Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast

As Labor Day passes, we say goodbye to summer breaks and hello to autumn, various conferences and meetings, and lots of things going on in the surveying and geospatial profession. This episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast finds us catching up from the long holiday weekend and bringing you this installment of “From the Director’s Desk” and your host, NSPS Executive Director Tim Burch. He shares news from the recent NCEES Annual Meeting, visits from international dignitaries, upcoming conferences, and upcoming events and promotions. For more information about these events, visit nsps.us.com for details. Thank for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast finds us back in “The Golden State” catching up with another surveyor who is making a significant “mark” on the profession. This week’s guest is Adrian Aguirre, a survey analyst with Guida Surveying in Fresno, CA who is also is the Secretary of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of CLSA. Tim Burch was able to catch up with Adrian to discuss plans for a virtual webinar and YouTube recording bringing various professional associations together to share commonality and fellowship to surveyors of all ages. They discussed how many surveyors don’t realize all the opportunities for networking and furthering one’s education simply by attending association functions and how Adrian wants to close that gap by hosting these informative sessions for all surveyors. If you have an interest in being part of Adrian’s upcoming sessions, connect with him on LinkedIn and/or send us a note at [email protected] and we will get you hooked up! Look for more information from Adrian and social media for dates and time coming soon. Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

This week’s episode went from collecting a few sound bites about ongoing legislative efforts from our NSPS Lobbyist, JB Byrd, to a full-blown recording! We caught up with him on a late Friday afternoon to provide “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and boy, are we glad we did! JB chatted with Executive Director Tim Burch about the ongoing Ligado saga, their presentation to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) panel that will be included in the upcoming published NAS report, and legislative outreach during the mid-term election campaigns. Once again, it was a pleasure to hear JB provide great insight into the sometimes-aggravating world of US politics. Thank you for tuning into this great conversation with JB & Tim on this episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

We have a winner! This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast finds us in Morgantown, WV at the offices of Triad Engineering as hosts for the presentation of the 2022 Trig-Star National Competition to Lauren Shen, a student at Morgantown High School. Kevin Brockett, PLS, who serves as Triad’s Surveying Manager, sponsored Lauren, and her classmates in this year’s competition. Tim Burch attended the presentation and sat down with Lauren, Kevin, and Lauren’s teacher, Brian Jackson to discuss the Trig-Star test process and what lead to her success with the competition. Lauren also shared her thoughts on maintaining focus on school, personal time, and making sure to take care of her mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lots of great life lessons in this episode from a sixteen-year-old who truly sees the big picture. Congrats again on your achievement with the Trig-Star competition! Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

It is often said that surveyors don’t know how to retire and that they go on to do bigger and better things. This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast proves exactly that as we catch up with Steve Martin, a recently retired surveyor formerly with the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). He is a long serving CLSA member (2011 Member of the Year recipient) and dedicated steward to the “GPS on Benchmarks” initiative through NGS (for more information, listen to Episode 111 w/ Galen Scott). Steve recent chatted with Tim Burch about his efforts to recover and submit data for the initiative, thoughts on mentoring, and the future of the profession. Check out Steve’s efforts through his posts on LinkedIn and let him know that his work is appreciated! Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections. For more information about “GPS on Benchmarks,” visit the NGS website at: https://geodesy.noaa.gov/web/science_edu/webinar_series/gpsonbm-nsrs-campaign-continues.shtml https://geodesy.noaa.gov/GPSonBM/

This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast finds us having a conversation with the US Forest Service discussing how vital surveyors are to their overall mission as stewards of public lands. Joining Tim Burch for the podcast is Gino San Paolo and Forrest Decker, both surveyors with the Forest Service heading up operations in California and Georgia, respectively. They discussed what a typical day as a Forest Service surveyor is like, how boundary retracement is a key aspect of their duties, and why each day brings its own set of challenges and rewards. Gino and Forrest shared what the agency is looking for in hiring surveyors and technicians and how opportunities are abound with coming on board the US Forest Service. For more information on job openings within the Forest service, visit USAJOBS.gov for more information. Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

