Living Our Purpose: Lifelong Leaders
By Cyn Whitfield, Senior Marketing Specialist
Leadership often begins with youth experiences that carry through to adulthood. None are more honorable than the Eagle Scouts with only 5 percent of Scouts attaining that level. TREKK is proud to have six Eagle Scouts on staff reinforcing our culture of IMPROVING LIVES through commitment, self-achievement, perseverance and community involvement. Sharing this unique parallel of life purpose are GIS Analysts, Johnny Harley, Bert Meier and Ralph Hill; Structural Engineer, Dan Arbogast; Survey/LiDAR Technician, Alex Morino; Office Technician, Mike DiPardo; and Intern, Luke Vohs.
No one knows that Scouting skills carry into adult life and careers better than Bert Meier who began his Scouting journey in 1975. Today, Bert continues the mission as Assistant Scoutmaster in Olathe, Kansas and Charted Organization Representative for Troop 201 at his church in Overland Park. “I try and apply principles of the Scout oath, law and slogan every day in my profession. The skills of working within a team (patrol/troop), being able to lead when asked and being able to follow, all apply to my job at TREKK. It is important to continue the mission with our youth.”
Scouting teaches a respectfulness of nature and people that often drives career choices. Whether it be simply the love of the great outdoors or driven by merit badges like the GPS/GIS merit badge supplemental to the Surveying merit badge, might be why so many Eagles, like Bert, Johnny and Ralph, make up TREKK’s GIS division.
Alex Morino credits his job performance with foundations he learned obtaining his Eagle in 1997. “When you deal with new technology like UAV’s and drones while surveying, you must be ready for anything,” said Alex. “Scouting, not unlike LiDAR acquisition, is filled with unique experiences and challenges. It has given me a stronger sense of perseverance and helped me live the ‘be prepared’ motto.”
Mike DiPardo began his career as an intern at TREKK, like our current intern, Luke Vohs. Both credit Scouting to their evolution at TREKK in problem solving, communication skills and working with others. Dan Arbogast also credits Scouting experience to building a lifetime foundation. As part of his Eagle Scout experience, on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Dan was invited to assist in reading the names of those who passed at a mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota. “Communication was a key tenant in my Scouting, instilling the values of clear and concise communication, both verbally and non-verbally. It was an incredibly humbling experience that stays with me to this day.”
TREKK is grateful for these Eagle Scouts and the Boy Scouts of America program for cultivating our purpose of IMPROVING LIVES.