Kurt R. Fraese has been elected as the new ASFE/GBA president

Kurt R. Fraese, L.G. is the new president of ASFE/The Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA), a not-for-profit association of geoprofessional firms that employ some 150,000 individuals worldwide. Accepting office during ceremonies at GBA's annual meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, Mr. Fraese is the 43rd individual to serve as GBA's president and chair the group's board of directors. Other officers and directors-at-large who will serve during GBA's 2013-14 fiscal year are:

• President-Elect Steven D. Thorne, P.E., D.GE (Birdsall Services Group, Cranford, NJ);
• Secretary/Treasurer Gordon M. Matheson, Ph.D., P.E., P.G. (Schnabel Engineering, Glen Allen, VA);
• Joel G. Carson (Kleinfelder, Omaha, NE);
• Chuck A. Gregory, P.E. (Terracon, San Antonio, TX);
• Stewart G. Osgood, P.E. (DOWL HKM, Anchorage, AK);
• Laura R. Reinbold, P.E. (TTL, Inc., Nashville, TN); and
• Woodward L. Vogt, P.E., D.GE (Paradigm Consultants, Inc., Houston, TX).

An environmental-science specialist with expertise in brownfield redevelopment, Mr. Fraese is CEO of GeoEngineers, Inc., a 300-person earth-science and technology firm based in Seattle, Washington, with 12 offices nationwide. A 1982 graduate of Humboldt State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology, Mr. Fraese has provided consulting services in the energy, development, transportation, federal-government, and water-and-natural-resources markets since beginning his career in 1983 with Woodward-Clyde Consultants. He joined GeoEngineers in 1988 and became CEO in March 2007. He has served as project manager and/or principal in charge of more than 1,200 site studies, as well as a qualified expert in a variety of dispute-resolution proceedings. As a trusted advisor, Mr. Fraese has served clients as a regulatory liaison and participated as a client representative in numerous negotiations with attorneys, lenders, insurance companies, contractors, and real-estate professionals.

Established in 1969, GBA "helps its members and their clients confront risk and optimize performance." GBA reaches out to public- and private-sector owners, design professionals, contractors, and others to inform them about the time- and money-saving benefits derived by relying on qualified geoprofessionals, and developing programs, services, and materials geoprofessional firms use to enhance their business and professional practices in order to become their clients' trusted professional advisors.

Geoprofessional firms provide geotechnical, geologic, environmental, construction materials engineering and testing, and related professional services. (Refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoprofessions.) All GBA-member firms' technical activities are under the full-time control of an individual who is legally and/or ethically bound to hold paramount public health, safety, and welfare. GBA's associate membership comprises geoconstructors; geoprofessional educators and students; geoprofessionals employed by government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and industry; and attorneys and other consultants to GBA-member firms.

Source: Obtain more information about GBA in the ASFE website (www.asfe.org) or by contacting the organization at [email protected] or 301/565-2733.