Surveyor Highlight: Tom Rowe, PLS

An Interview with Tom Rowe, PLS

Tom is a Chief Surveyor at SSM.

TOM ROWe is a chief surveyor in ssm’s survey and data capture department. this year he’ll be celebrating his 36th year with ssm. tom is a jim thorpe native, a penn state lover, and a pappy to 4 beautiful little boys.

What do you love about surveying?
The thing I love most about surveying is the mix of the various aspects of our work. From research, to planning, to field work, and ultimately to drafting up the results.

What’s the thing about surveying that makes you excited to talk about? Let your nerd flag fly!
One thing about property surveys is sometimes you need to become a little like Sherlock Holmes. You’re like a detective trying to utilize the clues given in order to come to the correct solution.

How would you describe what it is that you do to an elementary-aged child?
Once I was asked to give an overview and demonstration of surveying to a pack of cub scouts working towards a specific merit badge. I described my job by saying the measure things for a living. I also showed them a picture of Mount Rushmore and asked them who they see. After they responded “presidents” I unfolded the picture a little more and said, “but to me, they are 3 surveyors and another guy".” I did this to demonstrate that surveying is an ancient and honorable profession.

Do you have a favorite project, experience, or type of work?
I definitely love the property survey work. I have been on so many surveys for these oh so many years so it’s difficult to pick a few favorites. I still get a kick out of doing some background work, research and calculations, then going to the field and walking right up to the missing property corner I was hunting for!

What do you wish people knew about surveying?
I wish some people would be aware that sometimes surveys may not come out in their favor. On numerous occasions I have informed clients that I might not give them the answer they want to hear.

What are some other meaningful things we should know about your time surveying with SSM?
My wife and I have been married for nearly 34 years, and we met at Northampton County Courthouse. She was working in the Assessor’s Office and I came in to research a property we were going to survey… and she waited on me! So yes, my SSM career started before my marriage! My 2 daughters were born thereafter. Ashley and Shannon have given us 4 grandsons at this point. Funny how generations work: I come from all boys, had all girls, and now have only grandsons!

What makes you unique- what are the little known facts you use in icebreakers?
My little known fact is I have NEVER had a cup of coffee in my life! Another interesting fact is that a surveyor from my hometown lived just a few doors down the street and was pretty much responsible for my apprenticeship in surveying.

What does at-home Tom like to do in his free time?
Away from SSM, my biggest hobby is I love to sing. I was involved with a group known as The New Approach for nearly 18 years. Each summer we would perform 3 shows with all of the proceeds going to help fight cancer. This group was together for a total of 47 years, raising around 1 million dollars through that span! The group eventually disbanded. But, my wife got me a karaoke machine for Father’s Day recently, so we crank it up from time to time.

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