Finding Your Geospatial Compass

Welcome to an exclusive and insightful panel discussion on navigating the complexities of career development within the geospatial industry. As part of OV-URISA's ongoing and highly-regarded webinar series, this event brings together three distinguished experts who have carved out successful careers in various facets of the geospatial industry.

In today's rapidly evolving job market, understanding how to effectively search for jobs, advance in your career, and position yourself as a competitive candidate is more critical than ever. Our panelists, each with a unique background and perspective, will share their personal journeys, offer advice on overcoming industry-specific challenges, and provide practical tips on how to stand out in a competitive field.

Whether you are a seasoned geospatial professional looking to take the next step in your career or a student eager to break into the industry, this panel offers something for everyone. Expect a deep dive into the strategies that have worked for our experts, the skills that are in high demand, and the emerging trends that are shaping the future of geospatial careers.

The session will be divided into two parts: First, I will moderate a series of curated questions that address the most pressing topics in job searching and career advancement within the geospatial industry. Then, we will open the floor for a dynamic 30-minute Q&A session, where you, the audience, can pose your questions directly to our panelists. You're invited to submit your questions using the survey embedded at the bottom of this page. Your input will be considered for the moderated discussion during the panel.

This is not just a discussion—it's an opportunity to gain actionable insights, connect with leaders in the field, and better prepare yourself for the next steps in your professional journey. We encourage you to engage fully with this session, as the insights gained here could be the catalyst for your next big career move.

Join us as we explore the intricacies of building a successful career in the geospatial industry, from the initial job search to long-term career advancement.

Coming to the geospatial field as my third career, I completed a GIS Certificate and work toward an MGIS through Penn State's online program, acquiring a GISP in 2010. My experience has been mainly in the government sector, culminating as GIS Manager for the Enterprise operation at the City of Midland, TX. From there, I completed 8 years as Executive Director of GISCI before retiring in 2022. Specialties:  I am a current member of URISA, & the AAG, and a past member of ASPRS & the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) . I have served on Outreach Committee, the Applications Committee, and the Board of the GISCI, and still serve on the National Advisory Board of the GeoTech Center. and remain actively involved with the industry on LinkedIn.

To connect with Bill:  LinkedIn 

To learn more about obtaining a GISP:  GISCI 

Tim has been a local govie most of his adulthood. Public service has been his life-long passion. He has more than 30 years of experience as a leader, speaker, and Geospatial, Lean and Agile practitioner. Texas is home for Tim. He enjoys sharing the success stories of his teams in collaborative and professional management frameworks. GIS was his first love, and Lean Agile Visual Management (#LAVM) is his new love.

To connect with Tim:  LinkedIn 

John Benhart, Jr. is professor in the Department of Geography, Geology, Environment & Planning at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Dr. Benhart received his bachelors degree in Urban Planning from the University of Pittsburgh, his masters degree in Geography from the University of Miami (FL), and his doctorate in Geography from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Benhart’s research and teaching interests include geographic information science (GISc), technical aspects and applications of geographic information systems (GIS), spatial environmental analysis, and application of small- uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) to spatial data acquisition and environmental and land cover analysis. He has been an investigator on projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the United States Department of Education, the United States Office of Surface Mining (OSM), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Dr. Benhart has been a faculty member at IUP since 1994, serving as Department Chair from 2005-2021, and has received the Teaching Excellence Award from Kappa Delta Pi (2002) as well as the Excellence in Research Award from the IUP Graduate School (2009) and the Distinguished Researcher, Service and Mentor Awards from the Pennsylvania Geographical Society in 2014 and 2021, respectively. Dr. Benhart is a Certified Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP, GIS Certification Institute) and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certified Remote Pilot and has flown hundreds of drone flight missions to accomplish high accuracy land surveys and topographic mapping, hydrologic and built environment modeling, and land use / land cover analysis.

Nettie serves as the GIS Services Manager for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) Transportation Division, designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Schuylkill counties. In this role, she is the GIS lead responsible for supporting the NEPA MPO Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Title V and Environmental Justice, Functional Road Classification and the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP). She earned her GIS Professional (GISP) endorsement from the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI). She is a certified Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 Remote Pilot and serves on the Pennsylvania Drone Association’s Community and Relations Committee, supporting drone advocacy, public policy and awareness by means of a PA Drone dashboard. Nettie serves on the Keystone GIS Board of Directors, Community and Outreach, Education Committees. She also serves on the PennDOT Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Advisory Committee as well as the SHINE After School Program at Wilkes University Advisory Committee. In addition, Nettie is a Planning Committee member for the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) GIS for Transportation (GIS-T) Symposium, supporting the GIS-T Task Force with dashboards of event attendees, social media and photography. She is also a member of the American Association of Geographers (AAG), Keystone GIS, and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA). She was featured in Esri ArcNews as a GIS Hero, “A GIS Innovator Pursues Her Mappiness” and her Colonial Pipeline Cyber Attack Outages Application was published in Esri Map Book Volume 37, additionally her adoption of ArcGIS StoryMaps was published in the Pennsylvania Township News Magazine. Nettie is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography (GIS) from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. She has deep passion for GIS technology and looks forward to collaborating with fellow geospatial professionals to advance innovative solutions and drive impactful projects that benefit the Commonwealth. When Nettie is not flying her drone Lucy, she can be found trail riding her horse GeoDiesel, exploring the beauty of Northeastern Pennsylvania with her bernedoodles Grace and Rocky, while tending to her ducks with her soulmate Josh.

To connect with Nettie:  LinkedIn 

Nettie's GeoPortfolio:  Go Here! 

As part of our commitment to fostering professional growth and knowledge-sharing within the geospatial community, this panel is the latest installment in our ongoing webinar series. Over the past several months, we have been honored to host a diverse lineup of esteemed speakers, each bringing their unique perspective on critical topics that are shaping the future of our industry.

In previous sessions, we have delved into a wide range of subjects, from navigating todays geospatial job market to advice on enhancing your GIS skillsets. Our past speakers have shared invaluable insights drawn from their extensive experience in the field, offering attendees a wealth of practical knowledge and inspiring discussions that resonate long after the webinars conclude.

These sessions have not only provided a platform for learning and professional development but have also sparked important conversations within our community. The diverse expertise of our past speakers has enriched this series, and we are excited to continue this tradition of excellence with today’s panel. We look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by our previous webinars as we explore the critical topic of career advancement in the geospatial industry. The Ohio Valley Chapter offers these webinars free of charge to anyone interested in attending. However, as a URISA member, you enjoy exclusive access to the recordings, available to you anytime

Tom Fisher - At The Intersection of GIS Leadership, Advocacy and Learning, A URISA Update

Joe Livoti II - Mapping Your Career: Navigating the Geospatial Job Market

Dr. Bobby Karimi - How To Teach GIS: Don't

Mark Maguire - GIS & Navigating the “Big Data” Landscape

Stewart Bruce - Navigating the Future of the Geospatial Industry: Insights, Challenges, and Opportunities

Jamie Christensen - Navigating the Future of GIS: Lessons Learned and Opportunities Ahead

 ^{Please note that not all questions will be able to asked. The executive board of OV-URISA will review all questions and ask as many as we can. Thank you for your understanding.}