Guida congratulates Don Thompson, EIT, LSIT,
Project Manager in our Bay Area office,
as he celebrates his 10-year anniversary with the firm!
Prior to joining Guida, Don graduated with his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University. Impressively, he was able to earn his EIT while only a sophomore. After graduation, he lived in Denver and worked at Dish Network as a Data Analyst before moving back to his native Bay Area and pursuing Land Surveying. Don came to know of Guida through a family friend and joined the firm in 2013. Having started as a CADD Tech and progressing to Project Surveyor, and ultimately Project Manager in 2016, Don has had the privilege of watching both Guida and the Bay Area office grow into what it is today.
Don has been working on PG&E projects since day one. In particular, he enjoys working on their transmission gas line replacements. He finds the work rewarding and tangible, as you can drive across much of northern California and see job sites and stations that Guida has helped create. His favorite project to date has been the Mallard Farms Chevron Pipeline project. Guida was tasked to assist with the installation of 1.8 miles of Chevron gas line under the conservation bank in Honker Bay. With minimal access and the concern for delta wildlife, boring accuracy was critical. This limited ability of access required the team to set a long-range backsight to avoid wildlife interaction. The approach was very unique, and it was an interesting process to be a part of.
Outside of the office, Don enjoys playing and watching baseball (Go Giants!). His goal is to visit all MLB stadiums nationwide; he has currently been to games at over a dozen fields. In addition, Don has taken up cooking as a hobby, both in his home kitchen as well as being a part of a competitive BBQ team, attending competitions in his free time.
When asked what advice he would give to those looking to join the land surveying field, Don urged individuals to continue their education early and streamline the process of obtaining their license. There is a significant need for licensed surveyors throughout the nation. If you start young, you will be set for life in the industry.
