PLSO The Oregon Surveyor May June 2020

8 The Oregon Surveyor  | Vol. 43, No. 3 Member Spotlight SPOTLIGHT Member By Vanessa Salvia Renee Clough R enee Clough has an extensive back- ground volunteering within both the survey profession and related professions, so when she was tapped for the governor-appointed board of OSBEELS, she was ready to jump in. The Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying consists of 11 volunteer members, drawing from the general public, a photogrammetrist, engineers, and land surveyors. Clough fulfills both of those last two categories. “OSBEELS has a different role in the profes - sion than PLSO, but it’s just as important,” says Clough. “I’m excited for the oppor- tunity to give back to the profession. Historically, OSBEELS has developed a poor reputation; I hope to help change that. I’d like tohear comments, suggestions, or other thoughts about the profession.” Renee Clough, PE, PLS, AICP, is a Pleas- ant Hill resident who has been working in the civil engineering and land surveying industry since achieving her B.S. in civil engineering in 2001 from Oregon State University. She was part owner of Branch Engineering (www.branchengineering. com), a firm with locations in Springfield and Albany, from 2006 to 2018, but she sold her ownership so she would have more time to volunteer, with OSBEELS being high on the list. OSBEELSmembersaregovernor-appointed, but those who are interested in being a member must apply with a statement of interest. Clough’s letter of intent was clear: Serving on OSBEELS has been a ca- reer-long goal for her. “During my career, I have benefited sig - nificantly from people who came before me, from teaching me skills to creating the legal framework for my job to exist,” she wrote. “My primary motivation is a desire to contribute back to my commu- nity. Our society can’t function without people volunteering their time and effort, and I would like to contribute to this par- ticular opportunity because it influences me every day.” She is currently project manager at Branch Engineering. Since starting her career, it’s difficult to find some aspect of the pro - fession in which she hasn’t had an impact. Clough believes that no profession is an island. Her volunteer work and many of her professional interests involve engag- ing with others who are in positions of leadership and decision-making. She has served as the Midwest Chapter Secretary, Midwest Chapter President-Elect as well as President. You’ve probably seen her name within the pages of this maga- zine, as she’s written several articles for The Oregon Surveyor . In fact, one of the ar- ticles she contributed won the Article of the Year award. Read her article, “A Les- son Taught by the Project From Hell,” in Vol. 32 No. 2, April/May 2009. She has helped a city of Springfield task group analyze how the city could bemore development friendly, chaired a city of Springfield committee to advise planning code revisions, served on the board of directors for the Home Builders Associ- ation of Lane County, participated in a city of Eugene focus group for writing clear and objective code standards, and has been a panel speaker at an Oregon Chapter American Planning Association Conference ethics seminar. She has been a member of American Institute of Certi- fied Planners (AICP) since January 2010. She is also a member of the American Planning Association. “I enjoy contributing a voice to the con- versations which affect our profession, both internal—OSBEELS and PLSO—and external—city committees, Home Build- ers Association, etc.,” says Clough. “If we don’t stand up and speak, we’ll end up misunderstood and forgotten.” It’s clear that Clough does not run away from responsibilities. When she’s not “causing havoc around her office,” she says with a joke, she spends a lot of time overseeing and coordinating land development projects, which is Branch Engineering’s specialty. “I prepare the existing conditions mapping, including calculating the site boundary; work with the client and jurisdiction(s) to obtain planning approvals and any other approvals that are necessary; prepare con- struction plans and oversee construction; and prepare any as-builts or plat that is required,” she says. “I also mentor staff who are working towards their engineer- ing and surveying licenses.” Clough was born in Gold Beach, Oregon, and spent her childhood on the Oregon Coast. Although she originally intended to be a structural engineer, she switched to civil and survey because of amentor, Greg Solarz, PE, PLS, at her first summer job. “Greg’s influence on my career is a big reason I try to act as a mentor myself and why I go to career fairs,” says Clough. “Greg took the time to let me job-shadow him for a full term of high school and then hired me for a summer job after my freshman year at OSU. I have vivid memories of him taking me on a tour of the wastewater treatment plant as part of my job shadow. Looking back, I real- ize that was entirely out of the goodness of his heart; he couldn’t invoice for that