This message was sent to ##Email## October 7, 2020 Vol. 50 No. 12          Home  |   About Us  |   Membership  |   Resources  |   Events  |   Contact Us Subscribe  |   Archive    GBA NEWS Case History Library Refresh Complete! Possibly the most important of all GBA loss-prevention/risk-confrontation resources is its unique series of Case Histories. In February 2018, GBA volunteers embarked on a seemingly impossible challenge to refresh the first 101 Case Histories. We are thrilled to report, we crossed the finish line and the mission has been accomplished. Case History #1-#101 are now all rebranded, updated, and refreshed. Most importantly they are all available to all our members. This effort was made possible under the leadership of Woodward L. “Woody” Vogt, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE, F.ACI, F.ASTM, F.GBA (Paradigm Consultants) who established the schedule and led the review process. Woody was assisted on each update by Kurt R. Fraese, L.G., F.GBA (Fraese and Associates) and Dr. James L. “Jim” Withiam, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, F.GBA (retired) with additional volunteer support from Stephanie Cook, Esq., Marie Starich, P.E. and GBA Committee members. GBA Case Histories are obviously important to our members too. Since we started this project, our members downloaded, on average, more than 11 issues per business day, totaling about 7,700 downloads. Given the importance of GBA’s case histories, this was a valuable project to help our members improve their businesses through real-life examples. This mission is complete, but we are not done! While we continue completing new Case Histories, we are also completing a comprehensive Case History index and new programs that emphasize the important information compiled from all these valuable references. More About This Effort: HERE Case History #101 - Updated Case History #101, the last of the archived Case Histories to be updated, is now available. When a GBA-Member Firm realized it had committed a serious error while conducting construction-materials engineering and testing (CoMET) services for a new hospital building, it knew it was in trouble. The errors made by the CoMET firm were likely to cause a significant delay that would result in major penalty payments, plus a serious cost overrun, all of which the GBA-member CoMET firm feared it would have to pay for. Applying what it had learned from GBA, however, the firm not only avoided even a moment’s delay, it emerged from the project with an even stronger reputation for excellence. Learn from others. Don’t repeat the mistakes of the past! GBA Case Histories are being used by our members for loss prevention discussions in support of professional development and mentoring. That is why GBA case histories are so valuable, and why GBA is updating them all, while adding new ones, too. GBA Case Histories are FREE to all Members. More Information about Case History #101: HERE GBA Fall Conference in Two Weeks — JOIN US! Early Registration Discounts Available It's not too late. Join your associates and fellow industry professionals from across North America and beyond for GBA’s virtually delivered, interactive education experience. 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. Register Today and join us for 4 half-days of collaboration and networking through participation in committee meetings, business round tables, and earn up to 7.5 PDH credits. More Information: HERE State of the Geoprofessional Industry Our Executive Director, Joel Carson recently delivered his State of the Geoprofessional Industry for our members. The video presentation provides a review of the past 6-months, assesses our current situation, and provides a look forward to 2021 and beyond. In the presentation, Mr. Carson emphasized the importance of preparing for a recession. He highlighted GBA’s Business Brief: Preparing for the Next Recession Now, an important reference for all geoprofessional business leaders. State of the Geoprofessional Industry: HERE IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Our most popular article from our last issue of GBA NEWSlog. GBA Photo Contest Winners Announced!  EVENTS Future GBA Events: Mark Your Calendars Now GBA 2020 Fall Conference Virtual Event 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 Terracon Acquires Environmental Planning Group of Phoenix Terracon Terracon is pleased to announce its acquisition of Environmental Planning Group (EPG), headquartered in Phoenix. EPG is a privately held consulting company with more than two decades serving public- and private-sector clients in the Western U.S. and nationally.  READ MORE Kleinfelder Completes Asset Purchase of Garcia and Associates Kleinfelder The Kleinfelder Group, Inc., a leading engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm, announced today that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Garcia and Associates (GANDA). The transaction, which closed on August 24, 2020, adds integral environmental planning and permitting services to Kleinfelder’s West Division.  READ MORE Happy 40th Birthday, GeoEngineers GeoEngineers Forty years ago, on September 29, 1980, Jon Koloski, Jack Tuttle and Gary Henderson founded GeoEngineers Inc. in Bellevue, Washington. Their vision for the company was laid out in a guiding principles document that prioritized broad employee ownership, collaboration, seamless leadership transitions, quality technical work and high ethical standards. These values have remained central to the company over the years, as GeoEngineers has grown into a technically diverse engineering and earth science consulting firm with a presence in 16 states. To see more of GeoEngineers’ history, take a look at this timeline of some of the highlights from the last four decades.  