Dear Members of the California Land Surveyors Association,

 

I hope this newsletter finds you well as we navigate through the month of November. As we approach the holiday season, it's a fitting time to reflect on the happenings within our association.

 

Our recent Board of Directors meeting on November 4 was a productive and engaging session. The discussions centered around crucial aspects such as budget items, legislative initiatives, and Monument Preservation. The feedback on the letter prepared by CLSA for the sunset review was particularly insightful, with intriguing legislature proposals sparking thought-provoking conversations. Your active participation in these discussions is invaluable as we collectively work towards the betterment of our profession.

 

President Elect Kevin Nehring brings attention to the importance of Continuing Education, a topic that has been generating significant interest and discussion among our chapters. As the landscape of our profession evolves, staying abreast of the latest developments and enhancing our skills is paramount. Your input and thoughts on this matter are crucial as we strive to shape the future of land surveying education.

 

As we transition into the holiday season, let's take a moment to reflect on the state of our surveying profession. The dedication and efforts of our directors, committees, and all those involved in advancing our field have been commendable. It's through your hard work and commitment that we continue to move the needle forward, ensuring the strength and relevance of our profession.

 

As we celebrate the season of gratitude, let's extend our thanks to each member for their contributions to the California Land Surveyors Association. Your involvement is what makes our community strong, vibrant, and forward-thinking.

 

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, reflection, and the company of loved ones.

 

Best regards,

 

Kevin Hills, PLS

President

California Land Surveyors Association

The Official Notice and Agenda for the November 16-17, 2023 meeting of the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists is now available.

 

Please click on or copy and paste the following URL into your browser. 

 

The meeting materials for the November 16-17, 2023 meeting of the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists are now available.

 

Please click on or copy and paste the following URL address into your browser.

 

The addendum to the meeting materials for item XII. Review and Approval of the 2023-2024 Sunset Review Report is now available.

 

Please click on or copy and paste the following URL into your browser.

 

The October “Where in CA is This?” was provided by Jim Drennon, PLS. Jim is the Survey Department Manager at RSE Corporation. RSE is a multi-disciplinary firm providing professional services to rail transit and other clients responsible for transportation infrastructure. As you can see, Jim is also a rail transit customer. He took this photo while waiting for his morning Metrolink train to Claremont at the San Bernardino Depot station looking east of course at Slide Peak and Sugarloaf Mountain.

Renew your state CLSA membership in December of 2023 to waive the entrance fee for new members and the reinstatement fee for lapsed members. New and lapsed members will receive free membership for the rest of 2023 when they pay 2024 membership dues. Sign up before December 31, 2023 to receive this offer.

Award nominations/submittals are due by December 31, 2023. The award categories are: Distinguished Service, Member of the Year, Chapter of the Year, Chapter Newsletter of the Year, Chapter Website of the Year and Photo of the Year.

Once a day Confluence Land Surveying of Lotus, CA creates and sends a free survey quiz question, along with answer explanations. Feel free to use them to study or stay sharp. To receive the quiz questions (via link to a Google Form), please sign up below. If you prefer to check in daily, Daily Survey Quiz will have links as well.

 

As we approach the end of the calendar year, remember to make your tax-deductible contributions to the California Land Surveyors Association Education Foundation (CLSA EF). The CLSA EF provides scholarships to land surveying students each year.

Fuscoe is excited to announce that Allen Mahan, Victor Flores, and J. Marty Smith, PLS have been promoted in our Survey & Mapping department at our Irvine office. Allen Mahan is now Chief of Parties. Victor Flores, LSIT, is now Senior Project Manager, Survey. J. Marty Smith, PLS, is now Mapping Manager.  Fuscoe’s Senior Mapping Manager, Kurt Troxell, PLS, commented “A dynamic Trio dedicated to client service, team work, and professional excellence. Thank you Allen, Victor, and Marty for your dedication and leadership!”

Miles Leandro promoted to Senior Project Manager and will extend his influence as a pivotal leader in our San Diego region while advancing our energy practice. Josh Wright will assume his new role as Project Manager, using his prowess as a client manager and a liaison with agencies within our San Diego region.

Participants spent $4,000 on raffle tickets and mulligan cards. K W matched that, doubling the impact to a grand total of $8,000! This supports for the ACE Mentor Program of America's mission to inspire high school students in architecture, engineering, and construction.

