GIS 4006 - Week 1

Okay, Whats Next?

About Me

I celebrated 11 years as a 911 dispatcher in February 2024. Since the beginning of my career I had not only been an end user for GIS products but also unknowingly dabbling in GIS skills. 

Before the Pandemic I finally learned a bit more about GIS. I knew they were the people who kept our maps at work updated but I never gave a thought to how. The more I learned the more I felt I had found a new path but I wanted to finish my Masters in Instructional Design & Technology Leadership as well. At that time I was able to use the GIS Certificate program to fulfill the Technology electives that were required. 

Unfortunately the Pandemic hit and I put my educational goals on hold. During that time I updated a Google Map for our county that I created some years ago with our emergency service related districts and landmarks and I also was creating data visualizations (maps, graphs, etc) for some of our larger data sets. 

By the time I decided to come back to school - My Masters program had changed and I was no longer able to use the GIS Certificate to fulfill the requirements. After some reflection - I choose to pursue just the Undergraduate Certificate in GIS.  

When I complete the Certification Program I plan to take the exam portion of the GISP and start working on the FEMA GISS Task Book so I can deploy as a GIS Specialist when needed. 

My ultimate goal is to be a 911 GIS/IT Administrator. This role combines all my passions - Emergency Services, GIS, IT, and Program Development/Instructional Design. 

My StoryMap is a brief highlight reel of my Career and Education. 

Quote Reference:

Bartlet, Josiah. The West Wing.