GBA Podcast

Summary On the first of each month, GBA Executive Director Joel Carson provides an inside look at the latest GBA member resources, events, and news. These short and information-packed videos will make you and your firm smarter, stronger, and more successful! This Episode As part of GBA's commitment to innovation, the July edition of The 1st Wordis delivered using AI-powered avatar technology—one e...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #10 - It Can Be A Costly Dam, Shame If Clients Won't Take Your Advice Summary The local governmental agency asked the GBA Member Firm to assist during final design and construction of a recreational lake system but then restricted the Member Firm’s scope to only geotechnical engineering. A variety of problems plagued the project and the recommendations of the...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #2 - Client's Who Don't Follow Advice Should Be Someone Else's Client Summary The GBA Member Firm performed a geotechnical study for a repeat client, a custom-home builder, to identify potential groundwater problems for construction of a two-story home near the flank of a ridge. It was a hand-shake deal. Despite recommendations for drainage provisions and con...

Geoprofessional Women's Group Summary: The GBA Geoprofessional Women's Group (GWG) podcast features a panel of women with 5–30+ years of experience discussing the group's founding, purpose, and vision. GWG aims to address ongoing isolation, retention, and leadership gaps for women in the geoprofessional industry. Panelists discuss mentorship, career pivots, work-life balance, imposter syndrome, an...

Summary On the first of each month, GBA Executive Director Joel Carson provides an inside look at the latest GBA member resources, events, and news. These short and information-packed videos will make you and your firm smarter, stronger, and more successful! Links to resources referenced: GBA Safety Committee GBA Podcast GBA Podcast Episode: Communication Basics—Intentional and Inclusive Communica...

Communication Basics: Intentional and Inclusive Communication Summary The GBA Inclusion Advancement Committee explores why communication is more than a soft skill—it’s a core competency in the geoprofessional industry. Moderator Rob Howard and panelists Dee Watson, Kent Bannister, and Margaret Panatera discuss how intentional and inclusive communication can reduce friction, strengthen collaboratio...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #4 - Compromise Must be a Part of Your Business Strategy Summary The Member Firm performed a geotechnical engineering study for a major structure and recommended drilled shafts that would require permanent casing. The drilled-shaft constructor offered an innovative “value-engineered” approach to remove the casing and save money. Unfortunately, construction pr...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #3 - If Your Client Won't Listen...Get Out Your Checkbook Summary The civil engineer retained the Member Firm to perform a geotechnical engineering study for a major municipal wastewater treatment facility but dictated a generalized scope despite a challenging site. After learning of unfavorable foundation conditions (near-surface rock), the civil engineer re...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #99 - How Did That Get There? Summary Member Firm provides geotechnical engineering services and CoMET for a new project on the site of an existing shopping center. CoMET services were provided “as needed” for demolition of the shopping center. A few years after the completion of construction, one of the three new retaining walls deflected significantly. Inve...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #113 - Challenge Yourself...Be a Consultant...Serve your Client...The GBA Story Summary A GBA Member Firm performed construction materials engineering and testing (CoMET) services for a new nine-story hospital. Another firm’s geotechnical report recognized the pavement subgrade would include poorly graded soil-rock fill and recommended a bearing ratio that th...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #89 - Don't Rush Go Along to Get Along. Don't Get Bullied Summary A GBA Member Firm’s scope of services included a geotechnical engineering study and construction materials engineering and testing (COMET) services for a medical office building in area with old fill, expansive soil, and shale. During construction, the Member Firm was discouraged (“if we want y...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #45 - Small Projects Can Create Big Risk...Yet Again, and Again and Again... Summary A GBA Member Firm performed an environmental site assessment (ESA) for a commercial real estate developer. After the Member Firm reported the laboratory tests, which indicated unacceptable levels of a contaminant, the prospective purchaser reneged and demanded a return of its...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #5 - If the Bus Driver Doesn't Have a License, Get Off the Bus Summary An architect for a church retained a GBA member firm to perform a limited-scope geotechnical study for a federally funded retirement home. Only boring logs and a brief letter report to the structural engineer were needed for the design of a pile foundation. Unfortunately, the design was no...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #1 - Beware! A Friend's Small Project Can be Hazardous to your Firm's Health Summary The GBA member firm performed a preliminary geotechnical study to estimate foundation-construction costs for a small housing development. The project stalled and years later the developer sold the land with the geotechnical report to another developer. The new owner retained...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #41 - Don't Worry. We Don't Plan to Build There Summary The Member Firm performed a geotech study for a housing development and observed grading of the site during the construction of ten buildings. Six years after construction, the developer built two additional units but, because the Member Firm could not provide a representative to monitor the earthwork co...

