In the latest episode of GeoHeroes – a GBA Podcast series – GBA President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C (Verdantas) sits down with industry veteran Jay Martin, P.E., F. GBA who shares a candid look at his career. Martin recently retired after a remarkable 40+ year geoprofessional career that culminated in his role as Senior Vice President at WSP. Jay offers invaluable lessons on leadership, adaptability, and the art of building lasting client relationships. He discusses how cultural shifts and consolidation have shaped the profession, and the transition from technical roles to leadership. In the 37-minute episode, Martin dives into the importance of moving beyond project-based work to program management, emphasizing the value of becoming a trusted advisor rather than jus...

Say Yes to Opportunity: Advice for the Next Generation of Geoprofessionals The latest episode of GeoHeroes from the GBA Podcast features a conversation between GBA President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C (Verdantas) and Kent Bannister, P.Eng President and CEO of TREK Geotechnical. Bannister’s journey from his early days in Winnipeg to leading one of Canada’s growing geotechnical firms provides valuable lessons for geoprofessionals at all career stages. Bannister’s career has spanned consulting, dam safety, and large-scale infrastructure projects, ultimately leading him to TREK, where he now focuses on strategic growth, risk management, and industry leadership. Kent and Guy discuss the evolving demands on geoprofessionals, including the increasing need for strong...

The latest episode of GBA’s GeoHeroes podcast series is now available. In this insightful conversation, GBA President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C (Verdantas) connects with Teresa Peterson, P.E., C.M.E., LEED AP O&M, ENV SP (Gannett Fleming TranSystems) to explore her career journey, leadership philosophy, and vision for the future of geoprofessional practice. Peterson shares her path from an early interest in environmental engineering to leadership in multiple sectors, including transportation, water, and energy. She emphasizes how systems thinking, continuous learning, and strong communication have been critical to her success—skills that she believes are increasingly essential as geoprofessionals navigate challenges like climate change, disruptive technologies, ...

In this episode of the GBA Podcast GeoHeroes series, host and GBA President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, sits down with Kurt Fraese, L.G., F.GBA, who shares his advice for aspiring geoprofessionals, focusing on the interconnectedness of businesses, clients, and communities. Fraese has provided consulting services to clients in the energy, development, transportation, federal government, and water and natural resource markets since 1983. His technical expertise is primarily focused on assessment and remediation of hazardous substances. Kurt retired from GeoEngineers, Inc. as CEO in 2017. Fraese’s experiences highlight the importance of adaptability, preparedness, and a long-term vision. In this episode, Kurt speaks on the future of the geoprofessions, emphasizing the ...

The latest episode of the GBA Podcast GeoHeroes series features a captivating conversation between host Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, and guest Stewart Osgood, P.E., F.GBA, former President and CEO of DOWL. With more than 38 years of experience in the civil engineering and geotechnical fields, Osgood reflects on his professional journey to offer listeners his perspective on leadership, career growth, and succession planning. As Osgood transitions into retirement, he shares plans to focus on personal projects and community contributions, emphasizing the importance of taking calculated risks early in one’s career. Tune in to this episode to explore the personal and professional journey of a true geoprofessional leader. This episode was produced by Ryan White, P.E., G.E...

GBA provides hundreds of highly effective resources developed to satisfy the unique needs of geoprofessionals, giving members essential tools for achieving success. 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 most downloaded resources of 2024 cover topics from 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 download it today. We’ll begin with number 10 and count down to the number one most downloaded resource. Please note, this list does not include Case Histories, which have their own list HERE. #10: Go/No Go Checklist This comprehensive and simple to u...

In a new episode of the GBA Podcast’s GeoHeroes series, hear from UES Director Ed Alizadeh, P.E., J.D., F.GBA, who is interviewed by host and GBA President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C. The son of two immigrant engineers, Alizadeh talks about how education was the focus of his upbringing, which valued engineering as a noble profession. He discusses the challenges and rewards of his profession, including navigating family expectations, balancing work and education, and leading through periods of growth and loss. Ed also tells listeners the three biggest things that will impact the future of the geoprofessions, his take on how the engineering field is perceived in the U.S. versus internationally, and his advice for those entering the p...

