Call for Abstracts
Conference Program Committee
Are you a dynamic and engaging speaker with valuable content to share with industry leaders that can help improve their businesses and elevate the profession? Are you an experienced professional and an outstanding leader?
If you answered yes to any of the above then, the Geoprofessional Business Association invites you to submit an abstract for consideration for GBA’s Fall Conference scheduled for October 21-23, 2021 at the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort in Henderson, Nevada.
Reuniting at this conference will bring us back to the basics of what GBA does best. We will focus on business & educational resources, specifically risk management and business performance optimization for geoprofessional firms.
Presentations by subject matter experts ma...
GBA Launches New Podcast Series
Emerging Leaders Class 4
GBA has a tradition of collaborating on issues that impact the geoprofessions. One of the ways we work together is by providing lessons learned 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.
Case Histories have been written and read for more than 30 years. Now, they are available as podcasts so you can download, listen, and learn from anywhere. Follow along as our narrator shares the highlights, engages with subject matter experts, and delivers the lessons learned to your headset.
Case History #61 – Don’t Li...
Top 10 Resources List for 2020
GBA provides hundreds of highly effective resources developed to satisfy the unique needs of geoprofessionals, giving members essential tools for achieving success. However, we also know that it can be overwhelming to sort through them all. To help, we have compiled a list of the top 10 GBA resources by numbers ordered in 2020. 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 list below is the top 10 GBA resources, in order by popularity. Topics cover 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 order it today.
CONTRACT REFERENCE GUIDE, FOURTH EDITIO...
Head and Vogt GBA Appointed New Fellows
GBA Council of Fellows
Charles “Charlie” L. Head, P.E., P.G. (Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.) and Woodward “Woody” L. Vogt, P.E., D.GE, F. ASCE, F.ACI, F. ASTM (Paradigm Consultants) have been appointed to the prestigious Council of Fellows of the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA).
Charles “Charlie” L. Head, P.E., P.G. is a co-founder of Sanborn Head, and in his roles as CEO and Board Chair, he is focused on the successful implementation of the firm’s strategic plan. Charlie received his bachelor’s degree in geology from St. Lawrence University, a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of New Hampshire, and a master’s degree in civil and groundwater engineering from Colorado State University.
Mr. Head served as GB...
JOIN GBA NOW
Join GBA Now!
Join the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) today to gain access to the essential resources, support, and connections that will enable your organization to succeed. As a GBA member, you will derive an outstanding ROI by taking advantage of benefits like:
Risk management resources
Business management resources
Professional development for you and all of your employees
Networking opportunities
Employee recruiting and retention resources
Contract language support
Client communication and education resources
Best Practices, Business Briefs, and Case Histories
Important industry trends
For over 50 years, GBA has been committed to helping you and your clients confront risk and optimize performance. We are...
Top 5 Downloads
What Are You Downloading?
These are the most frequently downloaded reference documents this year! If you are not reading them, you are missing out.
Important Information About This Geotechnical-Engineering Report
GBA has updated one of its most frequently, all-time best-selling resource – Important Information about This Geotechnical-Engineering Report. Some of the language and sections have been modified and updated,
including a new section about understanding the geotechnical engineering services.
Literally millions of copies of the previous versions are in print or virtual print. Only GBA-Member Firms have the right to insert the document “as-is.”. And members get them for free. Stay current and get your copy now!
Download Important Information about This Geote...
2019 Fall Conference Videos Available On-Demand
GBA’s 2019 Fall Conference videos and presentation slides are now available on our website for “on-demand” viewing.
Watch 2019 Fall Conference Videos: HERE
Now you can review the presentations on your time and share what you learned from these speakers with your colleagues. They make great lunch-and-learns for professional development of small groups or your entire staff.
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As a reminder, our 2019 Fall Conference lineup was:
EMBRACING BIG DATA AND DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION
Patrick Schwerdtfeger (Business Futurist)
ADVANCED DATA ANALYTICS IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Nick Machairas (New York University)
DELIVERING REAL-TIME RESULTS: THE FUTURE OF LABORATORY OPERATIONS
James “Jim” Murphy (Stra...
2019 Fall Conference Proceedings
FA19-01 Embracing Big Data and Disruptive Innovation
This ...
GBA Written History
SYNOPSIS The Association of Soil and Foundation Engineers (ASFE) is an association of consulting geotechnical engineering firms. Established in 1969, ASFE has developed a variety of professional liability loss prevention programs and materials. By using these programs and materials, members of ASFE have gained what reportedly is the best professional liability loss prevention record of all U.S. design professionals. In the year of ASFE’s formation, geotechnical engineers had the worst liability record of all U.S. design professionals, a situation which threatened the continuance of consulting soil and foundation engineering as a distinct practice.
INTRODUCTION
The Association of Soil and Foundation Engineers (ASFE) is, perhaps, the most successful of ...
First Look: Fall Conference Speakers Announced —Register Now!
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 t...
GBA TOP 10 2017 DOWNLOADS
What are your Peers Reading?
GBA’s Most Downloaded Resources in 2017
GBA provides hundreds of highly effective resources developed to satisfy the unique needs of geoprofessionals, giving members essential tools for achieving success. However, we also know that it can be overwhelming to sort through them all. So, to help, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 GBA resources by numbers ordered in 2017. 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”.
GBA’s CASE HISTORIES were very popular downloads with over 1,100 downloads of updated Case Histories during the year.
The list below is the top 10 GBA resources, in order by popularity, with the most ordered resource at the t...
2013 Fall Conference Proceedings
Members: Make sure you are logged in when viewing these videos to get free, easy access to them.
Download the handouts.
These videos were produced when the Geoprofessional Business Association was known as ASFE.
GBA Timeline
Year
1969
GBA is launched as ASFE
1969
Loss-Prevention Seminars
Now incorporated into GBA Conference content
1970
Standard Clauses
1970
Free Publications
All materials are available free to all members
1971
Limitation of Liability
The most significant AE contract provision of the past 40 years
1972
Fundamentals of Professional Practice
A unique six-month program for firms' rising stars
1972
Case Histories
101 cases of geoprofessional mistakes, presented to help others learn
1972
Report Review
An early sharing/self-help program
1972
Loss Prevention Manual
Since replaced by a variety of specific, in-depth guides and manuals
1972
Audio Education Prog...
Member Benefits
GBA member benefits help you and your firm grow and prosper.
What Our Members Say!
GBA member testimonials explain better than we ever could why GBA membership is so important for geoprofessionals. Read on to learn why members stay for years and how GBA has helped their firm succeed.
MODEL REPORTING FORMS FOR GEOENVIRONMENTAL FIELD OBSERVATION
This booklet provides sample reporting forms for geoenvironmental field observation and suggestions for preparing similar forms for your own firm. Includes a model daily field report (DFR) form......
MOIST-CURING ROOM DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE
Published by GBA's Construction-Materials Engineering and Testing Business Council (CoMETBC), Moist-Curing Room Design, Construction, and Maintenance was authored by Woodward L. "Woody"......
NATIONAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER OF RECORD
The guideline delineates responsibilities of the geotechnical engineer of record (GER), the range and nature of basic services that should be included in the GER's scope of service, and additional......
PEER REVIEW: TEAM CAPTAIN HOME REFRESHER COURSE
Self-guided training for those interested in leading a Peer Review team, or even just being part of the team. The training is presented as a PowerPoint presentation with accompanying audio......
Phase 1 ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS 2007-2010
This extraordinary survey report is based principally upon the in-depth review of 162 Phase I ESA reports submitted by 148 firms that prepared, in aggregate, almost 22,000 such reports annually......
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......