The Geoholics

Virgil Coxon has been surveying for over 30 years and is currently the Survey Manager at the Arizona Department of Transportation. The “Mayor of Virgtown” shares how he earned 2 Army Commendation Medals and Army Achievement Medal while working as a Topographic Surveyor at the Yuma Proving grounds. This week’s Safety Share focuses on Survey Crew Chief responsibilities, we taste test the Big Shoots PB&J and find out how good Ryan’s golf game really is. Music for this episode by Carol Pacey & the Honey Shakers!

Dana Klett, PLS & Sarah Burgi, PLS have a combined 30 years of experience as land surveyors. They share what it’s like to work as professional women in a predominantly male environment. We learned that the phrase “I’m living the dream” actually means “put a gun to my head”, safe sex is this week’s safety share and Kent gets called a DILFY-DILF. Music for this episode by KOLARS!

Steve Gangwal, MBA is a seasoned A&E businessman having successfully managed his father’s Engineering & Land Surveying firm for over 10 years. He also worked as a field surveyor with his dad at a very young age resulting in a unique perspective on the industry. Steve was an ADOT trailblazer and played a leading role behind some significant contracting policies with small and disadvantaged businesses. He was recruited by the CIA and played in a band that performed on the same stage as Nirvana! Music for this episode by Carol Pacey & The Honey Shakers!

Social Hall Executive Chef Jason Diaz hails from New Mexico and brings those flavorful influences to the Social Hall menu. He is incredibly passionate about his craft and has been cooking since he was 16 years old. Jason loves horror movies and has the tattoos to prove it! Please visit www.azsocialhall.com Our second guest Kara Jensen is known as the “web genie” building professional websites and relationships for her clients as well as an avid outdoorswoman. Her online marketing company is Triffid Online Marketing www.triffidonline.com and her passion for being and promoting the outdoors can be seen at Be Outdoors Arizona www.beoutdoorsarizona.org. Kara is not afraid to poop in the woods and loves a great cigar! Music by The Black Moods.

Jason Foose, PLS is the Mohave County (AZ) Land Surveyor and the Land Survey representative on the Arizona Board of Technical Registration (BTR) of which he is the Chairman. Jason is licensed to practice land surveying in AZ, CO, NV and OR. He is also a regular author/contributor to The American Surveyor www.amerisurv.com Jason is passionate about all things surveying and brings a unique perspective to the profession as a whole which I’m sure you will enjoy and appreciate. Music by KOLARS.

Melissa Cornelius is the Executive Director of the Arizona Board of Technical Registration (BTR). She has been in this extremely challenging role since 2013. Hailing from the Boston area where she received her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University (home to the Fighting Judges and Ollie the Owl), Melissa ventured West shortly thereafter and obtained a law degree from the University of Arizona. With all of the obstacles that she and her staff face on a daily basis, Melissa stays steadfast in her quest to do what’s best for all of the professions the BTR regulates. As registered professionals in the State of Arizona, we owe Melissa a debt of gratitude for all that she does behind the scenes to maintain the integrity of our chosen career(s). Music by KOLARS.

Nathan (Nate) Gardner is a Professional Land Surveyor with over 27 years of experience. Nate started surveying the “old fashion” way working on a 3-person survey crew with a transit and chain and is now licensed to perform land surveying in Arizona & Oregon. He grew up in a remote region of southern Mexico without running water or electricity as his parents were Wycliffe Missionaries. As a result, Nate learned the value of having a great work ethic. One of his passions is promoting the land surveying profession by doing annual presentations and being actively involved in administering the Boy Scout Survey Merit Badge. Music by Carol Pacey & The Honey Shakers.

Glen Abramowski is a Boeing engineer, U.S. Paralympic Silver Medalist (downhill skiing), motivational speaker and Forest View HS alum…Go Falcons! He has worked at Boeing for 30 years and is currently a Supplier Program Management Specialist. Glen epitomizes the words persistence and resilience having been born with a degenerative retina condition that had him legally blind by the start of grade school. This condition was later diagnosed as Retinitis Pigmentosa. Please take a minute to get to know Glen, his inspirational story and amazing attitude towards life…”Add Value & Make Friends”! Music by Carol Pacey & The Honey Shakers.

Zachary (Zach) Radel is a Certified Mapping Scientist (UAS) that has worked in the photogrammetry industry since 2002. He has survived a plane crash, is a music junkie, plays guitar (and sings!), circled the globe 3 times and has worked for 3 of the oldest mapping firms in the country.  Zach is currently a Sr PM/BD Manager at Cooper Aerial Surveys www.cooperaerial.com Please take a minute to find out more about this interesting cat! Music by Carol Pacey & The Honey Shakers.

Mark Taylor is the self-proclaimed Chief Geek at Extreme Aerial Productions. Mark and his team have been on the cutting edge of drone/UAV technologies and are true professionals. To be clear, he is in fact English and NOT Australian.  Mark currently teaches drone/UAV classes at Embry Riddle (the number one ranked drone college in America) and is on staff at ASU assisting with the drone/UAV program. Please take a minute to check out www.extremeaerialproductions.com to find out more! Music by The Black Moods.