I am honored to be the next GBA President. This is a wonderful organization with more than 50 years of history. Many individuals have held this presidential role, and they have each made their unique mark to further GBA’s mission and purpose. I am hopeful to live up to their example, and to leave GBA just a little bit better when my term is over.

GBA’s current Strategic Plan focuses on three key objectives to bring value to our member firms, including:
• Embrace the Future and Champion Change,
• Accelerate Leader’s Success, and
• Forge Fiercely Loyal Relationships.

The Board of Directors and our Committees have made great strides towards accomplishing numerous goals under these objectives over the past two years, and we have just one more year left to make our mark. As I begin my presidency, I want to springboard from our current momentum and finish this Strategic Plan strong! The GBA Board of Directors and I have discussed the remaining highest priority items to move forward this year—the ones that will have the most impact on our Association this year and for years to come. The two we plan to advance are:
• Career development resources under the Career Continuum concept, and
• Growth, support, and nurturing of GBA Peer Groups.

With extreme focus on these items over this next year, we will make an even greater impact on our organization going forward.

It’s an exciting time to be a GBA member and a geoprofessional.

• We recently held the 2023 Spring Conference in beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where the theme was Elevate Leadership. The conference was full of valuable presentations, workshops, Committee meetings, a Crystal Ball Workshop, networking opportunities with our colleagues and sponsors, and a beautiful awards banquet. The venue was amazing and once again the GBA staff outdid themselves with excellent planning and execution of this event.
• GBA Committees are meeting regularly to further their respective objectives for this year in support of the Strategic Plan. GBA has a total of 12 Committees with a variety of opportunities to get engaged in industry aspects that interest you. Not involved yet? Please consider this your personal invitation to join a Committee now!
• GBA is planning an exciting broadcast Conference event October 17 to 19, 2023. The theme of this conference is Elevate Geoprofessional Value: Advancing the Value of Our Businesses and Our Chosen Profession and it is sure to be full of valuable content that will optimize your business and reduce your geoprofessional risks.
• GBA’s 750+ resources are available in a variety of formats (videos, written documents, podcasts, presentations, webinars, peer groups, firm peer reviews, NEWSlog, Conferences, etc.) to help you personally and professionally. No other association focuses on leadership and business aspects of running successful geoprofessional consulting firms like GBA.

I’ve often said that there is something unique and special about GBA. If you attended GBA’s Spring Conference, you received a bottle of GBA Special Sauce to take home and add to your favorite dishes. The actual ingredients were listed on the side of the bottle, but GBA’s Special Sauce – the reasons that got me involved and kept me involved over the past 10 years – are as follows:

• Extreme sharing – We may be competitors in the marketplace, but when we gather together under the GBA umbrella, we put our heads together to improve our profession in a profound way.
• Friendly nature – I have made so many wonderful memories with my friends at GBA.

We’ve learned together, shared deep, meaningful conversations about work and life, and been open with one another unlike any other organization I’ve ever been involved with.
• We accomplish great things for our profession. GBA’s value is evident in every conference, publication, podcast, webinar, and NEWSlog issue.

Your Special Sauce ingredients might be similar to mine, or they could be different, too. Everyone gets involved and stays involved with GBA for unique reasons. All of these ingredients combine to make GBA’s Special Sauce, and it sure does taste good!

As you go about your business in the field, in the office, and on the road, think about the GBA Special Sauce ingredients you carry with you and how you can use them to benefit your business and elevate our geoprofessional industry overall.

Every GBA member brings a unique talent and personality to the Association, which makes our organization truly one-of-a-kind. Challenge yourself to get the most out of your membership this year by utilizing the numerous resources, joining a Committee, attending a Conference, and sharing your perspectives.

I look forward to accomplishing some amazing things with you this year. Thank you for entrusting me with the role of GBA’s President!

GBA is committed to promoting the value of geoprofessionals and we want to see it through your eyes. For our 2023 Photo Contest, we’d like to know: “How do you depict the day in the life of a Geoprofessional?” Is it field activities? Is it meeting with colleagues and clients? Is it performing testing in the laboratory? How is safety incorporated into your work? How are you positively impacting the world? Capture those vibrant moments and express what being a geoprofessional means to you!

Contest Starts – June 1, 2023
Contest Ends – August 31, 2023                                                                             

Submit Photos to: GBA Photo Contest

Prizes Awarded:

One (1) Overall grand prize winner will receive:
• A $100 Gift Card
• A photo mention in GBA NEWSlog
• Recognition at GBA’s Fall 2023 Conference.
• Winners Plaque
• Mention GBA’s digital presences.

