Arkansas Society of Professional Surveyors
The Arkansas Society of Professional Surveyors (ASPS) is a non-profit association dedicated to serving the public interest and advancing the profession of surveying.
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Total Credits: 16 including 16 Professional Development Hours, 4 Minimum Standards Credit
Frank Willis holds Bachelor of Science degrees in civil engineering and zoology from LSU, a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin, and a PhD in Engineering and Applied Science from the University of New Orleans. He founded Willis Engineering and Surveying in 1981. Surveying was a large part of the company operations. Willis sold his firm to a national firm in 2004 and returned to college at 54 years of age to engage in extensive studies of the analyses of natural monuments and their misinterpretations as related to surveying. Since 2004, Willis has concentrated in the fields of forensic surveying and forensic engineering. He taught engineering and surveying in the LSU system for four years. He lectures nationally about the subject of forensic engineering and surveying, remote sensing, and photogrammetry. His lectures concentrate on issues relevant to each locale that he lectures.
A second generation surveyor, Dr. Elgin was raised in St. James, Missouri and in his late parents' surveying business located in nearby Rolla. After high school Dick joined the Army, went through helicopter flight school, was made a Warrant Officer, and spent 1969 in Vietnam flying the Hughes OH6A “LOH” and the ubiquitous UH-1 "Huey" with the Americal Division. Following the Army he received the BSCE and MSCE degrees from the Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T, Rolla, MO) and his PhD from the University of Arkansas. Leaving Arkansas he joined the faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering at S&T as an Assistant Professor (1980-1984) and still is an Adjunct Professor, teaching parts of some surveying courses. From 1984 until 2008 Dick was the owner and President of Elgin Surveying & Engineering, Inc. Semi-retired, Dick currently works for Archer-Elgin Engineering, Surveying and Architecture. He is a former member of the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects; a Past-President of the Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors; a member of both S&T's and the University of Arkansas' Academy of Civil Engineers; a member of S&T's Order of the Golden Shillelagh; and on the Board of Directors of S&T’s Alumni Association. With the late Drs. David Knowles and Joe Senne, Dick coauthored the Celestial Observation Handbook and Ephemeris and codeveloped the "ASTRO" celestial observation software products. With David Knowles, he coauthored Legal Principles of Boundary Location for Arkansas and The U.S. Public Land Survey System for Arkansas. Dick is the author of The U.S. Public Land Survey System for Missouri, Riparian Boundaries for Arkansas and Riparian Boundaries for Missouri. He also wrote Shoulda Played the Flute, a memoir of his year flying helicopters in Vietnam. Dick was Arkansas’ surveying and mapping expert in a state riparian boundary dispute with Mississippi, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. See Arkansas v. Mississippi, 471 U.S. 377 (1985). He is an avid collector and researcher of early American surveying equipment, and owns one of the largest private collections of such equipment in the United States. Semi-retired, he and his wife enjoy touring by bicycle, RV or in their perfectly restored 1976 Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior or 1967 Austin Cooper 1275 S.
Gale began his title career in 1986 as a courier for Little Rock Abstract, which soon merged with Beach Abstract. Beginning in 1988 and under the auspices of some of the greatest minds in the abstract and title industry, he was soon referred to as one of the brightest young examiners in the area. Now with over 37 years of abstracting and examining experience on thousands of transactions, his expertise has led to much respect from his peers in the field. A native of Little Rock, he now resides in North Little Rock, together with his lovely wife and daughter. He enjoys time with his family, photography and the challenges the title profession offers.
Keaton Johnson is a licensed surveyor located in the North Central Arkansas area. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas Morrilton surveying program and has been practicing independently since 2012. He currently owns his own practice in Batesville, AR and specializes in boundary surveys, topographical surveys, and flood certifications. He has also received his Remote Pilot License and is using drones to expand the professional services he provides to his clientele. He lives on a small hobby farm with his wife, Danielle, and his two children.
Morgan developed an interest in surveying at a young age, and by the time he was twelve years old, he knew it was the career he wanted to pursue. That interest was solidified after meeting Conrad Pennington, PLS 394, who described the profession as one that involved working outdoors on a daily basis. From that point forward, he remained committed to becoming a surveyor. Morgan graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in December 2025 and currently works as a Survey Technician for McClelland Consulting Engineers, where he continues to enjoy working outdoors as part of his profession.
Jeremy is an experienced professional with extensive experience managing survey teams in multiple offices and in multiple states. As a Vice President of Survey at Crafton Tull & Associates, he has played a pivotal role in overseeing operations, mentoring professionals, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. A past president of the Arkansas Society of Professional Surveyors, Jeremy is actively engaged in shaping the future of the profession through education and leadership, including serving as Vice-Chairperson on the University of Arkansas Community College Survey Advisory Committee. Holding multiple state licenses and Certified Federal Surveyor credentials, he brings a wealth of expertise in both technical and administrative aspects of surveying. He is married to Mindi, and they have a 15-year-old son, Tucker. Jeremy also enjoys playing guitar on his church’s worship team, where the congregation is gracious enough to keep him around despite his musical talents. He is eager to serve as Secretary-Treasurer and is committed to helping the ASPS board operate efficiently and effectively in promoting ASPS and the surveying profession.
