Missoula County Government: It's Friday, And Missoula County Employees Are Working Hard For You! Meet Land Survey Intern Michael Tester.

Press release from the Missoula County Government:

02/04/2022 12:00 PM

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A couple years after graduating high school, l hired on with a land surveying firm in northwest Montana. I found the physical and mental aspects of the occupation challenging, yet satisfying, and knew almost instantly surveying was the profession I wanted to pursue. In 2009, I made the decision to go back to school in pursuit of my professional license in land surveying through education by exam. I spent two years at the Missoula College of Technology then transferred to Flathead Valley Community College to attend their accredited land survey program. I graduated in 2013 with a degree in land surveying.  

I was hired on with Missoula County Public Works – Land Survey Office in the fall of 2013 and received my licensure as a land surveyor intern in June 2014. It was a bit of an adjustment coming from the private sector to local government, but it’s been great and very eye-opening to learn the intricacies of how local government works. Our department is small, three of us, so we are a tight-knit group, and I enjoy working and learning alongside the others. My everyday tasks range from processing and invoicing submitted surveys to researching 100+ years of land boundaries, writing road reports and everything in between. While working at the County and wearing the public servant hat, I’ve learned so much from engaging with the public and helping them navigate through County regulations, directing them to the proper department and showing/letting them know that we are here to help. I enjoy working in the land survey office and I’m currently in the process of applying to take the professional land surveyor exam. GO GRIZ!  

This press release was produced by the Missoula County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.