The plat contest was held at the 2026 VAS convention with a total of sixty three entries submitted in the following categories: Subdivision, ALTA/NSPS, Boundary/Cadastral, Topographic and Miscellaneous. Thank you to all our surrounding state judges who took the time to help judges these plats, and pick our winners.

The following winners were recognized at the Friday nights banquet:

(1st Place) Adam Stevens, Commonwealth Land Surveying, Inc.

(2nd Place) Josh Sehl, J2 Engineers, Inc.

Miscellaneous Plats

(1st Place) M. Taze Crowder, Actual Surveyors, PLLC

(2nd Place) Roberto Torres, Precision Measurements

ALTA/NSPS

(1st Place) Samuel Bikkers, AES Consulting Engineers

(2nd Place) Josh Sehl, J2 Engineers, Inc.

Boundary/Cadastral Maps

(1st Place)  Craig Linkous, Foresight Design Services
(2nd Place) Ivan Lineberry, Precision Measurements

Topographic Maps

(1st Place)  M. Taze Crowder, Actual Surveyors, PLLC        

(2nd Place)  Matt Mosteller, Thompson & Litton

All first place entries will be submitted to the NSPS national competition.

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The plat contest was held at the 2025 VAS convention with a total of sixty one entries submitted in the following categories: Subdivision, ALTA/NSPS, Boundary/Cadastral, Topographic and Miscellaneous. Judging was extremely close, with some categories only having a few points separating the first and second place winners from the other entries in their respective category.

The following winners were recognized at the Friday night banquet:

(1st Place) Rodney Shadrach, Shadrach & Associates

(2nd Place) Craig Linkous, Foresight Design Services

Miscellaneous Plats

(1st Place) BethAnne Campbell, MidAtlantic Land Surveying & Design

(2nd Place) Craig Linkous, Foresight Design Services

Subdivision Plats

(1st Place) Jeff Carr, Armstrong Civil of Forest

(2nd Place) Jon Overton, J2 Engineers

Boundary/Cadastral Maps

(1st Place) Samuel Bikkers, AES Consulting Engineers
(2nd Place) Kevin Blankenship, Racey Engineering

Topographic Maps

(1st Place) Jeffrey Vierrether, MSA P.C.         

(2nd Place) Jeff Carr, Armstrong Civil of Forest

All first place entries were submitted to the NSPS national competition.

Virginia Association of Surveyors would like to thank all the judges who volunteered their time and expertise.

The plat contest was held at the 2024 VAS convention with a total of sixty four entries submitted in the following categories: Subdivision, ALTA/NSPS, Boundary/Cadastral, Topographic and Miscellaneous. Judging was extremely close, with some categories only having a few points separating the first and second place winners from the other entries in their respective category.

The following winners were recognized at the Friday night banquet:

(1st Place) Craig Linkous, Foresight Design Services

(2nd Place) Greg Zoby, MSA P.C

Miscellaneous Plats

(1st Place) Greg Zoby, MSA P.C.

(2nd Place) Hristo Zhelev, Johnson Bernat Associates, Inc.

Subdivision Plats

(1st Place) Jeff Carr, Armstrong Civil of Forest

(2nd Place) Dean Dockery, Land Design Consultants, Inc.

Boundary/Cadastral Maps

(1st Place) Matthew Mosteller, Thompson & Litton

(2nd Place) Ralph Clements, Foresight Design Services

Topographic Maps

(1st Place) Matthew Mosteller, Thompson & Litton

(2nd Place) Zili Zhang, R.C. Fields

All first place entries were submitted to the NSPS national competition.

Virginia Association of Surveyors would like to thank all the judges who volunteered their time and expertise.

To view press release click here

The Honorable Glenn Youngkin
Governor of Virginia
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, VA 23218

Dear Governor Youngkin:

The Virginia Association of Surveyors (VAS) is the statewide association of licensed professional land surveyors throughout the Commonwealth.

On June 30, there will be a vacancy for a Land Surveyor position on the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects (APELSCIDLA), Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), to replace Doyle Allen, LS, whose term is limited.

