YPN - One To Watch
Allan Schafer, Airport Planner Technician
Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson (KL&J)
Length of time with the Company: 11 years
Brief Company Description:
KL&J is an engineering, surveying and planning firm founded in 1938 in Dickinson. Today, KL&J has the largest survey firm in the United States and has evolved into 15 office locations in five states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota and Wyoming.
When I began working for KL&J nearly 12 years ago, the company employed approximately 200 professionals. Since then KL&J has grown to more than 550 professionals and 2012 hiring projections are expected to continue to exceed previous years.
Job Responsibilities:
My job responsibilities include using engineering design software to perform airport planning tasks, and occasionally presenting the data to the public, airport clients or the FAA. These tasks consist of creating 2D exhibits and 3D models in GIS to help explain projects such as how to best extend a runway and reduce the aviation hazards in the airspace. Additional GIS tasks include creating databases of each existing airport’s features based on the FAA’s aeronautical survey criteria, and perform the occasional site selection for new airports. I also create Airport Layout Plans for the FAA, which show an airport’s expansion plans in stages for up to 20 years into the future.
Favorite Aspects of your Job:
My favorite aspect of my job is when I receive a project that challenges me to expand my software knowledge to create innovative planning solutions. It can become challenging at times and require a lot of research and trial and error, yet it is always satisfying in the end. These types of projects are very common with 3D modeling, as this technology is expanding and extremely valuable for presentations.
Why is it important for you to be involved in the YPN:
It is important for me to be involved in the YPN for the obvious reason that it allows me to meet and network with other professionals my age in the community. YPN helps me view aspects based on their careers. I look at the connections I make as a friendship first, and if it becomes professional, even better! The YPN also organizes great events for me to learn from, like the Summit this past summer, which had many great speakers.
Community involvement:
Along with being a part of and attending YPN events, I do my best to volunteer with Engineers without Borders (EWB) and the Fargo Moorhead chapter of the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers (FM NDSPE). In EWB, we are currently working on a municipal water project in a residential area in Guatemala. In FM NDSPE, I volunteer with event planning.
What goals do you have for the coming year:
My personal goals for 2012 include continuing to make it to the gym 12 times per month, attempting to get through at least one book per month to broaden my knowledge, complete some landscaping work around my home, and do a better job of making it to bed on time. My professional goals are a little harder to plan for this year as the boom of the oil and gas industry in western North Dakota has recently shifted my focus. For the next few months I’ll be commuting back and forth to Minot to help with increasing demands of oil field GIS.
Favorite part of living/working in the FM region:
My favorite part of living in the FM region is the ability to travel quickly within the city. I believe Fargo did a good job planning the streets and traffic flows, and hope they remain on top of this into the future.
Family:
I grew up in Dickinson, which is where my parents still live, along with my brother and grandparents. I usually try to make the trip back there for a weekend every couple months. Other than that, it’s just me and some aquarium fish that live at home in Fargo!
Interests:
My interests include playing golf, city league basketball, city league dodgeball, racquetball, and the Monday Fun League at Fargo Billiards. When relaxing at home I usually spend time watching professional football, auto racing, stand-up comedy, and an occasional movie. I also like to travel and follow aviation through my work, and spend time understanding investments.
Thank you to our program sponsor:
