This message was sent to ##Email## July 1, 2020 Vol. 49 No. 57          Home  |   About Us  |   Membership  |   Resources  |   Events  |   Contact Us Subscribe  |   Archive    GBA NEWS GBA Photo Contest GBA is committed to promoting the value of geoprofessionals and we want to see it through your eyes. For our 2020 Photo Contest, we’d like to know: “How do you depict the day in the life of a Geoprofessional?” Is it field activities? Is it meeting with colleagues and clients? Is it performing testing in the laboratory? How is safety incorporated into your work? How are you positively impacting the world? Capture those vibrant moments and express what being a geoprofessional means to you! Contest begins July 1, 2020 and ends August 31, 2020. Winners will be featured during our 2020 Fall conference. Additionally, awards and recognition for category winners including gift cards and plaques for overall winners. Contest Rules: HERE GBA Director Spotlight — Leo Titus (ECS Limited) Volunteers that serve on the GBA Board of Directors dedicate significant time and energy providing leadership to our Association. Our Board Members have unique paths that lead to the geoprofessions. In this spotlight, read about Leo Titus’ dreams of outer space have become grounded in earth sciences. Read about Leo Titus’ path to leadership: Full Article Welcome New Members! Geoprofessional consulting firms continue to join GBA to access the many benefits of membership. Please join us in welcoming the following firms who have recently joined GBA: ALLWEST is a premier full-service professional engineering, environmental, and construction materials testing firm serving the Inland Northwest. Services include: Geotechnical Engineering Environmental Consulting Construction Materials Testing Laboratory Testing Special Inspections Non-Destructive Testing Testing and Certification Services Asphalt and Concrete Mix Designs Learn More HERE GBA Member Directory HERE IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Our most popular article from our last issue of GBA NEWSlog. New Edition! GBA Contract Reference Guide  EVENTS Future GBA Events: Mark Your Calendars Now Fall Conference 2020: October 22-24, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Hotel, in Minneapolis, MN Spring Conference 2021: April 22-25, 2021 at the Marriott Marquis, San Diego, CA Fall Conference 2021: October 21-23, 2021 at the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa For more information: GBA EVENTS CALENDAR  MEMBER NEWS Kleinfelder Celebrates Pride Month Kleinfelder Diversity, equity, and inclusion are of paramount importance at Kleinfelder, and we applaud the U.S. Supreme Court’s affirmation of protections for LGBTQ+ workers across the country. During #PrideMonth – and every day – we are proud to celebrate our LGBTQ+ staff.  READ MORE Chuck Raymond, CPSM Joins Weston & Sampson Weston & Sampson Weston & Sampson is pleased to announce that Chuck Raymond, CPSM has joined the firm in a senior marketing, business development, and communications role, based in our Worcester office. Chuck has more than 25 years of marketing, business development, and communications experience throughout the Northeast. He is on the Board of Directors of the Boston Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) and the Boston Post of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), and is active in the Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC). Chuck is a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM).  READ MORE Veronica De Freitas Joins Universal Universal Engineering Sciences Meet Veronica! She’s the new Geotechnical Department Manager at UES’s Tampa location with ten years of experience in geotechnical design and construction. Her tasks include mentoring engineers, supervising proposal execution, and maintaining client relationships. In her free time, Veronica enjoys the great outdoors and spends time with her family. Welcome to the family, Veronica! #Geotech #Engineering #WomenInScience #GroundedInExcellence  READ MORE Why I Walk with Pride Wood June is Pride, a month dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ communities all around the world, how far LGBTQ+ rights and conversations have come, whilst acknowledging the work still to be done. It is an opportunity to embrace education, tolerance and the continued rigor needed to moving forward in equality. Pride for many is dedicated to joining in parades or marches, but COVID-19 and social distancing will mean things look a little different this year. With events postponed or cancelled, celebrations will take place on virtual calls and social media. Members of the Team Wood Pride network share with us what Pride means to them.  READ MORE The Path to Professional License: Taylor Dayton Aspect Consulting In the science and engineering industry, seeing a “PE”, “LG”, “PMP”, or other initials behind someone’s name shows that person went through years of work experience that culminated in a substantial test to confirm the right to practice their area of technical expertise. A professional license is a proof statement that communicates that the people charged with designing roads and buildings; solving water supply challenges; cleaning up contaminated soil and water; and successfully managing project quality are qualified and ethically accountable professionals. Many go through this licensing journey but few outside that group know what the process is really like.  