Introduce Yourself!

[MichelleMathias]

Welcome to GeoNet!

We are a community that collaborates, learns and shares together. To help you connect with other members, we started this introduction thread. Think of this as your intro to GeoNet networking and a chance to get to know  each other as we begin our GeoNet journey.

Please introduce yourself to the rest of the community by sharing your answers to the questions in the comments section below.

• Where do you work and what is your role? 
• What GIS success have you had this year and what product did you use? (big or small - no win is out of bounds)
• What is your expertise (GIS related or not), and how can that help the community?

Bonus Round! Post the coordinates to your favorite place on earth.

note: this post has been archived, and is available in read only mode. To create a new introduction, please visit the new GeoNet Member Introductions‌ space. Thank you!

[CharmaineHolloway]

Where do you work and what is your role?

Hello Everyone, my name is Charmaine Holloway. I am a recent graduate of the GIS Applications Specialist program at Fleming College. I am currently living in Montreal and completed the program online. I am currently looking for work and am hoping to find a job that incorporates both my Biology degree and my GIS training. However, I will not pass up a position with an amazing company that will have me working to help others as well as using my GIS skills.

What GIS success have you had this year and what product did you use?

My big success this year was while working on my collaborative project for my program. I was working in a team of three creating a workflow within a Python Toolbox to statistically analyze wildlife data. We were using ArcMap and arcpy and were having trouble getting Zonal Statistics to Table to work with overlapping polygons. With much searching and a professor pointing me in the right direction, I was able to get it working for our dataset!

What is your expertise (GIS-related or not), and how can that help the community?

I would not say that I have expertise in GIS yet as I have just graduated. However, I do have experience working with Python and ArcGIS to create workflows for wildlife data. I also have experience working with most of ESRI's suite of software, including ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Enterprise. I do have a lot of experience collecting field data as well!

The coordinates of my favorite place on earth:

48.5253° N, 53.9655° W

[Anonymous User]

Welcome to GeoNet Charmaine Holloway!

Congratulations on your recent graduation from Fleming College! Check out these following places for networking in GeoNet: Canadian GIS Professionals‌, Esri Young Professionals Network‌, and Women's Geospatial Forum‌. 

You can also find a Product Communities or Industry Communities to follow to stay connected with discussions happening in GeoNet. Thanks for sharing your favorite place with us!

Cheers,
Leslie

[ToddAckerman]

Todd Ackerman

Where do I work and what do I do?

I work part-time for a small company in Minden Nevada and I am an independent contractor with the company.  I am also an ADA/Assessment Coordinator.  So what does all that mean, well, I help with proposals and am in the field collection data that will fall under the ADA guidelines?  I also teach individuals how to do trail assessment and I also do trail assessment for private entities, cities and even state entities.  I do travel to do this teaching up to Canada.

What GIS experience do I have?

I have none and working on understanding the tools that are available.  I am using survey 123 connect and collector.  

How can the community help/

I just about have some surveys done and am looking to start out on my own.  I am a retired teacher and as I said work part-time, I know that there are a lot of entities out there that need collection done at there site.  I am looking at doing data collection in the outdoor environment, such as picnic areas in parks, campgrounds, trail collection with the collection of features, which can be used for inventory or maintenance.  

[Anonymous User]

Welcome to GeoNet, Todd Ackerman!

You're off to a great start in the community. Follow these places for announcements and discussions around the products you're interested in to learn more as you continue your work with ADA assessments:

Survey123 for ArcGIS‌

Collector for ArcGIS‌

You might be interested in contributing your experience in the Education space as well. Looking forward to more of your participation in the community!

Cheers,

Leslie

[WallyKempf]

