Nominate a Rising Star for GBA’s Early Professional Classes

 

GBA is now accepting nominations for upcoming Early Professional Classes (EPC), part of the Career Continuum Program. The EPC is designed to lay the foundation for successful geoprofessional careers by introducing early-career staff to key consulting fundamentals.

Each EPC cohort will include 24 representatives from GBA member firms who have less than four years of experience and show high potential as consultants and future business leaders. Up to two applicants from each member firm may be admitted to each class.

A graduate of the first EPC, the program completely shifted Deon Waldmeier’s, E.I.T, (CTL|Thompson) mindset toward structured programs. “I loved the energy and insight brought by a different subject matter expert every week,” Waldmeier said.

The EPC blends real-world scenarios with foundational professional competencies, ensuring participants can immediately apply what they learn to their day-to-day work.

“My favorite topics were Business Development and Contracts, both of which directly aligned with the challenges I face at work,” said EPC graduate Andrea Cano Sanchez (Verdantas). “I appreciated the opportunity to engage with geoprofessionals from diverse backgrounds and valued their contributions in breakout groups.”

Unlike traditional technical training, the EPC focuses on accelerating professional maturity by strengthening communication, decision-making, documentation, teamwork, and ethical thinking—skills that are often underdeveloped in the early stages of a geoprofessional’s career.

Classes are conducted via 10 live virtual sessions moderated by an experienced GBA speaker and facilitated by an expert adult education instructor. Participants will receive credit for professional development hours and a Certificate of Completion.

The Ideal Nominee

• College graduates or early-career staff (0-4 years of consulting experience) ready for an introduction to professional practice.
• Staff not yet managing projects but showing leadership potential.
• Field staff who may be rising to a professional staff career pathway.

How the EPC Helps GBA Member Firms

By nominating your rising talent, your firm can:

• Build their business acumen through exposure to key consulting fundamentals in a time- and cost-efficient approach.
• Optimize their business performance through interaction and training with other top-notch professionals.
• Introduce them to the wide array of GBA benefits and resources.
• Increase their awareness of risk management.