Introducing Brad Lariscy our latest Brand Ambassador from Georgia, USA:
Where did you study
Georgia Southern University
What are the requirements to be a surveyor in your area?
There are a variety of pathways to becoming a Licensed Surveyor in the State of Georgia. Whether you have a 4 year degree, 2 year degree or Certificate along with the respectful amount of experience licensure can be obtained.
How did you get into surveying?
I started surveying immediately out of high school with no family history or knowledge of what land surveying entailed. I loved being outdoors and I knew the company (Thomas & Hutton) that I wanted to work for and the values they held and this was an entry level position to get me started. Little did I know this was the start of a life-long career.
How long have you been in the industry?
18 years
What are you going to do as an ambassador for GKiS?
As an ambassador for GKiS, I will continue to promote surveying to the next generation through STEAM nights at local schools, where we bring in various survey equipment for students to interact with and discuss applications for each. The drone is always a highlight and “wow factor” as we discuss how we incorporate it into our workflow and the model that it produces. In addition to STEAM nights, I think the GKiS platform will allow us to expand our network and reach even more kids. I am passionate about investing heavily into my community as well as education, I believe teaming up with GKiS would provide more tools and resources to reach the next generation.
Why do you want to be a GKiS Brand Ambassador?
I see the value in exposing children to surveying at such a young age, they are the future. I want to be part of an organization that shares these same values. As an ambassador for GKiS I believe we could get our foot in with local schools at an age group even younger than what we are targeting now. To partner with local elementary schools and show students the fun aspects of land surveying and the tools we get to use could peak their interests before even considering it being a career. It reminds me of my days in school sitting in math class thinking, “I will never need to know this information “ if someone would have come in and shown a real-life application such as surveying my perspective certainly would be shifted.
Why is it important for kids to know about surveying and the wider geospatial industry?
It is imperative the kids understand surveying and the geospatial industry. To comprehend the need for surveyors and the important role they play in construction as well as determining and creating property boundaries would be essential. For a kid that rides to school and sees a building being demolished, then the property is separated, and then construction on the new properties, then seeing the completed projects. It is essential that we teach kids to understand how a land surveyor is critical to every phase of that transformation. Without a surveyor how different would that site look? Maybe in their research, a surveyor finds evidence of an old easement that would prevent a building from being built in a specific location, maybe buildings cross over into the adjoining owner’s lot, maybe the building is not level or perpendicular to the street. All of these things explain why I love being a surveyor, we have the opportunity to be actively involved in a project from start to finish.
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies would include camping, boating, bike rides anything that brings my family together and gets us outdoors.
Anything else you want to add that you think our audience (surveyors, teachers, parents) would be interested in?
As a father, I see the importance of teaching my daughter the value of land surveying. The skills learned and real-world application that she will get exposed to can only strengthen her as a student and eventually as a professional. Even if her life takes her down a different career path the fact that she can see there are applications for the material she is being taught and understand the methods used to obtain data will broaden her capabilities.
