May 2025
Shawn MacMenamin,
LSPS President
PRESIDENTIAL PRIVILEGE
Dear LSPS Members,
I would first like to thank everyone for their support and participation. I would like to thank Jeff Messinger, the past president, for his hard work and dedication to moving the society forward. Thanks to everyone who made this year’s annual convention a success. I would especially like to express my gratitude to Mrs. Liz Kearney, LSPS Executive Administrator, for her tireless work in keeping the organization running smoothly.
It is a great honor to become LSPS President. I started attending district meetings when I was in college and never imagined that one day I would have the privilege of leading our organization. Over the years, I have made a lot of great connections and friends through LSPS.
I would like to continue the work and philosophy that Jeff started. One day, he came to me with the idea that we must do more as a board to represent the profession. For years, the board worked primarily on smaller issues, but under the leadership of Jeff, we started to tackle larger, more vital issues. For example, we are working to modernize the definition of surveying in the statutes. This has been an arduous task over the last few years. Additionally, I would like to continue the conversation about updating the standards of practice. Also, we started getting more involved legislatively over the previous few years. We now have a board attorney along with our lobbyist.
I would like to have some participation from membership for the legislative committee this year. There are a few bills in the state legislature that we are currently watching that have the potential to affect our profession. Please contact me or Derick Wheat if you would like to volunteer.
I am looking forward to serving as LSPS President for this next term. Together, we will continue to move forward to protect and advance our profession.
Please contact me or your District Chairman with any ideas or questions you may have. Thank you for this honor and privilege.
Sincerely,
Shawn MacMenamin
64th Annual LSPS Convention
Held at the Golden Nugget – Lake Charles, LA
Spouses at Flock of Five
In April 2025, the Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors (LSPS) hosted its 64th Annual Convention at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles. The three-day event brought together nearly 400 surveyors, exhibitors, educators, and students from across the state, marking a strong turnout and continued growth for the LSPS community.
The convention offered a dynamic combination of continuing education, professional networking, and social engagement. Attendees participated in technical sessions, learned from industry experts, and enjoyed valuable time reconnecting with peers and colleagues.
Charcuterie boards made by spouses at Bayou Boards
Golf, Ethics, and a Strong Start
The event officially kicked off on Wednesday with the Annual LSPS Golf Tournament at The Country Club at the Golden Nugget. Participants, including students from Nicholls State and Louisiana Tech, enjoyed a competitive but friendly afternoon on the course, with student volunteers helping manage logistics and registration.
Guided wine tasting
That evening, the first educational session of the convention was held—an ethics presentation led by Stephen Flynn, PLS. This session set the tone for the days ahead, highlighting professionalism and responsibility as core values in the surveying field.
Spouse Tour Offers a Day of Fun and Flavor
While surveyors attended Thursday’s education sessions, spouses enjoyed a thoughtfully curated day exploring local highlights. The tour began with gourmet coffee and beignets at Coffee:30, followed by shopping at the charming Flock of Five Gift Emporium in Sulphur. Next, the group dined at Area 337, a Latin American restaurant known for its flavorful dishes and warm hospitality. The afternoon included a stop at Accessory Zone for boutique shopping, a guided wine tasting at The Wine Store led by a knowledgeable sommelier, and a hands-on charcuterie-making class at Bayou Boards by Gabrielle. Each participant left with their own custom charcuterie board—and plenty of new memories from a day filled with laughter, connection, and creativity.
One of the sessions in progress
Thursday: A Deep Dive into Legal Nuance
Thursday’s full-day session featured “When the Rules Don’t Work,” taught by Kris Kline, PLS. This comprehensive course offered a “smorgasbord” of topics across retracement and real estate law. Each segment began with a widely accepted surveying “rule,” followed by in-depth discussions of its exceptions, caveats, and limitations. Topics included riparian standards, rules of construction, acquiescence & common scheme, and the doctrine of merger. Attendees praised the session for its relevance, clarity, and practical applications.
Educational updates from Nicholls State University and Louisiana Tech were also shared, demonstrating continued investment in the next generation of surveyors and strong collaboration between academia and the profession.
Exhibit Hall
Executive Board and New Leadership
During the General Business Meeting on Friday morning, new LSPS board members were officially sworn in. Congratulations to the incoming leaders! Their leadership and commitment will help drive the organization’s mission forward in the year ahead
Social Highlights
The Exhibit Hall Reception on Wednesday evening allowed attendees to meet sponsors and exhibitors while enjoying complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and music. Members gathered at the Blue Martini on Thursday night for the always popular Surveyor’s Social. Attendees enjoyed gumbo, sliders, and great company in a relaxed and festive atmosphere.
Devon Richard receives the Young Surveyor Excellence Award
Annual Meeting, Awards, and Final Sessions
Friday began with the LSPS Annual Business Meeting, where members reviewed society business and celebrated professional excellence. This year, Devon Richard, PLS, received the Young Surveyor Excellence Award.
