Point of Beginning
Survey of Time
Donald W. Jackson, PLS
Founder – Deceased – 46 Years Experience
US Army 82nd Airborne
University of Rhode Island
Professional Land Surveyor
Certified Erosion Specialist
Charee M. Jackson, PE, PLS
Owner – 22 years experience
Ocean Engineering, FIT
Professional Engineer
Professional Land Surveyor
Certified Floodplain Surveyor
RI DEM Class III Designer
A Surveyors’ Story
Survey of History
Donald Jackson becomes PLS & Business Founded 1975
Jackson Surveying Creates First Plan
Business moved into General Store 1983
Jackson Surveying continues to modernize
Charee Jackson becomes PE in 2010
Charee Jackson takes over family business 2022
CLOSURE
At a crossroads
In just a couple of years of transition, Charee has led the firm into becoming a well equipped modern company utilizing the latest technologies, methods, and programs to bring their loyal and new clientele reliable services and quality products. Additionally, hiring young local employees that also take pride in their community and career will continue to deliver the public with customer service we are known for. Jackson Surveying will continue to be the benchmark of standard in the land surveying and engineering industries in South County for years to come.
Our office
Charee Jackson
Donald Jackson
A Winter's Story
You will find Jackson Surveying, Inc. in the historical village of Cross Mills in Charlestown, RI at the corner of Old Post Road and Town Dock Road. Jackson Surveying, Inc. first began in Mr. Jackson’s basement and later moved into the second story space above Randall Realtors in Charlestown at the corner of Old Post Road and Narrow Lane. It wasn’t till 1984 that the Jackson family purchased the office building at 4450 Old Post Road from Mr. & Mrs. Maine. Historically the building was a general store owned by the Maines and many old timers can tell you of their fond memories or read about them in the local history books.
The Jackson family also has a fond memory of the building that goes back to a winter day in 1966 when Donny and a friend were driving around in his 1956 Ford Station wagon. The story goes that they slid across the intersection on ice and knocked over one of the old glass Texaco gas pumps. Well Donny’s friend doubled over laughing at the trouble he was in and no knowing what to do next, Donny simply backed up the car to the other pump. When Donny got out of the car to go inside to pay, there was Mrs. Maine standing in the doorway in her apron with her hands on her hips glaring at the two boys. Don says, “Can I get 3 dollars’ worth of gas?” Meanwhile, Donny’s friend is laughing hysterically but Mrs. Maine is starting to get really upset and stammering with anger and as teenagers will emphatically do, Don asks “Well can I get the gas or not?”. Mrs. Maine finally pumps the gas and Don apologizes and tells her he will be back in the morning to speak with Mr. Maine about how to pay them back for the pump.
Donny and his friend leave. Don stews all night wondering how he is going to be able to pay for the pump knowing he is leaving for service in a couple of months. The next morning, he walks into the store and there stands Mr. Maine with a stern scowl on his face giving Don the feeling that he is really in for it. Mr. Maine lets Don go on with his apology just staring at him till finally he couldn’t take it anymore and begins to smile and chuckle. Come to find out, Mr. Maine had been trying to get the pumps replaced for several years and now that one is knocked over Texaco is going to replace the entire system with the latest pump style. Therefore, Don did Mr. Maine a favor and didn’t end up owing anything.
Decades later, sitting across from the closing table Mr. Maine in the company of attorneys and others, Mr. Maine says “Well, Donny, I guess you have paid for that pump now!”
Charee M. Jackson, PE, PLS
Ms. Jackson is the daughter of Donald W. Jackson, PLS and current owner of Jackson Surveying, Inc. Ms. Jackson began working for her father in 2001 after the 911 tragedy forced her to make a career change. Prior to working at Jackson Surveying, Inc., she travelled the world working as a navigator on research vessels surveying the ocean floors in the seismic industry. Charee has a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology. Over the past 22 years, Charee has cultivated a strong knowledge base under her father’s tutelage in both surveying and engineering which allowed her to become licensed in the State of Rhode Island as both a Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor.
Charee lives in Charlestown with her husband, Greg Andersen. Together they enjoy spending their time on the salt ponds and ocean boating and fishing. Both share wonderful childhood memories on the salt ponds and in the woods which gives them great respect for the natural environment. Ms. Jackson takes great pride in being a local of the community and has a passion for being part of its history. Her biggest joy from work is having experienced occupying monuments set by another surveyor from 100 years ago or more. The craft of accuracy with different equipment of the time is a wonder and gives her drive to maintain the same quality going forward.
Ms. Jackson continues in her father’s footsteps providing incomparable workmanship to the South County Area in the practice of surveying and engineering. Charee was classically trained in hand drafting, mathematics, field operations, and practical knowledge and is continually educating herself with new technology and practices. She aims to use this background to provide her clients with sound understanding of their projects with a wealth of experience in problem solving. Her work ethic instilled by generations past trickles into every project with strong integrity
Donald W. Jackson, PLS
Mr. Jackson was the founder of Jackson Surveying, Inc. that started the company in 1975 just after receiving his Professional Land Surveyors License from the State of Rhode Island. Trained by Joseph Frisella, founder of Frisella-Balch another long standing surveying company in South County, Mr. Jackson brought to his company the high standards and professionalism Jackson Surveying, Inc. is still known for. He was a graduate of South Kingstown High School, matriculated the University of Rhode Island and proudly served his country in the 82nd Airborne division of the US Army.
Mr. Jackson is a native of the South County area having grown up on Green Hill Pond and working with his father and brother in the family business of Jackson Builders, a residential home building company in the early 70’s. The hardwork ethic and family bond instilled in him was later passed on to his son, Chad, and daughter, Charee that made Jackson Surveying, Inc. the family-oriented business it is today. Mr. Jackson passed away in the winter of 2021 leaving the company to his family.
Mr. Jackson married his high school sweetheart, Cathaleen Jackson of Green Hill in 1970. Mr. & Mrs. Jackson has called home in both Charlestown and South Kingstown. Together they enjoyed a full life. Their adventures include boating on their Downeaster, Razzmatazz; renovating hot rods like his teenage 1932 lit deuce coupe; taking on other entrepreneurships with gift shops and restaurants; and keeping up with family life. Their commitment to always moving upward and onward provided the family with great success, an attribute practiced in the company to this day.
Mr. Jackson is still highly respected in the surveying industry as one of the leaders in South County for high standards, grit, quality work, fair business practices, and straightforwardness. Many local town staff members, attorneys, excavators, contractors, permitting staff members, and others in the land use planning realm can recount Mr. Jackson’s character and integrity over the past 50 years in business.
