Joe Sather Has Been Making the Most of Opportunities for 20 Years
“Be humble, be patient, and take ownership. Opportunities are going to come. When they do, take ownership and make the most of them.”
That mindset has guided Joe Sather, survey project manager, throughout his 20-year journey at JEO. He speaks from personal experience. Joe initially earned a degree in geography from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with the intent to pursue GIS and cartography (map-making).
Post-graduation, he was unsure of his next move until he had a conversation with his grandfather, who had done some surveying work while serving in the military. The conversation sparked an idea.
Joe didn’t know anything about the surveying profession, but after doing some research he discovered that Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska, offered an 18-month program. It was there, through a co-op program, that he was introduced to JEO.
He’s been with the company ever since. Along the way, he has been able to use his geography degree for GIS work, including serving on the Nebraska GIS/LIS board for five years. He is the current GIS Committee chair of the Professional Surveyor’s Association of Nebraska.
Rising to the challenge
Joe recalls a memorable project that pushed his team to rethink their entire approach. The scale was daunting, but through collaboration and innovation, they delivered. It was a long and challenging effort that initially felt impossible, Joe said, but it gave the team confidence to tackle anything.
Why JEO
After 20 years at JEO, Joe says it’s the people, the culture, and the sense of home that have kept him here. It feels like family, and he’s been given the freedom to grow and take on new challenges, he shared.
“At JEO, you’re never sitting still—there’s always room for growth.”
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