The age old question for our storied profession has consistently been for (literally) centuries, “What does a surveyor do?” Whether it be for an audience of fellow professionals (engineers, architects, etc.) or John Q. Public, the surveying profession has struggled with telling our story of who we are and what we do. This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast asked that question during the Florida Surveying & Mapping Society (FSMS) Conference and ended up with a great conversation with Melissa Seitzinger, Project Development Manager for LJA Surveying in Tallahassee, FL. Melissa and Tim Burch sat down to discuss the challenges of “selling surveying” to not just those who may need our services, but to parents and their children who could potentially be our next generation of geospatialists. They also identified the ways surveyors can improve their communication, refine their presentation skills, and have a short “elevator speech” primed and ready for connecting with non-surveyors. A big thanks to the FSMS staff for a great conference and giving us space to record this excellent conversation. Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast catches up with the NSPS Trig-Star Program Committee as they complete their summer meeting. This session finds Tim Burch sitting down with the group during a break of test grading and strategic planning for the upcoming school year. Joining Tim is the Trig-Star Chair Jerry Juarez, Aaron Leach, John Chagnon, Mike Given, and Sherry Toutges to talk about the value of the Trig-Star program as a recruiting tool and outreach program to help students identify STEM-related careers. They also discuss scholarship opportunities and how the program gives our existing surveying practitioners an opportunity to connect with our future geospatialists. The Trig-Star program has been in place for almost 40 years and continues to grow. Check out more information about the program at Trig-Star.Com. Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

The NSPS Certified Survey Technician Program and increasing levels of certification provides real-world feedback on what a technician knows AND doesn’t know. This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast dives into two stories: one of a career that is just beginning, and another one who has taken advantage of the CST program and now gives back as a mentor to those just starting in surveying. Tim Burch recently talked all things CST with Larry Harvey, a Senior Technician who is the longest active CST III, and Ryan Baker, Field Technician who recent graduated from the IPLSA Surveying Apprenticeship Program AND Passed the CST Level I exam. Both gentlemen work for HLR Engineering, based in Elgin, Illinois with three offices throughout the state. They talked about the value of the CST program as a training tool and position evaluator, as well as the importance of having a good mentor while coming up through the ranks. Larry and Ryan also spoke of having a positive office culture that encourages continuing education for all staff and provides opportunities for each employee to achieve their own goals. The CST program has been in place for over 35 years and continues to grow. Check out more information about the program at CSTNSPS.Com. Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

This episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast is the next installment of “From the Director’s Desk” and shares many of the recent events happening within the organization. Your host, NSPS Executive Director Tim Burch, shares recent happenings on conferences, presentations, and upcoming events and promotions. Lots of exciting developments with new affiliates, experiences, and plans for the future, so check it out for the latest news in the surveying and geospatial front. For more information about these events, visit nsps.us.com for details. Thank for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

Eureka! While looking for a helping of Rice-A-Roni and a ride on a trolley car, “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast struck up a conversation with Warren Smith, L.S., Tuolumne County Surveyor and just happens to be the President of the California Land Surveyors Association (CLSA). He recently sat down with Tim Burch to discuss several topics central to surveying in the Golden State, including monument preservation after the devastating wildfires, effects of shifting tectonic plates and the role of the surveyor, and how membership in your professional organizations leads to more public awareness for the surveyor. Warren also shared his experiences of promoting “National Surveyor’s Week” on the municipal, county, and state levels with his fellow surveyors and technicians. NSPS would like to thank Warren and his fellow CLSA officers and members for the recent passage of an affiliate membership agreement between our organizations. We appreciate the effort completed to make this partnership happen. Thanks for listening to the “Surveyor Says!” podcast, and subscribe wherever you listen to your episodes.

This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast stays local with a short trip to the “District.” Our guest is Ramon Labrador, PLS, who was recently named as Deputy Surveyor for the District of Columbia. Tim Burch sat down with Ramon to trace his roots back to his native Puerto Rico, taking a chance on surveying when the engineering program was full, and his path to licensure in Maryland and D.C. He shared his thoughts on the importance of the four-year degree, mentoring, and being open to all aspects of surveying (inside and out!). Ramon also shared his viewpoint on the value of society involvement to enhance one’s knowledge and networking within the surveying profession. Come with us on a journey from the streets of Puerto Rico to the District of Columbia’s Surveying Office to hear Ramon’s impressive journey. Another great guest here on the “Surveyor Says!” podcast, so subscribe wherever you listen to your episodes.

