Have you ever wondered how a skilled business coach can help you or your firm? If so, you’re in the right place. Welcome to GBA’s Leadership Lounge – a podcast series that will teach you how to elevate your team – but only if you tune in!

In the latest episode, GBA Podcast hosts catch up with Sydne Jacques, P.E., CSP, a business coach who specializes in leadership and team development, particularly within the engineering and construction industries. Jacques discusses her career journey, her coaching philosophy, and several frameworks she uses to improve team communication, address conflict, and foster a positive work environment.

Sydne, the CEO of Next Level Leadership, is a professional engineer turned professional speaker and consultant who is often referred to as “the engineer with a personality.”

Listeners will learn about the power of frameworks and the Upper Arrow model; Sydne’s foundational philosophy of human connection; how to address conflicting perspectives; and the HIPP Model: A Framework for Feedback.

LISTEN NOW.

The GBA Podcast is available to everyone, while GBA members get the special benefit of hearing even more from Sydne by reliving her presentation at GBA’s 2023 Fall Conference: WATCH NOW.

In the GBA Podcast Leadership Lounge, hosts Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP-2, PMP (SME) and Ryan White, P.E., G.E. (PBS Engineering and Environmental LLC) pick the brains of business coaches who share tools, insights, and practical tips to elevate geoprofessional teams. Success in business is a team sport, and our guest coaches know how to write a game plan for business victory.

The GBA Podcast was the brainchild of GBA’s Emerging Leaders Class 4 in 2020 and contains information and expertise from geoprofessionals around the globe. Podcast series include Management Best Practices, Case Histories, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Leadership Lounge.

Our phones and the applications on them have become an extension of our toolbox. In today’s fast-paced business landscape, leveraging technology is crucial for optimizing productivity and driving profitability.             

App-makers promise their newest invention will make life easier, save you time, help you remember things, and enable you to accomplish goals and meet deadlines. But which ones are actually up to snuff?

As part of the 2024 GBA Annual Conference, GBA’s Business Practices Committee hosted the ever-popular business round table sessions, where conference attendees discussed 12 important topics relevant to the geoprofessions.

One topic was how leveraging workplace apps can significantly enhance efficiency and productivity. Below is a tried-and-true list of apps used and recommended by working geoprofessional consultants.

Top Apps to Increase Geoprofessional Efficiency and Productivity

• PDF Scanner – Scan documents to PDF with mobile device. There are several other apps that do this as well and were also mentioned: The Notes app on the iPhone or the standard Notes app on Android; Microsoft Lens. More info.
• Power Automate – Microsoft app; low code/no code process controller. You can use the app to create “rules” with Microsoft products. Microsoft “Lists” app also works together with Power Automate to do some great processes for an organization. Power Automate is built to work under SharePoint. More info.
• OneNote – Take notes in a meeting and collaborate with multiple users at once. (This comes as part of Microsoft Office.) More info.
• CompanyCam – Cloud-based app that features a searchable database, photos, and file saving; can also turn photos into PDFs. More info.
• Filio – Data collection app that helps users manage project photos and videos. More info.
• Todoist – Allows capturing and categorization of to-do items; can add projects, estimated time of completion, priority level. More info.
• FieldMove Clino – Allows geological mapping (strike and dip measurements). More info.
• Stereonet Mobile – Designed to help users collect, visualize, and analyze geological orientation data on the go. More info.
• Rockd – Allows users to record geological observations; uses location to provide spatially informed suggestions for nearby geologic units. More info.
• Moasure – Measures distance, topography, and distance between points; has a gyroscope and accelerometer. More info.
• SharePoint – Not just document management; lists that can control metadata and control processes. More info.
• Obsidian – Allows users to store and organize notes on their device to help customize workflow. More info.

Other topics that were discussed at this year’s business round tables included:
• Getting paid quicker (attacking accounts receivable to increase profits)
• Climate resiliency opportunities for geoprofessionals
• Alternatives to ownership to retain great employees.

You can view the notes from each round table discussion, which include key takeaways to share with GBA members, by clicking here.

