Two New Episodes: Small Projects, Big Risk—And the Pressure to Stay Quiet
Two new episodes in the GBA Podcast Case History series are ready for you to cue up—each one turning a real-world scenario into practical, risk-reducing insight for geoprofessionals and firm leaders.
Small Projects Can Create Big Risk…Yet Again, and Again and Again…
In the March 3 episode on Case History #45, co-hosts Elizabeth Brown, P.E. (JLT Consultants) and Abi Corbett (SME) unpack how a seemingly routine environmental site assessment can escalate into major legal exposure.
As Brown frames it, this is “a classic story of how a project that seems small and routine can suddenly spiral into a multimillion-dollar legal nightmare.”
Listeners will hear how lab testing errors, missing written agreements, and thin internal review can collide—along with what to do differently next time. Corbett puts the core lesson bluntly: “Project risk is almost always inversely proportional to the project size and complexity.” The episode emphasizes practical takeaways you can apply immediately.
Don’t Rush “Go Along to Get Along.” Don’t Get Bullied
The March 17 episode on Case History #89 features Tim Rodriguez (BSK Associates) and Elizabeth Brown exploring a high-stakes dynamic many firms recognize: being pressured to stay quiet, “just follow the plans,” and avoid exercising professional judgment—even when conditions demand it.
The scenario centers on geoprofessional services for a building site with challenging subsurface conditions—and a project environment where the member firm is discouraged from offering input unless explicitly asked. The episode highlights broad, firm-protecting themes: limitation-of-liability provisions, avoiding unnecessary contract complexity, documenting constraints on your authority, managing personalities with personal diplomacy, and refusing to “go along to get along.”
Across both episodes, you’ll come away with sharper risk instincts you can translate into everyday practice—stronger contracting habits, clearer boundaries on scope and authority, better documentation and verification loops, and more intentional oversight on “small” assignments that can carry outsized exposure.
And because these Case History episodes are built from real events, they’re especially useful for team learning—perfect for a commute, between site visits, or as the discussion starter for a lunch-and-learn.
The episodes were produced by Elizabeth Brown, Abi Corbett, Tim Rodriguez, and Ryan White, P.E., G.E., F.ASCE (Apex Companies).
About GBA Case Histories and the Podcast Series
GBA Case Histories are real-world accounts of challenges, solutions, and lessons learned in geoprofessional practice. The podcast series brings these stories to life, offering practical takeaways for professionals at every level. Each episode is designed to help you make better risk-based decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and strengthen your approach to contracts, safety, and client relationships.
The GBA Podcast also features interviews, risk management discussions, and business resources to support your professional growth. New episodes are released regularly.
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