VAS highly recommends and respectfully requests your appointment of one of the following outstanding Virginia surveyors: Curtis W. Sumner, Sr., LS, 2783 Sylvatus Highway, Hillsville, VA 24343, (703) 509-3601, curtsumner48@gmail.com, or Frank R. “Chip” Richardson, II, LS, 2624 Iverson Road, Midlothian, VA, 23112, (804) 339-9922, crichardson@accumark.us, for this position.

Both Mr. Sumner and Mr. Richardson have been vetted by the VAS Board of Directors and have our support. Both have formally applied for this position through the portal on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website.

Mr. Sumner recently retired after serving for 24 years as the Executive Director of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). He has been a licensed professional surveyor in Virginia for more than 40 years, having begun his career with the Virginia Department of Transportation, holding field and management positions in small and large surveying and engineering firms, practicing as a sole proprietor, and as executive director of a national, nonprofit, surveying professional society. He has also held several leadership positions in VAS. He has been deeply involved in issues, programs, and projects in the surveying profession in Virginia, nationally, and internationally, and has been a speaker, continuing education instructor on a variety of surveying topics. He has testified before Congress, represented the United States before international bodies, and worked closely with surveying licensing boards across the nation through his representation of NSPS with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), the association of all the licensing boards in the United States. Mr. Sumner would bring to the APELSCIDLA board a deep and varied understanding of the activities that fall under the mission and statutory authority of the board.

Mr. Richardson has been a licensed surveyor practicing in Virginia for 32 years with experience in large and small business surveying and engineering firms. For the past 23 years, he has served as chairman of the VAS Education Committee, where he has not only led continuing education programs for licensed practicing surveyors, but he has helped a generation of scores of today’s Virginia surveyors prepare for their licensing exam as chairman of the VAS John Foster School, the VAS-hosted exam prep program. Mr. Richardson has also worked in conjunction with the APELSCIDLA board to contribute to writing licensing exam questions and updating the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) apprenticeship standards in surveying. 

We believe Mr. Sumner and Mr. Richardson have the ethics, temperament, experience, and knowledge to ably serve on the APELSCIDLA Board, and the time to dedicate to this position. Either would also bring geographic diversity to the survey section of the board, as well as promote the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth.

VAS respectfully urges the appointment of either of these excellent candidates.

Kindest regards.

Sincerely,

In the Supreme Court of Virginia held at the Supreme Court Building in the City of Richmond on Thursday the 11th day of May, 2023.

Roderick A. Morgan, et al.,                                                                                                                      Appellants,

against           Record No. 211021

Circuit Court No. CL20001902-00

Board of Supervisors of Hanover County, et al.,                                                                                                                        Appellees.

Upon a Petition for Rehearing

Upon consideration of the petition of appellee Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., to set aside the judgment rendered herein on February 2, 2023, and grant a rehearing thereof, the prayer of the petition is denied. See generally Morgan v. Bd. of Supervisors of Hanover Cnty.,      Va.

      , 883 S.E.2d 131, 143 n.12 (2023).

Appellants’ request to impose sanctions against Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., is denied.

A Copy,

The plat contest was held at the 2023 VAS convention with a total of forty four entries submitted in the following categories: Subdivision, ALTA/NSPS, Boundary/Cadastral, Topographic and Miscellaneous. Judging was extremely close, with some categories only having a few points separating the first and second place winners from the other entries in their respective category.

The following winners were recognized at the Friday night banquet:

(1st Place) Frank Sluss, AES Consulting Engineers

(2nd Place) Jeff Vierrether, MSA P.C

Miscellaneous Plats

(1st Place) Matthew Mosteller, Thompson & Litton

(2nd Place) Jeff Vierrether, MSA P.C

Subdivision Plats

(1st Place) Mike Apperson, AES Consulting Engineers

(2nd Place) Matthew Mosteller, Thompson & Litton

Boundary/Cadastral Maps

(1st Place) Jeffrey Vierrether, MSA

(2nd Place) Sean Peiffer, Charles P. Johnson & Associates

Topographic Maps

(1st Place)  Jeffrey Vierrether, MSA

(2nd Place) Wim De Sutter, RC Fields

All first place entries were submitted to the NSPS national competition.

Virginia Association of Surveyors would like to thank all the judges who volunteered their time and expertise.

—seeks rehearing in case that could stymie development projects —

By L. Preston Bryant, Jr.

