From the Field to the Finish – Exploring Surveying, Team Culture, and Community Connections – Insights from Marisa Canales, SIT

September 10, 2025

This Q&A series highlights the people behind the projects, sharing their career paths, insights, and the values that shape their work. Set within Steger Bizzell’s collaborative, purpose-driven environment, it offers perspectives on work-life balance, professional growth, and a shared commitment to making a meaningful impact.

In this edition, we spoke with Marisa Canales (SIT), Survey Manager, who shares her perspective on what makes the professional atmosphere at Steger Bizzell so unique, how past experiences have shaped her career, and what continues to motivate her as a valued member of the team.

How would you describe the atmosphere at Steger Bizzell? What makes it unique?

One of the things that makes Steger Bizzell really stand out is the fieldwork requirement for our engineers. I love that it gives us a hands-on look at the information coming straight from the field. Getting engineers out there has so many benefits—it creates a more connected workplace, since the field crews are no longer just “faces at the end of the day,” but people we know by name and through shared experience.

Plus, it’s a great way to honor the expertise of our field teams, as they get to share their knowledge and demonstrate just how valuable their work really is.

If you could summarize Steger Bizzell’s impact on the community in one statement, what would it be?

One of the things I really admire about my boss, PJ Stevens, is his dedication to the community. He serves on several boards here in Georgetown, which I think gives him a great sense of the community’s needs. That commitment is reflected in the reputation Steger Bizzell has locally.

Earlier this year, we were recommended to assist a nonprofit for foster kids, Isaiah 117 House. Thanks to our connections in the city, and a lot of heart, we were able to help them avoid costly platting and electrical easements. Honestly, it was one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever worked on, knowing that my efforts contributed to providing foster children with a warm and welcoming place of safety and comfort.

What has been the most pivotal career decision you have made, and how did it influence your path?

The most pivotal career decision I ever made was answering an ad in the paper for a job as a rodman. I barely knew what surveying was, but I’d taken a class in college and felt ready to give it a try. Some of the biggest risks in life often bring the greatest rewards. Fresh out of college, I was eager to try something new (and, honestly, I needed a job).

Twenty-one years later, surveying has been incredibly good to me. It’s a rare and highly sought-after profession—one that has stood the test of time, from the Egyptians to today, and not even AI can truly replicate it. Surveying may be imitated, but it’s never duplicated. Often, when we’re young, we think we have it all figured out, but it’s usually taking that leap into the unknown that opens the door to the path we’re meant to follow.

Describe a time when you had to meet an aggressive project deadline. What steps did you take to ensure quality control, accuracy, and project success?

One Thursday, a client called needing eight easements by Monday. I quickly gathered my team—who, by the way, are absolutely amazing—and said, “Hey, the client really needs this. It’s going to take some hard work, but we can make it happen.” And we did.

Everyone pulled together, and we delivered on time. Moments like that really show what’s possible when you have the right mix of people. I can’t say enough about our survey department—they’re rock stars who consistently go above and beyond for our clients.

I’ve worked at other companies, but Steger Bizzell is the first place where checklists were built into the process. It might sound simple, but it’s a game-changer. In the rush to get things out, details can be overlooked, or mistakes can slip through when you’ve been looking at something too long.

A checklist doesn’t forget. It forces you to pause, step through everything, and make sure nothing gets missed. On a great day, everything gets checked off. On a challenging day, the checklist gives you a chance to catch and fix issues before they reach the client. Plus, our checklists are always evolving—constantly improving to help us get closer to perfection..

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