GBA Podcast

Summary

GBA has published over 100 case histories based on real-life events that have happened to geoprofessional firms. This episode in the series explores Case History #86 where the GBA member firm conducted a geotechnical engineering study and performed COMET services during earthwork for a builder on a single family home in an area where expansive shales are interbedded with sandstone. The member firm advised for slope-stability analyses. Eight months after construction was complete, the foundation started to move, creating distress in the slab and some walls. Remediation attempts were unsuccessful and as a result the project went to litigation.

Our Guest

Carrie Foulk, PE, GE – Geotechnical Group Manager/Senior Geotechnical Engineer/BSK Associates (Link to Profile)

Carrie Foulk is a senior geotechnical engineer at BSK Associates in Livermore, California. She has been in this business for about 20 years, and is the geotechnical technical lead for the company, as well as the geotechnical group manager in Livermore. She has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from University of Washington (1996) and a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from University of California at Berkeley (2002). She is professionally licensed as both a civil engineer and geotechnical engineer in California. She serves as chair of the Geotechnical Business Committee for the GBA and is currently part of the Emerging Leaders Committee. Her career highlights include taking 5 years off when her children were born to be a stay-at-home mom.

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Summary

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a term often used in the workplace, but its meaning is often not well understood. People often mistakenly think that, with the creation of a diverse workplace, inclusion will automatically follow. Yet, inclusion should exist in tandem; it’s the climate where diversity thrives.

In this episode, we will be discussing the findings presented in the article titled: The Pipeline to Diversity and Inclusion in the Geoprofessions which was published in the 2020 November/December Edition of GeoStrata magazine. Focusing first on diversity reveals that the geosciences are the least diverse of all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in the U.S. (American Community Survey Report, National Center for Science & Engineering Statistics and U.S. Census).

DEI is a concept that affects all of us but it is important to recognize that it affects the bottom line. By limiting the talent pool and accepting high attrition rates from women and other minorities, the geoprofessions are exerting additional and wasted resources on hiring and training, and potentially missing out on growth, profitability, and innovation opportunities.

Our Guests

Jonathan Knudsen, P.E., National Project Executive / Universal Engineering Sciences [Link to Profile]

Rachel Ebner, Development Director / Stevens Construction, Inc. [Link to Profile]

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Summary

GBA has published over 100 case histories based on real-life events that have happened to geoprofessional firms. This episode in the series explores Case History #64 where the GBA Member Firm's civil engineer client developed the geotechnical engineering scope of services for exploration on and around an existing landfill, without adequately conveying the project goals to the geotechnical engineer. The civil engineer then erred when transferring information from the member's report to a set of plans. Both the civil engineering firm and Member Firm settled the ensuing claim, but paid more than they believed was merited for their respective involvement.

Our Guest

Eric S. Steinhauser, P.E., Principal and Senior Vice President / Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc. [Link to Profile]

Eric earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from Syracuse University. For over 30 years he has been involved with the design, permitting, and construction of solid waste, remediation, geotechnical, and energy projects throughout New York, New England, and the mid-Atlantic states. Eric has published and presented papers, both nationally and internationally, on engineering topics including innovative uses of geosynthetics, in-situ geotechnical testing, LFG management, solid waste facility design and operations, stormwater management and erosion and sediment control, and bioreactor landfill design and operation.

Eric is a licensed Professional Engineer in 15 states, holds professional certifications in erosion and sediment control and stormwater quality, is a member of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics, is the President and New Hampshire representative for the Northeast Chapter of the International Erosion and Sediment Control Association, and is a member of New Hampshire Chapters of ASCE and NSPE and several Chapters of SWANA. Eric also serves on the City of Concord, NH Solid Waste Advisory Committee, and the New Hampshire Waste Management Council.

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Summary

GBA has published over 100 case histories based on real-life events that have happened to geoprofessional firms. GBA Case Histories are unique because our members share real-life stories of problems that impacted their businesses. They also include the outcomes of corrective action, and lessons learned.

