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...

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 Historie...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

  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...

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 ...

In the latest of “GeoHeroes” from the GBA Podcast, past-President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, interviews Leo J. Titus, Jr., P.E., F.GBA, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Engineering Consulting Services (ECS) in a deeply personal and inspiring conversation about resilience, leadership, and giving back to the geoprofessional community. Leo shares his remarkable journey from working concessions at a horse racing track to leading a 2,800-person engineering firm. He also recounts the profoundly life-altering experiences that shaped his people-first leadership philosophy and passion for mentoring. Packed with career wisdom, this episode offers invaluable insights on professional growth, the importance of industry involvement, and finding perspective through life's toughest ...

June marks National Safety Month, organized by the National Safety Council since 1996. GBA has a variety of free resources for members to help them stay safe in their geoprofessional workplace. Not only is safety a top priority for GBA member firms, but also for their clients, who want to avoid work-related injuries or illnesses on their job sites and projects. Here are valuable resources geoprofessionals can use to strengthen their safety culture, protect their teams, and manage risk: Safety and Your Geoprofessional Practice This GBA Best Practices guide provides important information essential to the development of an effective safety program, including: • The direct and indirect costs of an inadequate safety program, ranging from higher insur...

Teresa Peterson, P.E., C.M.E., LEED AP O&M, ENV SP (GFT) With the completion of another successful Annual Conference, we kick off a new GBA fiscal year and welcome a new Board of Directors. I am honored and thrilled to take the reins of this storied organization! We have a big challenge ahead to roll out our new strategic initiatives as part of our 2027+ Strategic Plan. If you haven’t already read it, let me give you a snippet. With guidance from our past-President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, we embarked on a journey to envision how the organization will provide value to its members by elevating our recognition and our value in the community. Engineers are great at evaluating problems, identifying risks and offering solutions to mitigate those risks. We’ve seen ne...

The latest episode of the GBA Podcast Case History series is live—and it’s one every geoprofessional should hear. What happens when a client prioritizes speed and low cost over sound recommendations? In this episode, hosts Elizabeth Brown, P.E. (Atlas) and Abi Corbett (SME) unpack the lessons learned in GBA Case History #55, when an environmental consultant’s warnings went unheeded—leading to bigger problems, a legal dispute, and a forfeited $40,000 fee. Brown and Corbett explore a real-world example of how client pressure for speed and cost savings can lead to major project risks—and significant professional consequences. In this case, an auto parts manufacturer sought to sell a property contaminated by leaking underground storage tanks. After ignoring early recommendation...

Can doing the right thing still go wrong? In a new GBA Podcast episode, hosts Elizabeth Brown, P.E. (Atlas), and Abi Corbett (SME) explore the high-stakes environmental project described in GBA Case History #50, where a procedural misstep led to major consequences. Learn how a geoprofessional firm navigated delays, unauthorized changes, and regulatory challenges to uphold integrity and avoid litigation. Lessons learned include: • A technical and business-savvy staff is key • Learn what you don’t know • Regulatory requirements must be followed • Interactions between agencies and project parties can be challenging • Financial fortitude is essential The episode of the GBA Podcast delivers a compelling case study that every geoprofess...

The latest episode of GBA’s GeoHeroes podcast is now available! Hosted by GBA President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C (Verdantas), this episode features an engaging conversation with Carrie (Foulk) Rodriguez, P.E., G.E., GBA Board member and Geotechnical Group Leader at BSK Associates. Carrie shares her journey from a West Coast childhood to becoming a leader in geotechnical engineering. From early aspirations in environmental engineering to ultimately transitioning into geoprofessional consulting, her story is one of resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to take risks. Key highlights from the episode include: • The power of mentorship: How influential mentors shaped her approach to problem-solving and decision-making. • Balancing career and family: Carrie’...