EP234 Stewart Ward, PLS - The Business of Surveying

EP234 Stewart Ward, PLS - The Business of Surveying

Author: National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) May 6, 2026 Duration: 1:17:06
Calling all professional surveying entrepreneurs! Do you often wonder what it takes to run a small surveying business? Do you start from scratch or seek out an existing business for sale? What does it take to make it grow? Do you have what it takes to be a successful business owner?  This week's episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" finds us at the "Boise Meridian Initial Point Celebration" where we happen to run into our former NSPS Director for Idaho, Stewart Ward, PLS, and owner of Dioptra, a small surveying firm in Chubbuck, ID. Our host, Tim Burch, sat down with Stewart to discuss his path to surveying, licensure, and company ownership. They talked about what it takes to run a successful business, being an effective manager AND leader, and staying humble through it all. Stewart offers a few suggestions to think about when considering ownership while keeping your personal skills sharp. While this conversation went a little longer than most, give it a listen and you will agree it is worth the time. Lots of knowledge nuggets here, so takes some notes and be inspired!

Ever wondered how the quiet profession of surveying actually shapes the world we live in, from property lines and construction sites to the very maps on our phones? Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast pulls back the curtain on this essential field through genuine, unscripted conversations. Hosted by NSPS Executive Director Tim Burch, each half-hour episode features a different voice from the landscape-innovators, seasoned experts, and those tackling the profession's latest challenges. You’ll hear discussions that span the technical, the historical, and the deeply human aspects of the work, reflecting how surveying sits at the unique intersection of business, culture, and education. This isn't about dry lectures; it's about the stories and insights from people who are actively defining what surveying means today and tomorrow. Tune in for a thoughtful look at the relationships and societal impact behind the measurements, all brought to you by the National Society of Professional Surveyors. Whether you're a practicing surveyor, a student, or simply curious about the built environment, this podcast offers a grounded perspective you won't find anywhere else.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast
Podcast Episodes
EP209 - From the Director's Desk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:25
This episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" finds your host, Tim Burch, providing news and other updates for his episode of "From the Director's Desk." Among the topics covered today: Government Shutdown News from…
EP208 - Patti & Ricky Brooks - Control Point Associates, Inc. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:27
Hello from the Empire State! This week's episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" finds us in the mid-Hudson River Valley at the office of Control Point Associates to speak with Patti and Ricky Brooks. Patti is the N…
EP207 Cal Poly Pomona - Student Chapter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:49
"Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" is coming to you on location again! This time, we have traveled to Cal Poly Pomona to meet with the NSPS Student Chapter during their annual conference and exhibition. Tim Burch spent a…
EP206 Kimberly Odom, PSM - Delta Land Surveyors, LLC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:16
This week, we feature a special surveyor who is more than doing her part to promote the profession and help educate our future surveyors! "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" finds us chatting with Kimberly Odom, PSM and ow…
EP205 Woody Money PSM, GISP - Surveyor @ NAVFAC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:28
We met today's guest at the Esri UC25 while enjoying the Special Interest Group (SIG) session on surveying hosted by our own Linda Foster. This episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" highlights the recent conversat…
EP204 - Seneca Holland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:57
Hello from the Esri UC25 in sunny San Diego! "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" gave us the opportunity to catch up with Seneca Holland, Geospatial Research Scientist & Instructor of Geospatial Science at the Conrad Bluch…
EP203 - Carl R. C.de Baca - Surveyors & California Fires [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:21
This week's episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" takes on the serious subject of surveyors and their role dealing with wildfires. Our guest, Carl C.de Baca, a professional land surveyor with R.E.Y. Engineers, Inc…
EP201 - Patrick Veraguth, Minnesota County Surveyor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:27
This episode of "Surveyor Says! The NSPS Podcast" asks the question: what does a county surveyor do? It turns out to be much more than we anticipated! Patrick Veraguth, County Surveyor for Douglas and Grant County (MN),…