Meridian’s QA/QC Manager Brad Mortensen, PE, PLS received the 2021 UCLS Surveyor of the Year award. Coincidentally it was presented by Meridian’s Michael Nadeau on Friday, April 1, 2022, at the award ceremony during the Western Regional Survey Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Brad received the award based on his volume of service to the Land Surveying Profession, including his most recent participation as chairman of the Utah Council of Land Surveyor’s ad-hoc Committee developing the 2022 State Plane Coordinate System for Utah. Brad has worked closely with the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) for the last 4 years in developing Utah’s new system. As an added kudos to Brad, he also presented a breakout session during the conference entitled, “Benefits from the New 2022 State Plan Coordinate System” that was well attended.
Brad has over 36 years of experience and the last 6 of those years have been as Meridian’s QA/QC Manager. He is well recognized for the quality of his work, especially in geodetic control surveys throughout the state. Coincidently, Brad also teaches “Control Surveys” in the Surveying Program at the Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). Brad brings assurance to our clients regarding all aspects of transportation and infrastructure design, ranging from geodetic control, mapping, roadway/right-of-way design, and construction design of modern infrastructure. He also has experience in state, municipal, utility, and commercial/retail capital improvement projects.
All who know Brad would agree he loves to share relevant industry topics through his various conference presentations and as an educator at SLCC for the last 10 years. Many of the younger licensed surveyors in our profession remember with fondness and dread his Control Surveys course. Dread because of the difficulty of the subject matter and fondness because the way Brad presents the material. Several past students have thanked him for helping to further their careers. Brad was also instrumental in compiling and writing the 2015 and 2017 update of the UDOT Surveying and Geomatics Standards Manual, which is used throughout the state as the literal standard for control, topographic and construction survey specifications. Due to Brad’s education involvement in the profession, he has also received the 2022 Engineering Educator of the Year nomination from the Utah Council of Land surveyors (UCLS) at the Utah Engineers Council (UEC) awards ceremony February 26, 2022.
Brad Mortensen with his new awards.
When asked about these awards Brad responded: “I fell into the Land Surveying Profession by accident. I was a student in an agricultural engineering program and the first two courses were on surveying. I fell in love with the aspect of being in the outdoors and using my wits to solve problems and collect data. After that I changed my major and never looked back. The profession has been good to me, so I have tried to give back by mentoring future generations. Receiving the recognition from my peers these last few months has touched me deeply, and with much appreciation I give my thanks!”
Meridian’s survey manager, Michael Nadeau states, “Brad and I have served on many of the same committees and professional boards for over a decade and I’ve seen his love for our profession through this time. Brad gives back to the Surveying profession unselfishly. He’s never been a person on a mission to build up his resume with this volunteer work, but rather to raise the bar of the profession and give back to the industry he loves. Brad Mortensen is admired and respected by all who know him professionally and personally. Brad’s received accolades are not only deserved, but also well overdue!”
