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

About this episode

Mike Klonsinski discusses transforming Berntsen International from a metal foundry to a digital technology innovator.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Bill Mitchell

Guest: Mike Klonsinski

Topics covered

• digital innovation
• survey technology
• RFID
• business transformation
• leadership
• physical and digital infrastructure

Keywords

• digital twin systems
• RFID-enabled
• election security
• surveyors
• innovation
• technology
• leadership lessons

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Berntsen International, Esri

Products: GIS software platform

Places: Lewis and Clark Trail, Wisconsin

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