• Where do you work and what is your role? 
  • Hi! I'm Wally Kempf. I work for WCA, which is a nationwide waste and recyclables collection and hauling company. I've worked for 2 other much larger corporate waste haulers in the past. My title is Corporate Routing Analyst and my primary job is to use a program called RouteSmart (an ESRI partner) to route our customer database based on the type of waste we are collecting. I also use the program to overlay potential acquisition customers on top of our current database for a particular geography to see what type of synergies may be available if we buy them and if so, incorporate those new customers into existing or new routes. I have been in the waste industry since 1987 utilizing the old paper map and stickpin method and finally in 2003 being able to graduate to computerized mapping/routing. 
• What GIS success have you had this year and what product did you use? (big or small - no win is out of bounds)
  • This year I used RouteSmart on over a dozen projects and optimized over 300 route days of customers and have eliminated some routes, eliminated 100s of hours, miles and hours and balanced the workload of many routes, caused by the ebb and flow of new and cancelled customers.
• What is your expertise (GIS related or not), and how can that help the community?
  • I am primarily self taught, but early on (2003-2016) worked in a team environment with the companies I was working at and we learned from each other's success (and failures). Currently I am a department of one, but anxiously glean whatever new ideas and tips I can from the ESRI forums. I wish I had more time available to take advantage of the ESRI classes. I would be most interested in hearing from and helping others in the waste hauling industry that use computerized route optimization programs.

[Anonymous User]

Hi Wally Kempf, Welcome to GeoNet!

It was nice to read about your wins and your history with GIS. I am sure you can appreciate the transition from stickpin analysis to current innovation in GIS technology. You should consider blogging about your wins here in GeoNet and share some of your best practices and tips.  Visit our GeoNet Resource Hub to learn how to get started with a blog post.

In GeoNet, you might find Network Analyst as a place of interest related to your work. Follow the Esri Training space for education conversations and content to keep yourself motivated and in touch with learning opportunities as well. 

Cheers,

Leslie

[KristinBurk]

Hello!!  My name is Kristin and I am an aspiring GIS guru . I am currently employed full time as a facility manager and working towards my degree in Environmental Science concentrated in Geospatial Technology.  I've really been enjoying the classes where I get to learn about and work with ArcGIS.  I've taken a few of the self-paced classes in Esri's training library as well.  I'm currently working my way through my first programming class, using Python in ArcGIS, which is a challenge to say the least.

I'm hoping that upon completion of my degree I will be able to apply the capabilities of ArcGIS to assisting conservation efforts in either wildlife management or habitat restoration.  I'm completely sold on the idea that this technology will be an integral part of these efforts in the future and am really excited to get to be a part of it. 

One of my favorite places in the world is located at 35. 282750, -120.6805.  This place has always been a lot of fun for me, with great views and a fantastic farmer's market just below.

[Anonymous User]

Hi Kristin Burk,

You are in the right spot to start your GIS guru journey. Welcome to GeoNet! Here are some places to follow in the community based on your interests:

Implementing ArcGIS‌

Esri Training‌

Python‌

Conservation GIS‌

Thanks for sharing your favorite place with us! 

Cheers,

Leslie

[EMMANUELJOLAIYA]

• Where do you work and what is your role? 

Hello here, my name is Emmanuel Jolaiya (JEFF by nick ), I currently work as a Geospatial Data Analyst Intern at OmoOye Integrated Data Services Limited, Nigeria. "I used to have a  mindset that the role of an intern ,particularly in this region can be likened to carrying out all the petty jobs in the firm" but fortunately for me ,here I am tasked with a lot of projects which make me to think and keeps me hands on almost 24/7(I really love it,am learning!!). There are only two GIS interns here,I and my colleague, fundamentally we carry out all GIS related tasks and projects.

• What GIS success have you had this year and what product did you use? (big or small - no win is out of bounds)

Well,even while I am still an undergraduate,I didn't allow that to limit me to break grounds and records.This year,I had created navigation maps for my University which was handy to visitors and newly admitted students, and (I was privileged to serve as the president of Remote sensing and GIS,FUTA,Nigeria.) during my tenure I designed a website for my department.,check it here  gishub.com.ng

• What is your expertise (GIS related or not), and how can that help the community?

Formerly,I used to be more of environmental and humanitarian.I actually love using maps to solve environmental issues including hydro logical and environmental extremes.But currently,interning here has exposed me to another dimension which is the application of GIS in tele-communication. I think I love it

My favorite place on earth is 52.1326° N, 5.2913° E  (I would love to have my masters in GIS @ ITC,Netherlands ) 

[Anonymous User]

Welcome to GeoNet, EMMANUEL JOLAIYA!

Thanks for joining us in GeoNet. We hope you find the Community as a great support for your career and education in GIS. Nice work on the website for your department!  These places may be of interest to you to follow for updates and discussions:

Telecommunications‌

Implementing ArcGIS‌

You might also be interested in following in Location Analytics and ArcGIS Hub. 

Thanks for sharing your favorite place with us!

Cheers,

Leslie