2025, No. 2

“… to establish and maintain a high standard of integrity, skills, and practice in the technical professions and to safeguard the health, safety, property, and welfare of the public …” (K.S.A. 74-7004)

Spread the Word: New Threat to Licensed Professionals

There is a new threat to licensed professions: the unlawful use of license numbers with fake signatures for stamped plans submitted for permitting by people offering technical professional services on freelance websites.

Spreading the word about the threat is important for the health, safety, property, and welfare of the public and because there currently is no way to stop access to what many believe is the way they are getting license numbers. It appears that freelancers are accessing license numbers from online license-verification pages. In Kansas, license numbers are available to the public by law (see K.S.A. 48-3406(p) and (q)).

Websites like Fiverr.com and Upwork.com are, according to Wikipedia, “multinational online marketplaces for freelance services”. It is unknown how many times online freelancers have practiced technical professions unlawfully, how many unlawful freelancers are online, or how many freelance websites there are. In addition, the websites will not release any identifying information about the freelancers without court orders. Reports often arise only because someone knew the person whose name was on a stamp and knew that person was not likely to be the one who stamped the plans.

What they offer

On freelance websites, sellers offer services like “USA stamped plans”. Some of them will offer services in specific states, but many say something like “Licensed U.S. Architect Stamp.” The descriptions of their services often contain numerous grammatical errors.

How they work

On their freelance listings, sellers typically offer only first names, with maybe last initials, and communication via e-mail addresses. They do not typically provide phone numbers, full names, addresses, or any identifying information. A few sellers also have websites with phone numbers or 24-hour, online chats. To date, however, this author has not been able to communicate with anyone via telephone. Once communicating with them, some pretend to be the person whose license number they plan to use. They often say things like “We work with a network of engineers in your state.”

Once communication starts, sellers typically ask potential clients to send them PDF versions of the plans that need to be stamped or drawings that can be used to make plans. When pressed for details or contact information, they often say they must have the plans to review before any further communication can occur. Once they have documents from potential clients, it is unknown how much they do to the plans or what skills and tools they use to make plans from drawings. They then go to a license-verification website and simply take the license number and name of a technical professional, make and use a digital stamp in accord with the publicly available requirements in statutes and regulations, and stamp and seal the plans with fake signatures before sending them to clients. Local permitting officials often return the plans to the clients due to numerous errors.

What you can do

• Share this article, especially with permitting offices and city officials.
• Follow all requirements for sending stamped PDF files.
• Permitting offices should call to verify the identities of the technical professionals on every stamp and verify that signatures match, even for technical professionals who do work in their locales because their license numbers also could be used unlawfully.
• Contractors and builders should use only technical professionals they know have drawn the plans that are being submitted for permitting.

About the author: Jody Crow, P.E., has investigated numerous complaints for KSBTP. The information in this article does not reflect any stance taken by or views of the Board.

Scam Alert

A dangerous scam is actively targeting licensees and applicants, attempting to trick individuals into downloading malicious software. It falsely instructs e-mail recipients to download a “new license software.” Clicking on the link in the e-mail and following the instructions may result in the automatic download of malicious software onto your device. An example of a fraudulent e-mail follows.

KSBTP does not utilize or require any new software downloads for license renewal or application processes. Furthermore, it never will request that applicants or licensees download software onto their devices. Never click on any suspicious links. Report any e-mail or text message you receive containing a similar message to the Federal Trade Commission (ReportFraud.ftc.gov).

2025–2026 Board Members

	Trudy Faulkner, Arch., Chair		Bill Haverkamp, P.S., Vice Chair		Jennifer Taylor, P.E., Secretary		Kimberly Kramer, P.E., Past Chair
		John Lilak, P.S., PE/PS Cmte Chair			Doug Louis, P.G., Arch/LA/PG Cmte Chair
	Mike Armour, P.E., P.S.		Derek Jackson, Public Member		Joe Johnson, Arch.		Carisa McMullen, L.A.
		Wendy Ornelas, Arch.		Jack Poole, P.E.		Heidi Thummel, Public Member

Governor Appoints New PE/PS & Public Members to KSBTP

Mike Armour was appointed to KSBTP in July 2025. He is a licensed professional engineer and land surveyor. He graduated from Conception Seminary College in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and from Kansas State University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Upon graduation from KSU, he went to work for the City of Wichita and eventually served as the special projects engineer, overseeing the city’s freeway projects. In 2019, he moved into his current position as the city’s traffic engineer, where he oversees traffic-signal design, roadway safety improvements, right-of-way permitting, and coordination with the railroads.

Armour credits his father, who is a licensed professional engineer and land surveyor, with his path of becoming an engineer and surveyor. Growing up, he helped his father on the weekends with surveys, mostly in rural areas of the county. In 2020, he became a licensed professional surveyor. He has more than 30 years of land surveying experience, specializing in rural boundaries.

He is a member of the Kansas Society of Land Surveyors, American Society of Civil Engineers, and Kansas Society of Professional Engineers.

Armour’s Board term expires June 30, 2029.

Heidi Thummel was appointed to KSBTP as a public member in July 2025. She graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in communications. From 2000 to 2023, she worked for three ENR Top 500 firms in the areas of business development, operations, and public involvement for infrastructure projects. In 2023, she founded Cuneo Consulting and currently advises clients on matters related to strategic growth and operations.

Currently she is the volunteer chairperson for the Johnson County Transit Council. She is a former board member of the Kansas City Chapter of the American Public Works Association, WTS-Kansas City Chapter, and 2019 chair of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce.

