3 Ways GeoDecisions Promotes Professional Development Opportunities

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Opportunities to enhance skill sets, knowledge, and leadership capabilities can significantly bolster performance in the real world for young professionals entering the workforce.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that geographic information systems (GIS) analyst jobs will increase by 5% between 2021 and 2031, indicating that GIS is a stable career. So, what opportunities are there for professional development in the fields of GIS, data science, and technology?

Fortunately, GIS and young data science professionals have various learning opportunities to grow in partnership with like-minded individuals. As a division of Gannett Fleming, all GeoDecisions employees receive Gannett Fleming benefits. While there are many avenues to learning and development at GeoDecisions, some of the most valuable include scholarships, mentoring, and our partnerships with national professional organizations.

Three circles that highlight the three ways GeoDecisions promotes professional development opportunities.

What are the Benefits of Professional Development?

As GIS, data science, and technology continue to evolve, ongoing learning and development are more important than ever. Benefits of professional development include:

  • Staying up-to-date about emerging trends.

  • Promoting collaboration, a growth mindset, and continuous improvement.

  • Establishing, building, and maintaining strong professional networks.

  • Gaining a deeper understanding of industry challenges and innovative solutions.

  • Learning new skills or supplementing training programs.

  • Becoming a thought leader and driving positive change.

Embracing professional development is an investment in an employee's career and a commitment to elevating the industry as a whole.

1. Scholarship Programs and Funding

An icon representing scholarship programs.
Three student scholarship winners are standing and holding a banner honoring Brian Rudolf.

The Brian Rudolph Scholarship supports college students studying GIS to gain real-world experience.

GeoDecisions' Brian Rudolph GIS Scholarship Program

Established in 2023, the Brian Rudolph GIS Scholarship Program honors and supports GIS students.

Supporting Professional Organization Involvement

GeoDecisions sponsors GIS students from Penn State University, Harrisburg Area Community College, and Virginia Commonwealth University to attend GIS conferences every spring, including the Pennsylvania GIS Conference (PAgis) and the Virginia Association for Mapping and Land Information Systems (VAMLIS) GeoCon.

You can learn more about the 2023 scholarship winners here.

Gannett Fleming AEC Scholarships

Gannett Fleming's goal is to transform the world around us through our innovative projects and robust investment in our people, as demonstrated through the Gannett Fleming AEC Scholarship. Established in 2018, the scholarships support Black and female students pursuing engineering, construction services, computer science, and architecture careers.

You can learn more about the Gannett Fleming AEC Scholarship here.

2. Connected Relationships Mentoring Program

An icon representing mentoring programs.

Connected Women at Gannett Fleming™

Connected Women at Gannett Fleming logo

Gannett Fleming's employee resource groups (ERGs) help our employees develop their personal and professional skills. The Connected Women at Gannett Fleming ERG offers the Connected Relationships Mentoring Program, which utilizes the existing knowledge, skills, and experience of senior employees and pairs them with junior or less experienced employees, thus generating a space of connectivity and boundless growth.

The mentor/mentee relationship supports the mentee's professional development plan and focuses on a few distinct categories of experience:

  • Leadership.

  • Project management.

  • Business development and marketing.

  • Overall professional growth.

3. Participation in Professional Organizations and Networking Events

An icon representing professional organizations and networking opportunities.

Esri

The Esri platinum partner network logo.

GeoDecisions is a proud platinum partner of Esri, producer of the world's most powerful GIS software, location intelligence, and geospatial mapping. Esri offers many special programs designed to enhance learning and research opportunities.

Additionally, the Esri website is rich with resources to deepen one's understanding of GIS and location intelligence. Some of these opportunities include:

  • Esri Academy.

  • Certification programs.

  • The Young Professionals Network.

Esri Industry Conferences

GeoDecisions team members present at the annual Esri Developer Summit, Esri User Conference, and Esri IMGIS Conference. The presentations allow our employees to contribute their valuable knowledge collaboratively while supporting their continuous professional development.

The Women in GIS logo.

Women in GIS

At GeoDecisions, one of the ways we demonstrate our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) is through our Women in GIS (WiGIS) sponsorship. WiGIS is an international, professional, and social advocacy organization dedicated to supporting women working in geospatial fields and helping them overcome common professional barriers.

WiGIS aims to foster a community that values, encourages, and advances women's voices in the industry. Through our sponsorship, we help WiGIS provide these opportunities and grow its member base to further its mission.

WiGIS holds regular events to allow women in the industry to connect and discuss their professional work. These events can range from open-ended discussions on the issues women face to networking with potential employers and further learning opportunities to enhance industry knowledge.

WiGIS also provides resources such as:

  • Professional development programs.

  • Awards and scholarships.

  • Access to the Geographers Without Borders podcast.

  • News updates from WiGIS.

  • The WiGIS Mentorship Program.

URISA logo.

URISA

The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association  (URISA) is a nonprofit association incorporated in 1966 to provide education, training, and advocacy for geospatial and geographic information science challenges and issues and essential resources for GIS professionals throughout their evolving careers.

URISA’s mission of fostering excellence in GIS perfectly aligns with GeoDecisions' goals and values. Their resources help our GIS specialists enhance their personal and professional skills.

Our partnership with URISA includes access to their vast catalog of resources, including members-only features such as:

  • The URISA mentoring network.

  • The GIS Leadership Academy.

  • Opportunities to contribute content and thought leadership.

Additionally, local chapters provide on-the-ground opportunities for collaboration on a local level, allowing you to plug into your local community and generate solutions for its unique needs.

Join Our Journey

Being a GeoDecisions employee makes it simple to embrace professional development opportunities. We invite passionate GIS, data science, and technology professionals who are eager for continued professional growth to explore the open positions on our team. As a Gannett Fleming employee, you'll find more than a job, but a community dedicated to learning, improvement, and industry advancement.

About the Author

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Kallie Wilkes, CSM
Business Analyst
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