Liz Parrish, GISP, Senior Manager of Geospatial Analytics & Insights, H-E-B, Dallas, Texas

Sara Thompson, Geospatial Analysis Section Manager, Arizona Department of Transportation, Phoenix, Arizona

Kara Utter, GIS Consultant, Dynamic Visions GIS LLC, McCall, Idaho

Last year, Wendy Peloquin was elected by the membership as President-Elect and she will begin her term as President of GPN at the conclusion of GIS-Pro in the Rockies 2025.

John Nolte will become Immediate Past-President at that time.


At the close of GIS-Pro in the Rockies 2025, the terms of service for these GPN Board members will conclude and we thank them all, in advance, for their amazing dedication and service:

Immediate Past President: Thomas Fisher, AICP, GISP, Cuyahoga County - Cleveland, Ohio

Secretary: Matt Gerike, PhD, GISP, Virginia Geographic Information Network - Williamsburg, Virginia

Director: Josiah Burkett, GISP, Ministry of Sustainable Development - Saint Kitts and Nevis

Director: Sid Pandey, Deloitte - Vienna, Virginia

• Employers need the information in order to hire and retain qualified employees.
• GIS professionals need the information to evaluate their compensation and career strategies.

Last year, URISA, now known as the Geospatial Professional Network, commissioned Research USA to conduct a survey of individuals in the geospatial profession in order to learn more about the salaries, demographics, job requirements, and current benefit plans offered to GIS professionals.

Some specific areas studied included:

• Current employment status
• Type of organization
  
• Location of job by state/country
  
• Job title/position 
  
• Current annual salary
  
• Additional forms of compensation offered by organization
  
• Demographic characteristics
  
• Highest level of education attained
  
• Disciplines of education
  
• Certified GIS professional (GISP) status
  
• Percentage of time spent performing geospatial technology tasks
  
• Departments in which respondents work
  
• Number of GIS staff in organization/department
  
• GIS software platforms/GIS technology skills required for job
  
• Number of hours worked in a typical week
  
• Number of years of GIS experience/years in current position
  
• Overall level of job satisfaction
  
  

By August 20, 2024, there were 4,602 usable responses.

The results of the survey provide an interesting and useful analysis of the current state of the GIS profession. The Executive Summary of the Results includes key results of the survey, including:  The average current annual salary among all respondents is $91,774 (the median is $87,000). 

Of course, salaries vary based on employer type, geography, gender, and certification status. Numerous cross-tabulations of the salary data are included in the comprehensive publication.

The following chart shows the mean and median 2024 salary by job title:
 

The full publication includes an abundance of detailed tabular data and extensive cross-tabulations. That 250 page publication is available for purchase as a downloadable publication ($175 for GPN members and $350 for nonmembers).

Learn more and purchase this valuable resource: https://thegpn.org/page/salarysurvey

 

Portland, Maine – October 8, 2024 – During the opening session of GIS-Pro 2024, URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association) officially announced its rebranding as the Geospatial Professional Network (GPN). This change reflects the organization’s evolution to better serve the global geospatial community. The announcement, made by URISA President Thomas Fisher, AICP, GISP, and President-Elect John Nolte, GISP, signifies a major milestone in the organization's legacy of leadership in GIS.

A New Name for a Broader Mission
The transition to the Geospatial Professional Network marks a significant shift from URISA’s original focus on urban information systems. While still serving urban and regional geospatial professionals, the new name represents a broader mission to unite GIS professionals across all sectors and regions, providing enhanced opportunities for career development, networking, and education.

"We’ve known for some time that we needed a brand that invited professionals in, saying, 'Come and join us right now,'" said Thomas Fisher, URISA President. "This rebranding is a pivotal step in ensuring that our organization continues to empower GIS professionals globally while staying relevant to the diverse and expanding field of geospatial technology."

Sara Thompson, 2023-2024 Vanguard Cabinet Chair, echoed the importance of the rebrand:
"The urban and regional aspect is definitely a misnomer. That wasn’t where I came from, and for years, URISA wasn’t relevant to my GIS work at a nonprofit. The old name gave the impression that the organization was for urban planners. This rebrand clears up that confusion and positions us to connect with a much broader community of GIS professionals."

A Thoughtful Rebranding Process
The rebranding initiative was driven by extensive research, including interviews with leadership and a comprehensive survey of the membership. The feedback clearly indicated a desire for an identity that better reflects the organization’s growing role in supporting professionals at all stages of their GIS careers, from recent graduates to seasoned experts.

"The power of this network—whether it’s solving problems, building connections, or advancing careers—cannot be overstated," said John Nolte, President-Elect. "We’re deeply passionate about GIS, and we believe this new identity will help us reach an even larger and more diverse community of geospatial professionals."

A Logo that Symbolizes Connectivity and Growth
The new Geospatial Professional Network logo visually represents the global connectivity central to the geospatial profession. The circle at the core symbolizes the worldwide reach of GIS, while the dots reflect both data points and people, highlighting GPN’s focus on networking, professional development, and collaboration.

"The value of URISA has always been the community and leadership it provides," said Steve Steinberg, former Board Treasurer. "This rebrand builds on that legacy while positioning the organization for the future."

Looking Ahead
As the Geospatial Professional Network, the organization will continue providing renowned programs, such as the GIS Leadership Academy, and foster partnerships with local and regional GIS groups. With this new identity, GPN is poised to become an even more integral part of the global geospatial landscape, offering tools, resources, and a supportive community for GIS professionals everywhere.

About the Geospatial Professional Network
The Geospatial Professional Network is a dynamic community of GIS professionals, providing top-tier education, networking opportunities, and career development resources. Committed to upholding the highest ethical standards, GPN empowers members to advance their careers, support their organizations, and shape the future of the geospatial profession.

For more information, visit www.geospatialprofessionalnetwork.org/ 


Press Contact:
Wendy Nelson
Executive Director
wnelson@urisa.org

New name and brandmark:

URISA Applauds FCC’s Unanimous Approval of Next Generation 911 Services

The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) commends the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its unanimous vote in favor of the “Facilitating Implementation of Next Generation 911 Services (NG911) Report and Order.” This landmark decision sets the stage for a nationwide transition to a NG911 that relies on GIS data and technology¹ in revolutionizing emergency communication and enhancing public safety.

Key Highlights:

1. NG911 Transition Rules: The FCC’s Report and Order establishes comprehensive guidelines for implementing NG911 capabilities across networks. It defines responsibilities for OSPs (Originating Service Providers) and sets deadlines for delivering 911 calls to NG911 systems².
   
2. Improved Call Delivery: By adopting NG911 standards, emergency calls will be routed more efficiently, leading to faster response times and potentially saving lives.
   
3. Reliability and Innovation: URISA recognizes the FCC’s commitment to advancing location-based routing for wireless 911 calls. This move ensures that NG911 services remain reliable and adaptable to emerging technologies².
   
4. Public Safety Benefits: The transition to NG911 will enhance location accuracy, support multimedia data (such as text messages and images), and enable better coordination during emergencies.
   

URISA stands alongside the FCC in championing this critical milestone. We believe that NG911 will revolutionize emergency response, making communities safer and more resilient.

For more information, visit the FCC’s official document².

About URISA: URISA is a global organization dedicated to advancing the effective use of spatial information and technology in urban and regional planning, emergency management, and related fields. Our mission is to foster excellence in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and promote the use of geospatial tools for societal benefit.

Note to Editors: URISA is an independent organization and not affiliated with the FCC. This press release reflects URISA’s perspective on the NG911 Report and Order.

¹: GIS Is Critical for NG9-1-1
²: FCC Report and Order