Congratulations Mark Carrel, LSIT, Hired by Paradigm Geospatial Inc. to be a Project Surveyor. Mark’s surveying career progressed through Surveyor at SDR Surveying, Surveyor at Holland Engineering, Surveyor and Party Chief at Towill, Inc., Surveyor at Hunsaker & Associates, Senior Party Chief at Montgomery and Associates, Associate Surveyor / Assistant Project Manager at NV5.

Congratulations Rob Ray, LSIT, for passing the PS Exam! Rob is a Party Chief for the City of Modesto. Rob began his surveying career as a Chainman with David Evans and Associates (DEA) Stockton after serving in the U.S. Army as a Heavy Wheeled Mechanic (63W). In 2008 he promoted to Party Chief with URS Corporation, Concord, then returned to DEA Roseville in 2014 as Survey Field Coordinator. From 2016 to 2018 Rob was with Mid-Valley Engineering. Of his passing the PS Exam, Rob wrote “Time to buckle up and get to studying for the state specific. I want to thank everyone that has been a mentor through this process.”

Congratulations Elijah Duncan, LSIT, hired by the City of San Diego as a Principal Survey Aide! Elijah previously worked for Project Design Consultants of San Diego and Ciremele Surveying of Escondido. In addition to his LSIT certificate, Elijah hods an FAA Part 107 (Drone Pilot) License.

Congratulations Jared Smith for passing the FS Exam! Jared is pictured here ringing the celebration bell in the San Diego Psomas Office. Survey Manager Justin Pallamary commented “It takes commitment and dedication to prepare and pass any test, especially LSIT, EIT, PLS and PE. You did it Jared! Great job. So cool to watch someone here in our San Diego Office ‘RING THE BELL’!!!”

Psomas announced November 1st that it has acquired Yorba Linda-based Pfeiler and Associates (Pfeiler), a well-respected Southern California Land Surveying firm with a rich 50-year history of serving clients.   “Both firms share a unique history rooted in family-owned land survey businesses, underpinned by a commitment to delivering exceptional quality and service,” stated Psomas CEO Steve Margaroni. “Our shared cultures, values and deep expertise provide a rock-solid foundation upon which we will continue to build and succeed together.”

Congratulations Christopher Martin for passing the Washington State PLS Exam! If Christopher looks familiar to our eNews readers, he was mentioned here previously for passing his Oregon PLS exam. Christopher, a CSU Frenso Geomatics Engineering graduate, is a Senior Project Manager for BKF and is also licensed in California. Martin’s survey work history includes K&W, R.E.Y., and K.S.N. so apparently, he only works for firms that are known by letter abbreviation names…

Michael Baker International announced today that Joseph Bartorelli has joined the firm as Vice President, National Geospatial Business Development Director. In this leadership role within Michael Baker's Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) vertical, Joseph will work closely with Operations leaders and staff at the regional and office level to implement an enterprise approach to business development for the firm's innovative and sustainable geospatial services.

William Tuck, PLS, previously City Surveyor for the City of Oceanside, CA, has accepted a position as a Right of Way Agent for the City of Vista, CA.

Chris Nelson & Associates, Inc. (CNA) is thrilled to announce Bernadette Foote's well-deserved promotion to Operations Manager! Her hard work and dedication has shone bright, and we look forward to her continued success in her new role! Congratulations! CNA has been serving southern California with professional land surveying and civil engineering support since 1993.

We are sad to report that Rich Ray, PLS 6390 passed away last weekend. Rich Ray served on the CLSA’s Board of Directors and was active at the chapter level with the East Bay and Orange County chapters.

Rusty Seymour, the older brother of Jay Kay Seymour, our 2015 State President, passed away, November 16, 2023, in his hometown of Topeka Kansas, following a long battle with cancer.
 
Rusty was CA PLS-6552 and practiced in the Palm Desert area in the early nineties building golf course communities while working for his brother. He returned to Kansas, to his hometown of Topeka, where he finished his career as the county surveyor for Shawnee county for over a decade.
 
With the passing of Rusty, the Seymour family no longer has “boots-on-the-ground” as practicing land surveyors, a tradition that began in 1948. The Seymour family is a three-generation surveying family. Charles Albert, Rule O. Seymour, KS LS-20, Jay Kay Seymour KSLS-701, and Rusty Seymour KSLS-834.
 
Rusty and Jay surveyed in Kansas, Colorado, and California, where Jay currently works at the Orange County Surveyor’s office.