The educational program continued with Tony Cavell's presentation on The New State Plane Coordinate System. This timely session offered critical insights into evolving sea level data and its impact on surveying practices.
The convention concluded with two final presentations:
Standards of Practice – Louisiana, taught by Ryan Estess, PLS
Standards of Practice – Mississippi, taught by Joe Byrd, PLS
Looking Ahead
The 64th Annual LSPS Convention was a resounding success, reflecting the strength, knowledge, and camaraderie of Louisiana's surveying community. LSPS extends its gratitude to the sponsors, speakers, volunteers, students, and members who made this event possible.
We look forward to welcoming you back for the 65th Annual Convention, which will take place April 15–17, 2026! See you there!
The board was sworn in by outgoing President, Jeff Messinger
Incoming President, Shawn MacMenamin, presented Jeff Messinger with the President’s Gavel
LSPS DISTRICT INFORMATION
District 1
John Teegarden
jteegarden@ascellc.com
District 2
Derek Martin
dmartin@apexsurveyllc.com
District 3
Devon Richard
drichardsurveying@gmail.com
District 4
Jason Tuggle
Jason_tuggle@hotmail.com
District 5
Joey Riggin
jriggin@lazenbyengr.com
District 6
Derek Wheat
derek.wheat@yahoo.com
District 7
Jules Toups
jules.toups@la.gov
District 8
Matt Phillips
matt@lodestone.biz
District 9
Cory MacMenamin
cmacmenamin@ddgpc.com
District Announcements:
DISTRICT 2 - Derek Martin, Chairman
New officers were voted on and approved. Chairman: Mr. Derek Martin, Vice-Chairman: Mr. Jacob Callais, Treasurer: Mr. Jacob Rodrigue
SOUTH LOUISIANA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MAY 2025
By: Michael O’Pry
We just finished up the semester, all grads are placed working.
We also completed and passed our 3-year ATMAE accreditation review with a site visit, thanks to our advisory committee. We are looking forward to the fall semester starting!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
By: Harper Duncan & Associates, LLC
As we approach the midpoint of the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, several bills of interest to the land surveying profession are progressing through the legislative process. Below is an updated summary of key legislation, including recent actions and potential impacts on our field.
Key Bills Impacting Land Surveyors
HB 312 – Qualifications-Based Selection for Professional Services
• Author: Rep. Foy Gadberry
• Status: Pending Senate Final Passage
• Summary: Prohibits state and local agencies from using price or price-related information as a selection criterion for architects, engineers, landscape architects, and land surveyors. This reinforces qualifications-based selection practices.
HB 446 – Judicial Review of Land Use Decisions
• Author: Rep. Annie Spell
• Status: Pending in Senate Local & Municipal Affairs Committee
• Summary: Clarifies the judicial review process for local land use decisions, specifically focusing on subdivision approvals. It aims to streamline and standardize the legal review process for local land use decisions while preserving the discretionary power of local planning authorities.
HB 528 – Reorganization of the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD)
• Author: Rep. Ryan Bourriaque
• Status: Passed House; pending Senate Transportation, Highways, and Public Works
Committee
• Summary: Proposes a comprehensive reorganization of the DOTD, including creating new offices and shifting responsibilities among leadership.
HB 603 – Changes to Occupational Licensing Board Appointments
• Author: Rep. Dixon McMakin
• Status: Pending Senate and Governmental Affairs
• Summary: Revises the appointment process for 31 occupational licensing boards and commissions, changing the requirement that the governor appoint from a submitted list to a recommendation-based process.
SB 35 – Legal Servitudes
• Author: Sen. Ed Price
• Status: Passed Senate; pending House final passage
• Summary: Reorganizes and clarifies servitude law by moving relevant provisions from the Civil Code into the Revised Statutes, separating them into categories for utility servitudes and rights of passage for enclosed estates.
SB 126 – School Mapping Data Requirements
• Author: Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter
• Status: Passed Senate; pending House Education Committee
• Summary: Establishes requirements for creating and sharing detailed digital maps of public school buildings and facilities to improve emergency response capabilities.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Your generous contribution is needed to support the following funds:
1.The Education Foundation, grants scholarships while providing guidance by assisting worthy students to obtain instruction and training in land surveying and higher education.
2.The Every Member Campaign (EMC), which began in 2006, was created solely for the purpose of supporting the Geomatics Program at Nicholls State University.
3.The Disaster Fund, which stands ready to give relief when disaster hits our area.
4.The Legislative Fund, allowing us to be ready to address legislation affecting our Surveying Profession.
Click here for DONATION OPPORTUNITIES
Or find the link at the top of our home page at www.lsps.net
JOIN LSPS:
The Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors is organized to enhance the Surveying Profession. Our goal is to carry out our mission by maintaining high technical and cultural standards in our field, working with educational institutions for the maintenance of high standards of education in Land Surveying, requiring a high standard of ethical practice by our members, and encouraging the personal and professional development of young Land Surveyors.
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