(Reference to apps or products does not necessarily constitute or imply their endorsement, recommendation, or favor of GBA.)

GBA is committed to promoting the value of geoprofessionals and for our 2024 photo contest we asked members to share: “How do you depict a day in the life of a geoprofessional?”

The 70 photos that were submitted showed the wide range of impact our members have across North America. In the field, on the road or on the water, in the deep woods and along the coasts, in the heart of busy city centers – geoprofessionals are inherently woven throughout communities. These vibrant photos capture our members in field activities, meeting with colleagues and clients, and observing safety in some amazing locations.

All winners’ photos will be featured on the GBA website and during upcoming GBA events, including the Fall Leadership Summit in October.

Thank you to everyone who submitted photos this year!

Grand Prize Winner

Photographer: Leyla Safari, P.E., CTL|Thompson
Location: Big Sky, MT
Caption: Drilling exploratory borings during the first snowstorm of the season for a proposed water storage pond in Big Sky, Montana.

Overall Runner-up

Photographer: Carl Tacker, Terracon
Location: Near Denali Park, AK, Parks Highway, over the Nenana River.
Caption: Keeping our infrastructure safe. Performing non-destructive testing of in-service bridge welds on tension members that utilized AASHTO M244 Grade100 steel, otherwise known as T-1 (ASTM A514, A517) steel. Under Bridge Inspection Truck (UBIT) utilized for access to bottom of superstructure.

Overall Second Runner-up

Photographer: Kyle Kilfian, GeoEngineers
Location: Donaldsonville, LA
Caption: GeoEngineers’ Baton Rouge drill team took their shiny new rig onto the Mississippi for some over-water drilling near the Sunshine Bridge in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. The rig is a custom-built Mobile Drill International B-58, and with the help of a drilling barge it works just as well on the water! A 14″ steel pipe known as a “rat hole” or “moon pool” provides drilling access right through the deck of the barge. Shifting currents, boat traffic, and other hazards make over-water drilling very complex, but this experienced team is up to the challenge!

Category Winners

Safe Working Practices Category

Photographer: Chris Gardner, Earth Systems
Location: Palmdale, CA
Caption: A crew in the desert begins pouring concrete before sunrise to avoid extreme heat temperatures in the summer.

Client Collaboration Category

Photographer: Bonnie Nelson, Strata
Location: Coeur d’Alene, ID
Caption: End of day discussion between engineering firm and contractor on the day’s work.

Construction Materials Testing and Inspection (CoMET) Category

Photographer: Noah White, ALLWEST Testing & Engineering
Location: Liberty Lake, WA
Caption: This was at the start of night paving in Liberty Lake, WA along with Inland Asphalt from Spokane, WA. I was onsite with my company, ALLWEST, to perform density testing.

Environmental Services Category

Photographer: Nurhan Ansari, Grounded Engineering
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Caption: Drilling groundwater monitoring wells in bedrock, in a utility corridor while the 70-storey building is being constructed. A utility corridor is located along the western portion of the property that contains soil exceedances, specifically Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) that will not be removed as part of the site redevelopment activities.

Geotechnical Services Category

Photographer: Don Seserko, P.E., ECS Mid-Atlantic
Location: 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension Project (495 NEXT), McLean, VA
Caption: Field visit to observe installed steel H-piles for new bridge over the Dulles Toll Road (Rte 267). The piles are wrapped in yellow friction-reducing sleeves to mitigate down drag and are located behind an MSE wall being backfilled with crushed stone.

GBA is pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to the prestigious GBA Council of Fellows. GBA established the Council of Fellows in 1975 to provide guidance for GBA’s direction and to pursue other activities its members deemed appropriate.

