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. We are halfway there as five more case histories have been re-issued.

CASE HISTORY NO. 46 (download)
Conducting an error-free ESA is not enough. Eighteen months after the client purchased the site, its representative called the Member Firm’s project manager to report that state regulators were claiming they had discovered exposed, friable asbestos at the site. The exposure constituted an unlawful release of hazardous material, the regulators said, and posed a threat to public health.

CASE HISTORY NO. 47 (download)                                       
Four months after the Member Firm completed the geotechnical study, ownership of the property was transferred to a partnership formed to develop the site. The CEO of the development company’s friendship with the CEO of the Member Firm apparently was of little consequence, however, given that, eight months later, the member firm received a note threatening a lawsuit for not clearly stating in its report that the site could have significant contamination problems.

CASE HISTORY NO. 48 (download)
The client signed a GBA-Member Firm’s proposal without the standard terms and conditions pages. Then the PM thought he was doing a good deed by providing preliminary rock-excavation estimates during a project meeting. Ultimately the Member Firm’s CEO decided to settle a lawsuit that never should have happened.

CASE HISTORY NO. 49 (download)
When slag contaminated with flue dust was used instead of the recommended clean, well-graded gravel, the project was halted, and the EPA engaged. The member firm proactively took charge and solved the problem without legal battles.

CASE HISTORY NO. 50 (download)
After field work was complete and the GBA-Member Firm had demobilized from sampling at a Superfund site, it was discovered the laboratory exceeded certain sample holding-times and some of the testing it performed fell short of the prescribed quality-assurance minimums.

GBA Case Histories are FREE to all Members. Access all GBA’s Case Histories HERE

You may have seen “BPA Free” labels on plastic water bottles and other  containers or products.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a colorless solid that is poorly soluble in water, and durable,making it suitable for use in creating some plastics.  It can be found in common consumer goods such as sports equipment,DVDs, and some water bottles (not as much any longer) .  BPA epoxy resins were previously, and sometimes still are, used as lining in food/beverage cans. They are still currently used in thermal papers like receipts and other “glossy” papers.

How does BPA impact the environment?

BPA is a xenoestrogen, meaning that it exhibits estrogen-mimicking, hormone-like properties that raise concern about its suitability in consumer products and food containers.  Disposal of BPA-containing products into landfills and throughout the environment is of concern due to the potential for contamination of our groundwater, soils, and food supply.

What do Regulatory Agencies recommend?

As of February 2018,  based on the FDA’s ongoing safety review of scientific evidence, the available information indicates that BPA is safe for its currently approved uses in foods, food  containers and packaging.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed scientific information on BPA in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2015. On each occasion, EFSA’s experts concluded that BPA is safe at the known exposure levels and they could not identify new evidence which would lead them to revise their opinion. The EFSA does recognize some uncertainties and continues to investigate them.

Currently, the safety of BPA-free products is being questioned. The reality is that no one can specify the levels of BPA at which it can be deemed safe, or if it is even safe at all.

What are the potential Business Opportunities for my consulting firm?

BPA is still used in a variety of products and will continue to accumulate in our environment.  There is still significant uncertainty about whether BPA is safe.   Regulations from Federal and State agencies have yet to confirm what concentration levels could be considered safe.  As such, anyone currently using products containing BPA are unknowingly test subjects.  As with many environmental contaminants, the real effects of long-term exposure likely will not be known for decades.  BPA is an emerging contaminant to be aware of, and anticipate that future business opportunities may be present themselves as standards are refined and additional study data is made available.

EDUCATE YOUR CLIENTS:  GBA Updates Message to Owners – Construction Risks and Limitation of Liability

Designed for distribution to construction-project owners, this concise flyer points out effective means for managing risks, including limitation of liability. It explains that limitation of liability is not only a fair and reasonable approach, it can also result in lower construction costs while also encouraging design excellence.

The flyer underscores the importance of relying on a qualified geotechnical professional, noting that “the fee premium paid to achieve high quality is tiny compared to the cost of correcting the problems high quality can prevent.”

This valuable document is FREE to GBA Members and can be shared with clients to help them better understand how to manage risks and why limitation of liability is fair and reasonable

Download Here

GBA Releases Five More Case Histories: 41-45

GBA Case Histories are being used by our members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional development and mentoring. Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeating mistakes of the past which 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.

