ABOUT

MORRIS LAND SURVEYS

Morris Land Surveys PLLC is a private firm centrally located in Choteau, Montana.  Founded in 2008 by Matthew D Morris, the firm initially provided Professional Land Surveying services throughout North Central Montana.  The firm has grown, along with a loyal client base, to offer services that include: Professional Land Surveying, Civil Engineering, Geographic Information Systems and Mapping, Development Consulting and Permitting, and Construction Inspection Services.

Morris Land Surveys’ philosophy is to provide an unparalleled service to clientele, by producing professional deliverables, based on project parameters, while allowing for personal and professional growth in the field of surveying, engineering, and land development.  The firm is comprised of talented professional personnel and utilizes the most modern equipment to offer efficient professional services, including a full array of land surveying and civil engineering capabilities.  We are fond of the projects we take part in, and enjoy the time we spend developing clientele’s vision into reality.

Morris Land Surveys

THE TEAM

Matt Morris, a licensed Professional Land Surveyor, has a bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering and a Business Administration Minor from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. Matt began his surveying career while studying at Montana State University. After college graduation, Matt joined Pierson Land Works, LLC in Jackson Wyoming performing multiple tasks associated with surveying. After gaining Licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor in Montana (2007), Matt moved back to Choteau to work for the family business, Morris Construction. In 2008 at the request of a few friends in the Choteau community, Matt opened Morris Land Surveys, PLLC.

Since opening in 2008 Matt through the firm has completed both minor and major subdivisions of land, and divisions of land exempt from review including family member transfers and boundary line adjustments. Specializing in boundary-related services such as researching historic documents related to land ownership and work in the United States Public Land Survey System, Matt is also experienced in all aspects of construction staking. After gaining licensure in Montana, Matt obtained Licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor in Idaho and Wyoming and obtained the credentials to be a Certified Federal Land Surveyor. Matt is the principal of and senior project manager for Morris Land Surveys, PLLC.

Matt is active in the Montana Association of Registered Land Surveyors and was elected as the President of the North Central Chapter of the Montana Association of Registered Land Surveyors in 2009, in 2012 was elected to be the President of the Montana Association for the 2013-2014 term, and has been serving as the Montana Director for the National Society of Professional Surveyors since his appointment in 2014. He is also active in the family Construction Business and serves on local civic boards including as the Chairman of the Teton County Cemetery Board of Trustees.

Mark Larson, a licensed Professional Land Surveyor and Engineer Intern, has a bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering and Civil Engineering from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. Mark began his surveying career while studying at Montana State University working as a Teacher’s Assistant in several surveying classes as well as working for Alpine Surveying in Bozeman during the school year and for Woith Engineering, Inc. in Great Falls during semester breaks. After college graduation, Mark joined Woith Engineering, Inc. performing multiple tasks associated with surveying and engineering, gaining Licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor in Montana in 2011.

Mark has professional experience in both minor and major subdivisions of land, divisions of land exempt from review including family member transfers, boundary line adjustments, and in all aspects of construction staking.

Mark is active in the Montana Association of Registered Land Surveyors and was elected as the President of the North Central Chapter of the Montana Association of Registered Land Surveyors in 2012-present. He is also still active in the family Ranching Business, he is an Officer of the Sons of the American Legion, Squadron #6, is currently serving as the President of the Trinity Lutheran Church Council, and is a Hunter’s Education Instructor.

Cotton D. Jones, a licensed Professional Land Surveyor, has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Certificate of Completion in Land Surveying from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming. Cotton began his surveying career in the early 1990s with Intermountain Professional Services in Cheyenne, Wyoming as well as Steil Serving Service, LLC and AVI, p.c. performing multiple tasks associated with surveying. Gaining Licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor in Colorado (2002) and Wyoming (2003), Cotton continued to work for AVI for a short time and later went on to become City Surveyor in Cheyenne and finally Survey Operations Manager for Lochner Engineering in 2006. While employed by Lochner Cotton also became licensed in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada and obtained the credentials to be a Certified Federal Land Surveyor in early 2008 which are all still current today. Due to the economic downturn in 2009, Lochner Engineering closed its doors in Wyoming forcing Cotton to open his own survey firm Jones Land Surveying, Inc. which he currently owns and operates in Cheyenne.

Since incorporating the business in 2006 and officially opening the doors for business in 2009, Cotton through the firm has completed both minor and major subdivisions of land, and divisions of land exempt from review including family member transfers and boundary line adjustments. Specializing in boundary-related services such as researching historic documents related to land ownership and work in the United States Public Land Survey System, Cotton is also experienced in all aspects of construction staking. Cotton continues as the principal of and senior project manager for Jones Land Surveying, Inc., and assists the staff at Morris Land Surveys as a consulting surveyor.

Cotton is active in the Professional Land Surveyors of Wyoming and was elected as the President of the Southeast Chapter of the Professional Land Surveyors of Wyoming in 2005, in 2011 was elected to be the President of the Professional Land Surveyors of Wyoming for the 2011-2013 terms. In 2004 was appointed as the Wyoming Governor/ Director for the National Society of Professional Surveyors and still currently holds this position. He is a member of the University of Wyoming Land Survey Advisory Board and a volunteer for Cheyenne Frontier Days for the past 28 years.

