21 Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon | www.plso.org 2022 Surveyor of the Year What are you seeing as trends in the profession right now? Like every generation before us, we are able to research, understand, and incorporate new technology as a tool in our toolbox to answer age-old questions. What is the best way to help a client with land development and boundary location efficiently? Every trend that came before us—EDMs, computerized drafting, total stations, GPS receivers, Network positions, photogrammetry, and now point clouds—has seen skeptics and early adopters. These trends in technology have made us faster and more efficient, but you can only buy so many robotic total stations for the employees you have and can keep. We see the trends of dwindling numbers of people entering the workforce and members aging out of the workforce. We need to immediately begin to answer the question “Who will I find to replace me?” How are ways each member can help promote surveying as a profession to younger generations? First and foremost, get out on social media, Linkedin, etc. and start following and liking the champions who are already leading the efforts of providing surveying content. Like posts, help promote those that are creating surveying content, and share that to keep surveying information and content rising up the algorithms. Even if you don’t want to take a deep dive into social media, you can help at a minimum by promoting the content of PLSO and others that will help spread the word of the profession. Career fairs and in-classroom presentations are still great, but hit the highlights of the profession, high job demand now and in the upcoming future, technology growth, flexible hours, and remote work where applicable. How can we partner better with high schools? Many schools and education funding are identifying STEM classes and or programs to be introduced in the curriculum. Surveying is literally every letter of STEM, covering science, technology, engineering, and math. We need to get a hold of teachers related to these classes so we may be able to pair a demonstration of surveying that goes with the discussions of engineering or any related subject. Our pitch needs to be updated, short, and to the point that the career is in high demand. The technology of reality capture point clouds should be a great lead-in to mapping and measurements. What do you like to do in your free time? I’m not sure I know what it is you are talking about with the question of “free time!” Non-work time is typically farm chores or outside maintenance for the six acres we have with sheep and chickens. Or volleyball tournament days for my daughter. Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled? There is a quote, “Once the travel bug bites you, there is no known antidote, and I know I will be gladly infected for the rest of my life.” It would be hard to rank the places or pick a favorite, but I can say with all honesty that I would/will live abroad in Italy for whatever time will allow when the time is right. Do you have a favorite book and why? Honestly, the time I spend reading is typically spent on surveying books. I read through both Brian Portwood’s books on the Supreme Court since they came out and I like to go back and read some of Skelton’s The Legal Elements of Boundaries and Adjacent Properties for a nice twist on older English writing styles. It’s a great book if you can find it. I’ve probably read Wattles’ Writing Legal Descriptions cover to cover three or four times as I used to have an old mentor and boss say, “If it’s in Wattles, then it can be in my legals, if not, then don’t get cute with it.” I would recommend The Pincushion Effect by Lucas to every PLS, and I have Kris Kline’s book How to Fix a Boundary Line still waiting to be read in its entirety. Typically, I like to dive in with a highlighter in hand when I get the time for it. Chaining Oregon by Kay Atwood is about as close to storytelling as I get, and I would also highly recommend that one. These and a few others take up the space in my office side stand for quick access. You have a daughter in middle school. How do you talk to her about your job? Any advice for working parents trying to create a work/life balance? My daughter just turned 14 at the time of writing this. It is a great time of constant changes and as soon as I think I may have a good way to communicate with her, she naturally will try and change things. That’s the nature of kids and their sole purpose is to make parents change, adapt, and overcome all the while floating around like Mary Poppins. She likes history and research but is much more interested in criminology and or the medical profession like her mom is in. I’m always happy to show her cool aspects of some of my projects and look forward to being allowed back into classrooms now to show others in the post-COVID education environment we are moving into. All photos courtesy of Jered McGrath. Volunteering for the Hood to Coast in Mist, Oregon. Jered's library.
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