Digital Innovation in Survey Tech: Bridging Physical and Digital Infrastructure with Mike Klonsinski

How do you transform a 50-year-old metal foundry into a cutting-edge digital technology company? In this episode, Mike Klonsinski, President of Berntsen International, reveals how his company made the dramatic leap from forging metal survey markers to developing RFID-enabled smart infrastructure that connects the physical world to digital twin systems.

From providing Lewis and Clark Trail markers to enabling election security through digital tracking, Berntsen International has quietly evolved from a Wisconsin foundry into a technology innovator serving over 6,000 surveyors nationwide. Mike shares insights on managing dual businesses, fostering innovation in traditional industries, and why the future belongs to companies that can bridge the gap between physical assets and digital data systems.

In this episode, we explore:

(02:15) Berntsen International's origin story

(04:17) Shifting from shaping metal to communicating digital data

(06:09) How RFID gives physical infrastructure a digital signature

(08:53) Customer stories: Lewis and Clark Trail to 200-year mountain surveys

(11:47) Leadership: clear visions, small wins, and passionate consistency

(16:25) Connected survey markers in an AI-driven world

(18:22) Real-world uses: ballot bag tracking and chain of custody

(21:22) CEO lessons: aim 5-10 years ahead and look outside your industry

Resources Mentioned

Berntsen International

Geo Week