CASE HISTORY NO. 41 (download)

When two geotechnical engineering firms failed to collaborate on a Southern California apartment project, the result turned a $3,500 fee into a $1 million uninsured loss.

CASE HISTORY NO. 42 (download)

A Member-Firm, working on a new highway alignment in     mountainous

terrain performed a geotechnical-engineering study, report with criteria and recommendations, and provide on-call consultation to support design and construction of a roadway subdrainage system and related structures. Read how drought conditions and a belligerent landowner impacted this project.

CASE HISTORY NO. 43 (download)

A Member Firm did a favor for one of its major clients and took on a project with inadequate oversight. Problems occurred during dewatering and, when the subcontractor was dismissed, both the member and its client were sued.

CASE HISTORY NO. 44 (download)

An environmental consultant performed a hurried Phase I ESA for a developer and found no serious problems. A chlorinated solvent was discovered later, when the consultant performed a more rigorous study for a prospective purchaser. The developer initiated a suit against the owners of two suspected contamination sources. Both owners were clients of the environmental consultant.

CASE HISTORY NO. 45 (download)

An environmental consultant was retained to perform a Phase II ESA. When laboratory tests indicated unacceptable levels of a contaminant, the prospective purchaser reneged and demanded a return of its deposit. The developer refused, and a lawsuit ensued. In discovery, the parties learned that the site was not contaminated after all. Both the developer and prospective purchaser then sued the environmental consultant, who wound up paying $300,000, less $185,000 contributed by the laboratory.

GBA Case Histories are FREE to all Members. Access all GBA’s Case Histories HERE

Per- and Poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAs) concerns in the environment are one of the hottest emerging environmental topics in the country.  The compounds, developed in the 1950’s, have been used in a wide variety of everyday products including paper and plastics, water resistant fabrics coatings such as Gore-tex, non-stick coatings including Teflon, paper and packaging products, and stain resistant carpet and fabric coatings. Along with the processes and facilities responsible for the production of the goods, as the final repository for societal waste, PFAs are increasingly showing up in landfill leachate as the leaching process takes place within the landfill mass.

In the past 20+ years, an extremely effective class of flame suppressants, commonly referred to aqueous fire-fighting foam (AFFF), have been extensively used to contain fires at fuel refineries,industrial complexes, airports, and fire training facilities. Developed prior to the increasing concern of potential adverse health effects of PFAs and phased out both in the US and globally, AFFF is a significant source of PFAs.

With emerging concerns regarding human health risk and the increasing discovery of PFA-impacts in the soil, groundwater and surface water, in 2016 EPA issued a “non-binding” human health lifetime advisory level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) as a threshold value. With increasing national concern and lack of toxicity research, the EPA held a National PFAs Summit in May 2018 with the state health agency points of contact and other invited agencies.  The purpose of the summit was to develop a plan to address the PFAs issue from a federal level. Specific PFA compounds discussed in the summit meeting include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). A summary of the discussion can be found here: (https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-national-leadership-summit-and-engagement).

According to the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) representing the collective states, four action items came out of the Summit:

1. “EPA will initiate steps to evaluate the need for a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for PFOA and PFOS.
2. EPA is beginning the necessary steps to propose designating PFOA and PFOS as ‘hazardous substances’ through one of the available statutory mechanisms, including potentially CERCLA Section 102.
3. EPA is currently developing groundwater cleanup recommendations for PFOA and PFOS at contaminated sites and will complete this task by fall of this year.
4. EPA is taking action in close collaboration with our federal and state partners to develop toxicity values for GenX and PFBS.”

While the EPA has been accelerating the process of evaluating PFAs on a federal level, some states such as New Jersey, have set “state health advisory guidelines” that are lower than the EPA 70 ppt threshold. As recent as last week, California took the first step to establishing a state Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) in drinking water of 14/13 ppt for 2 specific PFAs compounds most often found.  New Hampshire has adopted a statewide testing program for water supplies as have most other states.

 Assessing the water supplies is a specialized process since the laboratory   detection levels are looking at ppt levels       Parts per trillion can be equated to a drop of water in the volume of a large scale  supermarket warehouse!  At these detection levels, particular caution needs to be taken to not introduce contamination from surfaces that could contain PFAs such as treated clothing, plastic containers, etc.

