At the February 3 Board meeting in Oakland, President Kevin Hills presented the Board with the 2024 Executive Committee consisting of Mike Pulley (Humboldt), Treasurer; Kristie Achee (Bakersfield), Secretary; and Joe Padilla (Orange County), President Elect. He then passed the gavel to me, and wished me well. In that moment, I found that gavel — and what it represents — to be a little heavier than I expected. That feeling was eerily similar to that when I obtained licensure: excitement followed by an immediate realization of minimal competency.

Along with licensure, holding the Office of President of this Association is not a responsibility I take lightly.

In 2023, as President Elect, I was privileged to visit with nearly all of the Chapters across this beautiful State of ours. Many topics were discussed. Everything from national issues to very local issues; technical issues to historic/archival issues; from why do we have so much gray hair to "how do we get our young field crews to attend without the need to bribe them with beer?” (#TrueStory).

One of the topics that garnered much discussion and easily the most positive response was that of Chapter Mentorship by the Executive Committee. As I shared my experience with the struggles I had as a Chapter President and as a new Director, I found that nearly all other Officers in every Chapter had (or has) the same struggles. Those common struggles include membership outreach and retention, Chapter reports, Chapter meetings and speakers, Director’s duties, and an often misunderstood relationship between the Chapters and the Board. Daunting tasks for many of us, and incredibly difficult to figure out on your own.

It shouldn’t be that way.

None of us obtained licensure on our own. We became the Surveyors we are with the help of the mentors we had, whether they were employers, other crew members or co-workers, or any of the other multitude of professional relationships we may have. As I have progressed through the Executive Committee Chairs, I have received and welcomed great counsel and mentorship from many past Ex. Com. members, past and present Committee Chairs, and Kim at the Central Office. ALL of Past Presidents who have reached out to me want the Executive Committee to be the best it can be. They don’t want it for me; they want it for the Association. I want to pass that forward. That’s where Chapter Mentorship by the Executive Committee comes in.

In 2021, when I was first installed on the Executive Committee as the Treasurer, I brought up the idea of the Ex. Com. members working with the individual Chapters. (In the interest of full disclosure, this idea was floated to the Association by Past President Jay Seymour around 2015). 2021 President Rob McMillan divided up the Chapters into five groups and assigned an Ex. Com. member. Those groups remain virtually unchanged; the only significant change being that of the Ex. Com. mentor. By design, the Ex. Com. members will mentor the same four Chapters throughout their tenure on the Executive Committee. When the Past President is retired, the newly installed Treasurer will take on the duties as mentor for those Chapters.

It’s been slow getting started (I’ll blame Covid) but the Association is ready for this. The Executive Committee Members work at the behest of the Board, and ultimately, the Association membership.

We’re here for you.

By way of information, it’s not the duty of the Chapter Directors to mentor or represent the Chapters at the Board level. The Director’s duty is to manage the affairs of the Association, to the best interest of the Association as a whole. Mentorship of Chapter Officers needs to come from elsewhere, and the Association will be stronger with the Executive Committee working directly with the Chapters. The Ex. Com. members will be reaching out to the Chapter Presidents and Directors offering their assistance where it may be needed. Our goal is to make you a better Officer. Through you, your Chapter will be stronger, and in turn, the Association will be stronger.

If you, as a Chapter Officer, Director, or member, have questions about anything related to the Association, please contact the Executive Committee. We don’t want you to struggle.

For reference, the Chapter mentors are listed below.

                        More schools to be added soon!

I hope to see each of you at the Western Regional Survey Conference on March 23-26, 2024, at the Horseshoe Las Vegas (formerly Bally's). This year's Conference is sponsored by the Associations from Arizona (APLS), California (CLSA), Nevada (NALS), New Mexico (NMPS), Wyoming (PLSW), and the Western Federation of Professional Surveyors (WFPS)  http://plseducation.org/.  If you see me, please say hello.

