This message was sent to ##Email## Vol. 50 No. 21          Home  |   About Us  |   Membership  |   Resources  |   Events  |   Contact Us Subscribe  |   Archive    GBA NEWS 2021 Spring Conference Speakers Announced GBA’s Conference Program Committee has selected a group of subject matter experts to explore emerging risks that will impact geoprofessional businesses in the future. Join your fellow industry professionals from across North America and beyond for GBA’s virtually delivered 2021 Spring Conference. Educate your entire team with access to the exceptional line-up of distinguished speakers, who will provide valuable take-aways benefiting your firm and each staff member. More Information and Register Now: 2021 Spring Conference GBA Project Award of Excellence Announced Board of Directors and Awards Committee GBA is excited to announce its new Project Award of Excellence. With this prestigious award, GBA will recognize the most outstanding projects by its members as they demonstrate the vision of GBA through great accomplishment. Winners of this award will have a platform to showcase their project excellence and contributions to society in front of their peers, clients and other geoprofessionals in North America. Application Deadline: March 8, 2021 Winners will be recognized and in addition to the award, will receive free registration and lodging to GBA’s 2021 Fall Conference in Henderson, Nevada. Read more about the application requirements, selection process, and winner awards: HERE 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. Read More: HERE GBA Updates Popular Document: AVOIDING ABSOLUTES Resource Collaboration Committee GBA just published a Best Practices document titled Avoiding Absolutes. This is an update from a Practice Alert of the same name that was published many years ago to help our members improve technical writing and verbal communication skills in managing their risks. Absolutes are words that connote an extreme condition; e.g., absolutely no exceptions. They are most commonly thought of as modifiers – adjectives and adverbs – but also occur as nouns, pronouns, and verbs. In common or colloquial parlance, they usually are harmless. However, when they are used by professionals within an instrument of professional service, correspondence, or other written communication (electronic or otherwise), or when they are spoken by professionals while acting in a professional capacity, absolutes are almost always inappropriate. Download GBA BEST PRACTICES – AVOIDING ABSOLUTES  READ MORE Diversity and Inclusion Committee Update Diversity and Inclusion Committee Attendees of GBA’s Winter Leadership Summit received an update on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee from the Chair, Veronica DeFreitas, PE (Universal Engineering Sciences) and Vice Chair Peter Suah, PE (Antillian Engineering and Associates). They shared the Committee’s Mission, Vision, recent accomplishments, and plans for the future. They also include a call for action and asked for volunteers to join the Committee and help make the vision of the group, a reality. Learn More about GBA’s D&I Committee: HERE Board Liaison Spotlight — Mark Kramer (SME) In addition to the volunteers that serve on the GBA Board of Directors, GBA has invited a representative of Terra Insurance Company to attend Board meetings in support of our partnering agreement. In this issue, Terra’s liaison to the GBA Board, Mark Kramer P.E., F. GBA (SME), shares how he grew up fast as a geoprofessional and as a business leader. Read about Mark Kramer’s long history with GBA: HERE Join the Group! The GBA LinkedIn Group is growing. If you are not yet a member, please join the group and check it out! You will LOVE it! GBA LinkedIn Group: HERE  EVENTS Future GBA Events: Mark Your Calendars Now 2021 GBA Spring Conference Virtual Event Fall Conference 2021: October 21-23, 2021 at the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa 2022 GBA Spring Conference: April 7-9, 2022 Marriott Marquis, San Diego, CA For more information: GBA EVENTS CALENDAR  MEMBER NEWS Haley & Aldrich Announces Student Diversity and Inclusion Essay Contest Haley & Aldrich Haley & Aldrich, an engineering and environmental consulting company, today launched a student essay contest focused on diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The contest is open to all current community college and university students and the essay submission deadline is March 15, 2021. Ten essay winners will each receive $1,000 and participate in a virtual workshop with Haley & Aldrich leaders. This will allow the winners to network with Haley & Aldrich staff while exploring opportunities for the company to offer a more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse workplace.  READ MORE Congratulations to Our New Senior Vice Presidents! S&ME We are pleased to announce the promotion of five S&ME employee-owners to Senior Vice President. S&ME Officers exemplify our Core Values every day. Our employee-owners recognize these individuals as leaders, team builders, and mentors with a substantial impact on the business. By creating an inclusive environment where all individuals can reach their full potential, they instill a positive vision and attitude, actively promote collaboration between Business Units and locations, and fill a vital role within the company. Congratulations and thank you for your commitment and dedication to S&ME.  