The expanding PFAs concern will continue to present opportunities in the environmental areas of due diligence in property transactions, assessment and remediation of impacted sites, and consulting regarding client risk identification and mitigation. Regarding deep foundation construction such as drilled shaft piers (caissons), impacted soil and groundwater containing PFAs will require special management.

The Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) is a state-lead private-public coalition dedicated to advancing the study of environmental solutions. They currently have a PFAs Team dedicated to developing technical guidance documents to provide a platform for better understanding PFAs assessment and management.  More information regarding PFAs can be found on their website such as 7 fact sheets including AFFF, an introductory document, and acronym list.  A link to the website can be found here:  https://pfas-1.itrcweb.org/ .  A final Tech Reg document is anticipated by late 2018 early 2019.

*Note: All images courtesy of the internet.

Read the real-life saga of a landowner’s tenant who tries to swindle a member-firm for medical costs for his horse and for lost breeding opportunities.

 The Client

A real-estate development company

The Project

An 87-acre, single-family home subdivision

Assignment of the GBA-Member Firm

Perform a pre-acquisition, preliminary geotechnical-engineering study.

 Background

A real-estate development company – a long-time client – engaged the GBA-Member Firm to perform a preliminary geotechnical-engineering study of an 87-acre tract of land the developer was considering for a single-family residential development. The tract, still being used for cattle grazing, was enclosed with barbed-wire fencing and a single-access gate. It was part of a larger section of land that was gradually being developed for residential and supporting commercial use.

On the first day of drilling, a wrangler on horseback rode up to the property and asked what was going on. This was the first of many engagements with the stranger on horseback.

Lessons Learned include:

• Use GBA’s Site-Access Authorization Forms
• Respond Promptly to Potential Claims
• Demonstrate Financial Fortitude
• Inform Your Insurance Provider
• Documentation Can Be Your Best Defense

GBA Resources for Site Access:

GBA’s Site-Access Authorization for Geotechnical Engineering Services

GBA’s Model Access Authorization for Phase I ESA’s

GBA has a tradition of collaborating on issues that impact the geoprofessions through GBA Case Histories. GBA Case Histories provide unprecedented real-world learning examples related to project and business management. Learn where others went wrong, how they handled their problems, and how you can learn from their experiences to avoid the same problems in the future. GBA Case Histories are FREE to all members.

Download GBA Case History #104 Here

The Fall Conference agenda has been finalized and this will be an incredible gathering. The theme for the conference is “Committing to Continuous Improvement” which supports our members’ daily effort to build stronger, smarter, more successful businesses. Conference speakers will help you to build a high-performance culture, communicate your brand clearly to employees and clients, stay current with new technology, and in GBA’s unique way, learn from the mistakes of others as we explore several case histories from our members.

Join us in Music City, Nashville, Tennessee — November 1-3, 2018

Keynotes include:

Principles for Building a High-Performance Culture
Brent Gleeson — Former Navy SEAL combat veteran, Brent Gleeson, turned his discipline and battlefield lessons to the world of business and has become an accomplished entrepreneur, bestselling author and acclaimed speaker on topics ranging from leadership and building high-performance teams to culture and organizational transformation.

Building Your Story Brand
Donald Miller — When it comes to discussing their businesses, many people are so close to their services that they do not know where to start. Donald Miller, the CEO of StoryBrand and a New York Times Bestselling author of three books — knows how hard it is to communicate clearly and has helped hundreds of large and small businesses clarify their messaging.

Uncomfortable Truths: Somebody Needs to Tell Folks What They Don’t Want to Hear, and It Might as Well Be Me…
Edward Wilson, P.E., F. GBA – Changes that member firms should adopt to cause their enterprises to be more profitable, more valuable, and more successful in the rapidly changing professional services market.

Bringing the Geoprofession to Life Barry Thacker, P.E. — Learn a fun and rewarding way to communicate with a multi-generational and diverse audience.

Pre-Conference Workshops: Start your visit to Nashville by attending one of three pre-conference workshops to be held prior to the conference from 8:00 AM to Noon on November 1st.