In a new episode of the GBA Podcast’s GeoHeroes series, host and GBA President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, interviews Elizabeth Clarke, who shares her unique and inspirational pathway to her current role as Owner and President of Structure Groups. Clarke is celebrated for her leadership and vision in the field, having recently been featured in multiple magazine’s “Extraordinary Women’s” issues. Elizabeth shares how personal tragedies played a role in reshaping her life and eventually discovering a passion for the geoprofessions. In the early days of founding her company, the geoprofessional community – many of whom were GBA members – rallied around her and now as an industry leader, Clarke plays a key role in shaping the future alongside those she collaborates ...

In the latest episode of the GBA Podcast GeoHeroes series, host and GBA President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, interviews Charlie Head, P.E., P.G., F.GBA, a co-founder of GBA member firm Sanborn, Head, & Associates Inc. The conversation covers his career journey, including his educational background, professional experiences, and the challenges and rewards of building a successful company. Head also discusses his current semi-retired status, his advice for those entering the geotechnical and environmental professions, and reflections on the evolving nature of the field. Charlie is a past-President of GBA (2017-18) and the winner of the 2024 Professional Practice Ethics & Leadership Award, presented jointly by GBA and the American...

Becoming a manager or supervisor is an important step in many people’s professional careers, and it introduces a set of new responsibilities that they may not have had in their prior role. The Management Best Practices podcast series from GBA highlights a handful of those responsibilities, the challenges that can go along with them, and best practices for navigating through them. The second episode of the series, “Professional Goal Setting,” is now available on the GBA Podcast website or anywhere podcasts are heard. In this episode, host and Environmental Project Manager Craig Hill (GBA Multimedia Delivery Committee, Kleinfelder) and guest, Senior Project Manager Marcus Dudley (Kleinfelder), discuss effective goal-setting strategies for managers and employees. The discussion co...

  With more than 14,000 downloads, the GBA Podcast is becoming a leading industry tool in helping geoprofessionals become better consultants. The best news? It’s completely free! In a new series called “GeoHeroes,” GBA President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, will interview past, present, and future industry leaders to understand what motivates these individuals and what insights they have for the future of the profession. The podcast will examine the skills and qualities that have contributed to their success, as well as their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. In the first episode of the series, Marcozzi speaks with Mark Kramer, P.E., F.GBA, CEO and Chairman of the Board of SME, and winner of GBA's 2024 President's Award. ...

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 of this GBA Podcast series, we catch up with executive coach Val Ries, author of “Chief Inspiration Officer.” Ries emphasizes the importance of communication, acknowledging and validating, and understanding different communication styles through DISC assessments. Val is the founder of Executive Muse, which offers leadership development coaching and training programs. She is also a past guest on GBA’s 4thFriday40 Leadership Series and led a session on “Emotional Intelligence 101: How Our Reactions Impact Engagement” at GBA’s 2015 Fall Conference. Listen in as Ries highlights the significance of self-awareness and...

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 ...

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 s...

GBA Multimedia Delivery Committee GBA has published more than 115 case histories based on real-life events that have happened to geoprofessional firms. GBA Case Histories are unique because our members share real-life stories of problems that impacted their businesses. They also include the outcomes of corrective action, and lessons learned. GBA’s Multimedia Delivery Committee also delivers select Case Histories as podcasts. In the latest episode, host Elizabeth Brown, P.E. (Atlas Technical Consultants) and guest Andy Siemens, P.E. (Siemens Associates) explore how one GBA member firm turned an “unbuildable” site into a construction-ready plot using advanced geophysical exploration. As described in GBA Case History #114, a school’s bui...