Fall Conference Speakers Announced
The agenda for our Fall Conference broadcast event has been 
finalized and you don’t want to miss this exclusive geoprofessional industry event.
The theme for the conference is “Elevate Geoprofessional Value: Advancing the Value of Our Businesses and Our Chosen Profession,” which supports our members’ daily efforts to build stronger, smarter,more successful businesses. Conference speakers will help you to position your firm as an industry leader, learn how to survive during periods of uncertainty, understand and utilize the growing impact of technology, and more.
Save the date for this broadcast event – October 17-19, 2023. Registration opens June 28, 2023!
Presentations are beneficial to geoprofessionals at any career level. Here is this year’s speaker lineup and session information:
Elevating Your Value: Taking it to the Next Level with the Upper Arrow
Sydne Jacques, P.E. — During this engaging session, Jacques will enable you to uncover avenues for growth and differentiation. Starting 
with your clients, you will learn how to elevate your services and enhance your reputation, effectively distinguishing your company in the marketplace. By identifying strategic opportunities to elevate your value proposition, you will position your organization as an industry leader.
Elevating Geoprofessional Value Through Know/Like/Trust
Kevin Knebl, CMEC, HCC — In this presentation, Kneble 
will demonstrate highly effective networking, relationship building, and interpersonal skills, and will lead to a massive differentiation between the attendees and their competitors.
You will learn immediately applicable strategies and methods to increase your organizations’ visibility, showcase your credibility, and grow revenue. Kevin’s content is in close alignment with the Guiding Principles outlined on ElevateGeoprofessionalValue.org.
Selway Slide Emergency Repair – 2023 Woodward L. Vogt Project Excellence Award Winner
Travis Wambeke, P.E., P.G. and Justin Maffey, E.I., Geoprofessional Innovation Corporation — Historic rainfall and erratic geology in a steep-cut slope in the Selway River Road region in Idaho County, Idaho, caused slope failure and road closure in May 2022. 
The failure blocked critical access for firefighting, material supplies, and public access. Wambeke and Maffey worked with regional stakeholders in a design-build effort to evaluate this large, complex slide system and develop repair concepts that could be safely implemented. The Selway Road Landslide Emergency Response Project won GBA’s 2023 Woodward L. Vogt Outstanding Project Award.
A Case History in Construction Safety for Geotechnical and Environmental Field Observations and Testing
Rory Johnston, P.E., G.E., F.GBA, Langan Engineering — A key part of geotechnical and environmental engineering is providing 
appropriate field observation and testing during the construction phase of projects. The responsibilities present inherent and sometimes unique construction safety risks for geotechnical and environmental professionals. This presentation by Johnston will summarize a case history related to construction safety for professionals.
Currents and Characteristics of the Emerging Future 
Kevin Benedict, Futurist, Tata Consultancy Services — In this presentation, Benedict will take a deep dive into the trends and strategic currents likely to shape our future. He will pay particular attention to the essential characteristics leaders will need to embrace to survive and thrive during periods of uncertainty.
He will then explore the building blocks of the future across science, technology, society, geopolitics, and the economy and how emerging ecosystems and AI are the new foundations of business.
How Technology Can Improve Stakeholder Engagement for a Successful Project Lifecycle
Michael Boisvert, Data Acquisition Manager, Verdantas — In recognition of the rapidly growing impact of technology in geoprofessional 
consulting, GBA recently established the Business Technology Committee. This presentation aims to demonstrate the transformative power of technology in common breadbasket projects such as brownfields, bringing the BizTech revolution to the forefront. Effective stakeholder engagement plays a crucial role in the success of any AEC project. So, how can you improve it? This presentation will showcase the utilization of innovative technology to convert vast amounts of data, project challenges, and redevelopment design alternatives into interactive decision- making presentations, dashboards, story maps, and other user-friendly tools.
Annual Financial Survey Results & Trends
Rebecca Zofnass, Managing Partner, Environmental Financial Consulting Group — Zofnass will deliver the results of GBA’s revised annual financial survey, highlighting how the industry is faring in 2023 and 
what is expected in 2024. Zofnass will review the shifts taking place in major financial and strategic data and trends, and talk through what questions firms are now asking and how they are beginning to reassess their market position for continued success.
