Industry events have long played an important role in bringing surveyors together and building professional relationships. As the surveying profession has evolved and younger generations have entered the field, organizers began asking the question: How do you create an event that continues to bring experienced surveyors together while also appealing to the next generation?
The question led to the creation of Geo • Games • Gala.
Held at Corbett’s in Tucson, Arizona on October 23rd, 2026, the inaugural event was built around a different approach than a traditional industry gathering. Rather than filling the afternoon with structured programming and presentations, organizers focused on creating opportunities for people to interact.
Between the games, sponsor exhibits, trivia challenges, and gathering spaces spread throughout the venue, there was always something happening and someone to talk to.
According to organizer Brian Laird, RICK Associate Principal, the event was intentionally designed to prioritize interaction over formal programming.
“Not teaching, not learning, not presenting . . . just interacting with everyone from different companies, different agencies, different adjacent industries, and having a little fun.” —Brian Laird, Associate Principal
One of the event’s strengths was the Corbett’s venue itself. The activities were spread throughout the property, with the stage area serving as home base for trivia and the central cabana giving attendees a place to meet with sponsors and vendors. Pickleball courts were the spot for several survey-themed challenges, and the bar and picnic table areas offered space for people to sit down and catch up with one another. The event felt active from start to finish and gave people many opportunities to slow down and spend time with one another.
“This event gave me an opportunity to meet and interact with surveyors at different levels. As a fresh RLS, I was thrilled by how invested the older surveyors were in connecting and sharing knowledge with younger talent. One longtime surveyor shared his contact information and encouraged me to call him directly if I ever had questions. It showed me how invested many experienced surveyors are in helping the next generation succeed.” —Brian Lubega, RLS, Associate Survey Analyst
The event brought together a mix of people from across the surveying community, something many attendees noticed throughout the afternoon. Several commented on the strong turnout, particularly among individuals who don’t typically attend industry meetings and events, with some traveling from out of state to attend.
“I really appreciated the exposure and being able to connect with people whose names I’ve heard mentioned while working on projects over the past year and a half. It was great to meet surveyors, suppliers, and industry representatives in a casual setting, learn how everyone found their way into surveying, and realize I’m not the only one who made a non-traditional pivot into the industry.” —Kevin Leon, Associate Survey Analyst
One sponsor brought a friend who was considering a career in surveying. After spending the afternoon getting to know people in the industry, he left with a better understanding of what surveyors do and a firsthand appreciation for the camaraderie within the surveying community.
Looking ahead, Laird sees plenty of opportunities to build on the success of this year’s event and expand its reach even further. He believes the event can continue to grow by reaching students earlier and building stronger relationships with local colleges and technical education programs, and he hopes to engage more people who may be considering a future in the profession but have not yet been introduced to the surveying community. Just as importantly, he hopes to continue attracting surveyors who may not regularly participate in industry meetings or association events, building on one of the most notable aspects of this year’s turnout.
As the event began winding down, a few surveyors who had spent part of the afternoon on the pickleball courts pulled up chairs and kept the conversation going long after the scheduled activities had ended.
“The event was over, but people were still sitting around talking. Nobody seemed to be in a hurry to leave, and that told me we had created something people genuinely wanted to be a part of. In that moment, I knew we had created something worth bringing back.” —Brian Laird