READ MORE Braun Intertec Welcomes New Co-ops! Braun Intertec In Mid-May, Braun Intertec and a team of experienced employee-owners extended a warm welcome to this year’s co-ops. This year, Braun Intertec has more than 50 co-ops joining us in Texas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. The Braun Intertec co-op program was created more than ten years ago and has evolved ever since. The co-op program is a six-month paid internship which allows currently enrolled students to gain industry experience with our engineering and construction materials testing group. Before the program kicks off, we recruit and interview students from more than 30 different colleges and technical schools and, once our co-op positions have been offered and accepted, the program officially begins with training followed by field work.  READ MORE How Ants Taught Us to Innovate and Improve our Horizontal Directional Drilling Design Haley & Aldrich What is trenchless technology and how does it improve utility installation? Utility infrastructure, including as electric, gas, and water/wastewater, is critical to sustain and deliver basic human necessities to our communities. Historically, these utilities were primarily built using long-established overhead or conventional open trench installation practices. During the 1960s, expanding urban development increased the demand for utility conveyance under various obstacles such as highways, waterways, railroads, or other man-made or natural features. The utility industry also saw rapid changes in environmental regulations and societal demand that drove the need for quicker and less invasive methods of utility installation. These changing requirements were a catalyst for considering alternative methods from other engineering fields such as vertical drilling for oil and gas, conventional tunneling, and geotechnical engineering. These new methods are collectively known as “trenchless technology.”  READ MORE Taking Tests and Giving Away the Credit Froehling & Robertson Each year, Atlantic Builders builds a home to benefit a local charity. F&R is delighted to contribute the 3rd Party Inspections for the construction of this year’s home. The profits from the sale of the house will be donated to the Germanna Educational Foundation to help fund scholarships for trade partner employees and their families.  READ MORE CEC Launches Manufacturing Infrastructure Services Group CEC has established Manufacturing Infrastructure Services (MIS) as a complementary practice to expand our support to our clients in several markets that we serve. The MIS practice will provide integrated facility arrangement, mechanical, electrical, piping, structural, civil, and HVAC engineering to support the construction of new facilities or the modification, upgrade, or expansion of existing metals, minerals, and general manufacturing facilities. For now, the practice will be based in the Pittsburgh office, but staff can travel nationwide to help out on any project.  READ MORE Working from Home During (and Beyond?) COVID-19 Sanborn Head During my nearly 20 years with Sanborn Head, I’ve worked in Burlington, Vermont and now Denver, Colorado. I spent most of that time working solo in office space not too far from our current Vermont office location. I figured the COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home orders would seem like the solo working conditions that I experienced in Vermont. Not exactly. In Vermont, I still had to commute to work. Now, my commute consists of walking downstairs to my home office in the basement. Most of the colleagues and clients I speak to now are in a similar setting instead of their traditional offices. Now I’m not just talking to others on the phone – I’m seeing them too. Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and the like are the communication mediums of choice these days. In my opinion, video calls are much better than voice-only calls, especially when you’re holed up alone.  READ MORE With the Addition of Dennis Doherty, Kleinfelder Strengthens Its Position as a Leader in Trenchless Technology Kleinfelder Dennis Doherty, P.E., F.ASCE has joined Kleinfelder–a leading engineering, construction management, design, and environmental professional services firm–as a Senior Principal Professional. A nationally recognized leader in trenchless technology, Doherty will provide technical expertise and drive advancement and integration of leading-edge trenchless technologies on oil and gas, utility, water/wastewater, and municipal infrastructure projects.  READ MORE Dan Benson as ALLWEST's New Spokane Area Manager ALLWEST Dan has more than 38 years of construction experience, including 17 years as a construction manager. He spent 26 years working with CRH Americas Materials companies, most recently as the Business Area Manager for Interstate Concrete & Asphalt in Sandpoint, Idaho. As Area Manager, Dan manages operations and supervises the geotechnical engineering, environmental services and construction materials testing departments at our Spokane Valley office.  