In continuing with our “What is Surveying?” series, this week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast takes us down to the parishes of Louisiana and the land of the tigers, specifically LSU Tigers. Our guest this week is J. Anthony Cavell, PLS, CFedS, who current serves as President of American Association for Geodetic Surveying (AAGS). He is also a Past President of NSPS and the Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors (LSPS). Besides working at LSU in the Center for Geoinformatics (LSU C4G), Tony also an associate editor for Surveying and Land Information Sciences (SaLIS) and is a Board member of the Public Land Survey System Foundation (PLSSF). Tim Burch recently sat down with Tony to talk about the geodesy, the surveyor’s role with geodesy through the years, and how the paths are converging again with technology. Lots of knowledge and great ideas discussed here with Tony, so we definitely want to thank him for his dedication to the profession. Stay tuned to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast for more great topics and guests to come!

This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast is the next installment of our “What is Surveying?” series and focusing on the complementary geospatial service of aerial photography and LiDAR data collection. Tim Burch recently sat down with Bill Johnson, VP, and Stephanie Beckham, Director of Business Development for DAS Geospatial, providers of aerial photogrammetry and LiDAR services with offices in Texas and New Mexico, to talk about the importance of large format survey data collection in the age of UAVs. The firm’s roots began with Bill’s father in 1977, so he has experiences from the manual photography and drafting days to current technology that includes computer automation. They also spoke of the importance of business development and Stephanie’s role of building relationships with clients as an extension of simply delivering data. Thanks to Bill and Stephanie for making time to talk about how important airplane- and helicopter-based data collection remains to the surveying profession AND how much they rely on surveyors to help put all the geospatial pieces together. Stay tuned to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast for more great topics and guests to come!

Once again, “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast connects with our fellow surveying contemporaries from around the globe with this week’s guest, Michelle Blicavs, CEO, Association of Consulting Surveyors based in Sydney, Australia. Tim Burch caught up with Michelle to discuss the current climate for surveying in Australia, how one becomes a registered surveyor, and how technical surveyors are a large part of the future of the profession. She also explained how specialization of the profession is becoming more important with the transition to digital cadasters and remote sensing data collection. Michelle explained the role of her organization in the promotion of the profession, including career fairs in high schools. She also stressed that providing business-related seminars to registered surveyors has been key in increasing their knowledge charging what their services are truly worth. The big takeaway from this conversation is that surveying in the US is not unique with our struggles to find the next generation of surveyors, but we can learn from each other on how to promote the profession in a positive manner. Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

Hello from Texas! This episode “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast finds us in the Dallas suburb of Farmer’s Branch and catching up with an energetic survey technician who “found” surveying through a unique job opportunity after high school. Our guest today is Allie Sparkman, a born and bred Texan who works for Lina T. Ramey and Associates. After traveling the world with her father measuring building interiors on military bases, she transferred that experience into a career of surveying. With the help of her supervisor and mentor, Christopher Freeman, RPLS, she has excelled in her career through on-the-job training AND enrollment in surveying classes at Dallas College. Tim Burch (who also worked for Chris a long, long time ago!) sat down with Allie to discuss her excitement for surveying and establishing goals for future licensure. This conversation is a great example of getting younger generations into survey and watching them grow in a career they truly enjoy. Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

This week’s episode “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast goes straight to the top of the officer list and features a conversation with our new President, Amanda Allred, PLS. She recently joined up with Tim Burch to share her story on starting in the surveying profession, finding benefits of participating in professional associations, and networking with other surveyors. Amanda also shared her views on the importance of good mentors and their characteristics that makes them valuable. She also gave insight to her goals as President and what her vision will focus on to increase the visibility of the profession. A big variety of guests in the coming weeks so make sure and subscribe wherever you listen. Also, check out our social media accounts for more information on upcoming episodes. Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

ATTENTION SURVEYORS! ALTA/NSPS LAND TITLE SURVEY STANDARDS ARE HERE TO PROTECT YOU! A recent inquiry from a surveying professional posed the following question: can a plat be titled a "ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey" without doing any field work? We bring in our resident Land Title Survey expert, Mr. Gary Kent, to pose this question and others as surveyors nationwide are under fire for cheaper surveys and quicker turnaround times. No, you are NOT the only surveyor to refuse to do something unethical on a survey, so listen in on Gary's advice on how to deal with unreasonable clients and requests. Doing anything else may up costing your license and career.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ALERT! The Department of Labor has issued proposed rule changes that will include surveying under the Davis-Bacon Act, so we asked John Palatiello, NSPS Legislative Consultant, back on the podcast to discuss the issue. He shared the history of the Davis-Bacon Act and why including surveying under rules typically established for labor is a negative for the profession. John talks about how NSPS, our state affiliates, and our membership can help oppose these proposed changes so our profession will not be subject to these proposed rules.

This episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast is the next installment of “From the Director’s Desk” and shares many of the recent events happening within the organization. Your host, NSPS Executive Director Tim Burch, brings the latest news from the national surveying fronts on conferences, presentations, and upcoming events and promotions. He also shares information on what the mission and charge of NSPS, and how to engage with the organization for your events.

After a short break to coordinate National Surveyor’s Week and Global Surveyor’s Day, we are back! We think we made up for the absence with this week’s offering. This informative episode covers the importance of contracts with our resident Land Title Survey expert, Mr. Gary Kent, PLS. He recently sat down with Tim Burch to discuss why a signed contract is particularly important when performing and providing a Land Title Survey along with several good tips on protecting both the surveyor and client with a solid agreement. Gary stressed the importance of spelling out which Table A items are to be included along with making it clear that the standard surveyor certification is required for the final survey. Lots of great insight from the guru of the standards, so sit back and enjoy the conversation. We have several great guests in the coming weeks along with a few surprise announcements from NSPS so make sure and subscribe wherever you listen. Also, check out our social media accounts for more information on upcoming episodes. Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

Ever wonder what it takes to be a CFedS? Do you want to know what makes a CFedS? This episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast dives into the deep end of the Certified Federal Surveyor program with the program manager and actual CFedS, Mr. Glen Thurow, PS, CFedS. Glen is part of the team working with the Bureau of Land Management to upgrade the existing program and provide new materials for study and continuing education. He recently sat down with Tim Burch to discuss the history of the program, the inspiration behind the creation of CFedS, and why this program fills an important role in surveying of federal and native lands across the nation. Glen shared his vision for planned improvements to the content and website access so the program value can be shared not just with prospective surveyors, but with the public entities that will benefit from this surveying knowledge. Be sure to visit the NSPS website for more information about the upcoming National Surveyors Week and Global Surveyors Day. Thank for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

This episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast begins a new informational series appropriately named “From the Director’s Desk” and shares the latest news and insight on upcoming events. The inaugural installment features information about the upcoming “NSPS Day on the Hill” taking place on March 30, 2022, and related activities along with more details about National Surveyor’s Week (March 20-26) and Global Surveyor’s Day (March 21). For more information about these events, visit nsps.us.com for details. Also, check out the NSPS YouTube channel for the video version of this episode. Thank for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

“Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast finds us in the Palmetto State and chatting with Aaron Leach, PLS, owner at Rowe Professional Services Company (Myrtle Beach office) and member of the NSPS Trig-Star committee. He recently sat down with Tim Burch to talk about his beginnings in surveying, childhood trips with his grandfather leading to his love for the outdoors, and why membership in your professional society is more than networking. Aaron shared his thoughts on past experiences and mentors, and why education within the profession never stops. Aaron is a great example of expanding one’s ability to give back to a profession, starting locally and extending to serving on a national education committee. Thank for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

One of the biggest values of being an NSPS member is advocacy, so this week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast is a great way to hear all about our legislative efforts. John Palatiello, Partner at Miller/Wenhold, is the NSPS Legislative Consultant, longtime advocate for geospatial professions, and leads the overall efforts of our Joint Government Affairs Committee (JGAC). He recently celebrated his 40th anniversary of legislative representation and recently talked with Tim Burch about his career, our current political climate, and the items our NSPS directors will be discussing during the upcoming Lobby Day activities. John shared his opinions on surveyors being recognized as professionals and the importance of working with legislators to separate professional licensing from occupational licensing. He also talked about the importance of lobbying and getting our elected officials to consider the professional surveyor’s view when supporting legislation. We appreciate John, John “JB” Byrd, and JGAC Chair Pat Smith for their ongoing efforts to represent our great profession at the federal legislative level. Thank for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

