News

After 50 Years in Surveying, Joe Di Benedetto, PLS, LS, Retires from DRMP

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 04:00:00 +0000

ORLANDO, Fla. – Joe Di Benedetto, PLS, LS, has spent 50 years developing his expertise in surveying, from right-of-way mapping to Mobile LiDAR. As he prepared for retirement from DRMP, colleagues spoke about his personal mission to mentor younger surveyors and the time he has invested in their work and their lives.

Di Benedetto entered the surveying profession in 1976. Some of his earliest lessons came while riding in a truck with experienced surveyors. “They made sure we were reading books in the truck while the truck’s moving,” he recalled.
They also taught him to question results that did not make sense and to understand the responsibility behind the work. In a March 2026 DRMP Q&A, Di Benedetto described mentoring younger surveyors as “a way of returning the investment that others made in me.”

His career includes 17 years with the Florida Department of Transportation in Districts Four and Five. He led DRMP’s DeLand office from 2003 to 2010, returned in 2015 to lead surveying in central Florida and later served as senior vice president and director of surveying and mapping/geospatial before moving into an advisory role.

When Di Benedetto returned to DRMP, he brought experience with Mobile LiDAR and was tasked with establishing the service at the firm. He helped make the case for the investment, select the equipment and hire the staff who launched the service in 2018.

Mobile LiDAR uses vehicle-mounted laser scanners to collect data used to create detailed 3D representations of roadways and surrounding infrastructure. That means less time spent collecting measurements in or near traffic. “It makes the surveyors a lot safer than us being in the roads like we were,” Di Benedetto said. He described crew safety as his main reason for pursuing the technology.

When an opening became available to lead the Mobile LiDAR team, Brent Bass, PE, PSM, offered to take it on. Di Benedetto gave him the opportunity, and Bass continues to lead and grow the service.

Since its launch, DRMP has upgraded its equipment to the RIEGL VMX-2HA mobile mapping system, which can collect as many as 3.6 million data points per second, and added a second Mobile LiDAR system. That expertise now extends to DRMP’s North and South Carolina offices, and the firm mobilizes the service for projects beyond the Southeast, including a recent turnpike survey in New Hampshire.

Bass, now a DRMP vice president and southwest Florida survey manager, had also worked for FDOT. He said Di Benedetto helped him adjust to the private sector and understand the broader decisions behind their projects. “He’s willing to teach you as much as you’re willing to learn,” Bass said.

Di Benedetto’s interest in Bass’ life extends beyond work. “He cares about my family. He knows my kids’ names,” Bass said. Di Benedetto has joined Bass and his wife for dinner and checks in when one of their children is sick.

Along with individual mentoring, Di Benedetto helped create an in-house training space at DRMP where staff can build technical skills and learn how field data becomes a finished survey. He also invites developing surveyors to breakfast or lunch, where the conversation can move beyond their current assignments. “It’s not always about the actual project or work,” Di Benedetto said. Getting to know people outside the office, he explained, helps them feel comfortable asking questions.

For Garrett Salmon, SIT, survey analyst, those conversations have become a weekly routine. Paired with Di Benedetto through DRMP’s mentorship program, Salmon initially met him for occasional lunches. They now meet for breakfast at 6:30 a.m., often talking for a couple of hours about surveying history, maintaining technical standards and training others. Di Benedetto’s colleagues, some from the construction industry, sometimes join them, bringing their own experiences to the table. “It’s fun. You get a different perspective,” Salmon said.

Bass described Di Benedetto as “one of the best mappers in the state of Florida.” Salmon is applying that expertise to his own right-of-way mapping work, learning to consider how earlier surveyors’ methods affect the interpretation of their work today. Di Benedetto also discusses preparing project estimates with him. “I’m not a manager yet,” Salmon said, but those conversations have helped him understand decisions made behind the scenes.

For Di Benedetto’s successor, August Thick, PLS, PS, PSM, that exchange of knowledge is part of what will remain with DRMP after his retirement. Thick, now director of survey, credits Di Benedetto with strengthening the team’s mapping expertise and recognizing the opportunity Mobile LiDAR presented early in its development. He said the relationships Di Benedetto has built throughout his career also continue to open doors for the firm.

Thick has seen the effort behind that work firsthand. “He’s up sending emails at 5 in the morning. He’s sending emails on the weekend,” he said. “His judgment and his generosity and his commitment to developing other leaders is what stands out to me.”

After colleagues spoke about his influence on their careers at his retirement celebration, Di Benedetto offered them a challenge of his own: “We should all be mentoring someone, more than one.”

