GeoHeroes - Joel Carson

GeoHeroes - Joel Carson

About This Episode
In this episode Guy Marcozzi interviews Joel Carson, Executive Director of the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) about his inspiring journey from driller's helper to industry leader. Joel shares how childhood relocations with his Bechtel engineer father—including walking through BART tunnels under construction—shaped his resilience and adaptability. Discover his unconventional path through 25+ years of consulting, the spontaneous "maybe" that changed his career trajectory, and why he believes geoprofessionals make the world better every single day. Packed with leadership insights, honest reflections on the roads not taken, and a passionate vision for the profession's future, this conversation reveals what it truly means to lead with purpose.

About Our Guest
Joel Carson is the Executive Director of the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA), where he has championed business success for geoprofessionals for over a decade. With 25+ years of consulting experience, his career spans from driller's helper to division manager overseeing 20 offices across 10 states at Kleinfelder. Born into an engineering family, Joel developed early appreciation for infrastructure. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to launch new practice areas and manage national accounts. A passionate industry advocate, Joel believes geoprofessionals make the world better every single day through their commitment to human health and safety.

Our Host
Guy Marcozzi, PE, D.GE, LEED AP BD+C, is a GBA past-president and an experienced CEO, President and Board Member with a demonstrated history of working in the engineering, science and data technology industries and in leadership for various boards of ESOP, non-profit, professional and business organizations.

Show Notes

Introduction

• Joel Carson, Executive Director of the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA)
• Has led GBA for 10+ years
• Previously a geoprofessional consultant for 25+ years

Early Life and Education

• Born in San Francisco, California (mother was fourth-generation San Franciscan)
• Father worked for Bechtel Corporation on major infrastructure projects
• Early memory: walking through BART tunnel construction with his father
• Grew up with five siblings (Wayne, Brad, Jill, Carol, and Mary)
• Family relocated every 3-4 years to small towns across the U.S. (Rock Springs WY, Crystal City MO, Delta UT)
• Moving frequently taught him to adapt to new situations and overcome challenges
• Attended University of Utah, chose civil engineering (initially focused on transportation)
• Originally wanted to be a city engineer in a small town

Career Path

• First job: found via index card on corkboard at University of Utah engineering department
• Started as driller's helper on the back of a drill rig (late 1980s, during Underground Storage Tank Act)
• Progressed through: field work → lab work → project management → national account management
• Discovered entrepreneurial side: wrote business plan to start environmental practice in Boise office
• Moved family to Boise, Idaho to launch new department
• Managed national account for Albertsons across Western U.S.
• 22+ years with Kleinfelder, progressing through leadership roles:
  • Washington state operations manager (Seattle area)
  • Regional manager (Omaha, Nebraska - 4 states)
  • Division manager (20 offices across 10 states)
• Needed change every 3-4 years to stay engaged throughout career
• Told CEO "I want your job" - led to strategic career guidance
• Spontaneously said "maybe" during board meeting discussion - changed career trajectory
• Applied for GBA Executive Director role alongside 69 other candidates

Leadership

• Greatest satisfaction came from leading people, not completing projects
• Views helping others reach their full potential as "the biggest gift"
• Communication is the most critical competency for geoprofessionals (written and verbal)
• Used "Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage" for year-long leadership study with team
• Key mentor: the person who wrote that first job posting index card
  • Worked together at multiple companies
  • Provided opportunities and support throughout early career

The Geoprofessional Landscape

Changes Over Time:

• Technology dramatically improved efficiency (hand-drawn plans → digital tools)
• Manual data collection → remote sensing and automation
• AI emerging as potential next disruptor
• Industry consolidation from small firms to mega firms

Core Competencies (Then and Now):

• Communication skills remain most important
• Communication doesn't come naturally to many engineers - requires intentional development

Future Opportunities:

• Climate change (multiple aspects)
• Urbanization and population consolidation
• Eroding infrastructure (U.S. receives poor grades)
• Increasing energy demands

Optimism Level:

• Highly bullish on the profession
• "There will always be a need for the geoprofessions"
• Wherever there's soil, rock, water, and air - geoprofessionals are needed

Life Advice

• Core message: Recognize the value and honor of the geoprofessional profession
• "Every day you go home from work, the world is a little better place because a geoprofessional was working that day"
• Work directly impacts human health and safety for current and future generations
• Focus on developing communication skills continuously
• Embrace discomfort and new challenges
• Pursue operational experience beyond technical expertise

Speed Round

• Favorite Book: Good to Great by Jim Collins; Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
• Optimism index: 5 out of 5 (extremely optimistic); Geoprofessionals are critical to society and always will be
• Proudest accomplishments: Leading and developing people to reach their full potential
• What he'd change: Wondered about starting a consulting firm focused on green building, chose family stability instead
• Advice for young professionals: Recognize the impacts you have, this is an honorable profession critical to human health and safety; Your daily work makes the world better for current and future generations

Final Thoughts

• Joel expressed gratitude for being part of the GeoHeroes podcast series
• Called for Season 2 to continue elevating geoprofessionals' stories
• Emphasized importance of celebrating the people doing geoprofessional work every day

Calls-to-action:

• Visit the GBA Website at https://www.geoprofessional.org for other training resources and reference materials and/or to become a member.
• Visit https://www.gbapodcast.com for future podcast episodes
• Contact us at info@geoprofessional.org with any podcast-related questions or comments

Subscribe

• Subscribe to the GBA Podcast https://www.gbapodcast.com/subscribe

This episode was produced by the following GBA Members:

• Ryan White, PE, GE – Principal Geotechnical Engineer/Apex