NEW! Case History # 103 – Nuclear Gauge Management
NEW! Case History #103 – Nuclear Gauge Management
If you own or operate nuclear densometer gauges, you must read this GBA Case History. After three destroyed gauges and numerous other violations, a Member-Firm was facing civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and revocation of their license to own and/or operate nuclear gauges. They paid a $150,000 settlement but more importantly developed a compliance program hailed as “a model for the industry”.
Learn from their mistakes and from their commitment to change their culture through immediate action to create, test, launch, and monitor sustainable, institutional controls to address the underling causes of the violations, as well as specific regulatory compliance issues.
GBA Case H...
GBA Podcast Reaches 30,000 Downloads
The GBA Podcast has officially surpassed 30,000 downloads—an exciting milestone that reflects the growing demand for practical, experience-driven insights across the geoprofessional community. What began as a project developed by GBA’s Emerging Leaders Program has evolved into a trusted platform for sharing lessons learned, elevating leadership, and helping firms reduce risk and optimize performance.
Created to make GBA’s signature content more accessible, the podcast transforms real-world Case Histories and expert perspectives into engaging audio episodes that professionals can take anywhere. Today, it features a wide range of series, including Case Histories, Leadership Lounge, Management Best Practices, GeoHeroes, Intentional and Inclusive Communication, and the monthly First W...
2026 Annual Conference Proceedings
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GBA Podcast Spotlights Risk, Judgment, and Inclusive Communication
Three new episodes of the GBA Podcast are now available, offering geoprofessionals insights into risk management, decision-making, and the power of intentional communication. Listen to learn from real-world experience—both technical and interpersonal—to improve project outcomes, strengthen teams, and reduce risk in your firm.
Inclusion Advancement Series, Episode 1: Communication Basics—Intentional and Inclusive Communication
The newest episode marks the launch of a three-part podcast series developed by GBA’s Inclusion Advancement Committee. This first conversation explores why communication is not a “soft skill,” but a core competency in geoprofessional practice.
Moderated by Inclusion Advancement Committee Chair Rob Howard, P.E., the episode features a panel discuss...
New Safety Committee Launched
GBA is pleased to announce that the Safety Subcommittee has been approved as a new full committee, following action taken at the GBA Board meeting on April 21, 2026. The committee was created to help GBA member firms strengthen the safety, health, and wellbeing of employees through practical resources, peer-to-peer learning, and tools that can be applied across roles and project types.
The new committee will focus on facilitating knowledge sharing among member firms; collecting and disseminating best practices for routine and high-risk tasks; supporting safety-related Case Histories; partnering with other GBA committees on projects with safety implications; and helping develop safety content for conferences, workshops, and webinars.
Chair: Rachel Hile-Broad (Hile Group)
Vice Chair: ...
Two New Podcast Episodes: When to Speak Up—and How to Get Credit for Value
Two new episodes of the GBA Podcast Case History series are now available—each built around a real-world scenario that turns lived experience into practical, firm-protecting insight.
The March 17 episode explores what can happen when a project team pressures you to stay quiet and “just follow the plans,” even when conditions demand professional judgment. The March 31 episode features a “higher-ground” outcome—where smart field observations and innovative testing created major client savings.
Don’t Rush “Go Along to Get Along.” Don’t Get Bullied
In this episode about GBA Case History #89, a GBA member firm is retained for a geotechnical study and later construction materials engineering and testing services for a challenging building site. Early in construction, a ...
Two New Episodes: Small Projects, Big Risk—And the Pressure to Stay Quiet
Two new episodes in the GBA Podcast Case History series are ready for you to cue up—each one turning a real-world scenario into practical, risk-reducing insight for geoprofessionals and firm leaders.
Small Projects Can Create Big Risk…Yet Again, and Again and Again…
In the March 3 episode on Case History #45, co-hosts Elizabeth Brown, P.E. (JLT Consultants) and Abi Corbett (SME) unpack how a seemingly routine environmental site assessment can escalate into major legal exposure.
As Brown frames it, this is “a classic story of how a project that seems small and routine can suddenly spiral into a multimillion-dollar legal nightmare.”
Listeners will hear how lab testing errors, missing written agreements, and thin internal review can collide—along with what to do differ...
Tune in to the “12 Days of GBA” Podcast Series
As the year draws to a close, GBA is excited to present a brand-new take on a favorite holiday tradition: the “12 Days of GBA”! In this special series from the GBA Podcast, hosts, producers, and GBA Multimedia Committee members Tiffany Vorhies, PMP, NACE CIP-2 (SME) and Ryan White, P.E., G.E., F. ASCE (Apex Companies) showcase the very best resources, stories, and learning opportunities that GBA has to offer—one day at a time.
