Meet the 2026 Speakers

WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE TO FOLLOWING PRESENTERS FOR OUR 2026 TECHNICAL SESSIONS:

(listed in alphabetical order by last name.)

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Nikolas Smilovsky, PhD, GISP

Nikolas Smilovsky, Phd, GISP is a geospatial professional, educator, and self described *Geoholic* with over two decades of experience advancing the GIS and surveying professions across industry and academia. He has worked in private consulting, applied research, and higher education, specializing in collecting, analyzing, and communicating geographic data in ways that are both technically rigorous and human centered. An energetic speaker and dedicated teacher, Dr. S is driven by a deep love of place and a belief that maps shape how people understand and navigate the world. Passionate about mentoring and pushing boundaries, he blends technical expertise with motivation and storytelling to inspire the next generation of geospatial professionals.

Douglas L. Aaberg, PLS is a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in the State of Colorado. His career in the Land Surveying/Civil Engineering business spans four decades. Having used Carlson Software exclusively since 1998, Doug is a recognized expert in applying the continually expanding capability of Carlson’s programming to the everyday “work flow” of land surveyors and engineers. After owning and operating his own company for fifteen years, Doug now works directly for Carlson Software as their Survey/Civil Product manager. Besides being involved in development, he dedicates his time consulting to both large and small land survey and engineering firms through on-site training, remote support and individually tailored documentation.

Education:

• Mesa College, Grand Jct., CO – Electronics Technology

Licensure:

• MA PLS #35382
• CO PLS #27595

Publications and relevant experience:

• A Practical Guide to Carlson Software Fundamentals – Co-Author - Cadapult Software Solutions
• A Practical Guide to Carlson Survey – Author – Cadapult Software Solutions
• Wentworth Institute of Technology, MA – Adjunct Professor of Land Surveying 2007-2008

Bruce Carlson, PLS is the founder and president of Carlson Software, a leading provider of CAD and land development solutions for surveyors, civil engineers, and mining professionals. A licensed professional engineer, he graduated from Dartmouth College and has spent over four decades advancing geospatial and design automation technologies.

Stephen C. Chino, Jr., PLS is a professional land surveyor for Siteworx Survey and Design in Paducah, KY and has been involved with Surveying/GIS/GPS work and projects since 1997.  He graduated from Grayson County High School in 1994 and received his Bachelor of Science in Geography from Western Kentucky University in 1999.  While there his major emphasis was in GIS/GPS technology with a minor in City and Regional Planning.  After working for a private surveying firm, he obtained his professional licensure in 2008.  Mr. Chino is also Remote Pilot Certificate holder and has been since 2018.

Professional Organizations

•  Kentucky Association of Mapping Professionals (Past President 2018-2019)
• Kentucky Association of Professional Surveyors
• National Society of Professional Surveyors
• Boy Scouts of America (District Chairman for Four Rivers District)

Mr. Chino resides in Paducah, Kentucky with his wife Sheryl, son Aiden (15) and daughter Olivia (10).

Sean Cleveland

Sean Cleveland is Assistant Manager of Geospatial Product Support, with over 20 years of experience in the land survey field. He has assisted in leading a team dedicated to technical support, training and effectively utilizing a diverse range of geospatial products.

Matt Johnson, PE

Matt Johnson, P.E. is the founder and developer of Deed Reader Pro, a software tool built to simplify and speed up the process of plotting metes and bounds deed descriptions — turning what used to take significant time into a task that can often be completed in under a minute.

Matt grew up in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he got his start in surveying while working alongside his father, Richard Johnson Jr., P.E., P.S. That early, hands-on experience laid the foundation for a career rooted in both engineering and the land surveying profession. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University in 2004 and became a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio in 2008. With over 20 years of experience spanning engineering and surveying, Matt has been involved in a variety of both large and small engineering projects.

Matt began developing Deed Reader Pro in 2018, with the goal of eliminating the manual data entry involved in plotting legal descriptions. The first version launched in March 2023, and in March 2025 he introduced an AI-powered version, bringing modern technology to what has been a manual process. From the start, the mission has been simple: save surveyors and real estate professionals time and make deed plotting easier.