Just as experienced surveyors made time to teach him, Di Benedetto plans to keep making time for younger surveyors after retiring from DRMP.

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.

Ranked among Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms in the United States, DRMP is recognized for helping clients solve complex infrastructure challenges through technical excellence, innovative thinking, and trusted partnerships.

At the heart of our success is a collaborative approach built on long-standing relationships with the clients and communities we serve. By combining deep technical expertise with responsive service and local insight, we deliver solutions that are both forward-thinking and grounded in the needs of the communities they support. Learn more at https://drmp.com.

Mark Ryan Named President of DRMP

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

ORLANDO, Fla. — DRMP has named Mark Ryan president following his service in an interim capacity. His appointment follows the retirement of Glenn Lusink, PSM, as president and CEO after more than 40 years of service to DRMP. His leadership helped DRMP grow into the firm it is today.

A DRMP-led evaluation committee of executive leaders conducted a three-month search that considered internal and external candidates.

“Mark demonstrated the combination of strategic perspective, operational discipline, collaborative leadership, and commitment to our people that DRMP needs in its next president. He understands our business and the markets we serve, has built strong relationships across the firm, and brings the ability to unite our teams around clear priorities and shared accountability. We are confident that Mark will build upon DRMP’s strong foundation while leading the firm into its next phase of sustainable growth,” said Jim Beck, PE, AICP, ENV SP, executive vice president and engineering business unit leader.

Ryan began working with DRMP in 2023 as operating partner and vice president of strategy and operations through Trilon Group. In that role, he worked with DRMP’s leadership team on operational improvements across the firm. At the start of 2026, he became chief operating officer of Trilon’s South Region, which includes six partner firms, including DRMP. He assumed DRMP’s interim presidency in June.

Before his work with DRMP and Trilon, Ryan worked in strategy consulting after earning an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and Marine Corps veteran, he brings experience in engineering, consulting, and executive leadership.

“I’ve been fortunate to have built relationships with the DRMP team over the last several years that have allowed me to understand the business, the projects we deliver and the clients we serve,” Ryan said. “I remain impressed with the caliber of leadership, technical proficiency, and dedication within both our production and business service teams. DRMP’s people are what make the organization successful, and they are why our clients continue to select DRMP to meet their project needs.”

Ryan said supporting those teams will remain central to his leadership as the firm plans for the coming year.

“As we prepare to finish 2026 and lean into 2027, I am dedicated to reinforcing DRMP as a firm where engineers, inspectors, planners, surveyors and scientists can focus on delivering projects for our clients and communities through the vital support provided by our strong business service groups,” he said.

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.

DRMP Names Alex Calder, PLS, Survey Manager in Charlotte

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – DRMP has named Alex Calder, PLS, survey manager in its Charlotte office, strengthening the firm’s surveying and mapping/geospatial leadership in North Carolina.

Calder brings nearly 20 years of surveying experience to the role and will support DRMP’s work with NCDOT and municipalities across the state. He will also help broaden the firm’s surveying and mapping presence in North Carolina by developing private-sector relationships.

“The priority is continuing to do excellent work for our clients and building on those relationships,” Calder said. “At the same time, there’s a larger goal of growing our presence in other areas of the industry.”

Construction surveying is one area where Calder sees potential to expand DRMP’s private-sector work. He also sees opportunities to collaborate with other disciplines across the firm to pursue larger clients and projects and bring a broader range of services to the table.

That opportunity for growth was also part of what attracted Calder to DRMP.
After meeting with August Thick, PLS, LS, PSM, Vice President & Director of Surveying and Mapping/Geospatial, Calder saw alignment in their approach to leadership and the future of the practice.

“When August and I first met, it became clear pretty quickly that we thought a lot alike,” Calder said. “We both want to grow, and we have a similar vision for what that can look like.”

Calder brings experience in construction surveying, project management, client development and survey operations, including experience with large firms. He was introduced to the surveying profession by a family friend and has built a career spanning both the technical and business sides of surveying.

He credits mentors with helping advance his career, an experience that influences his approach to developing staff. Calder focuses on understanding employees’ goals and helping them grow in ways that align with their strengths and interests.

“Alex brings not only valuable experience and technical knowledge, but also a leadership style centered on people, relationships and delivering on commitments,” Thick said. “His experience and approach are already adding value to our team and the clients we serve.”

City of Sunrise Recognizes DRMP Survey Office Leader Maria Barboza

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

BOCA RATON, Fla. – DRMP congratulates Maria Barboza, Boca Raton survey office leader, on her recognition by the City of Sunrise for volunteering her expertise as a member of the city’s Board of Zoning and Planning. In recognition of her service over the past year, the City presented Barboza with a certificate for “outstanding volunteer service” at its most recent zoning and planning board meeting.

