Top 10 Resources List for 2020
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 2020. 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.
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.
GBA BUSINESS BRIEF FINANCIAL SURVEY: FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 FINANCIAL-PERFORMANCE-SURVEY
The newest GBA Business Brief — available only to members and free of charge – comprises the GBA Business Practices Committee’s 2019-2020 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.
PRACTICE ALERT 05: TABOO WORDS
This Practice Alert focuses on six “taboo words”: certify, inspect, monitor, supervise, safety, and represent. The six are not necessarily dangerous in and of themselves. How they are used and their context are important.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GEOTECHNICAL-ENGINEERING REPORT
This report transmittal cover sheet identifies limitations in geotechnical engineering reports and stresses the need for the geotechnical engineer’s involvement throughout the course of the project.
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.
GBA BUSINESS BRIEF: FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE – SURVEY REPORT
The GBA Business Brief — available only to members and free of charge – comprises the GBA Business Practices Committee’s 2018-2019 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: E-COMMUNICATION
This GBA Best Practices replaces Practice Alert 46 which focused on e-communications. It is revised to address recent usage and offers more suggestions to the problems. As its title suggests, covers e-mail, instant messaging texting, and the use of Facebook, Skype, Twitter, and so on. It is organized as a series of five problems, each accompanied by suggested solutions. The five problems are:
GUIDE TO THE IN-HOUSE REVIEW OF REPORTS
This 20-page guide was created to help GBA-Member Firms review their proposals and reports internally. It provides guidance to report writers, including a definition of an effective report, a list of elements that should be attached to a report, and recommendations for communicating with the reviewer once the report has been submitted. It also relates instruction to reviewers, including recommendations for conducting the initial review, revising comments, keeping a report control log, and communicating with the report writer throughout the review process.
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.
I was born and raised in Quebec City, Province of Quebec, Canada. The history of Quebec City extends back thousands of years, with its first inhabitants being the First Nations peoples of the region. The arrival of French explorers in the 16th century eventually led to the establishment of Quebec City, in present-day Quebec, Canada. The city is one of the oldest European settlements in North America, with the establishment of a permanent trading post in 1608. Today, Quebec City is a beautiful place located by the St-Lawrence River with a European architecture and lifestyle. If you want to experience Europe, French language, and great cuisine, without a long flight overseas, please consider visiting Quebec City!
degree in geotechnical engineering at Laval University in 1990, in my hometown. After I graduated, I worked 23 years for Dessau, which grew from 400 employees in 1990 to 5,000 in 2012. While at Dessau, I worked in five very different, positions and earned great experience without changing companies. Dessau was a great firm that gave me an opportunity to grow professionally. After starting as a young geotechnical engineer between 1990 and 1994, I was nominated to be the manager of the geotechnical department at 29 and became the youngest shareholder of the company. Over the years I took on positions a manager of the Geotechnical and Environment division , Vice-President of Environment , Vice President in for the Algeria division and the Ontario division. In 2012, I joined AMEC (now WOOD) to manage the Geotechnical Engineering team in Montreal and learned about the mining business while starting an infrastructure group. Three years later, I was selected to lead a 600-employee division at SNC-Lavalin that included geotechnical engineering, materials engineering and testing and environment. I recently joined Kiewit in to lead their geoprofessional growth goals in Canada.
Personally, I enjoy many hobbies and activities including jogging (about 40km a week), biking, fishing, skiing, hunting, cooking, and playing hockey. In fact, I only stopped playing competitive hockey a year ago recognizing the healing process from falls and collisions was taking longer and longer.
Conference agreed that the presentations were educational, entertaining, and inspiring. Now you can watch, listen to, and learn from these speakers too, on your own schedule. These videos are available for all GBA members on-demand at your convenience.
discussions related to perceptions and realities as it relates to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce.
strategies, and proven tactics critical to leading corporate performance beyond crisis. This helps you take advantage of the emerging new business environment.
Great Leaders Pivot, Not Panic: 6 Keys to Help Your Team Buy into Change, Adapt Quickly & Innovate for Future Success –
Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence – 
Pivot, Don’t Panic: The Four Investments Smart Teams Rely on During Uncertainty – 
that went wrong and how they overcame problems
Learn from others. Don’t repeat the mistakes of the past! GBA Case Histories are being used by our members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional development and mentoring. That is why GBA case histories are so valuable, and why GBA is updating them all, while adding new ones, too.
resources is its unique series of Case Histories. In February 2018, GBA volunteers embarked on a seemingly impossible challenge to refresh the first 101 Case Histories. We are thrilled to report, the mission has been accomplished and now all are rebranded, updated, and refreshed. Most
GBA Case Histories are obviously important to our members too. Since we started this project, our members downloaded on average more than 11 issues per business day, totaling about 7,700 downloads.
photo contest we asked Members to share: “How do you depict the day in the life of a Geoprofessional?”
of the past! GBA Case Histories are being used by our members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional development and mentoring. That is why GBA case histories are so valuable, and why GBA is updating them all, while adding new ones, too. Five more Case Histories have been re-issued.
conduct Phase I Environmental assessments since 1987.
on August 30, 2020 after battling lung cancer. He was a long-time contributor to GBA and to Terra Insurance Company. His over 40-year career was half spent as a chief executive of nationally recognized engineering businesses and half spent as an advisor to former competitors, industry consolidators, and other businesses committed to growth and profitability. He was a mentor to many and a friend to all.
“Keep carrying the torch for professionalism, high standards, and service to others. Don’t Let Up”.
