DRMP has named August Thick, PLS, PS, PSM, director of survey after several years of guiding survey teams and operations across the firm’s regional offices. Joe Di Benedetto, PLS, LS, who has led the survey business unit as director, will continue supporting its staff and clients as chief survey business unit advisor.
The promotion is the next step in Thick’s career at DRMP, which began in 2000 when he joined the firm’s newly established Jacksonville, Fla., office as an instrument man. During his 25 years with DRMP, he has progressed through field, project management and regional leadership positions, including party chief, field crew supervisor, survey project manager and North Carolina survey division leader. He was named a DRMP vice president in 2023 and most recently served as assistant survey director/operations manager.
As director, Thick will guide the survey business unit’s operations and long-term growth. His priorities will include providing consistent operational oversight, strengthening forecasting and resource coordination, bringing regional teams together, developing staff and maintaining the firm’s technical quality, processes and client service.
Thick is a licensed professional surveyor in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida. His work at DRMP has included coordinating regional survey teams, developing staff, advancing the use of surveying and geospatial technologies and maintaining client relationships.
“It is an honor to take on the role of director of survey after spending my career at DRMP and learning from Joe and the leaders across our survey business unit,” Thick said. “My focus will be on giving our teams the visibility, resources and support they need to work together across regions, develop future leaders and maintain the technical quality and client service our clients expect.”
In his advisory position, Di Benedetto will draw on 50 years of experience in the surveying profession to share his technical and industry knowledge with DRMP’s next generation of survey leaders. He will mentor professional land surveyors, surveyors in training, project managers and technical staff while providing guidance on complex surveying and mapping matters.
Di Benedetto will also advise DRMP teams on photogrammetry, LiDAR, unmanned aerial vehicles, mobile mapping and other geospatial technologies. He will remain involved in strategic client relationships, business development, quality assurance and quality control, industry activities and select projects where his technical expertise or client knowledge is needed.
“August has earned the respect of our teams through the way he leads, communicates and brings people together,” Di Benedetto said. “I am confident in his ability to guide the survey business unit, and I look forward to supporting him and our teams by sharing what I have learned, mentoring our developing professionals and staying involved where my experience can be most useful.”
About DRMP
Since 1977, DRMP has earned a reputation as a trusted multidisciplinary civil engineering and surveying firm delivering innovative infrastructure solutions that strengthen communities. What began as a Florida-based surveying practice has grown into a leading Southeastern engineering consulting firm with more than 1,000 professionals across 32 offices.
Today, DRMP’s engineers, planners, surveyors, and scientists partner with state transportation agencies, municipalities, federal clients, and private developers to plan, design, and deliver critical infrastructure. Our integrated services span surveying and geospatial services, civil engineering, land development, and community planning by supporting projects that improve transportation infrastructure and mobility, resilience, and quality of life across the Southeastern United States.