Lanny is the Director of Surveys for Garver LLC in Little Rock, Arkansas. His diverse work includes being the Director of Surveys for all the survey departments with Garver LLC offices located in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida. Lanny is licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor in Arkansas and Mississippi. He was ASPS President in 2009. Mr. Beavers and his wife Sherry have been married for 37 years and reside in Hot Springs Village. His major hobbies include radio broadcasting and website design. He owns two of the largest sports websites in Arkansas.
Group Room Rate at both Hotels: $169
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| REGISTRATION TYPE | EARLY-BIRD FEE | AFTER FEBRUARY 23 |
|---|---|---|
| Privileged or Regular Member | $325 | $375 |
| Surveyor Intern Member | $210 | $260 |
| Student, Life, or Honorary Member | $125 | $175 |
| Unlicensed Personnel from a Member's Firm |
$180 | $230 |
| Associate Member | $230 | $280 |
| Non-Member | $500 | $550 |
Register online above, or if you prefer to register by mail, click here for a fillable registration form you can send in with your payment.
Q1: What is the cancellation policy?
A1: Registration can be canceled up through Monday, February 23. After that date, there is no provision for refunds.
Q2: What does my registration include?
A2: Attendee registration includes access to all sessions, PDH credits for licensed registration types, exhibit hall, and one lunch ticket for each day.
Q3: Will there be a virtual component to this year's convention?
A3: There is no virtual component to this event. Sessions will be presented entirely in person.
Q4: Can my spouse/guest attend the sessions with me?
Q4: Due to limited space (and facility fees), guests may not attend the sessions. However, extra meal tickets may be purchased for spouses/guests.
Artificial intelligence is arriving faster than most professionals expect, and its impact on surveying will be immediate and measurable. This presentation demonstrates—in real time—how AI can drive dramatic gains in speed and efficiency from data collection through delivery of final plats, along with many routine production and incidental tasks. Frank will enter real survey issues live on-screen and show the results as they are generated, using a free, rudimentary AI system (not any existing third-party AI surveying software)—and most attendees will be impressed by what it can (and cannot) do. This is an introductory course.
A first-hand account by Frank Willis of exploring and determining Sepulga River navigability and the boundary as of 1819, when Alabama became a state, for a 31-mile stretch in south-central Alabama. The work draws on carbon dating, hydraulics, evidence of Indian travel and traffic, sinker logs with stamps, waterfalls, ancient mill sites, GLO surveys, archaeology, tree rings, historic bridges, the history of Brooklyn, Alabama, old boats, ancient canoe scans, geology, shark teeth, and practical “outside-the-box” reasoning. The case study is presented as a fast-moving, story-driven narrative of the work, with everything tied back to standards of practice for land surveying and the practical realities of title law. This is a unique case with direct applicability to Arkansas.
This session is designed as an interactive, educational experience where participants are encouraged to engage directly with various suppliers. They get the opportunity to explore new products, learn about their features and benefits, and gain practical knowledge on how to use them. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the latest trends, tools, and resources in their field, which can enhance their performance and knowledge.
The book, “The U.S. Public Land Survey System for Arkansas” is a complete synthesis of the USPLSS as applied in Arkansas. In this seminar, its coauthor will “go through” the book, discussing its chapters, with emphasis on section protraction, GLO plats and the calculations to determine positions to reestablish lost USPLSS corners. The book will be used/referred to during the seminar. Bring a copy of your book or purchase one at the conference.
Gale will detail title history and discuss interactions between title and survey, relating some of his personal experiences along the way. He will present ideas for improving the communication process between the professions, relaying a few horror stories and some of the title industry’s thoughts. A question and answer period will follow.
Join Lanny Beavers and Jeremy Lawson for a focused one-hour forum updating ASPS members on the ongoing initiative to reform Arkansas’s surveying licensure law, A.C.A. § 17-48-203. This session will outline the progress made since the ASPS membership unanimously mandated the board to pursue legislative changes that better reflect the realities of today’s surveying profession. Following broad consensus at the 2025 Spring Conference, the board has engaged with key stakeholders—including a recent meeting with the Arkansas Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors—to share draft proposals and request support for these important changes.
During the forum, panelists will recap the board’s actions to date, discuss next steps in the legislative process, and invite questions from attendees. The effort centers on making licensure more accessible by recognizing relevant experience gained before or during formal education, aligning Arkansas’s standards with best practices from other states. ASPS is committed to a transparent, collaborative approach—working with members, the Licensure Board, and legislators to ensure any proposed revisions are practical, enforceable, and strengthen the profession for years to come. Your participation and feedback are vital as we move forward together.
This session will review the boundary survey for the Weevils for Christ property on the UAMM campus using all applicable surveying techniques. The property is located in the SW1/4 of the NE 1/4 of section 10, Township 13 South, Range 7 West. Morgan will describe the methods, procedures, and history in relation to the boundary and feature determination.
Keaton's presentation will provide an overview of his practices, workflows, and products he uses on a day-to-day basis in performing his surveys. He plans to walk through his step-by-step procedures, including websites and tools he regularly utilizes to produce his surveys. He will conclude his presentation with a Q&A session allowing the membership to ask questions and share their experiences with other products and workflows.