The Virginia Association of Surveyors (VAS) joined 20 other organizations in an amicus brief encouraging the Virginia Supreme Court to rehear a case that dramatically opens the door for almost anybody – for any reason – to challenge local zoning decisions for development projects.

The state Supreme Court handed down an opinion in early February – Roderick A. Morgan, et al. v. Board of Supervisors of Hanover County, et al. – that centered on whether nearby residents had sufficient “standing” to challenge the county’s zoning determination for a proposed Wegmans distribution center. The neighbors lost their case at the circuit and appeals courts, but won in the supreme court.

A 2013 state Supreme Court opinion, Friends of the Rappahannock v. Caroline County, established standing to challenge a local zoning decision based on two things: proximity and particular harm (i.e., harm to a landowner beyond what the general public would suffer). The Morgan opinion not only diminished the proximity requirement, but allows anybody to allege almost any harm – even an envisioned future harm that does not necessarily impact one’s own property. This would widely allow challenges to locally approved zoning for projects and could tie up developments in litigation for up to three years. This also could impact developments in by-right zoning.

Wegmans filed a petition at the state Supreme Court asking the Morgan case to be reheard, arguing that the court’s opinion expands standing well beyond ways the General Assembly ever envisioned, much less approved. Wegmans also argued the court’s decision could cause developers to second-guess current development plans and hold off on other proposed developments.

Others joining the amicus brief supporting Wegmans’ petition to rehear the case include the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Richmond and Hampton Roads regional chambers, the Virginia Municipal League, the Virginia Association of Counties, local government attorneys, the Virginia Association of REALTORS, the Virginia Association for Commercial Real Estate, the Associated Contractors of Virginia, the Home Builders Association of Virginia, several affordable housing organizations, and the Virginia Agribusiness Council, among others.

It may be several weeks before the supreme court responds to Wegmans’ petition to rehear the case. Click here to view the brief and click here to view other document.

-----

Mr. Bryant is Senior Vice President of McGuireWoods Consulting LLC and is the registered lobbyist for VAS.

Click here to read the Proclamation (pdf)
Click here to read the Proclamation (web)

2022 VAS Plat Award Winners

The plat contest was held at the 2022 VAS convention with a total of forty entries submitted in the following categories: Subdivision, ALTA/NSPS, Boundary/Cadastral, Topographic and Miscellaneous. Judging was extremely close, with some categories only having a few points separating the first and second place winners from the other entries in their respective category.

The following winners were recognized at the Friday night dinner:

(1st Place) Gay & Neel.

(2nd Place) christopher consultants

Miscellaneous Plats

(1st Place) Gay and Neel

(2nd Place) MSA P.C.

Subdivision Plats

(1st Place) christopher consultants

(2nd Place) Gay & Neel

Boundary/Cadastral Maps

(1st Place) AES

(2nd Place) Gay and Neel

Topographic Maps

(1st Place) christopher consultants

(2nd Place) MSA

Virginia Association of Surveyors would like to thank all the judges who volunteered their time and expertise.

2021 VAS Plat Award Winners

The plat contest was held at the 2021 VAS convention with a total of forty entries submitted in the following categories: Subdivision, ALTA/NSPS, Boundary/Cadastral, Topographic and Miscellaneous. Judging was extremely close, with some categories only having a few points separating the first and second place winners from the other entries in their respective category.

The following winners were recognized at the Friday night dinner:

(1st Place) Ralph Clements, Gay & Neel.

(2nd Place) Sam Bikkers, AES Consulting

Miscellaneous Plats

(1st Place) Stephen Letchford, AES Consulting

(2nd Place) Vickie McEntire-Anglin, Fairfax County

Subdivision Plats

(1st Place) Sam Bikkers, AES Consulting

(2nd Place) Ralph Clements,  Gay & Neel

Boundary/Cadastral Maps

(1st Place) Ralph Clements, Gay & Neel Inc.

(2nd Place) Jeffrey Vierrether, MSA

Topographic Maps

(1st Place)  Ralph Clements, Gay and Neel

(2nd Place) Wim Sutter, RC Fields

All first place entries were submitted to the NSPS national competition. Congratulations to Ralph Clements of Gay & Neel for winning first place in the Topographic Maps category in the NSPS national plat contest

Virginia Association of Surveyors would like to thank all the judges who volunteered their time and expertise.

