Pipeline owner/operators are the association’s corner stone. Their demand for qualified pipeline surveyors was perhaps the biggest reason to create this association. APPS relies on its owner/operator members for the most relevant pipeline surveyor information and descriptions of the most pertinent pipeline surveyor skills. That input drives APPS’ curriculum development and course delivery. Some owner/operators choose to be very proactive; participating in curriculum development committees and overseeing course work. Others prefer to simply stay informed about what APPS is doing and what it is imparting to surveyors. In any case, pipeline owner/operator members are so valuable to APPS core mission that they are invited to join the association free of charge.