Introducing Gerry Pina
Meet our newest team member, Gerry Pina! Gerry joined McInnis Engineering in October and has been a great addition to our team. Keep reading to learn a little about him and how things are going so far.
From Gerry —
“After graduating from the University of Washington with a bachelors in Material Science Engineering I began searching for a position that not only combined my technical and interpersonal skills but also one with a collaborative work environment. I started working at McInnis engineering in October of this year and within the two months of being a part of the team I have found that I entered one of the most supportive and collaborative work environments I have ever had the privilege of being apart of.
The nature of our work requires good communication and facilitation to succeed, and I have seen firsthand the efficient workflow that is produced at this organization. There is a strong emphasis on the quality of work produced here and it is achieved through the steps taken to ensure every member of the team has the information and tools they need to be successful.
Learning the skills needed for my position and adapting to my new role was made enjoyable through the supportive nature of all who work here. There is a level of care in the work that we do, and the relationships built with our clients that is unparalleled. This level of care all ties back to the collaboration of the good people that make up the team.
Additionally, the work-life balance is wonderful; even though hard work is highly valued, there is a generous number of social gatherings and downtime to pair with it. Working here has allowed me to improve my skills in engineering and generated an environment for me to develop new skills needed to be successful in my career.
Above all else McInnis Engineering has fostered a fun and warm environment to work in and I am grateful to be a part of the team.“
This Week in Survey: Expanding Our Capabilities by Land,
Air—and Water
Aug 11 2025
At McInnis Engineering, we’re committed to delivering uncommon engineering value—and that means continually investing in tools that improve accuracy, efficiency, and outcomes for our clients. This week, we’re excited to share some major upgrades to our survey equipment that expand our capabilities across Pierce, Thurston, and King Counties.
Eyes in the Sky: DJI Matrice 4E RTK Drone
We’ve added a DJI Matrice 4E RTK drone to our survey toolkit. This isn’t your hobby drone—it’s a precision-engineered workhorse equipped with real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning for centimeter-level accuracy. The Matrice 4E allows us to quickly capture high-resolution aerial data, generate detailed topographic surfaces, and perform volumetric calculations with speed and precision.
Whether we're mapping large development sites, tracking construction progress, or surveying hard-to-access terrain, this drone allows us to do more in less time—without compromising accuracy.
Boots on the Ground: New Leica Total Stations and GPS Units
In addition to the drone, we’ve upgraded to Leica’s top-tier survey instruments, including total stations and GNSS gear that set the industry standard. These tools improve field efficiency, reduce errors, and allow us to handle complex survey conditions with confidence.
For clients, this means faster turnaround, reliable data, and survey crews equipped to tackle the toughest site challenges.
Into the Water: A Boat for Pond Surveying
Not every job stays on dry ground. We’ve also added a survey vessel to support work in ponds, wetlands, and other water bodies. This boat is equipped for shallow water surveying, and it helps us safely and accurately gather data where traditional equipment can’t go.
It’s a key part of our commitment to environmental and stormwater-related survey work, which continues to grow throughout the region.
Why It Matters
These investments aren’t just about having cool gadgets—they’re about giving our clients better information, faster. Whether it’s a preliminary site survey, an as-built for a stormwater pond, or topographic data for design work, we’re bringing the best tools to the job.
If you’ve got a project coming up that needs surveying—whether by land, air, or water—we’d be glad to talk.