Topcon Corp., Tokyo, acquired Voxis Inc., Point Richmond, Calif., a leader in laser scanner technology and high-resolution motion systems. The acquisition of Voxis culminates a development relationship of more than two years, which resulted in the recent release of the Topcon GLS-1000 laser scanner.

Hamilton Engineering & Surveying Inc., Tampa, Fla., acquired R.W. Patrick & Associates Inc., South Houston, Texas, a full service civil engineering and surveying firm.

Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS), Livermore, Calif., and SGE, Middletown, R.I., a multidisciplinary engineering, land surveying and GIS service firm, formed a strategic partnership in the areas of land use, asset management, utility operations and environmental engineering.

Also, Topcon appointed Richard Savage and Ron Ludchak to its telematics business unit. Savage is Western region sales manager-telematics; Ludchak is Eastern region sales manager-telematics. Their territories cover the U.S. and Canada.

In addition, Topcon hired Dave Henderson as GIS national sales manager. He is responsible for GIS sales activities for Topcon’s GIS dealer network in the United States and Canada.

Vertical Mapping Resources Inc. (VMR), Scottsdale, Ariz., expanded into Northern California and named Bill Swope as regional manager of consulting and development for its new office located at 13389 Folsom Blvd. #300-304, Folsom, Calif. Swope is a member of the Arizona Professional Land Surveyors and the Society for Marketing Professional Services.

Also, Vertical Mapping Resources Inc. appointed Bret Okraski to principal. He maintains his current position as director of consulting and development. Okraski is an associate member of Valley Partnership, Arizona Professional Land Surveyors, California Professional Land Surveyors and the American Council of Engineering Companies in Arizona and California.

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), Clemson, S.C., commissioned Patrick J. Tami, PLS, as Western Zone vice president at the NCEES 2008 Annual Meeting. Tami is also the administrative officer of the Western Zone and a member of the NCEES board of directors for a two-year term. He is currently vice president of RBF Consulting.

Kuker-Ranken Inc., Seattle, hired Tom Bergen as general manager of its Portland store. Bergen has more than 20 years of experience in survey sales, service, management and manufacturing.

John Chance Land Surveys Inc., Lafayette, La., promoted Jimmie Stoute, Russell Walters and Blaine Thibodeaux. Stoute is senior vice president and manager of the Terrestrial Survey Services Division; Walters is vice president and manager of the Regulatory and Ecological Services Group; and Thibodeaux is vice president and manager of the Airborne Sensing and Mapping Division.

Woolpert hired Mark Ricketson, GISP, as an enterprise information management (EIM) project director for the Orlando office. Ricketson joins Woolpert with more than 20 years of experience developing, managing and implementing information management systems and associated databases for aviation, municipal and utility clients.

Also, Woolpert, Dayton, Ohio, announced that Bob Brooks, CP, and Joe Cantz, CP, passed the written examination to earn certified photogrammetrist accreditation from the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). Brooks is a senior photogrammetric and remote sensing technician with 34 years of industry experience. He is responsible for technical oversight, technical initiatives and process design within the Photogrammetric Compilation Department in the Denver office. Cantz is a photogrammetry and remote sensing project manager in the Dayton office. He has 17 years of experience in all levels of photogrammetric production.

Keystone Precision Instruments, Allentown Pa., promoted Daniel Fletes to robotic services manager.

Spalding DeDecker Associates Inc. (SDA), Detroit, announced that SDA co-founder Frank DeDecker, PE, PS, received the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award from Michigan State University’s College of Engineering.

PBS&J, Tampa, Fla., named Robert J. Paulsen as president. Paulsen is also chairman of PBS&J and vice chairman and secretary of The PBSJ Corporation’s board of directors. He succeeds Todd J. Kenner.

Associate Editor Wendy Lyons compiles “Turning Points.” Contact her at 248/786-1620 or lyonsw@bnpmedia.