From retracing the footsteps of historic surveyors in the American West to leading teams supporting critical energy infrastructure nationwide, Ken Schramm has built a career defined by technical expertise, leadership, and a passion for the surveying profession. In his new role as Senior Director of Power and Energy Surveying Operations at Atwell, Ken is helping to expand our national surveying capabilities and continuously improve the services we deliver to power and energy clients. We recently sat down with Ken to learn more about his career path as a surveyor, industry insights, and what excites him most about the future.
What inspired you to pursue a career in land surveying, and how has that evolved into supporting large-scale power and energy projects across the country?
My father was a professional land surveyor, and growing up around the profession gave me an early appreciation for the role surveyors play in shaping the built environment. As I got older, I realized surveying was a natural fit for my interests and strengths. I enjoyed mathematics, geodetic concepts, and problem solving, but I also loved being outdoors and working in different environments.
What really captured my imagination was the blend of science, history, and investigation. Particularly in cadastral surveying throughout the western United States, there is an element of archaeology and detective work involved. You’re retracing the footsteps of the original surveyors, interpreting historical records, recovering monuments, and piecing together evidence that may be over a century old.
My career evolved from solving technical challenges into leading teams and supporting large-scale power and energy projects all across the country. Today I’m motivated by developing people, advancing our profession, and helping build our nation’s critical energy infrastructure.
Tell us about what brought you to Atwell. What has stood out to you about the company’s culture and approach to solving client challenges?
I was drawn to the quality of people and opportunity for growth. Early on, I sat down with Matt Bissett (President and CEO) to discuss his vision for the future, centered on growth, innovation, and investing in people. It was clear that Atwell’s future would be people-driven, and that resonated with me. I’ve always believed that great companies are founded on great teams.
I’ve also been impressed with Atwell’s willingness to think creatively when solving client challenges. There is a strong entrepreneurial spirit throughout the company, combined with a collaborative culture across disciplines and geographies.
This is a new role at Atwell. What excites you most about the opportunity?
What excites me most is the opportunity to help build and scale a national surveying platform. As we continue to grow, there’s an opportunity to strengthen collaboration across regions, create consistency in service delivery, and ensure we continue providing an exceptional client experience.
What challenges come with serving clients and building teams on a national scale, and how do you navigate them?
One of the biggest challenges is maintaining consistency across multiple regions while still recognizing that every market and project has unique needs. Success depends on clear communication, strong quality standards, and a culture where teams openly share knowledge and support one another. Building that culture requires ongoing mentorship and investment in people.
How have emerging technologies changed the surveying industry during your career, and how has your role evolved alongside those changes?
The surveying industry has changed dramatically over the course of my career. These advancements have improved efficiency and expanded the amount of information we can deliver to clients. However, technology hasn’t replaced the need for experienced professionals. While collecting data is easier than ever, ensuring that data is accurate, reliable, and defensible still requires a strong understanding of surveying principles, geodetic concepts, coordinate systems, and sound professional judgment.
My role has evolved alongside those changes. Today, I work with leaders and teams across the country to establish standards, improve processes, and promote consistent execution across projects. As power, energy, and infrastructure projects become larger and more complex, I take pride in helping ensure our clients can rely on the survey data that serves as the foundation for critical decisions.
Looking ahead, where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth and innovation in the power and energy sector?
Demand for infrastructure, renewable energy, transmission, and grid modernization continues to grow, and surveyors will play a critical role in supporting those projects. As the complexity and scale of projects increase, the need for highly skilled survey professionals and reliable geospatial data will only become more important. One of my goals is to help develop programs and talent that make Atwell the unquestionable choice for land surveying services.
I also believe emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), present exciting opportunities for our profession. With the potential to improve efficiency, assist with data management, identify patterns, and help automate repetitive tasks, I view AI as a tool that should enhance our work and empower the critical thinking, judgment, and technical knowledge of our professionals. Organizations that combine strong fundamentals with thoughtful innovation will lead the future of our industry.
What is a career moment you’re particularly proud of, and why does it stand out?
While I’ve been fortunate to lead and support some very challenging and rewarding projects, I’m most proud of the impact I’ve had on people. The surveying profession has faced ongoing challenges in attracting and developing the next generation of surveyors, particularly younger professionals, women, and future licensed surveyors. I’ve had the opportunity to mentor and work alongside many talented professionals as they developed their technical skills and leadership abilities.
There is nothing more rewarding to me than seeing someone grow from an entry-level professional into a trusted leader, project manager, or licensed surveyor.
What do enjoy outside of work?
Family is my first priority. Spending time with family is incredibly important to me, and living in Wyoming gives us plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors together through hunting, fishing, camping, and other outdoor activities. My daughter was just married, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.
During the winter months, my wife and I enjoy spending quality time together working on home improvement projects. She has a real talent for interior design, and I enjoy helping bring her ideas to life. It’s something we enjoy doing together and a great way to stay busy during the colder months.
And lastly, golf is probably my biggest personal passion. Golf is a game that constantly challenges you to improve, no matter how long you’ve been playing, and I think that’s one of the reasons I enjoy it so much.