Thummel’s Board term expires June 30, 2028.

Kramer Recognized for Public Service

This year’s recipient of the Larry E. and Laurel Erickson Public Service Award at Kansas State University was Kimberly Waggle Kramer, professor in the GE Johnson Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science. She also is a PE member of KSBTP and was the Board’s 2024–2025 chair.

Through her sustained involvement with several technical and governance organizations, Kramer has made and continues to have tremendous, positive effects on the construction industry as a whole. She has accomplished that by sharing her knowledge and experience within professional engineering communities to further public safety and by educating and mentoring future generations of emerging professionals to increase the potential of their future contributions to the public.

The award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has been employed in the Kansas State University Carl R. Ice College of Engineering for at least five years and has demonstrated exemplary public service. Awardees receive a $2,500 cash prize. More information is available on the college’s website.
 
In the photo: Kimberly Kramer, Ph.D., P.E., S.E., and her fellow Board members mark the conclusion of her term as chair following the July 2025 Board meeting.

McMullen Elected to ASLA Council of Fellows

In June, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) announced the election of Carisa McMullen of Landworks Studio, who is the LA member of KSBTP, as an ASLA Fellow. ASLA Fellows are recognized for their exceptional contributions to the landscape architecture profession and society at large. Election to the ASLA Council of Fellows is among the highest honors the ASLA bestows on members and is based on works, leadership, management, knowledge, and service.

McMullen has dedicated her career to promoting and improving landscape architecture through leadership in international, national, regional, and local organizations. She created her own practice committed to exposing the public to and teaching others about the profession of landscape architecture. Her ability to recognize underlying challenges or obstacles, bring them to the forefront, and work alongside others to solve issues in creative ways has yielded exceptional accomplishments, and her fingerprints can be found in and around her neighborhood and international community dating back decades.

McMullen has created opportunities and strategically accepted volunteer positions that advance her beliefs and policies about the profession, allowing her to authentically lead and manage organizations. She also is the 2019 recipient of the Prairie Gateway Chapter’s highest honor, the Alton B. Thomas Award, which recognizes performance that directly promotes or enhances landscape architecture.

The newest ASLA Fellows were elevated during a special investiture ceremony at the 2025 Conference on Landscape Architecture in New Orleans in October.

KSS Exam Committee Meets

KSBTP’s ad hoc KSS exam committee met in September. Professional Surveyors from all areas of the state and from all practice areas are involved in the committee. It includes fairly new licensees and mid-career and “seasoned” surveyors. Thirteen people attended the daylong meeting, at which committee members discussed the Kansas State Specific (KSS) exam: its format (two parts), topic areas, and the share of total points for each topic area. No changes were recommended to the topic areas or their percentages. The bank of exam questions was reviewed to ensure each question was applicable and current. Additional questions were written.

The group discussed the current trends in surveying education in Kansas. They recognized the need for robust offerings in the state, something currently lacking. Individuals from the group and others will continue to work to address that situation.

For the foreseeable future, the KSS exam will remain basically the same, with perhaps some change in scope, but all to test the applicants’ (both by exam and by reciprocity) knowledge of Kansas surveying statutes, its rules, its U.S. Public Land Survey System, and Kansas surveying practice.

About the author: Dick Elgin, Ph.D., P.S., P.E., is the KSS exam consultant for KSBTP. The information in this article does not reflect any stance taken by or views of the Board.

Welcome, Stephanie

Stephanie Bresler joined KSBTP September 15, 2025, as the administrative assistant. She attended Ivy Tech Community College for business administration and general studies, and she previously worked at Washburn University. She and her husband got married this year, celebrating with family in her hometown. She enjoys painting, baking, and spending time with her family and pets.

KSBTP Is on LinkedIn

Follow KSBTP on LinkedIn for renewal reminders, updates from the national licensure examination councils, announcements from the Board office, meeting agendas, and more.

Next Committee & Board Meetings

The next round of committee and Board meetings will be December 18–19, 2025. Agendas will be available on the KSBTP & Kansas Public Square websites by December 11.

Renewal Dates for 2025–2026

If you or your license has been disciplined since your last renewal, you must complete the paper form and mail your renewal, your payment, and all legal paperwork associated with the discipline to the Board office.

You may not practice or offer to practice a technical profession in Kansas after the expiration date until successfully renewed or reinstated.

KSBTP License Counts

As of September 1, 2025.

A Look at Dual Licensees

Congratulations, New Licensees

By exam, between January 1 and June 30, 2025.

Architect

Landscape Architect

Professional Engineer

Professional Geologist

Professional Surveyor

Disciplinary Actions

Revocations, suspensions, and aggregate fines of $500 or greater issued to licensees and Certificates of Authorization (COAs) between January 1 and June 30, 2025.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the enforcement information here is correct; however, it should not be relied upon without verification from the Board office. Note that the names of listed individuals and companies may be similar to those of parties that have not had enforcement actions taken against them. Disciplinary orders are public information, and copies may be obtained by contacting the Board office.

Complaints Procedure: To notify the Board office of an alleged violation or to file a complaint, use the File a Complaint form provided on its website. The form must be submitted to the Board office with complete information, including the name and address of the person submitting it.

Technical Submissions is the newsletter of the Kansas State Board of Technical Professions.

785-296-3053 • ksbtpadmin@ks.gov • www.ksbtp.ks.gov

Executive Director, Brad Parker • Office Manager, Megan Hughes Jasman • Licensing Administrator, Kimberly Ochoa • Licensing Technician, Maria Sanchez • Administrative Assistant, Stephanie Bresler