People news from around the industry.

Soderberg
William E. Soderberg, a registered Michigan and Florida surveyor, passed away April 23, 2003, at the age of 64. He was a member of ACSM-NSPS, MSPS and FSPLS. He was the NSPS Governor for Michigan from 1993-1995; director of MSPS 1984-1991; and president of MSPS in 1991. He owned and ran Soderberg Consulting and was currently serving as county remonumentation surveyor for Lapeer, St. Clair and Macomb Counties in Michigan.

Rihner
Topcon, Pleasanton, Calif., announced an executive-level shift in its sales and marketing organization.

Williamson
Effective May 1, 2003,Charles Rihneris vice president of marketing and Jamie Williamsonis vice president of sales.

Lodge
Rihner directs all marketing activity for Topcon. Williamson will be joined byMurray Lodge, promoted to national sales manager for machine control and laser products,

Wallace
andPeter Wallace, national sales manager for survey and GPS products, to oversee all sales activities of Topcon.

Tripod Data Systems (TDS), Corvallis, Ore., is now the distributor ofNikon survey products in the United States, including sales, support and service. Trimble, TDS's parent company, and Nikon Corporation previously announced the formation of a joint venture in Japan,Nikon-Trimble Co., Ltd. with Trimble and Nikon each 50 percent owners.