23 February 2024 - Terminalia (The Surveyor’s Holiday)

17- 23 March 2024 - National Surveyors Week (https://nsps.us.com/page/NSW)

23-26 March 2024 - Western Regional Survey Conference

27 April 2024 - CLSA Board Meeting (via Zoom)

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Contact me at Ca.PLS8200@gmail.com or 559-451-7112.

I was legitimately asked the question about the beer. I answered by pointing out that the beer also got the gray hair to attend.

If it ain’t broke...

Kevin Nehring
CLSA PRESIDENT

The January "Where in CA is This?” of course is Nightmare Rock, also known as "Brenda,” along Whitney Portal Road, west of Lone Pine. The photo, monument photo and link to the NGS Data Sheet https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds_mark.prl?PidBox=GT0153 were provided by Robert Ray, LSIT, Survey Party Chief at City of Modesto.

There were a bunch of winners the first day, three of whom used local knowledge: Artur Gamirov, a R/W Engineer in Caltrans, District 9 Bishop office; Brooks Bryant, who works in the Mammoth Lakes Office of Triad/ Holmes Associates said, "The picture in question is on Whitney Portal Road East of Movie Road. Not far from HES 151 in T15S R36E. I surveyed there this past November for an emergency culvert replacement by Inyo County.”; Jeff Thompson, PLS, of Bishop said, "On Saturday the road was still closed due to wash out. I have the privilege of living not too far north of there & clients in that immediate area.”; Larry Walsh – President of Walsh Engineering & Surveying, Inc. in El Cajon; Rick Coffman, PLS, President Coffman Land said, "Just seen pics of it before and have it "starred” as a location I want to visit.”; William D. Tuck, PLS Right-of-Way Agent with the City of Vista who said, "I was just up there in October when I did an 82-mile loop in the Sierras that included upper Kern River and Mt. Whitney.”; and Mike Walters, PLS now in Sutherlin, OR, shared a photo of a similar painted rock "in Fort Irwin back in the 1980's while doing Geodetic surveys for JPL.”

Fresno Deputy County Surveyor Kevin Nehring submitted this artistic photo of B44 showing Mount Whitney in the background.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I find the stories of how people know a place helps connect me to other surveyors I may not yet know.

Try to identify the location of this month’s photo. Please tell me how you identified the location and/or share interesting info such as related surveys. Submit answers to: Rob McMillan

If you have not already renewed your CLSA membership, please do so now. And be sure to invite others to join our great organization. Your membership supports CLSA’s efforts to protect, enhance and grow the land surveying profession. Members receive free monthly webinars, discounts to the annual conference and from our affinity partner organizations, as well as membership in the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) for representation and advocacy at the national level.

Kevin Hills, PLS has passed the gavel to Kevin Nehring, PLS, to continue the leadership of CLSA in 2024. Pictured during their swearing-in ceremony are Kevin Nehring, Kristie Achee, Joseph Padilla, Michael Pulley and 2023 President Kevin Hills.

2024 NALS president Todd Enke, PLS, of Minden, is pictured accepting the gavel from 2023 NALS President Nancy Almanzan. Todd and Nancy are regular attendees at the annual Conference, so say hello to them when you see them in Las Vegas in March.

We're pleased to announce that Kurt Troxell, PLS has been promoted to Principal, Sr. Project Manager Survey and Mapping.  Kurt Troxell has 20 years of land surveying and mapping experience and is highly respected by his peers and colleagues. Kurt is well-known for his expertise in advanced survey and mapping technologies as well as GIS and geospatial applications. Prior to joining Fuscoe in 2015, Kurt was on staff with RBF Consulting since 1998.

Congratulations Bob on your new position as Vice President, Director of Business Development at CL Surveying and Mapping. Bob joins CL Survey with a robust background in the Land Survey Industry. He has spent 36 years working in both the Private and Public Sector in Southern California, with tenure at David Evans and Associates, Inc. and County of Orange after serving in the U.S. Navy. Bob will be a valued asset in future pursuits and will assist in expanding CL Survey’s already impressive list of public works/transportation projects.

