12 The Oregon Surveyor | Vol. 46, No. 6 Featured Article WANTED: Surveyors and Leaders By Jeremy Sherer, PLS What will our profession look like in 10 to 20 years? Are we flourishing or failing? Surveying is a critical path in utility, infrastructure, and building projects that affects the ability of landowners, engineers, contractors, and suppliers’ ability to complete projects on time (according to the 2022 Survey Taskforce). Presently, there are 750 employed surveyors and 72 professional and paraprofessional openings. The employment growth rate is expected to outpace the state average at 17.5% (Occupation Profiles, State of Oregon Employment Department). The number of licensed surveyors in Oregon has dropped by 63% in the last 20 years to approximately 775. Of those remaining surveyors, 69% are over the age of 51, and 43% are over the age of 61. Few are graduating from surveying programs across the state (2022 Survey Taskforce). If these statistics continue the same path over the next 10 to 20 years, the demand for surveyors will be out of balance with the supply. We need surveyors. Over the last 20 years, PLSO has promoted the profession through outreach and advertising, but we also need to plan for succession and retention. The PLSO strategic plan addresses the latter and includes plans for 1) Promoting the Profession (recruitment), 2) Improving Leadership in the Organization (succession), and 3) Membership (retention). Recruiting qualified surveyor candidates is challenging, yet our strategy should go beyond promoting the profession; it should include a holistic approach that creates a climate for human flourishing that recognizes our desire for security and meaning. Developing leadership traits and skill in the rising generation is a plan Professional excellence and flourishing. We need future leaders. At the 2024 Conference, PLSO is introducing the Emerging Leaders Practicum, to address the need for leadership. This program supports our strategic plan to Improve Leadership (Goal 3) within our Organization. General Overview: The Emerging Leaders program is a chapter- sponsored mentorship practicum for the emerging leaders identified in your chapter. The Emerging Leaders practicum falls under the Leadership Academy program developed, implemented, and managed by the Practices Committee. Framework: The general practicum framework includes an understanding of the past (our history) and answers the question, "Who are we?"; the present (our practices) and answers the question, "What is expected?"; and the future (our vision) and answers the question, "How do we get there?" By the end of the practicum, the Emerging Leader will know or be familiar with six areas of professional competencies: • Organization—identify the PLSO founders; know the PLSO structure, mission, and ethical standards • History—identify key events from Oregon surveyor history and past county surveyors • Competencies—personal and professional competencies; the role of a surveyor in society • Communication—persuasive writing/oration • Leadership—practices, principles, and traits of a good leader • Law, Logic, and Learning—critical thinking and problem-solving methods When: January 17–19, 2024, and ending at the next PLSO Conference in 2025. Where: The first meeting will be at the PLSO Conference. Subsequent sessions will be held monthly via BlueJeans and during chapter meetings and determined between the mentor and mentee. Who: PLSO members identified as Emerging Leaders within your chapter. Oversight is by the Chapter President and is supported by the PLSO Practices Committee. Cost: Your time and effort. There may be nominal fees for materials if needed. The successful candidate will also receive free admission to the 2024 and 2025 conferences. Training the next generation of surveyors and leaders is a commitment. The Emerging Leadership program is your opportunity to guide the next generation toward a path of professional excellence. The program needs mentors and mentees that are committed to our survey profession and this organization. If you can’t make a commitment to be a mentor, the program also needs presenters for the topics mentioned above. If you are interested, please contact Jeremy A. Sherer at 541-517-8205, fill out the mentor-mentee agreement (this may be done later), and then come to the first meeting at the PLSO 2024 Conference.
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