The Florida Surveying and Mapping Society

What The Florida Surveying and Mapping Society does

The Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS) is a private non-profit professional association founded in 1955 (originally as the Florida Society of Professional Land Surveyors) and headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida. It represents licensed Professional Surveyors and Mappers (PSMs), geospatial professionals, surveying students, government surveyors, and sustaining firms across Florida. The society operates through 19 local chapters statewide and delivers a portfolio of member services including membership programs (Full, Government, Sustaining Firm, Associate, Affiliate, Retired, and Student tiers), continuing education (correspondence courses, eLearning via MCLMS, and Seminars at Sea), an annual conference with 600+ attendees and 50+ exhibitors, certification support for CST, GISP, CFS, CFM, and CFedS credentials, The Florida Surveyor digital magazine, a job posting board, scholarship programs in partnership with the University of Florida and Florida Atlantic University, and a political action committee (FSMPAC) for legislative advocacy.

FSMS generates revenue through a diversified mix of recurring membership dues (Full member $155/year, Government $123, Sustaining Firm $150, Associate/Affiliate/Retired $25, Student free), conference registration and exhibitor/sponsorship fees (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Conference tiers), continuing education course fees ($58-$125 per course), digital magazine advertising ($575-$720 per issue, $500/month homepage banner), job board postings ($200/month or $2,400/year), and merchandise sales. Its core technology is built around digital membership management, a third-party learning management system (MCLMS) for online education delivery, online event registration, and the Issuu digital publishing platform for The Florida Surveyor magazine. The society holds Florida continuing education provider status (FL Provider No. 11), which creates a regulatory moat tied to the mandatory 24-CEC biennial renewal requirement for PSMs.

Name

The Florida Surveying and Mapping Society

Legal name

Florida Surveying and Mapping Society

Website

https://fsms.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS) is a 501(c)-style non-profit professional association founded in 1955, serving Florida's licensed surveyors, geospatial professionals, sustaining firms, and surveying students through 19 local chapters, continuing education, an annual conference, and legislative advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from licensed surveyors, government surveyors, sustaining firms, associates, affiliates, retired members, and students. Membership runs January 1st to December 31st annually.
2. Annual Conference Revenue: Registration fees for the annual conference and trade show. The 71st Annual Conference is held at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa with hundreds of attendees and over 50 exhibitors.
3. Continuing Education: Revenue from correspondence courses (6 CEC and 3 CEC options) and eLearning courses. FSMS is FL Provider No. 11 for continuing education credits.
4. Advertising - The Florida Surveyor: Digital magazine advertising with tiered pricing based on ad size. Full page ads at $720 (1 issue) or $395 (2-11 issues), with various other ad sizes available.
5. Job Postings: Annual pricing at $2400 ($200/month) or monthly pricing at $250 for first month, $200 for subsequent months. Discounts available for organizations advertising in The Florida Surveyor (30%) and Sustaining Firms (20%).
6. Merchandise Sales: FSMS branded apparel including polo shirts ($30-$33), button-down shirts ($30-$43), jackets ($47-$63), and t-shirts ($10-$20) with size-based pricing.
7. Sponsorships: Conference exhibitor booth fees and various sponsorship tiers including Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Conference-level sponsorships for the annual conference and Seminars at Sea.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

FSMS is a private non-profit professional membership society that represents and serves the licensed surveying and mapping profession in Florida through tiered membership programs, state-approved continuing education (FL Provider No. 11) via correspondence courses and an online LMS, an annual conference and trade show, the Seminars at Sea cruise program, a digital industry magazine, certification support, job postings, scholarships, and legislative advocacy via FSMPAC. It sustains a community-led network of 19 local chapters across Florida and is funded primarily through membership dues, event and course fees, advertising, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

The Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS) is a professional membership organization founded in 1955, not a product company in the traditional sense. The organization provides a portfolio of member services including: membership programs with various tiers and benefits, continuing education through correspondence courses and an eLearning platform, annual conferences and the Seminars at Sea educational cruise program, The Florida Surveyor digital magazine publication, certification support for CST, GISP, CFS, CFM, and CFedS credentials, a job posting board for surveying professionals, scholarship programs for students in surveying/geomatics programs, a firm directory of sustaining member companies, a disaster relief fund for members, a crime center for tracking equipment thefts, and a political action committee for legislative advocacy. The organization represents professionals across geospatial fields including photogrammetry, GIS, GPS, remote sensing, cartography, geodesy, and geomatics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FSMS Membership Programs Tiered professional membership organization offering Full ($155/year), Government Surveyor ($123/year), Sustaining Firm ($150/year), Associate ($25/year), Affiliate ($25/year), Retired ($25/year), and Student (Free) memberships. Full and Government members receive a voucher for 3 free CECs, email bulletins, discounted event rates, NSPS membership, voting rights, and eligibility to hold office. Sustaining Firms receive a firm directory listing, publication in The Florida Surveyor, 20% discount on job postings, and 15% advertising discount.
• Continuing Education Courses (Correspondence) State-approved correspondence courses offering Continuing Education Credits (CECs) for licensed Professional Surveyors and Mappers in Florida. Available in 6 CEC ($115 emailed / $125 mailed) and 3 CEC ($58 emailed / $68 mailed) options, with topics including Prime Meridian Marker history, Real Property basics, Digital Signatures, Easements, and Photogrammetry. Notarized certificates available for an additional $10/certificate.
• eLearning Platform (MCLMS) Online Learning Management System (MCLMS) accessible at fsms.mclms.net providing self-paced web-based continuing education courses for surveying professionals, allowing members to earn CECs on demand.
• FSMS Annual Conference and Trade Show Annual professional conference and trade show providing surveying and mapping education, networking, and an exhibition floor with 50+ exhibitors. Attracts 600+ attendees annually and is one of the largest Surveying and Mapping Trade Shows in the Southeast US. Held at venues such as the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa.
• Seminars at Sea Educational Cruise Educational cruise program offering 24 Continuing Education Credits (CECs) through live onboard classes and accompanying correspondence courses. Combines professional development with a vacation experience for surveyors. The 2026 itinerary runs from NYC to Nova Scotia aboard the Majestic Princess.
• The Florida Surveyor Digital Magazine Monthly digital publication targeting professional surveyors across geospatial-related fields including photogrammetry, GIS, GPS, cartography, and geodesy. Distributed through the Issuu platform with clickable ads linked to advertiser websites. Full page ads priced at $720 for 1 issue or $395 per issue for 2-11 issues.
• Certification Programs Support FSMS supports members pursuing professional certifications including NSPS Certified Survey Technician (CST), GISP, NSPS-THSOA Hydrographer Certification (CMH/CH), Certified Floodplain Surveyor (CFS), Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM), and Certified Federal Surveyor (CFedS), providing resources and pathways to credentialing.
• Job Posting Services
• FSMS Scholarship Programs
• Sustaining Firm Directory
• Disaster Relief Fund
• FSMS Crime Center
• FSMPAC (Political Action Committee)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600 attendees at Annual Conference
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Geospatial Users Group (GUG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026FSMS collaborates with the Geospatial Users Group, hosting joint meetings and sharing resources for geospatial professionals in Florida.
• National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSMS provides NSPS membership to Full and Government members as a benefit. NSPS offers disaster relief, certification programs, and national representation for the profession.
• Duncan-ParnellcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor and exhibitor for the 71st Annual Conference. Also sponsors Young Surveyors Network Event.
• Frontier Precision UnmannedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for the 71st Annual Conference. Provider of unmanned aerial solutions for surveying.
• Phoenix Lidar SystemscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for the 71st Annual Conference. Provider of LiDAR sensor technology.
• TopoDOTcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for the 71st Annual Conference. Provider of point cloud processing solutions.
• TrimbleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibitor Reception sponsor for the 71st Annual Conference. Major provider of surveying technology and GPS equipment.
• Leica GeosystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference-level exhibitor for the 71st Annual Conference. Provider of surveying instruments and mobile mapping systems.
• WoolpertminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference-level exhibitor and Program Book Back Cover sponsor. National geospatial and architecture/engineering firm.
• University of Florida - School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Florida Surveying & Mapping Society Endowed Scholarship and Carl E. Johnson Memorial Award. UF is an ABET-accredited Geomatics program location.
• Florida Atlantic University - Geomatics EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABET-accredited Geomatics Engineering program. Gratis booth sponsor at Annual Conference. Provides pathway for surveyor education.
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) BPSMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory body overseeing professional surveyors and mappers in Florida. FSMS assists members with licensing compliance and CE requirements.
• NOAA National Geodetic SurveyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGratis booth exhibitor at Annual Conference. Federal agency providing positioning and orientation data critical to surveying.
• JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & SpaminorOthersHost venue for the 71st Annual FSMS Conference (July 29 - August 1, 2026). Provides discounted group rates including Junior Suites at $309/night.
• Princess Cruises - Majestic PrincessminorOthersVessel for Seminars at Sea 2026 cruise. 7-night itinerary from NYC to Newport, Boston, Saint John (Canada), and Halifax (Nova Scotia).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (TSPS): State-level professional surveying society serving Texas surveyors with membership tiers, annual conventions, continuing education, and legislative advocacy. Highly comparable to FSMS in structure, services, and revenue model, but operating in a different (and larger) state.
• California Land Surveyors Association (CLSA): California's statewide professional association for land surveyors, offering membership, education, conferences, and legislative advocacy. Structurally the most direct analog to FSMS given both states have large licensed-surveyor populations and state-specific PSM/PLS renewal requirements.
• New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors (NYSAPLS): New York state professional surveying society providing membership, education, legislative advocacy, and an annual conference. Comparable in service mix and member type to FSMS, but operating under New York's licensing framework rather than Florida's PSM regime.

