Topeka Firm to Provide Association Management

The Kansas Society of Land Surveyors (KSLS) and the KSLS Charitable Foundation are excited to announce that they have selected Brad Parker, CAE, of Braden Heidner Lowe and Associates (BHL) in Topeka to serve as their next executive director. Parker officially assumed the role April 18.

In January, the former executive director, Evelyn Cable, announced her intent to retire, prompting the society and foundation to conduct a search for her successor.

“We are excited to introduce Brad Parker and Braden Heidner Lowe and Associates,” said KSLS Charitable Foundation Chairman Wil Anderson, PS, of Kansas City. “Please join the society and foundation boards in welcoming them to the land surveyors’ community.”

“Brad’s experience as an executive director for groups like KSLS, coupled with the full-scale association management services that BHL provides, will be an incredible asset to the society and its charitable foundation,” added KSLS President Lee (Tuff) Hermreck, PS, of Lenexa.

Parker is an association executive with BHL, working in its Topeka, Kansas, headquarters. He has more than 20 years of experience as an association executive for nonprofit professional and trade associations. He is a graduate of Kansas State University (bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism) and Friends University (MBA in management). He has experience in all aspects of association management and particular expertise in member communications and public relations. He earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives in 2016 and a Certificate of Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Michigan State University in 2019.

BHL is a full-service association management and government affairs firm. It represents clients across North America, including state, regional, national, and international associations. It has been serving clients – many of which are professional licensure organizations – for several decades in all aspects of association management, including membership retention and growth, event planning, financial and strategic planning, and communications. It has offices in Topeka, Kansas, and Jefferson City, Missouri.

The new mailing address for KSLS and the foundation is 825 S. Kansas Ave., Ste. 500, Topeka, KS 66612, and 785-234-7983 is the new telephone number. E-mail still should be sent to the info@ksls.com address.

Agricultural Engineering Associates has notified us that their Topcon Hyper V GPS Receiver was stolen on Friday afternoon, October 1, while working on the east side of the Fort Scott Lake.  Serial # 112-23885.  The Tripod is lime green.  A  sheriff's report has been filed.  Please contact Jennie McKee, Office Manager, at 620-756-1000 if you have any information on this equipment.

Fellow KSLS and NSPS members -- there is new information regarding the Ligado issue and the U.S. Congress!

As a reminder, in April 2020 the F.C.C. approved the operating application for Ligado. Ligado being the reincarnation of what we knew previously to be "Lightsquared". This application approval by the F.C.C. happened very quickly and without hardly any notice. (make of that, what you will) Anyway, Ligado under its new name plans to pick up right where Lightsquared left off. And if allowed to would potentially create the GPS interference that Lightsquared was going to.

As a result, NSPS along with many of the previous national collations have jumped into action. Long story short, two bipartisan bills have now been introduced into the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House, respectfully known as S. 2166 & H.R. 4634 both with basically the same language and purpose. These bills would require Ligado to cover the cost to correct any interference that will be caused to GPS. This doesn't eliminate Ligado but would hold them accountable.

As your Kansas NSPS Director, I have been tasked with asking KSLS and you individually to contact our respective US Senators and US Representatives and directly ask them to Cosponsor these two Bills. Two different form letters have been created by NSPS for your use. All you need to do is fill in your information and then send it off to your US Senator and US Representative. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.

Jason Johnson, P.S. 1410

Kansas NSPS Director

j.johnson1410@gmail.com

House of Representatives Letter

Senate Letter