The series kicked off with three fan favorites: Case Histories, GBA Committees, and NEWSlog. From there, the countdown will continue with fresh topics daily—covering everything from leadership training and risk management to best practices, peer review, and more. But here’s the twist: you’ll have to tune in each day to discover what’s next!
Ne...
Interview with the “Luckiest Guy on Earth”
Interview with the “Luckiest Guy on Earth”
GBA Executive Director Joel Carson is the featured guest on the latest episode of the GeoHeroes podcast, hosted by GBA past-President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, F.ASCE. In this conversation, Carson shares his journey from driller’s helper to industry leader, reflecting on the pivotal moments and a spontaneous “maybe” that shaped his career and granted him the “gift of leadership.”
Growing up in an engineering family and moving frequently, Joel learned early on to embrace change and overcome challenges—skills that proved invaluable throughout his 25+ years in consulting and then his transition to association leadership. “I feel like the luckiest guy on earth to be in the role of Executive Director at GBA,” Car...
Registration Now Open for the 2026 GBA Annual Conference in Phoenix!
GBA invites you to register for our 2026 Annual Conference, April 22-25, in Phoenix, Arizona. This year’s theme — Geoprofessional Vibrancy, Impact, and Professionalism — focuses on developing leaders who drive innovation and excellence in our industry.
The conference agenda is packed with sessions designed to help you grow as a geoprofessional leader, including:
• Business is a Marathon: Jim Weber, former Brooks Running CEO, shares how strong leadership and adaptability transformed a near-bankrupt company into a billion-dollar global powerhouse.
• GeoHeroes: Stop Managing, Start Leading: Ryan White, P.E., G.E., F.ASCE (Apex Companies) and Guy Marcozzi, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, F.ASCE, reveal career development patterns from interviews with top geoprofessional leaders.
• Pres...
GBA Podcast Surpasses 20,000 Downloads
GBA is thrilled to share that the GBA Podcast has officially surpassed 20,000 downloads! The podcast delivers expert insights from geoprofessionals worldwide—empowering listeners to optimize their business and reduce risk.
The GBA Podcast was born from the creativity and collaboration of Class 4 of the GBA Emerging Leaders Program, a cohort of rising professionals tasked with developing a project that would benefit the geoprofessional community. Inspired by GBA’s long-standing tradition of sharing Case Histories—real-world lessons learned from project challenges—the team envisioned a more accessible, engaging format that could reach professionals wherever they are.
In early 2021, the podcast officially launched with its first series, COVID Concerns, followed by the transforma...
Are Your New Hires Really Ready?
As summer winds down and the academic year approaches, geoprofessional firms are preparing for a seasonal shift of their own: onboarding recent graduates. But while diplomas may be freshly printed, many firms are encountering a familiar challenge: entry-level geoprofessionals who are academically qualified but underprepared for the realities of professional practice. The gap between academic preparation and industry expectations strains project teams, slows onboarding, and limits early-career growth.
Across the industry, leaders report skillset gaps primarily in these areas:
• Communication and Professionalism: Many new geoprofessionals lack confidence in verbal communication, especially over the phone. Technical writing often requires refinement, and basic workplace norms – like...
New Podcast Episode: Ken Johnston on Evolving with the Industry
GBA is excited to release a new episode of the GeoHeroes podcast series featuring Ken Johnston, F.GBA—retired Chief Administrative Officer of GZA GeoEnvironmental and former GBA President. In a conversation with host and GBA past-President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, Ken shares reflections from his 42-year career in the geoprofessions, offering insights into leadership, organizational culture, and personal growth.
Ken discusses the evolution of GZA, the importance of building lasting relationships, and the unique trust-based culture within GBA. He also opens up about his battle with cancer and how it influenced his decision to retire, while continuing to contribute to the firm through special assignments.
Ken’s advice to young professionals is clear: “Find something...
The 10 Most-Used Tools in the GBA Library
GBA offers a robust library of resources to elevate your practice, reduce liability, and support business growth. You can search our extensive resource library by keyword (try it now) or sort through categories by publication type. All the downloadable publications are free to GBA members; many are available for purchase by non-members.
Find out what your peers have found most useful with this curated lists of the 10 most downloaded resources from the GBA library and separately, the 10 most downloaded Case Histories. These resources – both new releases and timeless favorites – reflect the diversity of challenges and opportunities geoprofessionals encounter.
1. Crane Pad and Working Platform Design and Inspection
GBA’s most-downloaded resource of the year to-dat...
