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NYSAPLS, Inc.
President and CEO
Jeremy E. Thompson, LS [ president’s message ]
Executive Board
Steven J. Willard, LS
Executive Vice President Hi All,
Scott A. Gillis, LS I trust and hope everyone had an enjoyable and
Vice President
Scott B. Allen, LS prosperous summer. It seems that whenever I am tasked
Treasurer with writing a new address for the Empire State Surveyor,
William R. Eggers, LS we are either undergoing or have recently experienced a
Secretary
Daniel E. Marvin, LS seasonal transformation. Keeping consistent with that, we
Executive Director now find that summer is behind us, autumn solidly here,
and for at least some of us, winter is looming. Regardless
Board of Trustees
Robert R. Allen, LS of the weather, from what I hear from colleagues and
J. Steven Boddecker, LS friends, the surveying industry is thriving and just as busy as ever.
Patricia P. Brooks, LS
Gregory J. de Bruin, LS, PE In my most recent President’s address I wrote a little about my experience becoming
John R. Ennis, LS licensed and using the title of “Professional”. I want to take a minute to expand on
Roy B. Garfinkel, LS that. It is not my belief that I became a “Professional” simply because of a license.
R. Ronald Kreiling, LS
Joseph G. Malinowski, LS There is nothing magical about the piece of paper that I received when I passed a
Daniel E. Marvin, LS series of exams that automatically bestowed that title upon me. Don’t get me wrong, I
Daren L. Morgan, LS remember the joy, satisfaction, and relief that I felt when I received the results of my
Robert A. Smith, LS
Edwin A. Summerhays, LS licensure exam, but as strong and as good as those emotions felt, they weren’t magical.
Gary L. Thompson, LS The reality is that those emotions were a result of hard work, commitment and
Glennon J. Watson, LS dedication. The culmination of many hours, days, weeks and years of so many projects
Marie T. Welch, LS
where I hopped rod; turned angles; read deeds; drafted maps; got soaked to the bone,
NYSAPLS Headquarters or sweat through every layer of clothes in sweltering heat, or froze to the point of
146 Washington Avenue shivering during field work; moments of regret and frustration, numerous mistakes
Land Surveyors Building
Albany, NY 12210 (some more costly, some just more learning opportunities), moments of satisfaction of
518-432-4046 finding something that had been missing for years, and countless interactions and
www.nysapls.org conversations with colleagues, clients, and members of the public. The truth is that I
info@nysapls.org
experienced all of that prior to, and without that piece of paper.
Editor-in-Chief &
Managing Director The longer I work in the surveying industry (and now teach it) I am finding a
Amber Carpenter greater appreciation for that commitment and effort at every level, and perhaps a
amber@nysapls.org lessor focus on that paper. I think we are all aware of some of the challenges currently
Director of Operations facing the surveying industry, including the struggles of finding qualified help, and even
Heather Schultz with all of the efforts that NYSAPLS and NSPS are putting forth to help educate the
heather@nysapls.org
public about what we do and the value of our knowledge and services and to help “get
Administrative Assistant kids into surveying”, it seems that we are still unable to fill the vacancies. It is easy to
Sharon O'Brien
sharon@nysapls.org get lost and frustrated focusing on what we don’t have or what we think we need. I
propose that we shift our way of thinking and focus on what we do have. Not everyone
Affiliated Associations
Allegheny Plateau Association of Profes- needs to become licensed. We should not wait to appreciate and celebrate our fellow
sional Land Surveyors | Black River Valley surveying Professionals until they pass an exam. The paper does not create the
Association of Professional Land Surveyors Professional, nor should it be falsely used to validate the title. Rather than focusing all
| Catskill Area Association of Land Sur-
veyors | Central New York Society of Land our efforts to try to bring new people into our profession, I propose that we use some
Surveyors | City Surveyors Association resources to thank and acknowledge our fellow Professionals (licensed or not) that
of Greater New York | Delaware-Hudson
Land Surveyors Association, Inc | Eastern work every day to provide the services that the public needs. I believe the more pride
New York Society of Land Surveyors, Inc | that we can instill and promote within our current Professionals, the better off we will
Genesee Valley Land Surveyors Association
| Long Island Association of Land Surveyors all be. Thank you for all you do, and please continue to be professional.
Inc | Mid-Hudson Valley Association of
Land Surveyors | Mohawk Valley Society of
Professional Land Surveyors | Nassau-Suffolk
Civil Engineers Inc | Niagara Frontier Land
Surveyors Association | Northern New York
Association of Land Surveyors | Southern
Finger Lakes Association of Professional
Land Surveyors | Southern Tier Association Jeremy Thompson, PLS
of Land Surveyors | Surveyors Association NYSAPLS President
of Queensboro Inc | Westchester-Putnam
Association of Professional Land Surveyors
EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 60 • NO 6 2024 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 3