• The ability to address issues as a unified group. Change in our profession is inevitable — much of it coming from forces which we individually cannot control or influence. Influence can be either proactive or reactive but we must act together! Issues we can act together on include:
  • Provide input and address issues of local government concerning ordinances, permitting, and consultant selection;
  • Sponsor, monitor, and take a position on state legislative bills; and
  • Support and advocate member firms in special situations (such as Amicus brief for the Viner v. Brockway case).
• To share legislative, business, and professional information. A statewide organization is the logical group to collect and disseminate such information. We hold routine training workshops and annual seminars on various topics. The tri-yearly publication Geogram is a rich source of pertinent information, including pending legislation that could impact your practice.
• Promote loss prevention techniques among member firms and develop an informal "standard of care" through discussions, open forums, and consensus building.
• Raise the status of geotechnical engineering in the eyes of the public and other professional disciplines. Also, to stimulate and nurture a sense of professionalism, and to know your competition. We frequently have to interact with other firms and everything goes smoother when you are not strangers.
• Realize an internal benefit to member firms in developing a sense of professionalism in younger employees, increasing their breadth of influence and understanding of their place in the larger design community. An additional benefit is the opportunity to reward your achievers by showing interest in their careers and by sending them to desirable meetings.
• Take advantage of special purchase opportunities that are offered to organizations with large buying power. Examples include special rates currently offered to CGEA by California Overnight (overnight shipping), State Compensation Insurance Fund (workers’ compensation insurance), and Hertz (car rental) programs..

The California Geotechnical Engineers Association (CGEA) represents most of the geotechnical engineering and many of the environmental consulting firms active in California. We provide direct access to the leaders in our industry. Our membership leads the industry in innovative approaches to problem resolution, and we are always looking for new approaches.

For firms who provide a product or service that relates to geotechnical engineers, an Affiliate membership with CGEA can provide your company with the following:

• Direct access to industry leaders (the decision makers);
• A regular forum for you to present your products and/or services;
• Opportunities to work with firms on the leading edge in developing new products and/or services;
• Free half-page advertisement in each issue of our newsletter, the Geogram, which is distributed to over 1,500 industry professionals;
• A complete Membership Directory which provides company and contact names, addresses, and telephone numbers for all CGEA members; and
• Opportunities to present workshops or make technical presentations at our annual loss prevention seminars, regional meetings, and annual conference.

Additional Benefits

Aside from the professional benefits of membership in CGEA, we offer several Affinity Programs which provide our members with visible benefits — the ability to save cold, hard cash.

• Our most popular program, and the biggest cost saver, is the State Compensation Insurance Fund workers' compensation group insurance program. With several "policy years" behind us, we have distributed about $50,000 in dividends and bonus dividends to our program participants.
• In addition to State Fund, we also offer California Overnight, an overnight delivery program.  As a CGEA member, you can obtain those services for all of your offices at a reduced rate.
• Our newest addition to our benefits package is Hertz Car Rental. You’ll find a direct link to Hertz, along with our group member number, on our Web Links page. You will also need a Membership Card, which is available by request through the CGEA office. Just click here to e-mail your request to us.
• CGEA continues to look for cost-savings programs that will help our members save money in the day-to-day operation of their business. If you have you have any suggestions, please contact us. We’ll investigate all recommendations.

For more information, contact the CGEA Administrative Office at (530) 344-0644, or by e-mail.