This episode in the series explores Case History #103. After three destroyed gauges and numerous other violations, a Member-Firm was facing civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and revocation of their license to own and/or operate nuclear gauges. They paid a $150,000 settlement but more importantly developed a compliance program hailed as “a model for the industry”. Learn from their mistakes and from their commitment to change their culture through immediate action to create, test, launch, and monitor sustainable, institutional controls to address the underling causes of the violations, as well as specific regulatory compliance issues. Every Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) must hear this!

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Summary

GBA has published over 100 case histories based on real-life events that have happened to geoprofessional firms. This episode in the series explores Case History #108, where a GBA-Member Firm provided suggested changes to a sewer pipe design in order to keep construction moving forward on a five-story senior-living facility. Four years later, swelling clays caused the sewer line to back-up and the lower-level slab began showing heaving related distress. That good deed with other project related complications resulted in a $25 million claim that required an extensive defense of contract limitations of liability, standards of care, and project documentation.

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Summary

GBA has published over 100 case histories based on real-life events that have happened to geoprofessional firms. This episode in the series explores Case History #61, which stems from an environmental site assessment conducted as part of a property transfer, and that highlights the importance of strong contract language, report limitations, diligent information gathering, professional liability insurance, adequate training, and much more.

Our Guest

S. Andrew K. Batson, Esq., Corporate Counsel and Compliance Manager / Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc. [Link to Profile]

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Our Host and Guest

Joel Carson host and GBA Executive Director – Link to Profile

Val Ries is a certified leadership trainer and Executive coach supporting organizations, managers and executives. Val understands the daily demands, pressure and challenges one can face in times of stress. She is an expert at helping her clients balance those demands while inspiring productivity with resiliency and strength. Val's relatable approach has been consistently recognized for helping her clients increase bottom-line results by building collaborative teams, engaged employees, customer satisfaction and designing comprehensive on-boarding techniques.

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This episode was produced by the following GBA Members:

Our Host and Guest

Joel Carson host and GBA Executive Director – Link to Profile

Jeff Tobe is a Certified Speaking Professional and was chosen by readers of Convention & Meetings Magazine as one of the top 15 speakers in North America. He is one of the most dynamic speakers in the world, and prides himself on presenting up-to-the-minute, cutting-edge material as it relates to designing the ideal customer EXPERIENCE by getting your people more ENGAGED at what they do every day.

Jeff is the author of the wildly popular book Coloring Outside The Lines and he is the co-author of the new book, ANTICIPATE: Knowing What Customers Need Before They Do! which is quickly becoming one of the hottest business books on the market today!

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This episode was produced by the following GBA Members:

Our Host and Guest

Joel Carson host and GBA Executive Director – Link to Profile

Bob Kelleher is a best-selling author, international keynote speaker, and consultant who travels the globe sharing his insights on employee engagement, leadership, and workforce trends. Bob is the author of the recently released I-Engage: Your Personal Engagement Roadmap, the best-selling book, Louder Than Words: 10 Practical Employee Engagement Steps That Drive Results, and Creativeship: An Engagement and Leadership Fable, Employee Engagement for Dummies.

Bob can be seen or heard on national media (most recently on CNBC, CBS, NBC News, Business Week, Forbes, Training Magazine, Yahoo, and Fortune), and is a frequent guest writer and contributing editor on many national publications.

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This episode was produced by the following GBA Members:

Our Host and Guest

Joel Carson host and GBA Executive Director – Link to Profile

Nancy Watt is President of NANCY WATT COMMUNICATIONS, a specialized consulting and creative agency that works with all sectors exploring the social science of collaboration, communication and connection. Using a ‘Pracademic’ approach, Nancy Watt elucidates evidence-based research in an engaging and entertaining way using the tools and techniques of improv honed from her days at The Second City Conservatory in Toronto. This form of experiential learning has been used in diverse setting with a wise swath of clients from marginalized populations to the judiciary, medical school faculty and law societies.

In order to capture effective experiential learning, she builds a camaraderie-filled ensemble where the participants learn while laughing.

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This episode was produced by the following GBA Members: