TSPS: How/why did you get into surveying?

Jonathan: It was a little bit of a curvy path. Heeding my Dad’s advice, I found a job at a surveying firm in College Station while going to school. While working with Dante at Carlomagno Surveying for about 5 years, I began to develop a love for the profession. After finally graduating, I decided to pursue my PE license while working on land development projects in Austin. Having done engineering for a while, and not too long after getting my PE, I decided that surveying was really what I wanted to be doing, and the rest is history.

TSPS: Why did you join TSPS?

Jonathan: I began to get involved with TSPS once I was back into surveying full-time. TSPS is highly important to our profession. From keeping tabs down at the legislature to putting on the convention, symposium and other educational opportunities as well, the benefits are pretty obvious. However, the biggest thing that I personally get out of TSPS are the relationships that I have developed with other surveyors around Austin and also the state. It’s nice to be able pick up the phone and call someone that you may know of that has had experience with a particular challenge you’ve come across at work.

TSPS: What is your most memorable surveying moment?

Jonathan: It’s hard to come up with just one, but my favorite memories are when you come across some old boundary evidence that helps substantiate your analysis. I can recall a time when we were surveying a large tract on the west side of Lake Travis. Using a scattered rock mound we found that I believed could possibly be a patent corner, we were able to establish the east line of this tract, which ended up being about 15 feet east of the occupied fence line. Upon further investigation on this tract covered thick with cedar, we found remnants of an old fence line and additional boundary evidence to support what we believed to be the boundary.

Jonathan's favorites:

Color: Maroon of course
Food: Craft Beer
Animal: Black Angus
Singer/band/group: Stevie Ray Vaughn/Ryan Bingham/Lucero/Jimmy Buffett
Hobby: Hunting, Coaching my kid’s 5th grade football team… It’s fun to watch those kids develop & grow up together

Jonathan is currently the TSPS Chapter 13 - Capital Area President and works for BGE, Inc. in Austin, TX.

Jose Rodriguez, Jr. SIT #110053 - Chapter 19 (Rio Grande Valley)

TSPS: How/why did you get into surveying?

Jose: Surveying has always been a crucial element for the civil engineering profession and a prerequisite for many, if not all, civil engineering projects. As such, I’ve been involved with surveying since my civil drafting career began in the late 90’s. As my career shifted and matured from drafting to civil engineering, it became apparent that pursuing the SIT certification and the subsequent RPLS license were the next steps for my career. Thank you to all the people that support my career endeavors.

TSPS: Why did you join TSPS?

Jose: TSPS gives me the opportunity to be a part of a great organization.  I enjoy meeting people and learning from attending seminars. TSPS has certainly given me the opportunity to meet other professionals and learn from their experiences. At the end of the day, it’s the fellowship that matters to me and I’m glad to be a part of TSPS.

TSPS: What is your most memorable surveying moment?

Jose's favorites:

Color: Maroon and White!

 Food: Texas BBQ

 Animal: Dogs

 Singer/band/group: Classic Rock

 Hobby: Skeet & Fishing - The Outdoors

Jose currently serves as 1st Vice President for TSPS Chapter 19 - Rio Grande Valley and is the President/Project Manager at Delcon Logistics, LLC in Mission, TX.

Did you know that TSPS the best source for obtaining your CEUs? Yes, we are sure most of you know about the awesome courses presented at Convention and the really thoughtful and insightful courses developed by our members themselves and presented at Symposium; but, did you know that being active in TSPS can provide additional CEU opportunities? By attending chapter meetings and becoming active on committees, you have the opportunity to get to know fellow surveyors and learn from their experiences in addition to fulfilling annual licensing requirements. 

In a recent trip to a Chapter 10 (Permian Basin) meeting, Trisha realized the discussion that arose from the Ethics Committee Report provided so much insight into surveying in that region, that she found it more informative than some of the most well rounded speakers on the subject. It gave her an opportunity to witness members opening up and enlightening other members, who have not been in the area as long, about some very pertinent and informative advice. In this case, some considerably obscure court cases and decisions, that, if unaware of when working in the area, could result in some very wrong surveys. 