PROJECT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Managing Self & Others by Lee James, CPA., CMC., F.GBA

POSITIVELY IMPLEMENTING A CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY by June Jewell, CPA

JUMP START YOUR GROWTH by Bill Siegel, P.E., and Kevin McMahon

Workshop Details                                                                         

Conference will also include:

• Committee/Council Meetings
• Book Signings by Best Selling Authors
• GBA’s Unique Business Roundtables
• GBA’s Signature Receptions
• Tennessee Bourbon Distillery Tour and Tasting

This is a conference you won’t want to miss. Register now to attend on November 1-3, 2018 in Nashville.

CONFERENCE DETAILS

REGISTER NOW

The Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) has published new editions of two important legal references, both prepared for design professionals without use of “legalese”; both available free of charge. Limitation-of-Liability Case Index and Economic-Loss-Doctrine Case Index were prepared for GBA’s Legal Affairs Committee by Seattle (WA) law firm Skellenger Bender, P.S.

GBA introduced the limitation-of-liability (LOL) concept to the design and environmental professions in 1969. By applying the concept, now upheld in most states, a client agrees to limit a design professional’s liability to a given amount, most commonly $50,000 or the fee, whichever is higher. The Index describes each case in terms of its background and the points or holdings involved, and – to support additional research – identifies the case by name, jurisdiction, and citation. The cases span the period 1956 to May 2018.

The economic loss doctrine (ELD), another important protection for design professionals, bars use of tort claims (e.g., professional-negligence and negligent-misrepresentation claims) to recover purely economic losses, such as those stemming from property damage or construction delays. In states that uphold the ELD in full, claimants against design professionals may recover purely economic damages only via breach-of-contract suits, limiting claimants to design professionals’ clients. In other states, third parties, like constructors, can sue design professionals directly. Economic-Loss-Doctrine Case Index provides a state-by-state status report on the economic-loss doctrine, describing the cases involved and providing the additional information required for more research.

Download Limitation-of-Liability Case Index

Download Economic-Loss-Doctrine Case Index

For more than 15 years, GBA has been collecting key financial metrics frommember-firms so our members can measure their success and improve business performance and optimize efficiency. The newest GBA Business Brief — available only to members and free of charge – comprises the GBA Business Practices Committee’s 2017-18 Financial-Performance Survey report, covering key financial-performance issues surveyed firms reported.

GBA enhanced this year’s report with more data and trendlines so our members can track their progress on key financial indicators.

Thank you to all the firms that participated in the survey. We had more response to this survey than we have had in the past.  A special thanks to Lee James (Lee James & Associates), Dan Cassidy, CPG (SME) and Phil Pettway, (GBA) for collaborating on the survey and for their efforts compilation of the results.

In the spirit of our Association, GBA publications are a collaborative effort of GBA Member-Firms. They are provided to GBA Members to make them stronger, smarter and more successful and they are FREE to all members.

DOWNLOAD HERE

GBA Emerging Contaminants Spotlight – June 2018

Emerging contaminants are being referenced in the news more frequently and impacting many public and private entities.  It is imperative that geoprofessional businesses providing environmental consulting services, stay on the emerging contaminants issues.  Currently, EPA defines emerging contaminants as representing “unique and challenging environmental aspects”.  With the addition of thousands of new chemical formulations coming to market every year, and emerging laboratory testing methods, geoprofessionals are faced with evaluating and remediating contaminants more rapidly and differently than the past 48 years since RCRA and TSCA began.

How do emerging contaminants affect the environment?

Emerging contaminants represent a wide range of different compounds and materials that are gaining regulatory attention for how they affect the environment. Per-fluorinated compounds (i.e. PFAs, PFOAs, PBBs) are extremely difficult to treat and the current advisory toxicity levels are measured in the parts per trillion (ppt).  This is analogous to detecting a single granule of sugar in an Olympic swimming pool.  The effect on human health and the environment is long term, difficult to assess and costly to remediate.  Other emerging contaminants (i.e. microbeads and personal care product residuals) may not be treated successfully with conventional waste water treatment processes which may require water and wastewater treatment plants to add new treatment processes and require facility expansions.

How does this affect my geoprofessional consulting business?

Geoprofessional consulting firms that are educated in the potential effects of emerging contaminants are better positioned to support clients including municipalities, water and wastewater treatment facilities and private industry who may be impacted by the release(s) of the new contaminants to the environment.

