Thibodeaux Becomes 7th Louisiana Woman to Earn PLS Designation

LAFAYETTE, LA — By obtaining her professional licensure, Jeanine Thibodeaux, PLS has become Fenstermaker's first ever female Professional Land Surveyor. Thibodeaux recently received word that she had passed the PS Principles and Practice of Surveying exam. According to Bill Tripoli, IT Director at the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board, “Jeanine has become the 7th woman living in Louisiana to have earned this designation, and one of the four who are actively practicing.”

Thibodeaux joined Fenstermaker in late March of 2019 as a Survey Technician with surveying experience. Upon graduation from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Thibodeaux began working as an AutoCAD Technician and Assistant Survey Technician at what was then C & C Technologies. She was then promoted to Senior Survey Technician, working with PLS project managers on boundary, route, and topographical surveys in Louisiana and Texas for both private and public sector clients. Thibodeaux continued her growth trajectory, becoming an Assistant Project Manager and GIS Mapping Analyst after having completed additional surveying courses to obtain her Land Surveying Intern (LSI) certificate.

After gaining her LSI certificate, Thibodeaux applied for licensure and was informed of a mandatory 18 months of field experience. As is the case with many women in today's workforce, Thibodeaux's familial obligations prevented her from being able to travel for multiple days at a time, and although she had a wealth of office experience, the 18 months of specified field experience was seemingly unattainable. This led Thibodeaux to table her ambitions for several years, until she joined Fenstermaker and was reinvigorated for the pursuit by Vice President of Survey, Travis Bodin, PLS. Bodin reassured Thibodeaux that she had more than enough experience and knowledge, that the dynamic of the licensing board was changing, allowing for more open consideration and flexibility.

It was Bodin's encouragement that led Thibodeaux to reapply, and he has this to say about her achievement, “Since the hiring of Jeanine in March of 2019, she has been nothing short of amazing. Her attention to detail, work ethic, and drive are second to none, and I am excited to welcome her into the profession as a licensee."