Pictured (from left) - Dr. Richard Smith, CBI Executive Director, Dr. Seneca Holland, CBI Geospatial Research Scientist, Amanda Jonas, TSRC Director and Chapter 12 President, Mike Hoover, TSPS President, and Trena Vanderhoeven, TSPS Executive Director.

Amanda Jonas, RPLS, Director of the Texas Spatial Reference Center (TSRC) at the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science (CBI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, was named the 2026 Chapter President of the Year by the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (TSPS).

The award recognizes an active, registered TSPS member serving as a current or immediate past chapter president who demonstrates outstanding service to the organization and the surveying profession.

*Amanda Jonas (right) leads a TSPS Chapter 12 meeting held in collaboration with CBI and Special Collections and Archives at TAMU-CC.*

Since assuming leadership of TSPS Chapter 12 in 2023, Jonas has played an instrumental role in revitalizing the chapter, restoring regular meetings, increasing member engagement, and creating opportunities for professional development and student engagement.

“A chapter president can be the difference between a chapter becoming inactive or thriving,” said CBI Executive Director Dr. Richard Smith, who helped present the award. “Amanda reversed that trend as it is now back to being a thriving chapter of TSPS.”

Among Jonas' contributions is the establishment of the chapter's annual Fall Student Meet and Greet, which connects surveying students with practicing professionals. The inaugural event attracted more than 40 attendees and has since become a cornerstone of the chapter's outreach efforts.

*Amanda Jonas (left) poses with TAMU-CC student Sam Harris during the 3rd annual TSPS Chapter 12 Student Meet & Greet event held on Sept. 4, 2026.*

“She is a champion for education and ensuring that the next generation has opportunities to learn and interact,” said CBI's Dr. Seneca Holland, who also participated in the award presentation. “She has breathed life back into TSPS Chapter 12.”

Jonas credits former Chapter 12 President Mike MacInnis, who mentored and encouraged her early involvement in TSPS, with helping inspire her leadership.

“At first, my goal was simple: get Chapter 12 back on the state map and give our members the full value of an active chapter,” Jonas said. “To me, this award means we met that original goal: Chapter 12 is on the state map, and we are a driving force in supporting the profession as a whole.”

In addition to her chapter leadership, Jonas directs TSRC's efforts supporting the modernization of Texas' spatial reference system, advancing the tools and resources essential to the state's surveying and geospatial communities.

CBI congratulates Jonas on this well-deserved recognition and her continued contributions to the surveying profession.