As the New Year began, we at HUNT said goodbye to one of the longest standing employees at HUNT. After 40 years one of HUNT's Principals and the Director of Survey, Gary Thompson retired at the end of December 2020.
Gary originally started in 1980 as a hand drafter, assisting surveyors and engineers with their projects. He then assumed the leadership of the production group and helped the group transition into using AutoCAD for drawings. After furthering the staff's development using the new technology, Gary found an interest in land surveying. He attended night classes, studying for the professional exam to become a Licensed NYS Professional Land Surveyor, and with this success became a Principal of the firm and Director of Survey.
HUNT President and CEO Chris Bond said, "Gary Thompson’s career personifies the firm’s commitment to our community partners and creative design, and for all the industry talk about succession planning, we are particularly proud of his coordination with our two lead professional surveyors, Jeffrey Hughes and Tim Olmstead, who are teaming to handle the transition."
He has been heavily involved with the NYS Association of Professional Land Surveyors, as well as the Southern Finger Lakes Association of Professional Land Surveyors.
An avid and talented photographer, Gary enjoyed capturing our completed projects and documenting corporate events. Gary is also an FAA certified UAS licensed drone pilot . In retirement, he's excited to continue this passion, and spending more time capturing images from the air and on the ground.
He said it'll be an adjustment not coming into the office everyday, but his wife, already retired, will help him through it.
While we're sorry to see him go, everyone here at HUNT congratulates Gary on his impressive career and wishes him the best of luck on this next chapter in his life!