Sebastian Sizgoric, president of Optech International Inc., Kiln, Miss., died Sept. 26, 2008, at the age of 65. Sizgoric joined Optech Inc., Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, on its founding 34 years ago and became an important figure in the emerging field of LiDAR bathymetry. In 2001, he moved to Mississippi to open Optech International Inc. where he continued as president until his leave of absence to begin cancer treatment. Sizgoric published numerous articles in the field of laser applications for scientific and technical publications.

Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS), Livermore, Calif., announced the retirement of Dominick Auletto, vice president of TPS and a survey industry leader for almost three decades. He continues to work part-time for Topcon until the end of the year to assist the company during the transition stage.

Also, Topcon expanded its partnership with GeoAge Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., a developer and supplier of mobile data collection, mapping and workforce productivity systems, to include nationwide coverage.

Hexagon AB, Nacka Strand, Sweden, promoted Ken Mooyman, senior vice president of sales NAFTA, Leica Geosystems Inc., to president and CEO of Leica Geosystems Inc. Mooyman is responsible for the company’s performance in the NAFTA region.

The STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTA-TION (CALTRANS) took delivery of 45 Trimble S6 robotic total stations from California Surveying & Drafting Supply Inc. (CSDS), Sacramento, Calif. The large-scale deployment was conducted over the course of four weeks by five CSDS trainers who provided hands-on instruction at nine Caltrans district offices.

Wilson & Company  Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., acquired photogrammetric and geospatial mapping firm Western Air Maps Inc., Overland Park, Kan. The acquisition expands the services of Wilson & Company’s Survey, Geospatial and Remote Sensing Division with three new office locations and 50 additional staff members.

Also, Wilson & Company named Western Air Maps’ Eric Cenovich and Scott R. Perkins as associate vice presidents of Wilson & Company. Wilson & Company’s Vice President Ryan Branfort transitions into the role of manager for the entire division replacing Ronald Drake upon his retirement at the close of 2009.

Keystone Associates LLC, Binghamton, N.Y., acquired 18 years of land surveying records from David J. Beers Land Surveying, Hancock, N.Y., as part of an expansion effort into Delaware and Sullivan counties.

Pennoni Associates, Philadelphia, announced the relocation of its Pennoni Engineering & Surveying of New York PC office to 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001. The phone and fax numbers remain the same.

Merrick & Co. opened a new office at 1093 Commerce Park Drive, Ste. 200, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

Also, Merrick & Co. promoted Scott Gustafson, PE, to vice president and manager of the firm’s Los Alamos, N.M. office. As a senior manager, he is responsible for providing leadership as well as overseeing all activities of the firm’s Los Alamos operations and Merrick projects executed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Geospatial Holdings Inc., Pittsburgh, hired David Vosbein as executive vice president of worldwide strategic initiatives and a member of the board of directors.

Dewberry named Keith Patterson, PSM, senior project manager in the firm’s Tampa, Fla., office. Patterson manages remote sensing projects requiring aerial imagery acquisition, aerial triangulation, field verification, photogrammetric processing, photo interpretation, automated feature extraction and GIS. Patterson is also charged with expanding Dewberry’s geospatial services into the environmental mapping field, in which he is considered an expert. He has 30 years of experience in photogrammetry, mapping and GIS.

Bay Design Group PC, Gloucester, Va., named James M. Pruett, LS, an owner of the firm. Pruett has been employed by Bay Design since 2003 and is head of surveying services in the Northern Neck office. He is a member of the Virginia Association of Surveyors.


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