Each month, the Environmental Business Council of the GBA will spotlight a different group of emerging contaminants and discuss the evolving regulations and provide up-to-date knowledge of environmental contaminant distribution and the EPA’s position on them. GBA’s spotlight on emerging contaminants will help you and your clients stay ahead of this rapidly developing market so you will be smarter, stronger, and more successful.

GBA Releases Five More Case Histories: 36-40

GBA Case Histories are being used by our members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional development and mentoring. Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeating mistakes of the past which 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 issued.

CASE HISTORY NO. 36 (download)

A Member-Firm conducted a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) facility assessment – generally referred to as a RCRA facility assessment or RFA – to check for release of hazardous substances at a manufacturing facility. Read how the site owner threw up legal and physical roadblocks to impede progress of the project and how you can avoid similar problems.

CASE HISTORY NO. 37 (download)

A Member-Firm, working on a new highway alignment in mountainous terrain performed a geotechnical-engineering study, report with criteria and recommendations, and provide on-call consultation to support design and construction of a roadway subdrainage system and related structures.  Read how drought conditions and a belligerent landowner impacted this project.

CASE HISTORY NO. 38 (download)

A GBA Member-Firm perform a geotechnical-engineering study and provide a report that includes recommendations for building-foundation and parking-lot-pavement design on a one-story office building, without a signed agreement.

CASE HISTORY NO. 39 (download)

A Member-Firm perform a geotechnical-engineering study, submitted a report of findings and recommendations for foundation design, and observed foundation construction. A project delay, unanticipated soil conditions, changes in project ownership, and differential settlement all contributed to this challenging project.

CASE HISTORY NO. 40 (download)

A GBA Member encountered an old “building-refuse dump” during a geotechnical-engineering study for a senior-citizens-housing development. Project delays, project budget constraints, and an inexperienced project manager contributed to this difficult project.

GBA Case Histories are FREE to all Members. Access all GBA’s Case Histories HERE

2018 Spring Conference Videos Now Available
Those that attended GBA’s 2018 Spring Conference in Chicago agreed that the speakers were inspiring. Now you can watch, listen to, and learn from these speakers, too, on your own schedule, and without leaving your office. Just some of the presentations include:

Lead from the Heart                                                          
Mark C. Crowley (Mark C. Crowley & Associates)

Global speaker, consultant & best-selling author of Lead from the Heart: Transformational Leadership for the 21st Century, Mark C. Crowley’s mission is to fundamentally change how you lead and manage people in the workplace – and to intentionally make it far more supportive of human needs.

You Are the Message: Speak from the Heart              
John Vautier (Vautier Communications)

Author, consultant, and seasoned executive coach, John Vautier who has worked successfully with all levels of corporate, government, and academic institutions from CEOs to new hires will help you identify and build upon your existing strengths so that you can take your presentation skills to the next level and actively engage your audience.

Leveraging Technology as a Competitive Differentiator
Dr. Roger Chandler (Keynetix)

Investing in new equipment is the lifeblood for many businesses, especially when jumps in technology lead to large improvements in efficiencies and cost-effectiveness. This presentation highlights some of the advances in technology using real life case studies from across the world. Each stage of the geotechnical data journey will be investigated, from onsite data collection through reporting, visualization and archive.

Compassionate Leadership – Leading with the Heart and the Head
Stewart G. Osgood, P.E. (DOWL)

Stewart G. Osgood, P.E. discusses his 16-year term as President of DOWL, some of the challenges that have faced his company, how his leadership team has chosen to respond, and some successes and failures along the way. This is not a clean, “we got it all figured out” story. It is a real-life example of the leadership journey of the DOWL company and how Stewart and his team has attempted to use basic core principles to achieve “heartfelt business leadership”.

Empathy is the NEW Black – A New Way of Looking at Leadership!
Bob Kelleher (The Employee Engagement Group)

Join industry expert and noted author, Bob Kelleher as he shares groundbreaking insights from his latest book, I-Engage. Bob will share two key trends leaders must embrace in-order to recruit, retain, and engage the best. Leaders must understand their OWN engagement before they can effectively lead or engage others.

Watch this captivating and self-reflective two-segment session of self-discovery as Bob helps you uncover the secrets to building a more engaged, motivated, and productive business.