Building a Legacy—Tom and Grace Blackburn Share Their Journey
In the latest episode of GeoHeroes from the GBA Podcast, host and GBA past-President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, sits down with Grace and Tom Blackburn, P.E., G.E., F.GBA, founders of Blackburn Consulting, to discuss the personal and professional journey that led to their successful firm—and the values that continue to guide it.
After meeting at the Special Olympics, Tom and Grace built both a life and a business rooted in purpose. When Tom was unexpectedly let go from his previous firm, they launched Blackburn Consulting with a commitment to “good work for good people.” Now 26 years later, their story is one of resilience, shared vision, and enduring impact on the geoprofessional community.
Listeners will gain insights into:
• Navigating risk and uncertainty in ...
PHASE I AND II ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS: NATIONAL PROCEDURES REVIEW
The survey report covers both Phase I and Phase II ESA procedures used in 1994. The first survey to delineate Phase II ESA practices, it reveals relatively little consensus......
PHASE I AND PHASE II ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS: RECOMMENDED MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES FOR…
This guide presents an overview of Phase I and Phase II ESAs in an effort to help consultants and clients agree on the scope of services needed. It addresses basic issues that help clients......
PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS: THE STATE OF THE PRACTICE
An update of the Phase I ESA standard of practice, based on 1992 data derived from questionnaire responses and a review of actual reports. Information reviewed in prior reports is covered here......
PRACTICE ALERT 11: RETAINING FIELD PERSONNEL
Retaining field personnel has become an increasingly important concern for GBA-Member Firms that experience seasonal slowdowns, most commonly during winter months. The lay-off-then-rehire-later......
PRACTICE ALERT 12: BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT: AN INTRODUCTION
Urban decay and sprawl are long-term national problems that have been seriously exacerbated by federal and state laws that have created significant risks for those who own or are otherwise......
PRACTICE ALERT 23: SITE SAFETY AND THE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
Construction sites are among the most hazardous of all U.S. workplaces. The accidents involved, many fatal, have led to a proliferation of lawsuits and increased scrutiny by the U.S. Occupational......
PRACTICE ALERT 25: OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT IDENTIFIED THROUGH ASFE…
Participating in GBA Peer Review does not necessarily make a firm better than its competitors, but it can make a firm better than it was before, by identifying opportunities for improvement and......
PRACTICE ALERT 33: LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: THE STATE OF THE PRACTICE
GBA introduced the limitation of liability (LoL) concept to engineering and environmental consultants in 1969. By applying the concept, the consultants and their clients agree to limit the......
PRACTICE ALERT 41: DEALING WITH AGC 630, STANDARD FORM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN CONTRACTOR…
Contractors retain GBA-Member Firms to perform construction materials engineering and testing (CoMET) services for one of two reasons: To obtain quality control (QC) services the contractors are......
PRACTICE ALERT 53: THE CRYSTAL BALL WORKSHOP: TEN CERTAIN TRENDS TO CONSIDER NOW
GBA's Emerging Issues and Trends Committee, joined by GBA's leadership, industry experts, and strategic-planning facilitators comprised the "Crystal Ball Workshop" held in July 2011 to identify and......
PRACTICE ALERT 55: PLANNING FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
GBA's Emerging Issues and Trends Committee, joined by GBA's leadership, industry experts, and strategic-planning facilitators, comprised the "Crystal Ball Workshop" held in July 2011 to identify......
PRACTICE ALERT 58: THE CRYSTAL BALL WORKSHOP: FOUR TRENDS TO CONSIDER NOW
Fulfilling its mission "to identify long-term emerging issues and trends and their impact on...GBA-Member Firms," GBA's Emerging Issues and Trends Committee conducted its biennial Crystal Ball......
PRACTICE GUIDE #01: PUBLIC STRATEGIES FOR COST-EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT
Brownfields, which are land that is either contaminated or perceived as having some sort of contamination, are an increasingly important focus for economic redevelopment. This Guide will assist......
PRACTICE GUIDE #02: MANAGING GROWTH WITH FAIRNESS: THE REGULATORY TAKINGS TEST OF SMART GROWTH…
Government officials, developers, and residents all identify some growth issues that they claim need to be addressed. However, many parties are concerned that land use policies, such as smart......
PRACTICE GUIDE #03: CLOSING THE BROWNFIELD INFORMATION GAP: SOME PRACTICAL METHODS FOR…
Communities have had a difficult time determining the scope and breadth of their brownfield situation. Brownfields are properties which either are contaminated or are perceived as contaminated from......