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Spring Workshop PART 2 Associate Member Spotlight
Location Options/Dates:
June 5 - Syracuse Paul Mueller
(Green Lakes State Park) Delmar, New York
Prior to the global COVID-19
pandemic, Paul Mueller had
worked for 7 years in the road-
racing industry helping to
orchestrate cross-country events
with large crowds of people. While
this was fulfilling as a job, he
realized it wasn’t necessarily a career nor the professional
photo: Tobin Fricke, Creative Commons path he wanted. After speaking with a friend and fellow
road-racer who has been employed in the land surveying
June 7 - Saratoga profession, it was suggested that perhaps harnessing all
(Saratoga Spa State Park) those skills he acquired through charting courses,
measuring distances and evaluating terrain could be
cultivated into a career in land surveying.
Paul’s Point of Beginning was at Bethlehem land surveying
in 2020 as an AutoCAD draftsperson. Growing up in an
Army family, where road trips, camping, and hiking filled
summer vacations, Paul frequently found himself being
the navigator even if one wasn’t needed, which grew a
passion for maps; using them, reading them and studying
photo: Ryan Hodnett, Creative Commons
them. He soon realized that this passion for maps
transferred seamlessly over to land surveying. He quickly
June 9 - Putnam County demonstrated his proficiency in map making and, after
(Fahnestock State Park)
attending the 63rd NYSAPLS conference, he displayed
an interest in becoming a survey technician. Since then,
he has been a part of field crews doing 3D laser scanning,
deed research, filing maps, planning board attendance
and “field to finish” for small projects.
Paul is enthusiastic of continuing to learn more about
land surveying, both past and present. “It seems like I am
learning something new every day and that is enjoyable to
say.” He plans on continuing to expand his knowledge
photo: Daniel Case, Creative Commons
and capabilities within the profession by becoming a
Certified Survey Technician and then following that path
wherever it may lead.
EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 58• NO 4/ 2022 • JULY/AUGUST 19