Dear Senator Warner:

The Virginia business community, represented by the 40 associations that have signed this letter, urges you to oppose S. 420, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (“PRO Act”). This bill will have devastating consequences for Virginia’s economy, small businesses, and workers. The Federal government should not strip “Right-toWork” protections from the states, employees, and employers.

The PRO Act will fundamentally redefine labor relations by codifying numerous radical proposals that have been previously rejected by federal courts, the agencies charged with administering them, and Congress. This deeply flawed legislation will infringe on employers’ due process rights, interfere with small businesses’ ability to secure legal advice on complex matters, and would end employees’ privacy to choose union membership.

The PRO Act’s numerous provisions will also make it more difficult for the business community to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when many Virginia businesses are struggling to keep their doors open and support their employees and communities, Congress should not attempt to rewrite U.S. labor policy in a manner that will benefit special interests and harm small businesses.

This bill includes policies that will:

• Eliminate Virginia’s Right-to-Work protections, compelling workers to join unions as a condition of employment where collective-bargaining agreements exist.
• Strip employees’ right to a secret ballot election during union representation elections and compel workers to sign authorization cards in front of colleagues and union organizers. This is a form of worker intimidation.
• Force employers to give employees’ private contact information to union organizers without the employees’ consent, exposing them to potential harassment and violating their privacy.
• Make it impossible for individuals to work independently in traditional independent contractor or freelance roles, threatening the livelihoods of workers in over 100 occupations, including the new and innovative gig economy that has brought additional income and workplace flexibility to thousands of individuals.
• Threaten more businesses with the joint employer standard, resulting in companies being held responsible for the employment decisions of their contractors, subcontractors, or vendors and making it extremely difficult for employers to set corporate responsibility standards throughout their supply chains.

These are just some of the damaging provisions in the PRO Act. This bill is extremely misguided and would create an unfair and imbalanced labor-management relationship, eviscerating federal laws that have been in place for more than 70 years. Finally, it will infringe upon the rights of employers and employees in our state.

You have always supported Virginia’s Right-to-Work law and have publicly acknowledged its importance in maintaining Virginia’s strong economy. We urge you to stand strong and oppose this bill.

Sincerely,

Associated Builders & Contractors of Virginia, Sterling, VA
Associated General Contractors of Virginia, Glen Allen, VA
ChamberRVA, Richmond, VA Delmarva Chicken Association, Eastern Shore of VA
Fredericksburg Regional Chamber, Fredericksburg, VA
Greater Williamsburg Business Council, Williamsburg, VA
Hampton Roads Chamber, Norfolk, VA
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, Harrisonburg, VA
Heavy Construction Contractors Association, Manassas, VA
Loudoun Chamber, Loudoun, VA
National Federation of Independent Business, Richmond, VA
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Tysons Corner, VA
Northern Virginia Transportation Business Coalition, McLean, VA
Precast Concrete Association of Virginia, Richmond, VA
Prince William Chamber of Commerce, Manassas, VA
Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce
Richmond Area Municipal Contractors Association, Richmond, VA
Shellfish Growers of Virginia, Gloucester, VA
Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, Alexandria, VA
Virginia Agribusiness Council, Richmond, VA
Virginia Assisted Living Association, Glen Allen, VA
Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals, Richmond, VA
Virginia Association of Surveyors, Fairfax, VA
Virginia Association for Home Care & Hospice, Richmond, VA
Virginia Automatic Merchandising Association, Richmond, VA
Virginia Contractor Procurement Alliance, Henrico, VA
Virginia Food Industry Association, Richmond, VA
Virginia Forestry Association, Richmond, VA
Virginia Forest Products Association, Sandston, VA
Virginia Loggers Association, Goochland, VA
Virginia Manufactured and Modular Housing Association, Richmond, VA
Virginia Manufacturers Association, Richmond, VA
Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Hampton, VA
Virginia Poultry Federation, Harrisonburg, VA Virginia Retail Federation, Richmond, VA
Virginia Seafood Council, Newport News, VA
Virginia Trucking Association, Richmond, VA
Virginia Veterinary Medical Association, Henrico, VA
Virginia Wholesalers & Distributors Association, Richmond, VA
Virginia Wineries Association, Richmond, VA