Barboza said she joined the board to contribute her experience in surveying and land development while gaining a broader understanding of the planning, development and land-use decisions that affect a city’s future.

Her service has provided a closer look at the requirements and considerations that come together before a project moves into surveying and design, including zoning, land use, infrastructure, traffic, community needs and long-term planning.

That perspective complements her work with DRMP’s retail and commercial clients.

“I believe this experience allows me to bring greater value to DRMP by connecting technical surveying expertise with a broader understanding of the development process and the business objectives behind each project,” Barboza said.

Her work on the board has also given her a better understanding of the interests that shape a project before it reaches the survey and design stages, from municipal requirements and developer objectives to property-owner considerations and community needs.

That broader view is what drew Barboza to serve on the board.

“I was particularly interested in understanding the strategic decisions behind growth and development and how thoughtful planning can create opportunities for businesses while maintaining the quality and character of the community,” Barboza said. “Serving on the board has allowed me to bring a technical and practical perspective to the discussion while continuing to grow as a leader.”

At the heart of our success is a collaborative approach built on long-standing relationships with the clients and communities we serve. By combining technical expertise with responsive service and local insight, we deliver solutions that are both forward-thinking and grounded in the needs of the communities they support. Learn more at https://drmp.com/.

DRMP Names August Thick, PLS, PS, PSM, Director of Survey

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

ORLANDO, Fla. – 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.

Brittany Groome Inducted as Secretary of ACEC/NC Junior Board of Directors

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Charlotte, NC – Just one year after joining the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Carolina (ACEC/NC) Junior Board of Directors, DRMP Traffic Design Group Leader Brittany Groome, PE, PTOE, RSP1, has been inducted as secretary, joining the board’s Executive Committee.

As secretary, Groome will be responsible for documenting Junior Board meetings and will work more closely with the ACEC/NC Board. The role gives her more opportunities to build industry connections and increase DRMP’s visibility within the organization.

Groome is entering her second and final year on the ACEC/NC Junior Board, but her involvement with ACEC began several years earlier and spans multiple states throughout the mid-Atlantic region. She initially became involved with the organization to connect with local industry professionals and stay informed about key issues affecting the engineering profession.

“I’ve enjoyed contributing to the Junior Board over the past year, and I’m looking forward to building on that work as secretary,” Groome said. “I’m especially excited to help launch the new Junior Board Ambassador Program and create another way for emerging professionals to get involved with ACEC and build connections across the industry.”

Groome serves alongside 10 other members on the ACEC/NC Junior Board, which represents a range of demographics, disciplines and geographic areas within the engineering community. The Junior Board works to promote the consulting engineering industry, increase diversity in ACEC/NC programs, events and membership, provide feedback to the ACEC/NC Board on the execution of its strategic plan, and develop the next generation of industry leaders.

This year, the Junior Board will launch its new Ambassador Program to provide another avenue for emerging professionals to become involved with ACEC and connect with others in the industry.

DRMP Adds Two Senior Project Managers to Alternative Delivery Team in Florida

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 04:00:00 +0000

ORLANDO, Fla. – Transportation agencies across Florida and the Southeast are delivering larger and more complex projects while facing continued pressure to complete improvements efficiently and on accelerated schedules. As those demands increase, DRMP has added Senior Alternative Delivery Project Managers Andrew Kozma, PE and David Lutz, PE, bringing additional project leadership and client experience to its Alternative Delivery team.

Kozma (pictured to the right) and Lutz (pictured to the left) share more than 25 years of combined transportation experience in structural design and project management and have worked with some of Florida’s largest transportation agencies. Both bring project management experience and an understanding of what clients need from their consultants: responsive communication, reliable follow-through and teams that identify and address challenges early.

In their new roles, Kozma and Lutz will help grow DRMP’s alternative delivery work in Florida and across the Southeast, pursue and deliver transportation and limited-access projects, build relationships with major clients, and support the professional growth of engineering and support staff.

Lutz brings more than a decade of experience delivering transportation infrastructure throughout Florida, beginning his career in structural design and technical leadership before moving into project management and public-sector transportation leadership. Working from both the consultant and owner perspectives, he has supported the Central Florida Expressway Authority, Florida’s Turnpike and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on complex bridges and interchanges, toll facilities, and design-build programs.

He was drawn to DRMP by the firm’s transportation experience and client relationships and the opportunity to support its work with the Central Florida Expressway Authority and other key clients.