Over the past few years we have heard comments, questions and concerns about earning Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and how TSPS can help. As everyone is aware, surveyors are required to have at least 12 hours of CEUs per year to renew their license; three of which must be Rules or Ethics taken every year and cannot be carried over from any previous year. You are able to carry over up to eight units from the previous year. (Ref. Texas Board of Professional Surveyors website “self-study” and The Act & Rules 664.3 and 664.4).  

From Trisha’s experience with her home chapter, Chapter 11 (Alamo), she was always under the impression that in order for credit to be approved, a speaker had to be at the meeting and a brief bio had to be presented to the TBPLS, as Chapter 11 has done for a number of years. Chapter 11 was also under the impression that members were required to attend 4 meetings a year to qualify for this credit. From Anna’s experience the last few years as Secretary/Treasurer for Chapter 13 (Capital Area), when trying to get clarification, she was informed differently by seaparate sources, believing that the CEUs were only valid for a meeting if there was a speaker.  It was evident that not all chapters understood the requirements or the interpretation of the chapter meetings as CEUs in the eyes of the TBPLS and it was clear that chapters were handling their meetings differently in regards to CEUs.

After other chapters inquired about meeting CEUs as well, Trisha researched this with the TBPLS board to get their insight into the rules. We can report that while having a speaker is a great way to hold meetings and boost attendance, it is not mandatory for board approval, as in the Chapter 10 meeting Trisha attended. Having conversations at chapter meetings that lead us to be better surveyors and get CEU credit at the same time is a win for you, your fellow surveyor, the society, and the public which we are charged to protect. 

From the discussion over what constituted the rule 664.4 Types of Acceptable Continuing Education (8) that reads “Meetings and activities such as in-service programs which are required as part of one’s job; and have been approved by the board;” Trisha met with board members and requested their interpretation from the rule, thus approving additional ways TSPS can provide CEUs for surveyors.

The board has approved all “regular” chapter meetings (excluding those that are considered recreational functions such as fishing tournaments, softball games, golf tournaments, etc.) for 1 hour of CEU. Many chapters struggle with active participation and attendance at their meetings. These meetings are a good way for you to get your CEU credit with little or no money out of your pocket. There are a few items to remember in order to ensure acceptance of the credit by the board in the case of a CEU audit. 

1. A chapter officer or delegate must keep a registration or sign-in sheet of the attendees.
2. The attendee must be given a receipt or ability to obtain a receipt (i.e. the registration/sign in log).
3. The attendee must keep the receipt as part of their records in case of audit, as TBPLS does not maintain CEUs.
4. It is the responsibility of the attendee to obtain and keep proof of attendance for an event.

Did you also know there is another great way that TSPS helps you to obtain your CEUs? This opportunity falls under rule 664.4 Types of Acceptable Continuing Education (3) “Teaching or consultation in programs such as institutes, seminars, workshops which provide increased professional knowledge related to the practice of professional land survey.” How do you do this you ask? Under the Education Committee, TSPS offers Course Development workshops each year where we look for members to volunteer to assist in developing courses for presentation at the annual Symposium. These courses are also available to chapters under the TSPS Brand Courses. Speakers/Presenters of the courses are awarded CEU credit for teaching those courses.  As someone who has worked on developing courses and presenting them, Trisha can tell you that it is work but it is also very rewarding. If you are interested in getting involved in Course Development, you can contact Education Chair Chester Varner or visit ww.tsps.org/coursedev.

TSPS offers its members many benefits in addition to the ones mentioned here. Did you know you can track your CEUs in your profile on the TSPS website?  For any State TSPS course you attend you can print your Certificate of Attendance. Here’s how:

1. Login at www.tsps.org.
2. Go to My Profile.
3. Click the Professional Development tab on the left of the screen.
4. Find the class/classes you completed and click print!

We hope to see you at a future TSPS chapter meeting and/or event. We are blessed to have such a great and strong Society but it is nothing without the support, attendance and active participation of our members. For both Trisha and Anna, this is one of the best parts of TSPS… members networking with other members, not just for business purposes but to truly help their fellow surveyor. Trisha may be a big city girl with a small town soul, and Anna may be a small town girl who landed in the big city, but both feel that there is no better way to meet your fellow surveyors than becoming active in TSPS! The more active you become, the more connections you make. The more connections you make, the more resources you have available – all of which can be beneficial for you, your company and the surveying profession. As with anything we do in Texas…Let’s make it bigger and better!