Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast

Episode 132 - Surveyor Says catches up with the NSPS Trig-Star Committee

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.

Episode 131 - Longest Active CST III!!

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.

Episode 130 - Next installment of ”From the Director’s Desk”

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.

Episode 129 - “Surveyor Says!” struck up a conversation with Warren Smith, L.S., Tuolumne County Surveyor and just happens to be the President (CLSA).

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.

Episode 128 - 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.

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. 

Episode 127 - Our guest this week is J. Anthony Cavell, PLS, CFedS, who current serves as President of American Association for Geodetic Surveying (AAGS).

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! 

Episode 126 - This week’s episode is the next installment of our “What is Surveying?” series and focusing on the complementary geospatial service of aerial photography and LiDAR data collection.

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!

Episode 125 - Tim Burch connects with our fellow surveying contemporaries from around the globe with this week’s guest, Michelle Blicavs, Assoc. of Consulting Surveyors based in Sydney, Australia.

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. 

Episode 124 - 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 HS.

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. 

Episode 123 - The NSPS Podcast goes straight to the top of the officer list and features a conversation with our new President, Amanda Allred, PLS.

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.