Broad incumbents

• URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association): International association for GIS and geospatial information professionals, offering education, conferences, and credentialing (GISCI-related). Directly comparable to FSMS's GIS/LIS segment and member educational programming.
• American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS): National scientific society serving the broader geospatial/photogrammetry/remote-sensing community with certifications (CP, CMS), conferences, and publications. Comparable to the geospatial side of FSMS's mission and overlapping with FSMS members practicing photogrammetry and remote sensing.

Others

• Florida Association of County Engineers and Road Superintendents (FACERS): Florida-based professional association for county engineers and road superintendents, with overlapping public-sector surveying/mapping members and complementary continuing-education programming. Comparable as a regional Florida professional society serving adjacent infrastructure disciplines.

Emerging players

• The Hydrographic Society of America (THSOA/NSPS-THSOA): U.S. hydrography-focused professional society that co-administers the Hydrographer Certification (CMH/CH) which FSMS supports. Overlaps with FSMS's bathymetric and hydrographic surveying members and represents a specialized peer in certification and advocacy.
• AAGS (American Association for Geodetic Surveying): Member organization focused on geodetic surveying, positioning, and related standards — many FSMS members working in geodetic/GNSS workflows would also engage with AAGS. Comparable in professional-society function and overlapping membership audience.

Direct peers

• National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS): The national professional society for surveyors in the U.S. and the umbrella organization with which FSMS partners (Full and Government FSMS members receive NSPS membership). It offers overlapping services — certification (CST, CFedS), advocacy, education, and national representation — making it the closest functional analog at a different geographic scope.
• GIS Certification Institute (GISCI): Organization administering the GISP certification, which FSMS explicitly supports as part of its certification portfolio. Overlaps directly in the credentialing function FSMS offers its members and serves a substantially overlapping geospatial-professional audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FSMS_FL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-mAqYQ7w82CDpTEk5utTRg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Florida-Surveying-Mapping-Society-159202557444827
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/florida-surveying-and-mapping-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/flsurveyingmapping

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Florida Surveying and Mapping Society