The new fellows are:

• Thomas “Tom” Blackburn, P.E., G.E., F.GBA, F.ASCE, F.ACEC (Blackburn Consulting)
• Frank W. Pita, P.E., L.H.G., F.GBA, F.ASCE, D.GE (Retired)
• Terence J. Scanlan, Esq., F.GBA (Cairncross & Hempelmann, P.S.)
• Leo J. Titus, Jr., P.E., F.GBA (ECS Group of Companies)
• Michael “Mike” J. Yost, Esq., F.GBA (Terracon)

Mr. Blackburn is president of Blackburn Consulting, an employee-owned firm he started with his wife Grace    in 1998. He earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology). Tom served as GBA President in   2021-2022 and his board and committee participation includes:

• Peer Review Committee member: 2011-present
• Peer Review Committee Chair: 2015-2016
• Board of Directors: 2016-2022
• GBA President: 2021-2022

Learn more about Tom Blackburn.

Mr. Pita has been participating in GBA activities and meetings for 35 years. Over this time, he served as a firm representative from CH2M Hill, Shannon & Wilson, Milbor-Pita and Associates, and Jacobs Associates.

His GBA board and committee participation includes:

• Chairman, Geo-environmental Committee: 1992-1993
• ASFE Board of Directors: 1993-95
• Codes & Standards Committee / Professional Practice Committee: Mid 1990s-Early 2000s
• EIT Committee: 2010-2019

Learn more about Frank Pita.

Mr. Scanlan is an attorney at Cairncross & Hempelmann, P.S., who’s litigation practice includes contract disputes, risk management,    professional negligence, errors and omissions claims, as well as wrongful death claims and catastrophic torts. A long-time supporter of GBA, Mr. Scanlan led a team of attorneys in rewriting GBA’s popular Contract Reference Guide. He’s also been a perennial presenter at GBA conferences. Terry’s  committee participation includes:

• Legal Affairs Committee member: 2003-present
• Legal Affairs Committee Vice Chair: 2008-2020
• Legal Affairs Committee Chair: 2019-2024

Learn more about Terry Scanlan.

Mr. Titus is a GBA Past-President (2022-2023) and current Chief Operating Officer at ECS Limited. Leo earned his master’s degree in geotechnical engineering at the University of Maryland. He was recognized in 2019 for his work in the development of a GBA Case History that serves as a valuable resource for all firms.

Leo’s GBA board and committee participation includes:

• Emerging Issues and Trends Committee member: 2011-present
• Board of Directors: 2017-2023
• President: 2022-2023

Learn more about Leo Titus.

   Mr. Yost is the Chief Administrative Officer at Terracon. Not only does he present valuable          information at GBA conferences, he also represents the association at other industry events. Yost earned a Bachelor of  Science degree in business management from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Mike’s GBA board and committee participation includes:

• Legal Affairs Committee Chair: 2008-2016
• Legal Affairs Committee member: 2008-present

Learn more about Mike Yost.

These geoprofessionals are outstanding examples of the breadth of expertise and level of commitment to risk management, business optimization, and professional development that GBA members display across the board. We are proud to recognize them and their contributions to our organization and to elevating geoprofessional value by providing leadership, knowledge, and resources. Please join us in congratulating these industry leaders on their appointments!

In the spirit of elevating geoprofessional value, acting as trusted advisors, and holding health, safety, and welfare paramount, the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) has made three important mine tailings documents available for the first time to everyone at NO COST, regardless of GBA  membership. These documents will guide mine owners, regulators, and practitioners toward a more efficient and safer approach to designing and maintaining mine tailings dams.

To download these resources, you will need to have a GBA account. LEARN MORE. Non-members, or those without accounts, will need to click “Don’t have an account?” and follow the prompts.

Previously only available to GBA member firms, you may now access the following documents at no cost:

Proposed Best Practices for Engineer of Record for Tailings Dams: DOWNLOAD HERE
This document provides recommendations from an informed body of geotechnical engineering practitioners for defining the roles and responsibilities of an Engineer of Record for a tailings dam or coal combustion residuals dam to enhance safety, environmental suitability, and social sustainability.

Business Brief: Addressing the Issue of Engineer of Record for Tailings Storage Facilities: DOWNLOAD HERE
This document informs and educates engineering firms of the ever-increasing levels of risk associated with tailings-related work.