READ MORE Golder Celebrates 60 Years Golder At Golder, we recognize the world is constantly changing and presents us with new challenges every day. As our clients build their businesses and strive for success, they are faced with transformative influences that include radical advancements in technology, disruptions in traditional markets, and shifts in generational thinking that impact their workforce and their customers. In the political environments around us, policy changes create uncertainty around project development, regulations, permitting, and approvals. Not everything in this story is new, but the pace of change feels faster than ever, and knowing where to turn for counsel and assistance can make all the difference.  READ MORE GZA Names Paul J. Malagrifa, P.E., as Chief Information Officer GZA GeoEnvironmental GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc. (GZA), a leading multi-disciplinary firm providing geotechnical, environmental, ecological, water, and construction management services, has named Paul J. Malagrifa, P.E., as Chief Information Officer. A licensed professional engineer in electrical engineering and licensed master electrician in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Paul has more than 30 years of leadership experience in technology, engineering, higher education, and construction.  READ MORE Saving the Salmon: Big Bar Project Tackles Life-Changing Landslide in British Columbia Kiewit The migrating salmon that travel the Fraser River in British Columbia are crucial to the livelihood of commercial fishers and members of local First Nation communities who rely on these and other fish for food and as part of their cultures. A 2018 landslide brought fishing in one area to a standstill. Kiewit has been working to help restore the habitat and preserve the communities’ long-standing traditions. About 365 kilometers (227 miles) into their spring 2019 migration up the Fraser River in British Columbia, the Early Stuart sockeye salmon were likely the first to notice a problem north of Lillooet. In construction terms, the road was closed.  READ MORE Westport Utilizes Risk Management and Horizontal Directional Drilling Haley & Aldrich Completed the project on schedule and, as a result, did not disrupt the peregrine falcon nesting season. Haley & Aldrich, guided the town through their first-ever trenchless project of this scale and complexity. Haley & Aldrich took a proactive approach to identify, evaluate, and address the various risk factors associated with this HDD project. This included a detailed evaluation of a complex subsurface geology consisting of highly abrasive rock.  READ MORE  INDUSTRY NEWS Contractor or Employee? Construction Dive The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a federal independent contractor rule revising its interpretation of how employers decide who is an independent contractor and who is an employee.  READ MORE The Most Dangerous Tool Oregon OSHA Don’t fall this Fall, gravity always works, ladders, not so much. View Video The Road to Greener Concrete Is Paved with Clay Bloomberg The Argos plant in Rioclaro, Colombia, can churn out as much as 2.3 million tons of cement a year, used to build everything from dams and bridges to skyscrapers and stadiums. The cement and CO2 had been pouring out of Rioclaro nonstop for more than 20 years when the chief executive of Argos met an academic named Karen Scrivener, who had a simple pitch: change the recipe for cement to incorporate clay, and slash the carbon footprint. She called it LC3, or limestone calcined clay cement.  READ MORE Environmental Justice NJ News The Garden State recently took a dozen polluters in marginalized communities to court, continuing a multi-year effort to collect millions of dollars in fines.  READ MORE Ocean Front Property The Civil Engineer Study quantifies human infrastructure on oceans for the first time.  READ MORE A Finger in the Dike Isn't Enough CNN An Amsterdam's children verse says: "Amsterdam, die grote stad / Die is gebouwd op palen / Als die stad eens ommeviel / Wie zou dat dan betalen? Loosely translated: "Amsterdam, big city / It is built on piles / If the city would collapse / Who would pay for that?"  READ MORE Elevated Lead Risks from Private Well Water Indiana University Children in homes relying on private well water are 25 percent more likely to have elevated blood lead levels than children in homes served by community water.  READ MORE Beyond Lead, A New Concern The Star Purging the water system of brain-eating microbe in Houston will take 60 days.  READ MORE Marine Heat Waves ENSIA Improved “weather forecasts” for oceans hold hope for reducing devastation to fisheries and ecosystems around the world.  READ MORE Swimming Anyone? USGS Views of Kīlauea's growing summit water lake are stunning. On December 18th, 2019 the lake had a surface area of 2.7 acres. On September 23 the surface area was 8.2 acres and the water level had risen 82 feet. See Photo Chronology Motion in the Ocean Energy News Tidal and river energy supporters say the technology is on the cusp of wider commercial deployment.  READ MORE Had Enough of Zoom? Get Creative With It Attention to Detail Here are some unique or innovative ways people are using Zoom.  READ MORE Risk and Uncertainty, Food for Innovation The Conversation To be a great innovator, learn to embrace and thrive in uncertainty.  READ MORE Words of Wisdom "In crisis management, be quick with the facts, slow with the blame." - Leonard Saffir  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