Eric R. Bess, CET
I graduated in May 1996 from
WVUIT with a BS in Engineering Technology.
My AS is in Civil Engineering Technology. Most of my friends graduated with the BS in Civil-Surveying. Our degrees only vary by 2 classes or
so. I have been a NICET certified Civil
Engineering Technician since 1996.
Upon my graduation I began
working part-time for Cannelton Industries Stockton Mine as an Engineering
Technician. Stockton is a four
continuous miner section coal mine. I
then took a position as the Maintenance Clerk, which was the only title open at
the time that would give me full time benefits. I continued to work primarily in the Engineering Dept. yet
expanded my knowledge and skill base in the Maintenance and Operations end of
the industry as well. Soon after I was
promoted to Maintenance Planner.
Although that was my title,
I was responsible for planning equipment maintenance and downtime work,
scheduling weekend work and work force, vacations for all union employees (234
total), supervise as needed on underground and outby work, mine projection
planning, roof control and ventilation control planning, surveyor coordination
and direction, traveled with state and federal mine inspectors, DEP inspectors
for our surface facilities, helped maintain the 69,000V power system for 2 deep
mines, and strip mine, planned budgets, stockpile volumetric calculations,
Class 1 water supply operator for 2 deep mines, and dozens of other jobs too
long to list.
In September 2000, I left
Cannelton for employment at Equitable Production as their Senior Draftsman.
This has expanded my skillset to oil and gas as well as my extensive experience
with the coal industry. I am a part of
a 3 person team who maintains data for Equitable’s leases, pipelines, gas
wells, and other facilities and infrastructure for 5 states. We use AutoCAD along with lisp routines
developed by Stan Thompson to make our job a lot easier.
My educational and work
experience background helps tie together so many items I come across in my
current position. My surveying
knowledge helps when discussing things with not only surveyors, but other GIS
and CAD operators to understand and communicate between different datums and
coordinate systems, and to explain exactly what we need or expect from them. My background also assists the Land Dept.
when they have questions, and I can explain what is going on or what is needed
to obtain the goal or answer they are looking for.
Most of my friends with whom
I graduated college with, which got the BS Civil Surveying, are diverse as
well. They range from Project Manager,
to Surface Mine Foreman, to Party Chief, and a whole variety of titles and
experiences.
My career goals include
obtaining a Masters Degree and registration as Professional Land Surveyor and
Professional Engineer.
One of my surveying
instructors once told us (paraphrasing), “A surveyor will always be needed….
whether it is to layout for a building or home, divide property, or even layout
the cemetery plot you will end up in, a surveyor will be the cornerstone of the
process.”
Eric R. Bess, CET
Equitable Production
Charleston, WV