GBA Case History Series – Case History #91 - Is There Value in Value Engineering? Beware of Panic Mode! Summary Member Firm conducts forensic evaluation of mold in a crawl space of a 180 unit nursing home and gives an “Engineering Opinion of Probable Cost” for the remediation of mold condition. When the owner investigated the construction records, it was found that the constructor- in- charge was...

12 Days of GBA – Day 1: Most Downloaded Document Summary Tiffany Vorhies and Ryan White present a year-end series highlighting their favorite GBA resources, counting down from Day 12 to Day 1. The final episode of GBA's 12 Days of GBA series reveals 2025's most downloaded document: Crane Pad and Working Platform Design and Inspection. This isn't a technical design guide—it's comprehensive risk red...

12 Days of GBA – Day 2: GBA Conferences Summary Tiffany Vorhies and Ryan White present a year-end series highlighting their favorite GBA resources, counting down from Day 12 to Day 1. GBA's conferences are where the magic happens—Ryan and Tiffany share why these events are annual highlights. Spring Conference features the Business Snapshot for industry pulse-checks, legendary keynote speakers (Jim...

12 Days of GBA – Day 3: Business Briefs Summary Tiffany Vorhies and Ryan White present a year-end series highlighting their favorite GBA resources, counting down from Day 12 to Day 1. GBA's Business Briefs deliver short, focused reads on timely topics—free for members. Ryan and Tiffany highlight three standouts: Crystal Ball Workshop 2025 (co-authored by Tiffany and Matt Van Rensler ) covering AI...

12 Days of GBA – Day 4: GBA Podcast Summary Tiffany Vorhies and Ryan White present a year-end series highlighting their favorite GBA resources, counting down from Day 12 to Day 1. Born from Emerging Leaders Class 4 during COVID, the GBA podcast has evolved into a powerful member benefit amplifier. While episodes are free to the public, GBA members unlock the real value—downloadable resources, best...

12 Days of GBA – Day 5: Peer Review Summary Tiffany Vorhies and Ryan White present a year-end series highlighting their favorite GBA resources, counting down from Day 12 to Day 1. GBA's Peer Review—named by Engineering News Record as one of 125 most innovative developments in 125 years—provides structured, confidential assessment of firm management practices. Tiffany deep-dives into the process, e...

12 Days of GBA – Day 6: Taboo Words Summary Tiffany Vorhies and Ryan White present a year-end series highlighting their favorite GBA resources, counting down from Day 12 to Day 1. GBA's Taboo Words document gets its own spotlight because words in your report matter as much as the work itself. Tiffany shares how this resource shaped her writing since 2006. The eight risky words aren't "evil," but o...

12 Days of GBA – Day 7: Best Practices Summary Tiffany Vorhies and Ryan White present a year-end series highlighting their favorite GBA resources, counting down from Day 12 to Day 1. GBA's best practices (or "monographs") are short, focused guides that save you from learning lessons the hard way. Tiffany highlights Change Order Management—emphasizing early communication to prevent client surprises...

12 Days of GBA – Day 8: Risk Management Resources Summary Tiffany Vorhies and Ryan White present a year-end series highlighting their favorite GBA resources, counting down from Day 12 to Day 1. Risk management is GBA's "love language"—woven into nearly everything they publish. Ryan and Tiffany break down their "greatest hits playlist" across three tracks: contracts and legal risk (featuring the Co...

12 Days of GBA – Day 9: Leadership Training Summary Tiffany Vorhies and Ryan White present a year-end series highlighting their favorite GBA resources, counting down from Day 12 to Day 1. Discover GBA's comprehensive leadership training opportunities that span your entire career journey. Ryan and Tiffany share their personal experiences, including how they met through the Emerging Leaders program—...