One (1) Overall runner-up winner will receive:
• A $50 gift card
• A photo mention in GBA NEWSlog
• Runners Up Plaque
• Recognition at GBA’s Fall 2023 Conference.
• Mention on GBA’s digital presences

One (1) Overall second runner-up winner will receive:
• A $50 gift card
• A photo mention in GBA NEWSlog
• Runners Up Certificate
• Recognition at GBA’s Fall 2023 Conference.
• Mention on GBA’s digital presences

Five (5) Category Winners (Geotechnical, Environmental, Construction Materials Testing and Inspection, Safe Working Practices, and Client Collaboration) will receive:
• Recognition at GBA’s Fall 2023 Conference.
• Category Winner Certificate
• Mention on GBA’s digital presences

Submission information and contest rules: CLICK HERE 

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 primarily driven by volunteer leaders.

Each year at our Spring Conference, we recognize those who have contributed to GBA in a significant way. During the 2023 Spring Conference, awards were given to firms and individuals who exhibited extraordinary support and meritorious performance during our 2022-2023 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 who have contributed to our Association during the past year.

Recipients of Certificates of Appreciation for 2022-2023 are:

• Donald Blackburn
• Elizabeth Brown, P.E.                                                 
• Veronica DeFreitas, P.E.
• Michael Dodd, Esq.
• Kathryn Eckman, P.Eng.
• Craig Fischer
• Rick Heckel, P.E., D.GE
• Kurt Fraese, L.G., F.GBA
• Jeff Gebhard, P.E.
• Robert Howard, P.E.
• Alfred Jones, P.E.
• Steve Noble, P.E., PTOE
• Helen Pappas, CHMM, ENV SP
• Jennifer Sanborn, P.E.
• Alicia R. Sellers, P.E.
• Andy Siemens, P.E., G.E.
• Jason Stoops, P.E.
• Gary Torosian
• Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP-2
• Ryan White, P.E., G.E
• James Withiam, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, F.GBA

Member Firm Engagement Awards

 GBA tracks member-firm engagement through five measurements we find to be the most important indicators of the value members are receiving from their membership. Ultimately, engagement also indicates the value of membership to firm employees, which we feel is paramount to delivering on the GBA mission. 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):

• Terracon
• CTL|Thompson
• Blackburn Consulting
• Northern Geotechnical Engineering – Terra Firma Testing

Woodward L. Vogt Outstanding Project Award 

GeoProfessional Innovation Corporation – Selway Road Landslide Emergency Response, Idaho County, Idaho

 The Woodward L. Vogt Outstanding Project Award was named for a GBA past-president to recognize the contributions made by a life-long advocate of high-quality geoprofessional services. The award celebrates the greatness of our members as they use GBA’s best practices to manage risk and optimize performance on notable projects.

Committee Service Awards

Victor Barchers, P.E. (Kleinfelder, Inc.)

Environmental Business Committee 2018-2023

 Carrie Foulk, P.E., G.E. (BSK Associates)

Geotechnical Business Committee 2021-2023

 Elizabeth Clarke (Structure Groups)

Construction Materials Engineering and Testing Business Committee 2022-2023

 Stuart “Stu” Thompson (CTL|Thompson, Inc.)

Peer Review Committee 2020-2023

 Terence J. Scanlan, Esq. (Cairncross & Hempelmann, P.S.)

Legal Affairs Committee 2020-2023

Committee Service Awards are bestowed on Chairs and Vice Chairs who have completed their terms and transitioned leadership roles to others.

Board of Directors Service Awards                                                                    

Steve Wendland, P.E., P.G., D.GE (GeoEngineers, Inc. 2020-2023

Martin LaRoche, P.Eng. (Kiewit Engineering Group) 2019-2023

Board of Directors Service Awards are bestowed on Directors who have completed their terms of service.

President’s Award

Woodward L. “Woody” Vogt, P.E., D.GE, F. GBA, F. ACI, F. ASCE, F. ASTM (Paradigm Consultants, Inc.) 

Each year, the current GBA President selects one person to be recognized for the contributions they made to our Association during the year of his or her presidency. President Leo J. Titus Jr., P.E., awarded the 2022-2023 President’s Award posthumously to Mr. Vogt in recognition of his many contributions that support GBA’s strategy through his leadership, enthusiasm, influence, and ambassadorship.

