What do many gateway employees have in common with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln? The answer, is a professional career in land surveying. Three of the four presidential faces carved into the stone at Mount Rushmore were land surveyors long before they rose to the highest office in the land. Washington, Jefferson, & Lincoln were primarily focused on surveying the untamed wilderness of the United States. I can think of no better testament to the importance of a career in land surveying than highlighting the many recognized names throughout history that were land surveyors.
Surveyors play an important role in land development; they are the first people on any construction site, measuring and mapping the land. These important measurements are used by architects to understand the landscape when designing, and by engineers to plan structures safely and accurately. There is a big misconception that people tend to think they can do the work surveyors do, themselves. A licensed land surveyor is the only professional who can legally tell you where your property boundary is located and there is a professional liability that surveyors bear.
Surveyors get started in their careers through many paths. It could be through a family member who knows or who is a surveyor, through a class about surveying or through a summer job. Take it from our Gateway team; three different careers in land survey and three different stories of how they began.
Cory, Surveyor in Training and Project Manager, Team Gateway– “My survey career began working at a local survey supply and equipment dealer. After leaving and remodeling homes for a year, I heard through my father-in-law’s friend that he knew a surveyor looking to hire a helper. I Interviewed that Friday and started the following Monday. I started from the bottom nine years ago digging holes, growing my knowledge as time went on. Now, I’m studying to become an Registered Professional Land Surveyor.”
Fred, Licensed Professional Surveyor, Team Gateway– “As an 18-year-old kid, I didn’t even know what surveying was but it sounded interesting and also paid more. I started my career path as a Rodman on a survey crew right out of high school with no experience. When I came over to Gateway, I was a Land Surveyor in Training. Shortly after being hired, I successfully completed all examinations to become licensed in the State of Oklahoma.”
Brent, Drafting Manger, Team Gateway-“My career in the industry at Gateway making copies, faxing papers and other administrative tasks for their licensed surveyor. A position opened up in the drafting department and I was asked if I would be interested in learning to become a drafter. Despite the hesitation, I decided take the chance. Over the many years of working here, I have been able to provide a better living for my family and have been very thankful for that.”
People often think that surveyors only work outside in the field, but there are many specialties surveyors can choose from in and out of the office. There are surveyors that work in the field collecting data to deliver to an office-based surveyor that analyzes the data, creates maps and other documents. Survey’s technology has changed drastically over the years. Fred shares that, “When I started, we were still using a theodolite and steel tape. We thought we were really something when our company bought a total station.” Now, surveyors are using technology with precision GPS equipment and talking to satellites.
Gateway’s surveyors and their team members provide the primary research, planning, and ground support for multi-million-dollar energy infrastructure projects across many of the nation’s hottest oil and gas basins. Team Gateway is a part of the business cycle that turns hydrocarbons into everyday products that improve the quality of life in our society: power, fuels, plastics, medicine, etc.
Today, the career path is ripe with opportunity for anyone looking for a challenging, meaningful, and lucrative career. It offers opportunity for those who like to work outdoors or indoors, with their hands or with the latest technology. There are little barriers to entry for a career in land surveying, outside of a willingness to work hard. This week we celebrate land surveyors, and the surveying industry. Without surveyors our world would look totally different, and few if any of us would like what we would see.
Educational Resources and Scholarships:
http://surveyoklahoma.com/colleges
Written by Gateway Team Member, Mindy W.