms to share knowledge, strengthen businesses, develop people, and elevate the geoprofessions.