Important Information About this Tailings Storage Facility Design Report: DOWNLOAD HERE
This report was prepared by a GBA member firm in accordance with guidelines developed by GBA and reviewed by other recognized dam and mine safety organizations.

These materials supplement each other and you are encouraged to download all of them and begin using them immediately.

If you need assistance accessing the resources or setting up your GBA account, please contact GBA at info@geoprofessional.org or 301-565-2733.

Other feedback, questions, or commentary may be directed to GBA Executive Director Joel G. Carson at jcarson@geoprofessional.org.

These resources are examples of GBA’s ability to positively impact the geoprofessional industry through planning and collaboration – and increasing access to them will elevate the safety of mine tailings dams worldwide.

GBA helps members become better educated, more skilled, more professional, and more successful, and it does so largely through its library of hundreds of resources: publications, audio programs, videos, webinars, training curricula, model documents, case studies, and more.
Learn more about GBA resources, which are almost all available free to members. Select resources may be purchased by non-members.

Are you interested in becoming a GBA member and gaining access to hundreds of industry-specific risk management materials to help you train and retain staff and operate your firm more successfully? Learn more here.

GBA Business Technology Committee

In the ever-evolving landscape of the geoprofessional industry, artificial  intelligence (AI) continues to drive innovation, efficiency, and curiosity. GBA’s Business Technology Committee is producing a six-part series to educate GBA members on the implications of AI on the geoprofessions. The articles, written by Enrique Farfan, Ph.D., P.E. ENV SP (HDR), explore how this technology works and its potential uses.

The fifth article in the series teaches readers how to role-play with an AI version of someone (a digital twin) and uses a ChatGPT conversation with the esteemed “Karl von Terzaghi” as an example.

Role-playing with large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT offers an immersive way to interact with data and knowledge. The benefits could include learning through interactive simulations, training programs, and entertainment. With LLMs, creativity can meet the boundless potential of AI and forge new paths toward knowledge and innovation.

Although using AI to create digital twins of ourselves raises many questions about mental health impacts, ethics, and legality, digital twins have the potential to connect people and spread knowledge.

This article provides specific, actionable guidelines for writing a superprompt in ChatGPT to role-play with a LLM version of someone, and a real example of how to apply those guidelines.

In addition to chatting with real historical figures, you can interact with data through role-play by establishing a fictional character that you can gather information from or bounce ideas off.

This technology has a long way to go before it can provide reliable and accurate information. However, this little game of role-play offers a glimpse into what could be possible in the near future.

READ “ROLE-PLAY YOUR WAY: HOW TO TALK WITH TERZAGHI”

See the previous articles in the series:
AI Unveiled: The Wizardry Behind Chatbots and Intelligent Systems
How Large Language Models Work: In a Nutshell
The Ghost in the Machine: Hallucinations
Superprompts: How to Talk with the Genie and Keep it in the Bottle

GBA’s Annual Report was prepared to report progress and highlight key accomplishments of the Association during the fiscal year 2023-2024. It is intended to keep all members current with significant accomplishments of the Board, Committees and all the volunteers who support it.

“GBA is the only professional organization I know of that prepares an annual report like this,” said one member. “It is valuable to see GBA’s progress and it’s refreshing that GBA is so transparent.”

The Annual Report includes updates on:

• Association Membership                                                     
• Annual Awards
• Conference Attendance
• New and Updated Publications and Multimedia
• Alliance Organizations
• Association Finances
• GBA Committees
• Member Firms Represented
• Other Notable Accomplishments
• Plans for Fiscal Year 2024-2025

This is an opportunity for every member of GBA to better understand what GBA accomplished last year, where we are today, and the direction of the association going forward.

Download the Annual Report HERE.

GBA Executive Director Joel Carson

On Wednesday, July 17, I received a call from a GBA Board Member asking if I was trying to send him a proposal. While this seemed suspicious, I just told him it must be a phishing effort and asked him to disregard the email.

That was the start of an onslaught of emails, text messages, and phone calls from friends and colleagues from across North America. It quickly became apparent that my Microsoft Outlook account had been hacked and I became very concerned, very quickly. I thought about worst case scenarios and started sweating.

