Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast

Episode 87 - Norm Ellerbrock sat down with Tim Burch to talk about his introduction into surveying, starting his own business, and how mentoring is important to teaching the future practitioners.

This episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” highlights the Certified Survey Technician (CST) program during a conversation with Norm Ellerbrock, a CST Board member. He recently sat down with Tim Burch to talk about his introduction into surveying, starting his own business, and how mentoring is important to teaching the future practitioners. Norm provides an overview of the program, the pathway to certification on two tracks to four levels, and preparation for taking a CST exam. He also shares the importance having CST employees for an advantage as a business owner in both experience and prequalification for certain projects. Norm also shared how to become a proctor for potential exam takers as well as finding a proctor if an applicant cannot find one.

If you are interested in giving back to the profession and future surveyors, then CST could be your answer! The CST Board is looking for future members to help administer, grade, and review test questions for our future technicians. For more information, go to cstnsps.com for more information. And stay tuned for more great episodes of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

Episode 86 - NSPS Registered Lobbyist John “JB” Byrd and host Curt Sumner discuss the status of several Bills in the U S Congress.

NSPS Registered Lobbyist John “JB” Byrd and host Curt Sumner discuss the status of several Bills in the U S Congress about which NSPS has an interest, as well as the importance of NSPS collaborating within various coalitions related to GPS, and the importance of the NSPS PAC.

Episode 85 - Curt Sumner is joined by John Hohol to discuss the history of ACSM, NSPS and their participation in International Surveying organization, FIG.

Throughout the many years that ACSM, and now NSPS, has been an active member of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), John Hohol has been a primary leader of the NSPS delegation. John joins host Curt Sumner to talk about the importance, and benefit, of the relationships developed with our international  peers. Among his many accomplishments in FIG is the role he played in the formation of its Foundation which raises funds to secure a sustainable future for surveyors throughout the world.

Episode 84 - Jim Coan joins host Curt Sumner to talk not only about his perspective as the NSPS Director representing the LSAW, but also about his career.

Jim Coan joins host Curt Sumner to talk not only about his perspective as the NSPS Director representing the Land Surveyors Association of Washington (LSAW), but also about his career and dedication to teaching those who are interested in becoming involved in surveying. He also talks about his most recent motorcycling adventure.

Episode 83 - This episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” highlights the Trig-Star program with a conversation with Jerry Juarez, Chair of the Trig-Star Committee.

This episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” highlights the Trig-Star program with a conversation with Jerry Juarez, Chair of the Trig-Star Committee. He recently sat down with Tim Burch to talk about the history of the program, how it works with local surveyors and schools, and the latest advancement in online testing for the competitions. Jerry shared his “sales pitch” to educators and administrators of the how the program shows the students real world applications of higher-level math. He also talks about the prize money for local, state, and national winners. Jerry also discusses scholarship opportunities for students who continue into surveying-based curriculum at colleges and universities.

If you are interested in giving back to students through surveying, then Trig-Star is your answer! For more information, go to trig-star.com for more information. And stay tuned for more great episodes of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

Episode 82 - Matt Morris, NSPS Director representing the Montana Association of Registered Land Surveyors (MARLS), joins host Curt Sumner for a conversation about his career.

Matt Morris, NSPS Director representing the Montana Association of Registered Land Surveyors (MARLS), joins host Curt Sumner for a conversation about his career as a licensee and business owner in Choteau, Montana.

Episode 81 - this episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” connects us with Linda Foster, a professional land surveyor AND GIS professional (GISP) from South Dakota.

Continuing to ask the question “What is Surveying?”, this episode of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” connects us with Linda Foster, a professional land surveyor AND GIS professional (GISP) from South Dakota. Linda was recently appointed to the NSPS Board of Directors to represent the South Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors (SDSPLS), where she served as President in 2019. Her degree in geological engineering opened the door to GIS for the forest service and an introduction to surveying. Linda recently sat down with Tim Burch to discuss our topic and provide a viewpoint as someone who wears several different geospatial hats. She shared her experiences with parcel mapping, data accuracy and precision in various uses, and how surveying, engineering and GIS complement each other. Linda describes how geospatial data will serve as guide not only for where we have been, but to also help us predict what data will be needed in the future.

Thanks for tuning into this next installment of our “What is Surveying” series and look forward to bringing many more viewpoints to you. Surveying has grown into much more than a measurement-based profession, and we will bring you those perspectives in future episodes of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

Episode 80 - On this episode of SS we turn the tables on fellow surveying podcasters! Shane Neeley and Connor Brown are the hosts of “The Shane & Connor Show!

This week on “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” brings another opportunity to turn the tables on fellow surveying podcasters! Shane Neeley and Connor Brown are the hosts of “The Shane & Connor Show,” proudly presented by our affiliate and good friends at the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (TSPS). The duo recently connected with our own President-Elect, Tim Burch, to discuss how their webinar/podcast came to fruition and how giving back to the profession has become a focus point in their careers. Shane and Connor share their stories of getting started in surveying, how the profession is different in Texas versus the surrounding states, and how being involved in TSPS has provided them with personal relationships that have lasted a lifetime. They also share the importance of strong mentorship and how being open and available for those opportunities from both sides of a career-building relationship is key to enhancing one’s career.

This is a fun conversation with the “Abbott & Costello” of Texas surveying; a lighthearted talk full of wisdom and knowledge sprinkled throughout the laughs. NSPS appreciates the efforts from Shane & Connor (and TSPS!) so give their shows a listen (https://www.tsps.org/page/theshaneconnorshow). This episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast truly finds that surveying is alive and well deep in the heart of Texas.

Episode 79 - Surveyor Says! proudly brings a new series named “What is Surveying?” The inaugural episode brings a titan of the GIS community, Mr. Brent Jones.

This edition of “Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast” proudly brings a new series named “What is Surveying?” and will feature guests from all corners of the globe explaining what defines today’s surveying profession. The inaugural episode brings a titan of the GIS community, Mr. Brent Jones, URISA President-Elect. He currently oversees Esri’s worldwide strategic planning, business development, and marketing activities for land records, cadastre, surveying, and land administration. Brent recently joined our own President-Elect, Tim Burch, to discuss how technology has led to widespread geospatial data usage, advancements in the cadastral layer, and how a licensed surveyor measures up with a geographic information system professional (GISP).

This latest offering from the NSPS headquarters starts strong with Brent but look for more great guests very soon. Thanks for listening and how your own definition of surveying compares to other industry stalwarts. We hope to help answer the question of “What is Surveying” right here on the latest episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast.

Episode 78 - Join host Curt Sumner and Gary Kent for an update on the 2021 ALTA/NSPS Standards.