“Clients value teams they can trust to deliver. Technical excellence is expected, but the best partners distinguish themselves through responsiveness, accountability, collaboration, and the ability to anticipate challenges and bring solutions,” Lutz said.

Kozma brings 15 years of transportation experience, beginning his career in structural design before moving into project management. Most recently, he supported Florida’s Turnpike and FDOT District Five work programs, managing projects ranging from resurfacing and intersection improvements to roadway widenings, new alignments, and other capacity projects.

Through his work with Florida’s Turnpike, Kozma had seen DRMP’s work and knew the firm’s reputation before joining the Alternative Delivery team. He was drawn to the opportunity to take on larger, more complex design-build projects.

“Working directly with Florida’s Turnpike and FDOT District Five gave me a good understanding of what owners expect from their consultants,” Kozma said. “You have to understand what the client needs, recognize issues early and work with the design team on practical solutions that keep the project moving.”

Kozma and Lutz add to the depth of DRMP’s experienced Alternative Delivery team as the firm takes on larger, more complex assignments across Florida and the Southeast.

“David and Andrew bring different but complementary experience to our team,” said DRMP Senior Vice President of Alternative Delivery TJ Lallathin, PE, DBIA. “Both have managed complex transportation projects and understand the importance of clear communication, accountability, and addressing challenges early. I’m excited about the leadership they will bring to our projects and our people as our Alternative Delivery work continues to grow.”

DRMP’s Kim Sadowski Graduates from Florida Engineering Leadership Institute

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 04:00:00 +0000

ORLANDO, Fla. — From supporting new learning and play spaces for students to connecting with engineers across disciplines and exploring the AEC industry’s influence on public policy, DRMP’s Kim Sadowski, PE, spent the past 10 months building connections and exploring ways to contribute to her profession and community.

DRMP congratulates Sadowski, Orlando Assistant Roadway Group Leader, on graduating from the Florida Engineering Leadership Institute’s (FELI) Class of 2026.

Administered by the Florida Engineering Society (FES) and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC Florida), FELI is a competitively selected, 10-month professional development program designed to cultivate leadership skills in engineers across the state. Sadowski continues DRMP’s long-standing involvement in FELI, joining numerous employees who have been accepted into the program over the years.

For Sadowski, FELI also meant getting to know engineers whose expertise and perspectives differ from her own.

“I think it was a deeper connection with our overall engineering community,” Sadowski said. “There were leaders from all different areas of our industry, from DOT to consultants, in fields like structures, drainage, water resources, roadway, and CEI. They are all experts in their field and brought inspiration every time we had a session.”

Over 10 months of sessions, those connections had time to develop into relationships. Sadowski came away from FELI with trusted colleagues throughout the industry — people she can continue learning from and turn to for perspectives outside her own discipline.

Each FELI class also completes a community service project that gives back to the engineering profession or local communities. The Class of 2026 put its collective effort behind two projects.

In Clearwater, the class raised approximately $60,000 for new playground equipment serving middle-school-aged students at a school for students with autism. The project added swings and climbing equipment, expanding the recreational space available to the school’s older students.

Sadowski attended the project’s ribbon-cutting and watched the students use the new equipment for the first time.

“Seeing those smiles was really rewarding,” she said.

The class also raised approximately $40,000 to support a STEM lab at a Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida in Kissimmee, providing equipment and helping enhance the space for students to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

As part of the program, the class also traveled to Tallahassee for Legislative Days, where Sadowski and her classmates learned more about how legislation affects the AEC industry and how engineers can engage in the legislative process. The class even adopted the flamingo as an unofficial symbol after encountering legislation that proposed naming the American flamingo Florida’s official state bird.

Legislative Days also connected with an opportunity Sadowski had already been considering closer to home: serving on the City of Winter Park Transportation Advisory Board.

Through connections she made during FELI, Sadowski received encouragement to pursue the opportunity. She now serves on the board, where she can bring her transportation background to conversations affecting the community.

Following through on goals was another takeaway for Sadowski. During the program’s final session, participants identified goals they wanted to carry forward and discussed how accountability can help move them forward.

“That’s something that stuck with me,” Sadowski said, recalling what she told herself: “OK, you said you’re going to do it. Do it.”

Sadowski’s graduation adds another FELI graduate to DRMP and expands the firm’s connections across Florida’s engineering community. For Sadowski, those connections provide a broader professional network she can draw from as she leads and supports roadway work at DRMP and serves the transportation needs of her community.

