CANDIDATE FOR AIPG NATIONAL PRESIDENT-ELECT
Candidate for AIPG National
President-Elect J. Todd McFarland CPG-11348
Nashville, Tennessee
It was a great honor as a geologist to receive a nomination for President-Elect of AIPG. However, this statement does not adequately convey the excitement I feel for this opportunity. This is one step in a career goal I set after I became involved with AIPG. My career in geology started as I searched for a class to satisfy an interdisciplinary course requirement to complete my undergraduate degree in chemistry at the University of Kentucky. As I prepared for my last two semes- ters as an undergraduate, I was unsure of what career path to take. After spending my younger years exploring the caves of south-central Kentucky, the thought of spending my working days inside did not align with my interests. When I selected an environmental geology class to fulfill my interdisciplinary elective course requirement, my career path took a quick turn toward geology. My future was defined after the first day of that class, and my only question was “How do I get from an under- graduate chemistry degree to a geology graduate degree?” I spent the next year immersed in a typical undergraduate geology curriculum, although at a somewhat accelerated pace. I was then admitted to the geology program and completed my graduate degree.
After graduation, I spent the next few years behind a drill rig and quickly learned what it meant to be a field geologist, but I still had a lot to learn about what it meant to be a pro- fessional geologist. As noted by the Geoprofessional Business Association, if a profession is to thrive, every member of the profession must be involved. I embraced this view and began to seek out professional opportunities outside the normal day to day requirements of a consulting geologist. I joined AIPG in 2008 and upgraded to a CPG in 2010. Although field work consumed most of my time (as it should) during my initial years as an AIPG member, I remained involved with the organization on the Section level and became the Tennessee Section President in 2013. My first trip to the annual AIPG meeting was the 2013 meeting in Colorado where I was sub- sequently elected to the Advisory Committee for 2014. I was honored to serve as Vice President in 2015 following my year on the Advisory Committee. I am currently the Tennessee Section President immersed in assisting with planning the
2017 National Meeting. I am also the Chapter Sponsor for two student chapters in Tennessee.
The office of President-Elect includes presiding over the advisory board, and my time on the executive committee, my year as Vice President, and my role as the Tennessee sec- tion delegate at the national meeting provides me with the experience needed to serve this role and connect with the incoming advisory board. An additional role of the President- Elect includes assisting with preparation of the budget for the fiscal year. I am currently the Geo-Environmental Team leader at Amec Foster Wheeler where I routinely prepare cost proposals while managing a six-member team’s utilization and workload. I am also tasked with management of financials on projects with varying budgets for a variety of clients as well as review of project financial statements each month, so this work history will provide me with the experience needed to assist with budget discussions.
The President of AIPG acts as the official spokesperson for the Institute, which I consider a great opportunity to represent the geological community. AIPG must continue to promote professionalism and focus on students and young professional members to solidify our membership. AIPG con- tinues to actively engage student members and we will need to continue this effort with our young professionals early in their careers to grow the organization and increase participa- tion at the National, Section, and student chapter levels. One of the things I have enjoyed during my time with AIPG is the interaction with geologists in academia, regulatory, mining, consulting, and other fields. The wealth of knowledge that can be conveyed to our students and young professional members will be invaluable to their careers and can only benefit the future of AIPG. A geological community that strives to con- stantly advance must include students and young professional members that understand the value of the profession. AIPG has the resources to advance our profession. As the President of AIPG I will continue this focus and help to grow this great organization. I am honored to have the opportunity to write this statement for my candidacy as President-Elect and appre- ciate your support.
www.aipg.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
