Page 5 - NYS_ESS_09-2024

NYSAPLS, Inc.
President and CEO
Jeremy E. Thompson, LS [ president’s message ]
Executive Board
Steven J. Willard, LS
Executive Vice President August 6, 2024
Scott A. Gillis, LS
Vice President
Scott B. Allen, LS Greetings fellow Professionals,
Treasurer
William R. Eggers, LS August is here already, and in what seems like a blink of
Secretary an eye, most of summer has passed. Many of us have likely
Daniel E. Marvin, LS been up to our eyes in surveying projects but I truly hope
Executive Director you have been able to take some time to relax and enjoy
Board of Trustees life away from work.
Robert R. Allen, LS
J. Steven Boddecker, LS In my last few messages, I have been trying to promote
Patricia P. Brooks, LS the importance of unity and comradery amongst professionals. Our ability to work
Gregory J. de Bruin, LS, PE together and understand the common purpose of our chosen profession is what is
John R. Ennis, LS
Roy B. Garfinkel, LS going to allow us all to be as successful as possible. I often tell my students that the
R. Ronald Kreiling, LS profession of Surveying is deep and complex. At times it requires us to be part
Joseph G. Malinowski, LS historian, part archeologist, part sociologist, and part mathematician, all while juggling
Daniel E. Marvin, LS
Daren L. Morgan, LS deadlines, business decisions, and with the constant paranoia that we are missing
Robert A. Smith, LS something or making a mistake.
Edwin A. Summerhays, LS
Gary L. Thompson, LS I believe most surveyors are problem solvers by nature. We are motivated by the
Glennon J. Watson, LS pride and appreciation that comes from people asking us to help them, asking us
Marie T. Welch, LS because they know we can tell them something they don’t know, show them something

NYSAPLS Headquarters they can’t see. We can “make the invisible, visible.” The public trusts us, and as such
146 Washington Avenue they should be able to.
Land Surveyors Building
Albany, NY 12210 I remember shortly after I became licensed, I showed my newly created signature
518-432-4046 block to a senior surveyor in the office and he quickly asked, “What does the P stand
www.nysapls.org for?” I answered, “Professional”, to which he quickly replied “What makes you a
info@nysapls.org
professional?”. I didn’t know what to say, and I quickly assumed that it was a rhetorical
Editor-in-Chief & question and returned to work. Now, the better part of twenty years later, although I
Managing Director
Amber Carpenter am still not sure I have the correct answer, I feel that I have a better idea.
amber@nysapls.org
To me, a professional is someone that does their best to honor their purpose. A
Director of Operations professional understands that they are entrusted with the knowledge and skills that
Heather Schultz others may not have or may not understand, and yet they try their best to convey that
heather@nysapls.org
knowledge in a manner that is relatable. A professional understands that even though
Administrative Assistant they may have done something correct a thousand times, it is possible to make a
Sharon O'Brien
sharon@nysapls.org mistake that thousandth and first time. A professional is confident and also humble. A
professional has the ability to communicate and interact with other professionals and
Affiliated Associations
Allegheny Plateau Association of Profes- learn from them, regardless of their age or how long they have been practicing. A
sional Land Surveyors | Black River Valley professional understands why we use the term “practice”, because no one is perfect
Association of Professional Land Surveyors
| Catskill Area Association of Land Sur- and there is always room to learn and grow. I believe the term “Professional” is earned.
veyors | Central New York Society of Land
Surveyors | City Surveyors Association I hope we can all learn to become “Professionals”.
of Greater New York | Delaware-Hudson
Land Surveyors Association, Inc | Eastern
New York Society of Land Surveyors, Inc |
Genesee Valley Land Surveyors Association
| Long Island Association of Land Surveyors
Inc | Mid-Hudson Valley Association of
Land Surveyors | Mohawk Valley Society of
Professional Land Surveyors | Nassau-Suffolk
Civil Engineers Inc | Niagara Frontier Land Jeremy Thompson, PLS
Surveyors Association | Northern New York
Association of Land Surveyors | Southern NYSAPLS President
Finger Lakes Association of Professional
Land Surveyors | Southern Tier Association
of Land Surveyors | Surveyors Association
of Queensboro Inc | Westchester-Putnam
Association of Professional Land Surveyors
EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 60 • NO 5 2024 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 3