DRMP Names Saul Brand Survey Project Manager for South Florida

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 04:00:00 +0000

BOCA RATON, Fla. — DRMP has named Saul Brand, PSM, as survey project manager to support the firm’s surveying and mapping/geospatial services in South Florida, strengthening its capabilities in a region experiencing continued investment in transportation infrastructure and development.

As that investment continues, Brand sees opportunities to expand DRMP’s capacity by combining advanced technologies with proven conventional surveying methods. He brings more than 25 years of surveying experience, including management and technical oversight of LiDAR scanning operations, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) control applications, and geospatial data collection, to the firm’s surveying and mapping/geospatial services in the region.

“Clients value a highly qualified and experienced professional supported by a strong technical team in both the field and office,” Brand said. “They want a surveying partner with a proven record of delivering accurate, high-quality products on time and within budget.”

That client-focused approach aligns with the experience and leadership Brand brings to DRMP’s South Florida team.

Saul brings a depth of experience that will be a valuable addition to DRMP’s surveying and mapping/geospatial team,” said Maria Barboza, DRMP Boca Raton Survey Office Leader.

"With more than 25 years of experience, combined with his background in FDOT, transportation surveying, advanced surveying technologies and project management, Saul provides a strong foundation for delivering complex projects and supporting our clients’ needs. Just as importantly, he brings a collaborative approach and a commitment to developing people and sharing knowledge. I see his experience as an opportunity not only to strengthen our technical capabilities in South Florida, but also to help build our team, expand our client relationships and position DRMP for continued growth in the region.”

In his new role, Brand will manage project execution, quality control, client relationships, financial performance, submittals, and technical and contractual compliance. He will also contribute to scope development and project negotiations, help strengthen DRMP’s surveying and mapping/geospatial presence in South Florida, develop new client relationships, and mentor staff.

Brand began his surveying career in 2001, working alongside his father and progressing through field positions as a rodman and instrument person before advancing into project and survey management. Most recently, he served as a senior survey manager, project manager and Professional Surveyor and Mapper in responsible charge of complex transportation design survey projects.

His experience includes roadway design surveys for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE), data acquisition and 3D product development, as well as transportation, boundary and topographic surveying services. He has managed field and office production for public- and private-sector projects and coordinated project delivery across disciplines.

For Brand, clear communication is key to successful project outcomes. That includes keeping clients informed of project status, key milestones, potential issues and solutions. He also values mentoring staff and sharing technical knowledge to help develop strong survey teams.

“I am most excited about building new professional relationships, learning new processes and skills, and sharing my experience with the DRMP team,” Brand said. “I look forward to contributing my technical knowledge and leadership experience while learning from the people around me.”

Florida Surveying and Mapping Society Honors Pablo Ferrari, PSM, with Fellow Member Award

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 04:00:00 +0000

After nearly four decades of involvement with the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS), DRMP Vice President Pablo Ferrari, PSM, was recognized with the Society's Fellow Member Award during the 71st Annual FSMS Conference.

Ferrari began his involvement with FSMS in the late 1980s while working as a rodman and draftsman for a small surveying firm. Since then, he has served in numerous leadership roles at the chapter and state levels, including chapter president, state secretary, District II director, and state president.

As a student at the University of Florida, he served as an officer in the Geomatics Student Chapter before taking on leadership positions throughout the Society, including president of the Crown Chapter and later state president.

Receiving the Fellow Member Award from colleagues who he’s worked with throughout his career represents a valued acknowledgement.

“It is humbling,” Ferrari said. “I am very proud to be considered a member of this group, and to be recognized by my peers is an honor.”

Throughout his career, Ferrari said FSMS has played an integral role in his professional development.

“In more ways than I can name,” he said. “The contacts and professional relationships that are fostered by being active in a professional society are invaluable. The interaction between competitors in the marketplace, but brothers-in-arms when it comes to our shared profession, is amazing. Surveyors are very proud of their profession, and as a professional society representing our members, FSMS is constantly working to enhance and protect our profession.”

Among his proudest accomplishments is serving as FSMS state president during the Society's 2008-09 leadership year, a period when Florida's surveying and mapping regulatory board transitioned from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to the Department of Consumer and Agricultural Services. During that time, the University of Florida's surveying program also transitioned from the College of Engineering to the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences.

“The friendships and professional relationships have been very rewarding,” Ferrari said. “I was honored to serve as state president during that transition period.”

Ferrari encourages the next generation of surveyors to become involved in professional organizations early in their careers.

“I feel it is important for young professionals to join and be active in groups like FSMS,” he said. “The relationships and contacts that are made early in their careers are invaluable.”