President’s Service Gavel Award

 Leo J. Titus Jr., P.E. (ECS Group of Companies)

This award is bestowed on the immediate Past-President after completing their term of service. During the awards ceremony, the Association recognized Mr. Titus for his years of service to the Board and for his leadership during his Presidency.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, all member firms, and staff, we congratulate all the award winners for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

GBA Nomination Committee                                                                                           

During the Winter Leadership Summit held in early February, the Committee

Leaders were announced for our upcoming year.  They are:

CoMET Business Committee

Chair – Bryce Moore* (Blackburn Consulting)

Vice Chairs – Meghan McDonough, P.E. (Geo-Technology Associates),

                       Shawn Fitzhugh, P.E.* (CTL Thompson)

Environmental Business Committee

Chair – Margaret Panatera, P.E.* (GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.)

Vice Chairs – Daniel Gradishar, P.E. (Terracon)

                        Michael Roark, R.G., LEED* (Geotechnology, a Universal Engineering Sciences Company)

Geotechnical Business Committee

Chair – Blake Cotton, P.E., LEED AP* (GeoEngineers, Inc.)

Vice Chairs – Keith Mobley, P.E., G.E. (Northern Geotechnical Engineering)

                         Shawna Erter, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE* (SCI Engineering, Inc)

Business Practices Committee

Chair – Jason Stoops, P.E., G2 Consulting Group

Vice Chairs – Donald Blackburn (Blackburn Consulting)

Matthew Van Rensler, P.E. (Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.)

Legal Affairs Committee

Chair – James Attaway, Jr., Esq., P.E.* (S&ME, Inc.)

Vice Chair – Aaron Mann, Esq.* (Terracon)

Council of Fellows

Chair – David Lourie, P.E., D.GE, F.GBA (Lourie Consultants)

Emerging Issues and Trends Committee

Chair – Jeff Gebhard, P.E. (Braun Intertec Corporation)

Vice Chair – Helen Pappas, CHMM (Gannett Fleming, Inc)

Resource Collaboration Committee

Chair – Chuck Gregory, P.E., F.GBA (Terracon)

Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Chair – Veronica DeFreitas, P.E. (Universal Engineering Sciences, Inc)

Vice Chairs – Peter Suah, P.E., (Antillian Engineering Associates)

                         Robert Howard, P.E.* (Geo-Technology Associates, Inc.)

Multimedia Delivery Committee

Chair – Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP2 (SME)

Vice Chairs – Ryan White, P.E., G.E. (PBS Engineering +Environmental),

Jennifer Sanborn, P.E. (Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.)

*Indicates Newly Appointed Leaders

On behalf of the GBA Board of Directors, thank you to all those who choose to share their time, talent, and leadership with GBA Committees.

We are always looking for more volunteers to participate in our committees.  GBA is built on a foundation of collaboration and contribution that benefits all, and GBA committee service fosters valuable relationships and leadership skills.

More information about GBA Committees can be found:  HERE

GBA Multimedia Delivery Committee

4thFriday40 Leadership Series is a monthly webinar for GBA leaders at all levels to promote professional development, optimize influence, and facilitate achievement. In short, we want to help you to be a stronger, smarter, more successful leader.           

In this edition, we will be joined by Glodean Champion. Glodean Champion is a Transformational Leader who specializes in personal growth, leadership development, and diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI). She works with individuals and organizations to get to the root cause of culturally based challenges by transforming beliefs, behaviors, and assumptions. Glodean’s unique approach to this centuries-old endeavor is rooted in the practice of engaging with people’s core emotions, cultural competencies, and situational and self-awareness through coaching, training, and workshops. She believes in meeting people “where they are” and leading them where they want (or, possibly, need) to be.

This session, titled “The Anti-DEI, DEI Webinar” is designed for leaders of all levels. Join us as Glodean Champion reviews the basic concepts and topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and bias and why they don’t work, long-term, without a strong foundation of L.O.V.E. and CARE. Participants explore how implicit attitudes and socializations impact our decisions and the interactions we have with one another. By the end of this foundational session, participants have the power of self-awareness and the importance of connection in the workplace and beyond.

Attend and earn one-half of a Professional Development Hour (PDH) for each webinar.

Free to all GBA Members.

Register for 4thFriday40 Leadership Series: HERE

4thFriday40 Leadership Series January 27, 2023 
GBA Multimedia Delivery Committee

4thFriday40 Leadership Series is a monthly webinar for GBA leaders at all levels to promote professional development, optimize influence, and facilitate achievement.