Michael Walle, PLS has accepted a promotion to Principal/Partner At Denn Engineers. Michael has been with Denn Engineers since 2005, and a licensed land surveyor since 2023. Michael credits his "work ethic and coachability” as factors to his success. He says, "These are the same things I now look for in prospective hires.”

Congratulations Craig Spiess on starting a new position as Principal Surveyor at Wood Rodgers, Inc.! Craig returns to Wood Rogers after working at R.E.Y. Engineers, Inc., MacKay & Somps Civil Engineers, Inc., a previous engagement at Wood Rodgers, and MacKay & Somps Civil Engineers, Inc.

Congratulations Brian Spore on starting a new position as City Surveyor/Survey Engineer at City of Hayward! Brian has worked as a Surveyor for the City of Hayward since 2000. Prior to that he was an Engineering Aide with the City of San Leandro.

Patrick Kearins and Jon Wheat have teamed-up to found the aptly named Kearins Wheat & Associates. Kearins previously worked for Sandis, Wood Rogers, and Caltrans and Wheat has operated as a sole proprietor for the last five years. They bring 50 years of combined surveying experience and two Land Surveyor Licenses to all types of projects. From their office in Carlsbad, they will service clients throughout much of California. They are currently pursuing their small business certifications.

2021 CLSA President Rob McMillan has joined the Mark Thomas Surveys Division. Rob brings 35 years of progressively responsible experience to an already incredibly talented team delivering survey projects throughout California. Prior to joining Mark Thomas, Rob served Caltrans in Districts 11 and 4, as well as Headquarters where he served as Chief of Surveys Standards, Chief of Training, Acting Chief of Land Surveys and Chief of Surveys Coordination. Prior to Caltrans, Rob was with the Cities of Escondido and Encinitas. He also taught land surveying classes at Southwestern College and Sacramento City College and is a frequent presenter at professional conferences and meetings.

Michael Beggs is starting a new position as Senior Land Surveyor at California Department of Fish and Wildlife! Michael has previously served as a Land Surveyor for California Department of Water Resources; Transportation Surveyor with Caltrans; Engineering Technician III with Sonoma County Water Agency; and Engineering Technician II with Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works. Beggs holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco School of Management and an Associate of Science (A.S.), Civil Engineering/Land Surveying from Santa Rosa Junior College.

Christina Rubio, LSIT (but not for long), a Senior Associate Land Surveyor at QK in Fresno, has passed the NCEES Professional Surveyor exam. Two down, one to go. Christina has previously been at Yamabe & Horn Engineering, Inc.; O'Dell Engineering; and KPFF Consulting Engineers. Christina is a 2019 California State University, Fresno, Geomatics Engineering Bachelor's degree graduate.

Magnolia Morris, LSIT, a Field/Office Surveyor in the Survey and Construction Inspection Unit of the East Bay Regional Park District in Oakland, has passed the NCEES Professional Surveyor exam. Magnolia started her land surveying career at Polaris Land Surveying, in Carmel Valley, CA. Morris previously worked in the Environmental field and holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Marine and Watershed Science from California State University, Monterey Bay.

March 23 - March 26, 2024

We are pleased to announce that the Arizona Professional Land Surveyors (APLS), California Land Surveyors Association (CLSA), Nevada Association of Land Surveyors (NALS), New Mexico Professional Surveyors (NMPS), Professional Land Surveyors of Wyoming (PLSW), and the Western Federation of Professional Surveyors (WFPS) will be hosting the Western Regional Survey Conference in Las Vegas on March 23-26, 2024. Mark your calendar! More information will be coming soon!

Click Here to Register Online!

Click Here to Download the PDF Registration Form

Click Here for Exhibit & Sponsor Information

Hotel Information:
Horseshoe Las Vegas
3645 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Special Rates:
$149 Fri/Sat, $50 Sun-Tue
Discounted Resort Fee: $25
Complimentary Parking

Click here to book your room!

This course helps prepare students for the Fundamentals of Surveying exam by reviewing exam questions, structure, and eligibility requirements.

Tuesdays from March 11 to May 17 between 6:00 pm and 6:50 pm via Zoom.

Visit www.reedleycollege.edu/surveying for details