Celebrating Excellence: GBA Honors 2024-2025 Award Recipients
The success of GBA relies on the volunteer efforts of many groups and individuals. At the 2025 GBA Annual Conference in Savannah, Georgia, GBA recognized the contributions of outstanding individuals and member firms. The evening celebrated the spirit of volunteerism and leadership that fuels GBA’s mission. This year’s recipients exemplified commitment to advancing the geoprofessions and strengthening the GBA community.
Those recognized during the annual Recognition and Awards Banquet were:
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION
Based on input from GBA Committee and Council leaders, GBA has awarded the following geoprofessionals with Certificates of Appreciation to recognize their contributions to the Association in the past 12 months:
• Ed Alizadeh, P.E., J.D., F.GBA (UES)
• Kent Bannister, P.Eng. (TREK)
• Christopher Bouchet, P.E. (CTL|Thompson)
• Michaela Brewster, CPG (Terracon)
• Elizabeth Brown, P.E. (Atlas)
• Rick Bruce (S&ME)
• Elizabeth Clarke (Structure Groups)
• Abi Corbett (SME)
• Vic Donald, P.E. (Terracon)
• Ryan Feist, P.E. (Terracon)
• Sal Fiorentino, P.E. (ECS Limited)
• Shawn Fitzhugh, P.E. (CTL|Thompson)
• Kurt Fraese, L.G., F.GBA (Fraese & Associates)
• Dan Gradishar, P.E. (Terracon)
• Chuck Gregory, P.E., F.GBA (Terracon)
• James Hamilton, Esq., P.E. (GAI Consultants)
• Brent Hay, M.Sc., P.Eng. (TREK)
• Charlie Head, P.E., P.G., F.GBA (Sanborn, Head, & Associates)
• Craig Hill (Kleinfelder)
• Robert Howard, P.E. (Geo-Technology Associates)
• Derek Koller, CIH, CHMM (Terracon)
• Mark Kramer, P.E., F.GBA (SME)
• Colter Lane, P.E. (Jorgensen Associates)
• James Landrum, P.E. (Olsson)
• Thomas Maher, P.G. (Civil & Environmental Consultants)
• Aaron Mann, Esq. (Terracon)
• Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, F.ASCE (Verdantas)
• Jay Martin, P.E., F.GBA (WSP)
• Tony Martin (BSK Associates)
• Andrew Michaud (S.W. Cole Engineering)
• Keith Mobley, P.E., G.E. (Northern Geotechnical Engineering – Terra Firma Testing)
• Bryce Moore (Blackburn Consulting)
• Matt Monteith, P.E., D.GE (Kleinfelder)
• John Murphy (GZA)
• John Norwood, P.E., CSSGB (Terracon)
• Brian Olin, P.G. (Froehling & Roberston)
• Stewart Osgood, P.E., F.GBA (DOWL)
• Fernando Pons, P.E. (Pons & Associates)
• Laura Register, P.E., F.GBA (Terracon)
• Carrie Rodriguez, P.E., G.E. (BSK Associates)
• Dori Ross, P.E. (Sanborn, Head, & Associates)
• Jennifer Sanborn, P.E. (Sanborn, Head, & Associates)
• Dan Schaefer, P.E. (Froehling & Roberston)
• Becky Stoyle, CPA (Knight Piesold)
• Michael Van Helden, Ph.D., P.Eng. (TREK)
• Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP-2, PMP (SME)
• Jennifer Wegner (SME)
• Steve Wendland, P.E. (Bedrock GeoConsult)
• Ryan White, P.E., G.E., F.ASCE (PBS Engineering and Environmental)
• Aaron Zdinak, P.E. (HDR)
AWARDS OF APPRECIATION
Special award was given to a volunteer who contributed to GBA in extraordinary and unique ways during the year:
Victor S. Barchers, P.E. (Kleinfelder)
PEER-REVIEWED FIRMS
One of the most valuable programs GBA offers its members is Peer Review. The following firms were recognized for being peer reviewed in the past 12 months: 
• BSK Associates
• DOWL
• Eustis Engineering
• Foundation Design
• GeoEngineers
• STRATA
MEMBER FIRM ENGAGEMENT AWARDS
GBA tracks the engagement of its member firms through metrics like event attendance, resource downloads, committee participation, award applications, survey completions, and other important measurement categories. The following firms were found to have the highest measured engagement in GBA during the last fiscal year (one from each category based on firm size):
• Grounded Engineering
• Geotechnical Consultants 
• Geo-Technology Associates
• Terracon
Congratulations to these firms and their employees, who are receiving a high value from their GBA membership due to their level of engagement with GBA groups, events, and resources.
WOODWARD L. VOGT PROJECT EXCELLENCE AWARD
The Woodward L. Vogt Project Excellence Award celebrates the greatness of our members as they use GBA best practices to manage risk and optimize performance on notable projects. The 2025 winner of the prestigious award is:
ANS Geo – Pike County Battery Energy Storage System, Petersburg, Indiana.
Left to right: Vatsal Shah, Ph.D., P.E., PP, D.GE, F.NSPE, ANS Geo President & CEO; Mohamed Faizan, Ph.D., ANS Geo; and Joel Carson, GBA Executive Director
COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP
GBA Committees are the fuel that drives the GBA engine. The following committee leaders are transitioning out of their leadership roles and we celebrate them for their work thus far:
• Bruce Savage, CPG (Geotechnical Consultants, Inc.), Peer Review Committee, 2024
• Jason Stoops, P.E. (G2 Consulting Group), Business Practices Committee, 2022-2025
• Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP-2, PMP (SME), Multimedia Delivery Committee, 2022-2025
BOARD OF DIRECTORS SERVICE AWARD
Service on the GBA Board of Directors requires the dedication of time and resources throughout a three-year term. This award is bestowed on Directors who have completed their term of service:
• Vic Donald, P.E. (Terracon), 2022-2025
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE ETHICS & LEADERSHIP AWARD
GBA past-President (2017-2018) Charles “Charlie” L. Head, P.E., P.G., F.GBA (Sanborn, Head, & Associates), was selected as the recipient of this year’s Professional Practice Ethics & Leadership award. Read more.
Left to right: Guy Marcozzi, Charlie Head, and Teresa Peterson, P.E., C.M.E., LEED AP O&M, ENV SP.
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Each year, the outgoing GBA President selects one person to recognize for their contributions to GBA during the year of their presidency. Immediate past-President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, F.ASCE awarded the 2024-25 honor to Kevin Hoppe, P.E., F.GBA (NTH Consultants).
Kevin Hoppe, P.E., F.GBA (NTH Consultants)
PRESIDENT’S SERVICE GAVEL AWARD
This award is bestowed on the immediate past-President after completing their term of service. GBA recognized Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, F.ASCE for his years of service and leadership.
From left: GBA Immediate Past-President Guy Marcozzi and GBA President Teresa Peterson
On behalf of the GBA Board of Directors, all member firms, and staff, we congratulate all the award winners for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.