In short, we want to help you to be a stronger, smarter, more successful leader.

In this edition, we will be joined by Val Ries. Ms. Ries is the author of the #1 new bestselling book: Chief Inspiration Officer – How to Lead the Team everyone wants to be on. She is the owner of Executive Muse, a training and mentoring organization designed to help leaders create teams that stay.

Val will emphasize loyal employees contribute differently than everyone else. They work harder, stay later and recommend friends to the organization – and not because they are paid more. During this webinar, Val explores how to create a culture where people are inspired to be a loyal part of your organization by leveraging her proprietary CRAVE® model and lessons from her book: Chief Inspiration Officer. You’ll see the latest statistics on employee engagement and come away with actionable ideas you can apply right away.

Attend and earn one-half of a Professional Development Hour (PDH) for each webinar.

Free to all GBA Members.

Multimedia Delivery Committee

GBA has published over 110 case histories based on real-life events that have happened to geoprofessional firms. GBA Case Histories are unique because our members share real-life stories of problems that impacted their businesses. They also include the outcomes of corrective action, and lessons learned.

GBA’s Multimedia Delivery Committee is now delivering select Case Histories as Podcasts.

In this episode, a Member-Firm with firm with multiple offices became the victim of foreign hacking enterprise. When an employee of the firm opened an email from an unsuspected contact, and clicked on a link, the hackers reached the Firm’s management systems. Once they got access to the systems, the infiltrators spent months learning about the operations, information storage and data, unbeknownst to anyone. After obtaining and securing all that they needed, they locked the access to the IT systems, including emails and files and demanded seven-figure sum of money to release the records.

What happens next? Tune into the latest GBA podcast, “We Were Hacked”, as GBA member Jennifer Sanborn reveals tips for keeping professional service firms safe from cyber security threats.

GBA Podcast: #109 – Case History – We Were Hacked

GBA provides hundreds of highly effective resources developed to satisfy the unique needs of geoprofessionals, giving members essential tools for achieving success. However, we also know that it can be overwhelming to sort through them all. To help, we have compiled a list of the top 10 GBA resources by numbers ordered in 2022. This is a great place to start your exploration of GBA’s resources, or to get acquainted with a publication loved by your peers and “new to you”.                                                   

The list below is the top 10 GBA resources, in order by popularity. Topics cover a wide range of geoprofessional business issues, so there is certain to be something on this list that could help your business succeed. Select a title to learn more and order it today.

GBA BEST PRACTICES: TABOO WORDS

This is the updated version of previously published Practice Alert on establishing a mentoring program in your firm.

This Best Practices document, defines mentoring, identifies the many benefits of mentoring, for the firm, for mentors, and for protégés; discusses types of mentoring programs; provides a program overview and addresses the five basic program phases; offers guidance on program leadership and leadership levels and how these vary based on firm size; speaks to an array of program issues, introduced as questions; advises about keeping the program current; and identifies resources.

GBA BEST PRACTICES AVOIDING ABSOLUTES

Absolutes are words that connote an extreme condition; e.g., absolutely no exceptions. They are most commonly thought of as modifiers – adjectives and adverbs – but also occur as nouns, pronouns, and verbs. In common or colloquial parlance, they usually are harmless. However, when they are used by professionals within an instrument of professional service, correspondence, or other written communication (electronic or otherwise), or when they are spoken by professionals while acting in a professional capacity, absolutes are almost always inappropriate.

GBA BUSINESS BRIEF FINANCIAL SURVEY: FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 FINANCIAL-PERFORMANCE-SURVEY

The newest GBA Business Brief — available only to members and free of charge – comprises the GBA Business Practices Committee’s 2020-2021 Financial-Performance Survey report, covering key financial-performance issues surveyed firms reported. These include pre-distribution profit, discretionary-profit distribution, net multiplier, utilization rate, pre-distribution overhead, marketing costs, group insurance, collections, and fee backlog.

GBA BEST PRACTICES: PROJECT RECORDS RETENTION

This is the updated version of previously published Practice Alert on Project-Records Retention. Accurate records are critically important for resolving a dispute or defending a lawsuit. Not having the information you need when you need it can be disastrous. But sometimes retaining too much information can be disastrous, too. This revised publication gives recommendations on what project records you should keep and what not to keep. It also gives recommendations on how long and where those records should be kept. It is a guideline for the firms, but this will be also depend on the company policies.