Here are the steps I took to overcome this significant issue.

SECURE ACCOUNT
I quickly contacted GBA’s IT consultant who thankfully is always quick to respond, even though today he was in an important meeting. He stepped out of his meeting and immediately started working with me to resolve the issue and it was not simple. It was determined that the hacker accessed my email server through my Google account and was sending out notices asking my contacts to open a proposal. Additionally, when my contacts responded by email asking if the proposal request was legitimate, the hacker responded giving a false sense of security! This is a new and sophisticated approach to hacking that I had not heard of but something we should all be aware of now.

We tried to reset my Microsoft password but it was challenging because my authenticator app had been compromised as well. After clearing select apps and setting up my email account, the issue was resolved, resecuring my account and updating my authenticator. Although I felt some relief, the work was not done.

RESPOND TO INQUIRIES
I started responding to emails and text messages about this issue. In some cases, the messages were simply to let me know something was suspicious and in other cases my contacts were asking me to send the proposal in different formats as they had followed the hacker’s instructions, provided their account information, and still could not see my proposal.

PROACTIVELY COMMUNICATE
I also asked our IT consultant for a list of all the emails that had been sent from my account since the previous day. I felt it important to let everyone know about this issue so I sent an email to each of them. I apologized, explained the situation, confirmed we take cybersecurity seriously, and provided suggestions to manage the risk.

I received numerous email responses which helped ease the stress. Our members are compassionate and supportive.

LESSONS LEARNED
Consistent with our members Case Histories, I compiled a list of lessons I learned during the day.
1. If there is an issue with your computer or suspect it has been compromised, don’t hesitate. Contact your IT support immediately and let your colleagues know.
2. If you receive a suspicious email do not open it.
3. If you think an email is suspicious but need to double-check, don’t send an email on the same format asking if it is legitimate. Call or text the person. It is important to use a different communication method to verify legitimacy.
4. When you have an issue, let anyone that could be impacted know. Start with an apology, be clear about the issue, confirm the issue is resolved, provide suggestions on ways to manage risk, and end with an apology. Transparency is critical.
5. GBA Members and our business partners are awesome. They are understanding, compassionate, and supportive. I already knew this, but the points were emphasized on this day.

CLOSING
One of the things I most appreciate about GBA is the mutual support of our members through good times and through challenging times. I see this in Committee Meetings, Peer Groups, and regular communication among our members. I witnessed this firsthand. Another thing I appreciate about GBA members is our willingness to share experiences with each other so we can all learn together and elevate our profession together. In part, I was prompted to prepare this lesson learned in response to the sharing I observe each day as Director and this is why GBA Case Histories are so important.

If you have other best practices to share about computer security or technology in general, please let me know. I appreciate your support and willingness to elevate our profession.

GBA Business Technology Committee

In the ever-evolving landscape of the geoprofessional industry, artificial

intelligence (AI) continues to drive innovation, efficiency, and curiosity.
GBA’s Business Technology Committee is producing a six-part series to educate
GBA members on the implications of AI on the geoprofessions. The articles,
written by Enrique Farfan, Ph.D., P.E. ENV SP (HDR), explore how this technology works and its potential uses.

The fourth article in the series focuses on superprompts – elaborate commands to secure relevant responses from large language models (LLMs). LLMS are like mischievous genies that require precise requests. Without precision, a genie might place caveats on a wish, and so will LLM when generating a response.

The article provides examples of responses from prompts versus those from superprompts, as well as general guidelines to observe when prompt writing.

How people communicate will computers has come a long way. Technology professionals no longer just need to understand coding language – they need to be able to generate precise superprompts for communicating with LLMs. Focusing on this crucial skill will allow users to leverage AI for problem solving and future innovation.

READ “SUPERPROMPTS: HOW TO TALK WITH THE GENIE AND KEEP IT IN THE BOTTLE”

See the previous articles in the series:
AI Unveiled: The Wizardry Behind Chatbots and Intelligent Systems
How Large Language Models Work: In a Nutshell
The Ghost in the Machine: Hallucinations