Also Included:

Business Practices Committee Business Snapshot Survey
Steve Noble, P.E. (DOWL)

Update Standard of Care for Phase I Environmental Site Assessment 2007-2010
W. Jerrold “Jerry” Samford, P.G., F.GBA (Troutman Sanders)

City of Chicago – Riverwalk Project
Carol Ross Barney, FAIA (Ross Barney Architects)

“Mr. Green’s Fine Tuned, Peer Reviewed Machine”
Steven R. “Steve” Thompson, P.E. (8260 Consulting Group LLC)

Reflecting on the History of GBA
Joel G. Carson (Geoprofessional Business Association)

All videos from GBA’s Fall 2018 Conference are available on-demand to members

WATCH NOW

Gordon M. Matheson, Ph.D., P.E., P.G.,D.GE (UTG, LLC), Laura Reinbold, P.E.(Terracon), Michael V. Smith, P.G., C.E.G.(Earth Systems, Inc.) and Steven D.Thorne, P.E., D.GE (Terracon), and have been appointed to the prestigious Council of Fellows of the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA).  The organization established the Council in 1975 to provide guidance for GBA’s direction and to pursue other activities its members deemed appropriate. The appointment was announced during GBA’s 2018 Spring Conference by W. Jerrold Samford, P.G. (Troutman Sanders LLP), chair of GBA’s Council of Fellows.

Gordon Matheson has been practicing as a consultant and business leader in the geoprofession since 1974. He has worked for consulting firms and industry owners throughout his career. He was President/CEO of Schnabel Engineering from 2001 to 2016 when he retired after 29 years with the firm. He continues to work part time with UTG, LLC, a small firm based in Northern Virginia, that provides subject matter experts and project managers to U.S. Government clients. Dr. Matheson received his B.S. from Virginia Tech, his M.S. from University of Missouri at Rolla, and his Ph.D. from Colorado School of Mines. He was Chair of the GBA Business Practices for 2 years and a member of the GBA Board of Directors for 6 years in which he was President of GBA in 2015/2016. He is currently on the Board of Academy of Geo-Professionals of ASCE.

 Ms. Reinbold is National Director for Healthcare at Terracon Consultants Inc.  A  graduate of Vanderbilt University in Civil Engineering, Ms. Reinbold has been in the geoprofessional industry for over 30 years. She was appointed by Tennessee’s Governor for a four-year term on the state’s  Architectural and Engineering Licensing Board; served as a past-President of GBA (2016-17);  and currently serves on: the Advisory Board of Urban Land Institute, Nashville District; the Economic Development Committee of  the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Partnership 2020 and Chamber South’s Leadership Board, and is Founder of AEC Power Women, a group dedicated to educating and connecting female leaders in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction. Ms. Reinbold received   the Nashville Business Journal 2016 Women of Influence Trailblazer award; the Nashville Chamber of Commerce 2016 Spirit of the Chamber Award; and was a 2016 ATHENA nominee for women of distinction in business. She is a proud member of the Nashville Downtown club of Rotary International.

 Michael V. Smith, P.G., CEG, is Chairman Emeritus of Earth  Systems, Inc.  He is a graduate of California State   University, Fresno with a BA in Geology, and two additional years in geotechnical engineering.  In 1970, he started his career with Kleinfelder Associates, spending    time in Saudi Arabia on the Riyadh International Airport. From 1978 to 1981, he consulted as Michael V. Smith – Engineering Geology in Palmdale, California.  Mike joined Earth Systems, Inc. in 1981, became President/CEO    in 1994, and retired as Chairman of the   Board in 2017.  He has been active in GBA since 1976 and is a past GBA Director.  He is a Past President of the California Geotechnical Engineers Association, past President of two Rotary Clubs, and served on the San Luis  Obispo Chamber Seismic Task Force.

Mr. Thorne is a principal with Terracon Consultants Inc. and manager of its northern New Jersey and metro-Philadelphia offices. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)and has 35 years of diversified geotechnical and environmental engineering consulting experience, with particular focus in areasof deep foundations, soft ground construction, ground improvement and seismic evaluation.  Mr. Thorne became active in GBA committee work in 1998, held various committee leadership roles, served on the Board of Directors from 2008 to 2015 and was GBA president in 2014-15.  He is currently president-elect of Civil Engineering Certification (CEC), an organization created by ASCE to provide post-licensure board certification for the specialty sub-disciplines within civil engineering.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Matheson, Ms. Reinbold, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Thorne for their appointment into the GBA Council of Fellows.