When he's not working on improvements to Deed Reader Pro, Matt can be found on the tennis or pickleball court, playing volleyball, or hitting the slopes for skiing and snowboarding. He lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Brett Harmon

Brett Harmon,  Trimble Americas Regional Support Engineer

Steven A. Holliger, CST

Steve Holliger, CST has become Qk4’s subsurface utility specialist by training to locate underground utilities through electromagnetic induction line tracing, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and non-mechanical vacuum excavation using our UtiliVac air system. His methodical approach to underground detective work is followed by his tenacity to safely expose utility lines for their exact location. Steve’s field crew has full location capability from tracing the lines, vacuum excavation, documentation of the facility, and surveying the precise location to project coordinates.

Jesse Kozlowski, PLS

Jesse Kozlowski, PLS began surveying in the summer of 1978 after graduating highschool. He was licensed in New Jersey as a Professional Land Surveyor in 1990.  Jesse's surveying career has been focused primarily on establishing geodetic control networks to support a wide range of construction and mapping projects including highway & rail transportation corridors, bridges & tunnels, energy production plants & transmission routes, hydrographic surveys, and urban infrastructure projects. He is relied upon for his expertise producing highly reliable 3D survey control acquired most expeditiously for use in construction, 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry, and UAV mapping. Jesse's current role at Carlson Software is concentrated heavily on Carlson Product Development and Testing of Field & Office Software and Equipment.

Michael D. Ladnier, PLS

Michael D. Ladnier P.L.S. began his Surveying career in August 1994 at L.P.  Stenum and Associates located in Biloxi, Mississippi. In July 2001, he and his family relocated to Evansville, Indiana where he took a position at Morley and Associates. He received his Land Surveyors license in the State of Kentucky in 2008 and became a member of the Kentucky Association of Professional Surveyors and the National Society of Professional Surveyors. In 2015, he took a position at Cash Waggner & Associates P.C. with offices located in Evansville and Jasper, Indiana. Mike has prepared Surveys in the States of Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois varying from ALTA, Boundary, Topographic, Hydrographic, and Construction. He has worked with various Data Collectors from various manufacturers including the HP-48, Topcon Husky, Sokkia SDR-33, Trimble AND Topcon Tesla. He has worked with various drafting softwares throughout his Career including C&G, Eagle Point, Briscadd, Intellicad, Autocadd, Civil 3D, and Carlson Survey and Civil.

Shane Lyons

Shane Lyons, Trimble Americas Regional Support Manager

Jonathan Payne, PLS

Jonathan Payne, PLS began his surveying career by taking the surveying courses associated with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Murray State University in the 1990s along with some summer internships.  This was followed by a more in-depth study of surveying while attaining a master’s in Engineering Technology - also from Murray State University.  After graduation, Jonathan gained professional practice experience while working in Paducah Kentucky on projects in the areas of boundary surveys (retracement and division), route surveys (rail and road), and construction layout.  He was able to attain licensure in 2000.

Since 2000, Jonathan has operated a small surveying business in Trigg County Kentucky with a focus on boundary surveying.  Project have ranged from small lot retracements to a 700-lot subdivision of thirteen hundred acres.  Between fall 2013 to spring 2017, Jonathan served as the instructor for surveying at Murray State University and completed the coursework for a doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky.

Jonathan has been a long-time member and has served in several roles for the Kentucky Association of Professional Surveyors including chapter chair of the Jackson Purchase chapter, director, committee member on various committees, editor for the Interior Angle and as a former president.  In addition, he has been a life member of the Surveyor’s Historical Society and a long-term member of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (even prior to the NSPS full membership initiative).

Ben Shinabery, PLS

Ben Shinabery, PLS is a land survey project manager at Qk4, Inc. where he specializes in high definition digital terrain modeling through traditional survey, 3D Laser Scanning and Aerial Drone Mapping. His experience ranges from collecting 3D data with everything from a plumb bob to high res color mobile mapping LiDAR. He grew up helping his dad survey through the corn fields of Michigan and later ran a survey field crew in the swamps of Florida – Full spectrum land surveying: cold and frozen to hot and humid. Now, Ben would rather pick a nice day and program his drone to do the mapping for him. He prides himself on helping others visualize geographic data in an engaging and understandable way. He lives with his bride and three kids in Simpsonville, Kentucky.

Luke Woodyard, PLS, EIT

Luke Woodyard, PLS, EIT recently graduated with a civil engineering degree from the University of Kentucky in 2019 and was hired to work on the Land Survey team for Qk4 Inc. A unicorn of sorts to the surveying community in Kentucky, Luke wanted to be a surveyor like his grandfather and not just settle for being an engineer. He is willing to work, loves the outdoors, and has spent the last 8 years collecting millions of points across the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Country, armed with a pair of the best GPS units, and a scanning total station.