It is not too often we get to sit down and talk about the surveying profession with someone who has been such a driving force in the Young Surveyors Network, but this week’s conversation gets it done! “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast caught up with Alysen Tierney, PLS, the immediate Past President of the Wisconsin Young Surveyors Network and spark plug behind the success and growth of the group. With a little arm-twisting, she sat down with Tim Burch at the recent WSLS Institute to talk about her development as a young surveyor, growing into a professional role, running a small surveying business with her husband, and starting a family through all her endeavors. Alysen shared her experiences and challenges as a young woman and mother in our profession, including taking her daughter, Atlas, in the field during her workday. She is reluctant to be called a role model for young surveyors, but she is truly a trailblazer and we look forward to see her continued success. Lots of great insight into the world of a pioneering young surveyor who is set to take on the next chapter of her career, so tune in and enjoy the breath of fresh air she is. Thank for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.

Royalty in the house! During a recent trip to the Oregon to the PLSO Conference in Salem, we were able to sit down with their 2022 Surveyor of the Year, Pat Gaylord, PLS for this episode of “Surveyor Says!” Pat sat down for an in-person conversation with Tim Burch to discuss his new role of NSPS Director for Oregon, workforce development efforts with PLSO, and what the future holds for the surveying profession. He shared growing up with a surveying household with father and uncle, going to college to become a forester yet coming back around a full career in the surveying profession. We were also lucky enough to have a special guest appearance of PLSO Executive Director Aimee McAuliffe singing Pat’s praises but cannot confirm there was not a bribe for all her compliments. (Maybe a future podcast guest?) “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast thanks you for the listen!

“Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast goes to the library! This week, we feature Ron Nelms, PLS, who recently published a wonderful book “Putting Big Sticks by Little Sticks” that reflects the journey that his surveying career has taken. Ron recently talked with our two hosts, Curt Sumner and Tim Burch, on what inspired him to write about his career and how many life lessons are learned along the way. He explained that the surveying profession has provided him with my experiences and challenges that taught him more about life than just working as a surveyor. Ron also shared his personal challenge of putting his experiences into a written form and how it allowed him to reflect even more on a “storied” career. The book is currently available on BookBaby.com (the publisher of the book), Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. https://store.bookbaby.com/book/Putting-Big-Sticks-by-Little-Sticks https://www.amazon.com/Putting-Big-Sticks-Little-Surveyor/dp/1667821296/ https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/putting-big-sticks-by-little-sticks-ronald-j-nelms/1140818262 Thanks for joining us here on “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast! More amazing surveying stories and information in the weeks ahead, so subscribe and follow us on all popular media channels.

We promised to have him back! This week is the return of our favorite National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Constituent Resources Manager, Mr. Galen Scott. Back in Episode 71, Galen discussed the popular GPS on Benchmarks program that uses crowdsourced geodetic information from around the country to help NGS with future transformation tools. We appreciate you tuning in to listen to “Geospatial with Galen” and he will be back soon to talk about all things OPUS and other great things from NGS. Thanks again for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast. https://geodesy.noaa.gov/web/science_edu/webinar_series/gpsonbm-nsrs-campaign-continues.shtml https://geodesy.noaa.gov/GPSonBM/

After a much-needed break for the holidays, we are back and with big changes to announce for the new year. This episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast features our two hosts, Curt Sumner and Tim Burch, but in different roles for the organization. After a 23-year run as Executive Director, Curt is transitioning to an Emeritus role and has handed the reins to Tim as the new Executive Director. Curt and Tim sat down after a hectic first week to reflect on the change at the top of NSPS yet retaining the continuity of the organization with its wonderful staff. We learn about Curt’s career to date and how this next chapter takes him back to his roots and near his immediate family. Lots of great episodes and guest are on tap for 2022 so make sure you are subscribed to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast to catch more of these great interviews. Thank you for joining us!

This episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” delves into the world of underground utility location from the surveyor’s perspective and features Mike Clifford, DGT Associates co-founder & principal, and Mike Twohig, Director of Subsurface Mapping for DGT.

This episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” features interviews with Jeanette Harley, Heather Kennan, and Eric Salovich, the candidates for NSPS Young Surveyors Network (YSN) Secretary in the upcoming 2022 Election. All three young entrepreneurs sat down recently to chat with NSPS President-Elect Tim Burch about goals for the YSN, the importance of a strong relationship between the Young Surveyors and the NSPS Board of Directors, and what each of them sees coming up with the future of surveying. The Young Surveyors Network represents a bright future ahead for the profession and these two candidates are prime examples of those leaders. Thank you for listening to this episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and look for ballots for the 2022 NSPS Young Surveyors Network election cycle to be announced soon.

This episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” features interviews with Nolan Mark and Jacob Heck, candidates for NSPS Young Surveyors Network (YSN) Vice President in the upcoming 2022 Election. Both gentlemen sat down recently to chat with NSPS President-Elect Tim Burch about goals for the YSN, the importance of a strong relationship between the Young Surveyors and the NSPS Board of Directors, and what each of them sees coming up with the future of surveying. The Young Surveyors Network represents a bright future ahead for the profession and these two candidates are prime examples of those leaders. Thank you for listening to this episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and look for more interviews with the YSN Secretary candidates for the 2022 NSPS election cycle.

Each week, we bring you fascinating guests that are involved in the profession of surveying, but this week we are doing something a little different in the spirit of Thanksgiving. This episode finds several of the officers and our Executive Director, Curt Sumner, sharing what they are thankful for during this holiday season. Thanks for joining us here on this holiday edition of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

This episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” features executive Director Curt Sumner sitting down to speak with Bob Akins, PLS (OH) and a candidate for NSPS Vice President in the upcoming 2022 Election. Bob has been involved in the surveying profession for over 40 years after serving his country in the Army as a surveyor for several tours of Southeast Asia. Bob represented the Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio (PLSO) as NSPS Governor and was part of the 100% Membership initiative in which he became the Ohio representative on the NSPS Board of Directors. Bob currently serves as Chair of the NSPS Railroad Abandonment Committee and is committed to finding legislative support and financial backing for establishing monuments any time a railroad chooses to abandon a previously used line. Bob would like to see NSPS continue to support the Young Surveyors Network and provide mentorship for any surveyor looking for career guidance. Thank you for listening to this episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and look for more interviews with the officer candidates for the 2022 NSPS election cycle.

This week’s episode features our panel discussion from the recent “Survey & GIS Summit” hosted virtually by NSPS and URISA. Our panelists are Linda Foster, PLS, GISP from Ferber Engineering, Tripp Corbin, MCP, GISP from Davey Resource Group and Brent Jones, PE, PLS from Esri. Surveyors and GIS professionals share tools, markets, clients, and a lot more. There are many commonalities with services that surveyors and GIS professionals offer, but there are many differences as well. Questions were presented for this expert panel of both professional land surveyors and practicing GIS professionals.

This episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” features executive Director Curt Sumner sitting down to speak with Rick Howard, PLS (CT) and a candidate for NSPS Vice President in the upcoming 2022 Election. Rick has been involved in the surveying profession for over 30 years. His educational background includes an associate degree in Civil Technology from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelor of Science in Survey Engineering from The University of Maine, Orono. Rick has both private and public sector experience. He spent 18 years working for Northeast Utilities in Berlin, Connecticut gaining experience in all types of land surveys including monitoring, GPS, GIS and large mapping projects. He has been in private practice since 2007 and maintains land surveying licenses in CT, MA and NY. Rick has served on The Connecticut Association of Land Surveyors (CALS) Board of Directors since 2007 and was selected as its Surveyor of the Year in 2014. Rick represented CALS on the NSPS Board of Governors from 2007 to 2013, receiving the Key Governor Award in 2007, and serving as Chairman for two years (2012 and 2013). As a CALS NSPS Director he received the Key Director Award in 2016. Rick became a member of the NSPS team of ABET Program Evaluators (PEV) in 2014, served on the NSPS Executive Committee in 2015 and received an NSPS Presidential Citation in 2017. Rick currently serves as an NSPS Trustee on the NSPS Foundation Board (2015 to the present) and has served as Vice-Chair for the last two years. Rick would like to see NSPS continue to be "One Unified Voice for the Surveying Profession", to strengthen our membership and continue to excel at the things we have proven we can do well. Thank you for listening to this episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and look for more interviews with the officer candidates for the 2022 NSPS election cycle.

This episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” features executive Director Curt Sumner chatting with Joey Wilson, PE, PLS from Franklin, Tennessee. He is the President of Wilson and Associates, a second-generation engineering, surveying, and environmental firm.

