Don graduated with an AE in Mechanical Engineering in 1986 from Pennsylvania State University, Altoona, Pennsylvania and is a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). He has also completed the Drafting and Design Technology Program from Altoona Area Vocational Technical School and coursework in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University, Altoona, Pennsylvania and coursework in surveying curriculum from Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri. Don has 15 plus years’ experience in boundary and topographical surveying along with construction layout and is highly experienced with complex building and site projects. He has recently joined Archer-Elgin as a Professional Land Surveyor and Survey Crew Chief.
After college, Don joined the U.S. Army as a 12C Combat Engineer/Bridge Crewman. During Basic/AIT he was first introduced to the Fort Leonard Wood environs, it would become a lasting relationship. He served in numerous locations throughout the U.S. and the world in positions of increasing responsibility, including stationing/deployments at Ft Bragg, NC, Ft Riley, KS, Honduras, Saudi Arabia/Iraq(Desert Shield/Desert Storm), Korea and Bosnia. The crowning project of his military career was as NCOIC of the construction of a 330 ft Double-Double Bailey Bridge in Bosnia with the IFOR peacekeeping mission. Don ETS was as an SFC Senior Drill Instructor at Ft Leonard Wood, MO.
Don was registered as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) in 2010, and has over 15 years experience in the survey industry with boundary/topographic surveying and construction layout staking/ record (As-Built) drawings and is highly experienced with complex building and site projects. Don has performed the scheduling, management, and execution of multiple survey projects, ranging from civilian residential/commercial development to military office/support facilities and firing ranges. His responsibilities partially include; proposal cost estimation, coordination with clients and contractors, computation of office and field calculations, drafting and review of survey/subdivision drawings, plats, and boundary descriptions. He has set and documented, new and restored monuments for boundary surveys and the perpetuation of the USPLSS. He conducts office and field research to determine and verify land corners, boundary lines, right of way, property owners, easements and other recorded data.
He conducts FEMA Flood Elevation surveys for Elevation Certificates (EC) and Letter of Map Amendments (LOMAs). Don has gone on to complete additional training and coursework in FEMA Regulations and requirements to attain his national certification thru the Association of State Floodplain Managers as a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM). He has helped the Meramec Regional Planning Commission and county commissioners establish two community base flood elevations to help protect local residents from flood damage.
Don is a member of the Missouri Society of Professional Land Surveyors, National Society of Professional Surveyors, Association of State Floodplain Managers and Missouri Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association. He is a former Secretary Treasurer of the Ozark Chapter of MSPS. He is certified as an ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician – Grade 1, and Nuclear Density Moisture Gage operator and has completed the OSHA 30 Hour Safety Course.
In 1984 while in college, Don married his high school sweetheart Wendy. They are still married after over thirty years. Throughout all the deployments, the unaccompanied tours, she was the bond that held it together. They have two grown children, Michael of Rolla, MO and Morgan of Springfield, MO. Don and Wendy are both active members of their church.
Don was born and raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains. He learned a love of nature thru hunting, fly fishing and camping with his father. Don’s current hobbies and interest include powerlifting to stay in shape, fishing, genealogy, and reading (Military History and Sci-Fi).