More Than Just Maps

In this edition, we speak with Bryan Palus and Jason Harris from Rok Technologies about Enterprise GIS. In detail, we discuss the history of Enterprise GIS, a powerful enterprise tool known as Kubernetes, and what all this means to the GIS practitioner now and in the future.

On this week's episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Ashley Hitt of Connected Nation. Ashley discovered GIS during her undergraduate years when she took an intro to GIS class as mandated by her studies in meteorology. She instantly fell in love with and after completing her Masters Degree, joined Connected Nation as an Analyst. Now the VP of GIS Services, Ashely and I discuss how her role an skills have changed over the course of her 14 years with the non-profit agency. We also talk different leadership styles based on the type of organization you're leading, as well as how being stagnant can not only kill your career, but organizations as a whole.

On this week’s episode, I finish my interview with Liz Parrish of esri. In this special episode, Liz and I chat about the dreaded Imposter Syndrome and how it affects everyone. We share some of our own experiences and discover that men and women are actually affected almost the same. We also talk about how our upbringing can influence the imposter syndrome tendencies we experience, and some ways to boost your confidence instantly.

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Liz Parrish of Esri. Liz got her start in GIS after unknowingly doing GIS in her career in Real Estate. After wetting her pallet, she went back to school to learn more about it, and become a GIS professional. We chat about how more graduate Business programs are incorporating GIS into their curriculums, exposing more people to GIS early on in their careers, and what it’s like to build GIS from scratch for a newly incorporated municipality.

On this week’s episode, I finish my interview with Toby Soto of Soto Media. We chat about some of the differences between working in any level of government versus the private industry. We also dive deep into Toby’s journey of GIS Success, the blog he started while struggling to find all the information he needed in one place. What started as Munigovguy.com is today becoming one of the best places for GIS leaders to learn the skills that don’t necessarily have to do with GIS.

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Toby Soto of Soto Media and GIS Success.com. Toby got his start in the industry through surveying and drafting while at the City of Riverside, California. It was there this cool new thing called GIS was starting to take off, and Toby jumped in with both feet. His career eventually led him to the county level and several other cities. And all this without a four year degree. We chat about how networking is key for promotions and finding your next job, and he even gives us some tips for introverts.

On this week’s episode, I finish my interview with Chris Wayne of Directions Magazine. We dive into his current business and how he not only helps clients with their GIS needs, but also helps them to create the need. We also talk about the difficulty of getting organizations to switch to newer technologies and the importance of networking. And finally Chris lets us know how he comes up with article ideas for Directions Magazine.

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Chris Wayne of Directions Magazine. Chris has held many titles over years from archeologist, professor, GIS specialist, author and even voice actor. These days he goes by Geographer. We chat about the non-linear path his career has taken from starting from his 12 year stint at Carter Lake National Park, where he re-built the GIS system from the ground up, to these days where he runs his own GIS consulting business helping small companies and non-profits solve their problems with maps.

On this week’s episode, I finish my interview with Brett Clark of Nearmap. We dive into how to use some of the sales skills Brett learned over the years to benefit not just your career, but almost anything you’re working on, from fighting for a seat at the table, to getting buy-in from other departments. We also talk about how starting from the bottom up helps to push your projects and goals along. And finally for those who are new to GIS, we grab some tips about how to get more than your foot in the door and learn about this vast industry.

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Brett Clark of Nearmap. Brett started his foray into the geospatial industry in a slightly non traditional manner, construction. After a series of decisions saw him then go from advertising to sales, Brett landed a sales role as one of the first employees for Australian based Nearmap in the US. Now the North American Public Sector Director Brett shares what it took to get to where he is now, and how Nearmap is impacting the geospatial industry on this side of the globe.

On today’s episode I conclude my interview with Lt Ronald Vaughn. We talk about how he took the reins and made sure he had all the tools and help he needed to succeed in this new phase of his career in GIS. After being nominated to the SCAUG board of Directors, he met as many GIS professionals as he could and continues to do so. We also chat about some of the projects that Lt Vaughn has helped Dallas Fire-Rescue with and how this directly impacts the department’s ability to respond to calls.

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Lt Ronald Vaughn of Dallas Fire Rescue. When his dreams of becoming a police officer turned into becoming a Fire Fighter & Paramedic instead, Lt Vaughn never dreamed of the day when he would be voluntold into the world of GIS. After almost 20 years in the field, Lt Vaugh was given the assignment to find out what this “GIS” thing was for the department, and he hasn’t looked back.

On today’s episode I conclude my interview with Caitlyn McNabb and Micah Babinsky. With 2020 being what it was, this special episode of the podcast deals with the topic of burnout. Caitlyn, Micah and I all discuss some of the challenges we’ve faced recently and how and what we’ve done to overcome our own bouts of burnout.

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with not one guest, but two. Caitlyn McNabb of Sedaru and Micah Babinsky of CDR McGuire join me and talk about how they got into this big wide world of GIS. Both are members of the URISA Vangaurd cabinet and have been able to greatly expand their careers thanks to the experiences they’ve gained, not only from URISA events, but a multitude of opportunities.

On today’s episode I conclude my interview with Jordan Carmona as we wrap up our discussion on the GISP. We dive into why each of us wanted the certification in the first place, and then we crack open the technical exam, as much as we can, for those who are looking for some insight into this sometimes controversial test.

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Jordan Carmona from the city of McKinney, Texas. On this special episode, Jordan and I chat about all things GISP. We share our own experiences of completing our portfolios, tips and tricks to use to gather points, and how the point system works in the first place.

On today’s episode I conclude my interview with Brandi Rank. We talk Servant leadership and the difference between good and bad management. We also dive into some universal truths in the workplace, and the importance of being aware of yourself including your positives and negatives. And finally we discuss how GIS departments are key in governmental organizations, be that helping IT departments transition to 100% remote work, or acting as bridges between siloed groups.

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Brandi Rank from the city of Thornton, Colorado. We chat about what it’s like being the first generation in your family to attend college, while not knowing what you want to do right away, and what that process is like when searching for what you’re supposed to do with the rest of your life. We also talk about the importance of internships, and the abundance of experience they can provide. And finally we span Brandi’s career in government where she started searching for monuments for the Colorado State Parks, to where she is now as the GIS manager for the city of Thornton, just north of Denver.

On today’s episode I conclude my interview with Michelle Swindle. We talk about what it’s like to have staff who are brand new, versus subject matter experts in any given field. We also chat about some of the work Michelle has done with the North Texas Emergency Communications Center, as well as the Joint Emergency Operations Center in Tarrant county, and how it first started as a way to track incidents at the Texas Motor Speedway, and how it’s evolved to serve many other functions, like the current covid-19 crisis.

On this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Michelle Swindle from the city of Fort Worth Texas. We chat about Michelle’s non-traditional path to GIS, and what it was like to go back to school after she thought she was finished with higher education. We also get to hear about what it’s like to be a civilian GIS contractor in an active war zone, and how that environment comes with a whole host of unique challenges.