Brandon Lightner, a licensed Professional Land Surveyor, has over nine years of experience in the surveying profession. He is currently pursuing the surveying certificate through the University of Wyoming’s Outreach School and has completed 32 credit hours of related coursework. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Business with an Entrepreneurship Minor from Montana State University. In 2010, Brandon began work at the Helena Branch of Kadrmas Lee and Jackson as part of a surveying field crew. During his nearly nine years of employment there, Brandon gained experience performing a diverse range of different surveying tasks, including retracing original United States Public Land Surveys, drafting certificates of survey, writing legal descriptions, performing large corridor topographic surveys, and construction staking to name a few.

Brandon is a native of the Choteau area and graduated from Choteau High School in 2004. His family owns and operates Lightner’s Auto body north of Choteau.  Brandon, his wife, and his children lived in East Helena prior to getting the opportunity to move back to Choteau in 2019. They are active members of their church and enjoy spending time with family and friends. Brandon is an associate member of the Montana Association of Registered Land Surveyors.

Ryan Casne, a licensed Professional Engineer, has a bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering from Montana State University of Bozeman, Montana. After graduation Ryan began his engineering career in Bozeman working for both a contractor and engineering firm, while also serving his country as part of the Montana Air National Guard where he served gained experience in material testing, drafting, and designing water, stormwater, and wastewater systems.  Gaining Licensure as a Professional Engineer in Montana and Washington, Ryan returned to his hometown of Helena, Montana where he owns and operates Casne and Associates, Inc.

Since his return to Helena in 2003, Ryan through the firm has designed multiple subdivisions, public water systems, public sewage treatment systems, stormwater conveyance and detention systems, roadways, and parking lots.  Ryan and his firm specialize in the design, permitting, and development of cost-effective solutions to complex water, wastewater, and stormwater-related issues.

Ryan continues as the principal of and senior project manager for Casne and Associates, Inc. and assists the staff at Morris Land Surveys as a consulting senior engineer.

Cory Kelly, A Survey Technician, has a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering Technology from Montana State University in Bozeman. Cory began taking college courses on surveying after his initial major in Environmental Engineering at Montana Tech did not feel right. After his second year at Montana Tech, he took a summer position with Morris Land Surveys in 2019. He heard about the position through his teacher and advisor. Over the summer he got to know the area well and did a variety of things in the field and was introduced to some computer drafting work in the office as well. At the end of three years, Cory received his Associate of Applied Science in Civil Engineering Technology with a certificate in land surveying. He decided to continue his education by attending Montana State University to pursue his Bachelor’s degree. Over the summer he worked as a painter along with Building grain bins and pouring concrete around his hometown of Chester, MT. The following summer in 2021 he accepted a seasonal position in Driggs, ID with Harmony Design & Engineering as a Field Survey Technician. There he did a variety of work including boundary surveys, lot flaggings, topographic surveys, FEMA floodplain surveys, and construction staking/layout. The next year in the summer of 2022 he took a credited internship with R&R Taylor Construction in Bozeman, MT there he got involved with general contracting and construction management learning about commercial and residential construction as well as some historic restoration work in Yellowstone National Park. During his final semester at MSU Cory accepted a full-time position with Morris Land Surveys and after graduation, he moved to Choteau and began working in June. Cory is currently studying for his LSI exam to begin his path toward professional licensure as a Land Surveyor.

Cory grew up in Chester Montana and was the youngest of three brothers. His mother was born and raised in Chester and his father is from southern Indiana, they met while he was part of a custom cutter crew. His father did a variety of jobs over the years like trucking, mixing feed for Nutrena Feeds and Superior Feeds, and being a farmhand, he eventually ended up working for BNSF as he still does today. Growing up, Cory was involved with Montana Farmers Union and the Boy Scouts becoming a torch bearer and eagle scout in them both respectively. In high school, he was involved in Football, wrestling, and track along with other extracurriculars like the National Honors Society. He enjoys getting outside with things like hiking, fishing, snowboarding, and floating. Cory moved to Choteau with his girlfriend who is an MSU 2023 graduate like him and they are very excited to settle into the area and experience everything there is to offer.

Sandor Hopkins, a Certified Floodplain Manager, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a focus on International Relations from Montana State University in Bozeman. After graduation, he began working in logistics and distribution management for Albertson’s/Safeway, where he worked for multiple locations in Bozeman, Belgrade, and Great Falls. Sandor began working as a Planner for the Cascade County Planning Department in 2017 and passed the exam to become a Certified Floodplain Manager shortly afterward in early 2018. In June of 2021, Sandor began work as a Project Manager for Morris Land Surveys, where he will continue his work in Planning, land development, and related fields. He became a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners in June of 2023.

Sandor grew up in a military family, where he gained a broad appreciation for the full spectrum of American life. When his family left the military, they chose to return to Great Falls, where they had previously been stationed, and came to fall in love with Montana. He currently lives in Great Falls with his wife and three cats, and volunteers as a Trustee for the Maclean-Cameron Animal Adoption Center. In his free time, Sandor likes to hike, ski, float, camp, and travel experiencing all Montana has to offer.