READ MORE WELCOME TO AUGUSTA, TYLER WILSON NOVA Engineering and Environmental Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Bertrand “Tyler” Wilson. Tyler is assuming the role of Office Manager in Augusta, Georgia, our newest office location. He has been in the construction and consulting industry for 30 years and brings a wide variety of work experiences.  READ MORE Thank you to all our Members that send us news and updates about their firms. If you have something you want to share with GBA Members in NEWSlog, please send them to GBA MEMBER NEWS for inclusion in future issues.  INDUSTRY NEWS Nowhere to Go? Managing Vacation Time during COVID-19 SHRM Nowhere to go and nothing to do: managing vacation time in the age of COVID-19. With no vacations to anticipate—and limited options for child care and camp—employees may prefer to work steadily throughout the summer months, accruing vacation days they plan to tap later this year or in 2021.  READ MORE Race and Racism in the Geosciences Nature Geosciences Geoscientists in the United States are predominantly white. Progress towards diversification can only come with a concerted shift in mindsets and a deeper understanding of the complexities of race. A Diversity Officer for a geoscience program at Columbia University shares their perspective on racism.  READ MORE 13 Habits Of Mentally Tough People Brent Gleeson contributor to Forbes Mental toughness is paramount for achieving any lofty goal or overcoming extreme hurdles. Few great things in this world come without a little bit of adversity. Nothing amazing happens inside our comfort zones. Whether we are talking about earning a promotion, nurturing a challenged marriage, mastering a sport, building or saving a small business, battling disease, dealing with the loss of a loved one, raising children, or hunting terrorists, some suffering will always be attached. That’s why the things we love and work hard for are rewarding.  READ MORE A Case for Stiffer Roadways MIT NEWS Stiffer roadways could improve truck fuel efficiency. Simple changes in road resurfacing practices could improve gas mileage for heavy vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  READ MORE How Storms May Contribute to Groundwater Contamination SCIWorthy Researchers found that sediments washed through karst aquifers during storms come in two waves. The study enhances the understanding of how storms may contribute to groundwater contamination in karst systems.  READ MORE When You Can't Visit Your Project Site, Use Virtual Access EnergyNow To slow the spread of COVID-19, we have all had to make adjustments to how we work. For many of us that means restrictions on travel and working from home. For those supporting projects in the field, site visits are often out of the question.  READ MORE Visualizing Land Mass Size Visual Capitalist The true size of the world’s land masses in order from largest to smallest using data from NASA and Google may surprise you. Check out the HD link in this fascinating infographic that depicts the actual shape and size of each land mass without any distortions.  READ MORE A Four-Day Work Week NBC News A four-day work week might be exactly what the U.S. — and its economy — needs right now. “The pandemic has created a moment for businesses to take stock and consider more radical reconstructions of the workplace," experts say.  READ MORE Not So Fast NBC News Florida mayor says earlier message of bridge's 'imminent collapse' was cautionary.  READ MORE The Importance of Environmental Awareness When Running a Business Maryville University Sustainability is an increasingly important issue for many people, especially in the business world. Climate change continues to affect our lives as well as the fate of all other species around the planet. For business owners, leaders, and administrators, sustainable business practices are becoming imperatives. According to NASA, it’s more than 95% likely that human activity is causing the planet to get warmer. Human industry is a big part of the climate change picture because of its reliance on land, resources, fossil fuels, and non-stop production and consumption. Making businesses more sustainable starts with being aware of the issue at hand and understanding just how important it is to make changes — both for the business and the planet. The intent of this resource is to help business owners, administrators, and leaders make their organizations more environmentally aware. Here, you’ll find a working definition of sustainability in business, an explanation of its importance, identification of the key players, a discussion of benefits and challenges, as well as information on how to improve sustainability in business.  READ MORE OSHA Issues New COVID-19 Guidance Answering Practical Questions on Returning to Work National Law Review On June 17, 2020, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) issued its “Guidance on Returning to Work.” This new guidance is intended to supplement the previous “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19” that OSHA published in March. Most non-essential businesses throughout the country have already reopened and returned at least some portion of their workforce to the workplace.  READ MORE Words of Wisdom “The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of a mistake." -Meg Whitman  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  Barbara A. 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