Podcast: Play in new window
Episode Description:
What happens when half of an entire profession retires within a few years? Dustin Gardner, a fourth-generation surveyor, is facing that reality head-on. The average licensed land surveyor is now in their early 60s, and the industry is racing against time to train the next generation before decades of expertise walks out the door.
In this conversation, Dustin pulls back the curtain on a profession that touches every construction project, property transaction, and development—yet remains deeply misunderstood. From the hidden work that happens before anyone steps foot on a site, to lifetime liability that follows every stamp, to why vampire folklore matters to modern surveying, this episode reveals why attracting new talent means changing how we tell the story.
Whether you’re in civil engineering, construction, or leadership, you’ll walk away with fresh perspective on workforce development, cross-generational knowledge transfer, and how family businesses can be a retention advantage rather than a limitation.
Key Takeaways:
- The surveying profession is losing half its licensed professionals to retirement in the next few years, with the average license holder now in their early 60s—creating an urgent need to train the next generation while mentorship is still available.
- Surveyors carry lifetime liability for every job they stamp—meaning they can be sued for their very first project at their retirement party—yet the profession hasn’t kept pace with inflation on pricing since 2000.
- The biggest misconception about surveying is that the fieldwork is the work, when in reality, days of courthouse research, calculations, and post-field analysis happen before and after the visible hour on site.
- Family businesses offer a competitive advantage in retention because people who feel like family at work are more likely to stay, creating natural pathways for the next generation to enter the profession.
- Reframing surveying from “working in the dirt” to “solving complex problems outdoors with history, math, and law” can attract a new generation who wants intellectual challenge without being desk-bound.
Timestamps:
[00:24] Introduction – The talent shortage across engineering industries
[01:16] The aging crisis in surveying – Half the profession retiring soon
[02:17] What surveyors actually do (beyond boundary lines)
[06:10] Misconceptions about surveying work and pricing
[11:30] Strategies for attracting the next generation
[16:45] Why family businesses can be a retention advantage
[25:23] Surveying folklore – The boundary pusher vampire
[28:07] Leadership advice for introverts in technical professions
[29:57] Coach in Your Corner – You are bound by what you define
Guest Information:
- Name: Dustin Gardner, Fourth-Generation Land Surveyor
- Connect: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-gardner-rls-292781220/
- Instagram: @the_superstitious_surveyor
About the Host:
Dr. James Bryant is an engineering leadership coach and host of the Engineer Your Success podcast. He works with engineering and technical leaders who want to win at work and win at home.
James helps leaders make intentional decisions about how they lead, work, and live, so success in one domain strengthens the other over time. His approach emphasizes clarity, responsibility, and long-term integrity—acknowledging the effort and trade-offs leadership requires while rejecting the assumption that success must come at the expense of family, health, or presence.
Connect with James on LinkedIn or visit www.eysnow.com