As we gear up for the upcoming “Survey & GIS Summit” co-hosted by NSPS and URISA, we take a trip back to the early days of surveyors and land administration This episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” finds us talking with Les Van Horn, PLS, and husband of Lisa Van Horn, PLS, the immediate Past-President of NSPS. Les recently chatted with Tim Burch about his start in surveying and how his passion for the profession has provided a great journey in and around Brown County, Wisconsin. As the County Surveyor for many years, he led the effort to create a cadaster of parcels based upon the many different land systems in his region. Les talked about the importance of political relationship to support and fund the critical records database and field operations for creating and maintaining a bountiful GIS for public use. A great conversation with an icon from the Badger State. Thank you for listening to this episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and send us comments on our topics and ideas for future recordings. We appreciate being able to provide great content that is useful and interesting!

Welcome to the 100th episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast”! When NSPS began the process for replacing its venerable “NSPS Radio Hour” on internet radio, we knew it would take some time, work, and learning some new skills to put together our own podcast. While the format has changed, the transformation to a podcast medium has allowed us to attract more guests from around the globe and introduce many more topics than before. This week is no different, as we meet our coordinators for the upcoming “Survey & GIS Summit” co-hosted by NSPS and URISA. Brent Jones (EP79) and Linda Foster (EP81) are leading the charge to bring a virtual conference event that has plenty to offer to the GIS and surveying professions together. Listen in on the details of the origin of the conference, evolution to today’s version, and where this endeavor can take both professions. Thank you for tuning into “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” and listen for the question to enter into our drawing for great prizes. Simply email the answer to [email protected] to enter the drawing for shirts, hats, Yetis, and more! The deadline is enter is Wednesday, October 20 at 5:00 pm Eastern. And watch social media for more announcements about future episodes and guests!

Chalk up another great conversation with a true role model! Our chat this week for Episode 99 of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” is with Virginia Winberg, a PLS from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, (Minnesota, for those who don’t know that tidbit). Tim Burch sat down with Virginia to talk about her involvement in the Women’s Survey Summit AND the Future Surveyor’s Foundation with our previous “Surveyor Says!” guests, Anna Rios (EP21) and Heather Sides (EP95). She also shared her recent experience at the Minnesota State Fair (exhibiting for 12 days!) and spreading the survey gospel to fair goers. Virginia talked about what makes a great mentor and how we need to continue to give back to our wonderful profession. Thank you for tuning into this episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and keep watching social media for our announcements regarding Episode 100 and cool prizes!

This episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” is a recent conversation with Denver Winchester, PLS, and the current President of the NSPS Young Surveyors Network (YSN). Tim Burch sat down with Denver to discuss the 2022 NSPS Student Competition being held in conjunction with the NSPS Spring Business Meetings. They also discussed topics and outcomes of the YSN meetings during the NSPS Fall Business Meetings in Oak Brook, Illinois, (just outside of Chicago). Denver and Tim talked about the importance of both the Student Competition and growing the YSN to provide a solid future for the profession and for the Association. Thank you for tuning into this episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and keep watching social media for our announcements regarding Episode 100 and cool prizes!

Professional surveyors are well aware of the duties that go with being licensed; protection of the public’s safety, health, welfare, and property as related to boundaries and correctly prepared legal descriptions. The public itself, and the governmental officials they elect, often do not realize the importance of the professional land surveyor. Today’s episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” covers the topic of why licensure of surveyors is critical to public safety while attempts to include surveying in license deregulation will harm many aspects of property ownership and accurate descriptions. Our roundtable discussion includes Curt Sumner (NSPS Executive Director), Gary Kent (longtime ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Chair), and Tim Burch (NSPS President-Elect) talk about how licensing varies nationwide, the multitude of land systems, and how the educational requirements must be a significant component in the path to licensure. High precision measurement has become the norm thanks to technology, but surveyors are relied upon for their accuracy in establish, retracement and legal descriptions of real property. This discussion establishes several good talking points for our practitioner to use when deregulation comes knocking at their door. This is one episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast you don’t want to miss!