GBA BEST PRACTICES: ESTABLISHING A MENTORING PROGRAM

This is the updated version of previously published Practice Alert on establishing a mentoring program in your firm.

This Best Practices document, defines mentoring, identifies the many benefits of mentoring, for the firm, for mentors, and for protégés; discusses types of mentoring programs; provides a program overview and addresses the five basic program phases; offers guidance on program leadership and leadership levels and how these vary based on firm size; speaks to an array of program issues, introduced as questions; advises about keeping the program current; and identifies resources.

GBA BEST PRACTICES: GO NO GO CHECKLIST

There are very good reasons why we would choose not to spend time and effort pursuing a client or a project. GBA’s Business Practices Committee has prepared a comprehensive, simple to use, Go/No-Go checklist for your use. The goal of the go/no go check list is to evaluate opportunities to see if they are the ones which will be beneficial for the firm currently and in the future. This checklist may be a tool you use to evaluate opportunities in new sectors, new clients, or a new line of service for your firm.

GBA GUIDE TO THE IN-HOUSE REVIEW OF GEOPROFESSIONAL REPORTS

The publication provides step-by-step instructions – as well as overarching concepts – for report writers and reviewers. Organized into three principal content areas to help reviewers consider major issues and to give report writers a clear framework for preparing reports and considering reviewers’ comments, the guide addresses a report’s ability to satisfy the contractual obligations it was intended to fulfill; the quality of its technical and risk-management content; and the clarity of presentation. Supplemental materials include a report-control log, copies of GBA’s widely used report-insert sheets (geotechnical, environmental, and construction-materials engineering and testing), and three best-practices monographs covering “taboo” words, absolutes, and “slipshod synonyms.”

CONSTRUCTION RISKS AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: MESSAGE TO DESIGN PROFESSIONALS

This publication lists the risks civil and structural engineers assume when they develop geotechnical-engineering scopes of service and solicit proposals or bids. Guidance is given on techniques for reducing the design team’s liability exposure, principally through reliance on qualifications-based selection (QBS).

FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS FOR PROJECT MANAGERS: 

Effective Project Managers are key to the success of all geoprofessional businesses. GBA recognizes development of highly effective Project Managers requires training, experience, and mentorship in numerous areas. GBA has developed, with support of member-firm volunteers, a Project Manager essential skills training course to support and augment training available by member-firms.

The foundation of this 11 module Project Manager course has been generously donated by a GBA member firm. While the slides have been rebranded by GBA, there may be content or concepts that are specific to this GBA member firm and may require slight modifications to make presentations appropriate for your firm. This course will help you introduce and discuss the essential skills needed as a Project Manager.

The PowerPoint format of this course has been developed so that it can be given in a group setting by a leader in your organization or used as a self-teaching tool by an individual. The course can be delivered all at once in an 8-hour day, or a module at a time as time permits. Each module contains a short quiz at the end to confirm clarity on the topics presented. Each module also includes a printable completion certificate. Module 11 includes a printable and frameable Course Completion Certificate for those that have completed all the modules of this course.

GBA GUIDE TO THIRD PARTY RELIANCE

Developed by GBA’s Legal Affairs Committee, the GBA Guide to Third-Party Reliance provides comprehensive discussion of both authorized and unauthorized reliance. Contents include:

Third-Party Reliance Defined
Who or what are third parties?
What is authorized reliance?
What is unauthorized reliance?

Dealing with Reliance Requests
Should we charge a fee for third-party reliance?
To whom should we grant reliance?
How do we document a grant of reliance?
Some clients ask us to include third-party reliance language in the report itself. How do we handle that?
How do we deal with (or, preferably, prevent) last-minute reliance requests?
What about the form letters that some third parties – lenders in particular – more or less require us to imprint our own letterhead?

Dealing with the Potential of Unauthorized Third-Party Reliance
How can we protect ourselves when contractors use our reports to develop bids?
Should we include advisory letters in our contracts and reports?

This Guide also include several sample letters.

CONTRACT REFERENCE GUIDE, FOURTH EDITION

This new edition not only provides significant updates from the prior editions, but also includes important new topics, such as Climate Change, Indemnities and Hold Harmless Provisions in Favor of the Consultant, and Instruments of Professional Service.

Since contracts that reflect a fair and balanced allocation of risk and reward are essential to any risk management program, we hope that this Guide will help to promote the success of your firm. The Guide includes sample recommended language, supported by explanations of the legal issues involved in each, and suggested negotiation strategies. The Guide was designed to foster good risk management while maintaining and enhancing client relationships.