Climate Change = Emerging Opportunities 
Dan Walker, Ph.D., A.M. ASCE, Senior Geologist, EA Engineering, University of Maryland — Walker will discuss the emerging opportunities for geoprofessionals in the climate change space and climate change considerations.
The Fall Conference broadcast event will also include:
• Committee/Council meetings
• Business roundtable sessions
• Remarks from GBA leaders
This is a conference you won’t want to miss! REGISTER TODAY
reflect on the wise words of Charlie Terrain as they explore the gray areas, including:
with more than 
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 
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.
2023 Spring Conference as you prepare to ELEVATE LEADERSHIP: EMPOWER, GUIDE, INSPIRE.
and retaining great people. The war for talent.
and base our decisions on evidence alone, but the reality is far more complicated.
business partners, clients, and the families and loved ones of them all. As a leader, you will be looked to for direction and if you failed to plan, it will be easy for them to see. With John Hicks, P.E. (ECS Florida, LLC), we discuss the key components to include in a business continuity plan to help maintain operations while taking care of employees and clients before, during, and after a natural disaster. (43 minutes)
support geoprofessionals on their journey through it. (13 minutes)
the state of the economy and assessment of the geoprofessional industry. Gary Torosian (Geocomp, Inc.) shares the most recent survey results to help you assess how your firm and region are performing relative to others in the nation. (10 minutes)
way toward building a thriving, multi-discipline, and resource-rich company. He shares his knowledge on topics including The Value of Risk; Growing a Strong, Cohesive Company; The Value of Conferences and Seminars; Building Self Awareness Through Peer Review; Open Your Mind and Advancing with the Times; and Going Back to School – For Real! (60 minutes)
overseeing the Elections for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. (14 minutes)
authenticity, and vulnerability. DEI efforts often fail in organizations because they lean on isolated solutions to address systemic problems.
benefits of membership, and they provide unprecedented real world learning examples related to project and business management.
Geoprofessionals have a critical role to play at the center of two increasing economic trends: the rising value of designing weather/climate resilient infrastructure, and the increasing costs of repairing and replacing damaged and destroyed infrastructure due to weather/climate impacts.
data collection and testing. It’s about doing more with less and enabling a dynamic working environment to recession-proof your business.
resources applicable to employees in many roles. Do your associates know about GBA and how being involved can benefit them? An ad hoc team in Terracon took on the challenge of increasing engagement with GBA to enhance career development for our employees and increase our return on investment in GBA. We brainstormed, implemented several immediate changes, and saw measurable increases in awareness and engagement. Learn what we did in this presentation by Craig Fischer (Terracon) and leave with a plan to springboard your company’s efforts at increasing engagement and ROI in GBA. (27 minutes)
for our members, our contributions to the geoprofessional community, and our conferences are primarily driven by volunteer leaders.
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):
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.
2020-2023
pleased to announce the addition of Cassandra Langley to the staff in the role of Communications Specialist.
had worked together successfully on numerous projects for more than 15 years, establishing a friendship based on mutual respect and trust. This project was the developer’s most ambitious to date, by virtue of its size, local prominence, and complexity. Among other things, the project plan called for four levels of parking beneath 2½ city blocks and adjoining streets. As the excavation was nearing completion, three soldier piles in the northeast corner of the excavation plunged downward between 12 and 18 inches and rotated toward the basement excavation. If the issue wasn’t resolved quickly not only would the safety of the public be at risk, but so would the relationship.
and world-renown inspirational speaker, Eric Saperston. Eric Saperston is an unsinkable optimist who believes everyone can live an extraordinary life. He is an internationally recognized leader in professional development who empowers CEOs, executives, and audiences to Wake Up Excited and Go to Bed Fulfilled.
published a must-read article titled, “
increasing demand for their expertise. As the population grows and infrastructure needs to be expanded and upgraded, the demand for geoprofessionals will continue to increase. This is particularly true as we face new challenges, such as climate change, urbanization, and sustainability, which require innovative solutions that can only be developed by experts in geology and geotechnical engineering.
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.