READ MORE PBS Announces Retirement of President and CFO, Transition of C-Suite PBS Engineering and Environmental PBS Engineering and Environmental Inc., a professional services firm with eight offices across the Pacific Northwest, recently announced the retirement of the firm’s president, Guy M. Neal, PE. Also retiring is Bart Phillips, CFO, who has been with the firm since 1988. The transition sets into motion the firm’s succession plan, originally articulated in 2018.  READ MORE Atlas Technical Consultants Strengthens Management Team Atlas Technical Consultants, Inc. Atlas Technical Consultants, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATCX), a leading provider of professional testing, inspection, engineering, environmental, and consulting services, is proud to announce it has hired Priya Jain as the Chief Growth Officer and promoted Jonathan Parnell to Chief Strategy Officer. Aligning with Atlas’ mission to continue its organic growth trajectory, Ms. Jain brings proven expertise in focusing and prioritizing business development and sales programs while rapidly expanding existing and new revenue streams at some of the world’s leading engineering and construction firms. Jonathan Parnell was promoted to Chief Strategy Officer, after being instrumental in Atlas’ successful M&A strategy and execution, including sourcing opportunities, negotiations, due diligence, and post-transaction integration.  READ MORE Watching the Slopes: Landslide Mitigation and Response J. GORDON - GeoEngineers Landslides are a real public safety hazard in many areas of the United States. They can have devastating effects on people and property, but because they often occur in less populated areas, the risks and causes of landslides are sometimes overlooked. I have spent most of my 40-year geotechnical career working in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska—two regions where landslides are common. While at GeoEngineers for the last 33 of those years, I have had the opportunity to work on hundreds of geologically hazardous area and landslide projects. We help agencies and communities reduce landslide risks and respond to emergencies when the ground does give way. It is challenging and intense work, but some of the most rewarding of my career.  READ MORE  INDUSTRY NEWS Lovable Engineers Interesting Engineering Falling in love is one of the best feelings in life, especially when it's with an engineer.  READ MORE 10 Ways I make My Clients Fall in LOVE with Me 30 Streams! Here are 10 ways to make clients fall in love with you (your services).  READ MORE Heart Shaped Geology EOS Mars is red. The ocean is blue. Auroras glow bright, and Pluto loves you, too.  READ MORE How to Breakup with a Client Best Kept Business Secret In business relationships, as in romantic ones, there sometimes comes a time when things simply aren’t working out.  READ MORE I Heart You: COVID Hearts UCSF What is COVID Doing to Our Hearts?  READ MORE Slip Sliding Away ABC7 News Drone footage shows aftermath of Big Sur Highway 1 slide. This will amaze you!  READ MORE Now That is Just Cold - Harsh Love? Law.com Benjamin Moore & Co. laid off its four-member legal department on “National Love Your Lawyer Day.”  READ MORE Justice Delayed Law.com Managing risks, it helps to stay current with an owner’s perspective, even if we take exception with some of their legal strategies. Consider this recent perspective on construction delays.  READ MORE Words of Wisdom "“Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life.” - Ray Bradbury  BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Kenneth R. "Ken" Johnston, (GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. / Norwood, MA), 781/278-3700 President-Elect: Thomas W. "Tom" Blackburn, P.E., G.E., F.ASCE (Blackburn Consulting / Auburn, CA), 530/887-1494 Secretary/Treasurer: Leo J. Titus, Jr. P.E., (ECS, Ltd. / Chantilly, VA), 703/471-8400 Directors: Chuck A. Gregory, P.E. (Terracon / San Antonio, TX), 210/641-2112 Martin LaRoche, P. Eng, M.Sc. (Kiewit / Montreal, Canada) Guy Marcozzi, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, F. ASCE (Duffield Associates, Inc. / Wilmington, DE) 302/ 239-6634 Christopher Matthew "Matt" Moler, P.E. (S&ME, Inc. / Greensboro, NC), 336/553-1245 Matthew "Matt" R. Poirier, P.E. (Sanborn Head & Associates, Inc. / Concord, NH) 603/ 229-1900 Steve Wendland, P.G. Steve Wendland, P.E., R.G., D.GE (Kleinfelder, Inc. / Prairie Village, KS ) 913/475-5851 NEWSlog Connect with GBA Recent Issues | Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Web Version   GBA Staff: Joel G. Carson, Executive Director, 301-565-2733 (office) | 402-517-1819 (cell) Sara Menase, Program Manager, 301-565-2733  Phillip D. Pettway, Controller, 301-565-2733  Barb Nappy, Program Director, 301-565-2733 (office) | 727-457-2272 (cell) Geoprofessional Business Association 15800 Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 300  | Rockville, MD 20855 | 301-565-2733 | Contact Us  About GBA The Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) helps its members and their clients confront risk and optimize business performance by delivering unique professional resources, programs, and services that make them stronger, smarter and more successful. Learn how to add us to your safe-sender list so our e-mails get to your inbox. 7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063