A great tool for project managers and others!

GBA’s Contract Reference Guide, Fourth Edition, now is available to our members in e-book version, available in Mobi File (PC version) or EPub file (Apple products) as well as a PDF and in a hard copy version.  The searchable, flip-book allows you to take the Guide with you on any device for quick reference at your fingertips.

GBA BEST PRACTICES: COMMENTARY MODEL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

The “Model Request for Proposal” document outlines many virtues of a well-planned out proposal request for geoprofessional activities for a project. The document discusses exploration approaches, the need for clarity in the planned construction and site configuration, and offers discussion points for owners and their design team for consideration. Cost is contrasted with the complexity of the project, anticipated site conditions, timing of geoprofessional work, specifically exploration, and the required deliverable requirements. The request for proposal commentary can be disseminated to owners, architects, structural and civil engineers in an effort to build a consistent RFP for distribution. Further, the document can be used amongst geotechnical engineers and geologists in a firm as a training basis on the baseline requirements for a solid proposal.

Review 2022’s Top 10 Resources and Top 10 Case Histories:  HERE

Moler, Marcozzi, and Peterson Lead GBA’s 2022-2023 Board of Directors Slate
GBA Nominating Committee

GBA’s Nominating Committee has announced its slate of officers and directors for the May 1, 2023-April 30, 2024, fiscal year.

GBA President-Elect and Board Chair-Elect, Christopher Matthew “Matt” Moler, P.E. (S&ME, Inc.) will become President and Chair of the GBA Board of Directors

Those nominated for the other two officer positions are for President-Elect and Board Chair-Elect, Guy Marcozzi, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, F. ASCE (Verdantas), and Teresa L. Peterson, P.E., C.M.E., LEED AP O&M, ENV SP (Gannett Fleming) for Secretary-Treasurer.

Those nominated to serve as Directors-at-Large are: Elizabeth Clarke (Structure Groups); Victor R. Donald, P.E. (Terracon); Carrie L. Foulk, P.E., G.E. (BSK); Bradley M. Melocik, P.E., P.H.(DOWL); Daniel. K. Schaefer, P.E. (Froehling & Robertson, Inc.); and Stuart “Stu” Thompson (CTL Thompson).

Please join us in congratulating those nominated to serve on the GBA Board of Directors and thank them for their service to our Association.

GBA’s Current Board of Directors

New Podcast Series: Fundamentals of Field Representation
GBA’s Multimedia Delivery Committee                                           

GBA’s Multimedia Delivery Committee recently uncovered a treasure trove of valuable content in GBA’s outstanding audio series and transitioned them into an educational and entertaining podcast series. This series was originally available as downloadable audio files, designed for one-on-one listening by field representatives, or as material to spur discussion during brownbag seminars or other training sessions. Like other GBA audio education programs,

Fundamentals of Field Representation uses dramatization to make its points. The roles are played by professional actors, supplemented by sound effects.

Three episodes, hosted by, Tiffany Vorhies (SME) and Ryan White (PBS Engineering and Environmental) review the original audio and follow up with a discussion, including their own personal lessons learned from many years of experience in the industry as both field reps and technical leaders.

In Episode 1, Podcast hosts discuss the importance of field representatives knowing the seriousness and risks of the work they perform. This episode provides a real-world example about a casual comment made while onsite about trench safety that turned into a legal case. Ryan and Tiffany talk about the relationship between contractors and field representatives and how these relationships can affect decisions made while on project sites. Tune in to hear more about how field representatives are not immune to the litigation that can occur on projects.

In Episode 2, Our hosts take a closer look at what it means to be a professional and how that relates to the duty of care and standard of care at a job site. Centered around a GBA Audio Education module, this episode provides practical examples and commentary by Ryan and Tiffany on how they’ve seen these concepts play out in their experience as engineering professionals. Learn about these important legal terms in a fun and conversational way!

In Episode 3 of GBA’s Audio Education Series, our hosts explore duty of care in field reporting. While covering the 6 aspects of effective field reporting, we are reminded of the essential information that should be included in reports. This is a good refresher for any experienced field staff as well as necessary information for newer geoprofessionals. In addition, our hosts discuss the common hiccups with surnames. Is it Ms., Miss, or Mrs?

Download and listen to three podcast episodes of Field Representation: HERE