The staff at NSPS, while small in number, carries much responsibility in their roles and the Accounting Manager is no different. This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” allows us the opportunity to meet Christina Lee, our newest staff member. Christina replaces Bob Jupin, who retired at the end of 2020 after a 13-year run with NSPS. Tim Burch recently sat down with Christina to talk about how she came to NSPS, her path to becoming an accountant, (earning THREE Master’s degrees along the way!) and adjusting to the fast-paced world of professional surveying. She shared how she quickly adapted to our means and methods as well as charting a course for NSPS to continue a strong financial portfolio. Christina also talked about fiscal responsibility in an age where fraud and theft are just a few clicks away. As NSPS prepares for leadership changes, Christina and the other staff members provide the organization with a solid foundation into a new era. Knowing we are fiscally stable and financial outlook is looking good, we can continue to be the national representative and advocate the profession has come to expect. Thanks for tuning into this informational episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

Welcome to “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” as we welcome our distinguished affiliate, the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors. Today’s conversation is with DJ Kyle, the TSPS Executive Director and Heather Sides, the TSPS President-Elect (but only for another month!). These ladies recently caught up with Tim Burch to talk about their backgrounds, how they became involved with TSPS, and how association advocacy is an important part of the profession. Heather shared her experiences with the Texas Young Surveyors, promoting the Certified Survey Technician (CST) program, and her strategic plan for taking TSPS further forward in recruiting our future generations of surveyors. DJ spoke of the promotional work, media involvement, and conference planning that she has coordinated for TSPS to help keep surveying front and center for students and young adults. Together, these ladies, along with the chapters of TSPS, are making a difference for the profession in Texas and beyond. This episode was a refreshingly positive conversation on the future of surveying. TSPS has taken a hands-on approach to promoting the profession and the proof is in the results. Join us for an inspiring discussion of this episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

Welcome to “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” and our conversation with Connie Barrett, a professional surveyor in California who also paints still life portraits in watercolors. She recently talked with Tim Burch to discuss her path into surveying (thanks to her grandfather!), getting acclimated to life here in the US versus her childhood in Yugoslavia (present day Croatia), and pursuing his professional license. Connie talks about her early love for art and how she “rediscovered” her passion while using painting for a relaxing hobby. Her artwork has been recognized throughout social media and now has presented her with the challenge of a backlog of commission work. Check out Connie’s work on many of the surveyor group pages on various platform to see why her paintings are in demand. Connie is another great example of a positive role model for surveyors of all ages. We are very appreciative for her time to be here with us on “Surveyor Says!” and look forward to more great painting in the future.

NSPS is committed to insuring that it represents the interests of the diverse composition of the Professional Surveying community. David Acosta, Chair of the NSPS Diversity Committee speaks with host Curt Sumner about the progress of ongoing activities, and the Committee’s plans for further engagement. As one might expect, the Committee is comprised of individuals representing a broad cross-section within the profession.

Continuing to ask the question “What is Surveying?”, this episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” finds us chasing down the original geospatial “Deadhead” Dave Doyle, our favorite retired NGS Chief Geodetic Surveyor. We caught up with Dave between his speaking engagements and monument hunting trips to discuss our topic and provide his perspective of surveying through the evolution of geodesy becoming an important part of positioning. He shared his story of how he was introduced to surveying (Thank you, Uncle Sam!), his early involvement with developing the NAD83 framework, and how important the proper understanding of GPS metadata is to the surveyor. Dave also highlights the importance of geospatial data by the surveyor for collaboration with the GIS community. Thanks for tuning into this next installment of our “What is Surveying” series with another great viewpoint of the profession. We will continue to bring you those perspectives in future episodes of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

NSPS Government Affairs Consultant John Palatiello joins host Curt Sumner to discuss the much talked about issue of Occupational Licensing, from its origins to the present-day legislation and government policy threatening licensure. Clearly, whether related to circumstances wherein licensure is critical (for Professional services such as Surveying), or whether licensure for some occupations limits competition and market entry, with no public health, safety, and welfare benefit, this podcast reviews why it is critical to actively advocate for preservation of Surveying licensure as protection for the public.

Host Curt Sumner talks with Trent Turk about the SAMSOG Education Foundation, Inc. (SAMSEF) which was established by the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia. The 501c3 foundation was created to provide a tax deductible mechanism for donations of money and other gifts which can go directly to students to assist in their education related to a career in land surveying in Georgia. Listeners can learn more about how the Foundation operates at: https://www.samsog.org/mpage/microsite2_subpage2_YMBLD