As part of my GIS Internship course, I was tasked with developing a professional GIS portfolio to showcase my skills, experience, and growth in the field. This portfolio represents a collection of my best work from the University of West Florida GIS Certificate Program, along with real-world applications from my professional experience.
Throughout this process, I focused on creating a clean, accessible platform that highlights a range of projects including cartographic design, spatial analysis, LiDAR processing, and geoprocessing workflows using ArcGIS Pro, ModelBuilder, and Python. Each project included in the portfolio demonstrates not only technical proficiency, but also the ability to apply GIS to real-world scenarios such as environmental analysis, infrastructure mapping, and disaster assessment.
One of the most valuable aspects of this assignment was reflecting on my progression in GIS—from early coursework to more advanced analytical and applied projects. Building the portfolio reinforced the importance of clear communication, thoughtful design, and effectively presenting technical work to a broader audience.
Overall, this was a highly rewarding experience that helped solidify both my technical skills and my ability to present them in a professional and meaningful way.
For my GIS Day event, I had the opportunity to discuss GIS in two different settings: first with friends while on a weekend trip, and then with my family which including my wife and son.
I had the opportunity to explain what I do as a GIS Analyst to a group of friends who live in the same city I now work for. Like many people outside the field, they had heard of “GIS” before but did not really understand what it meant or how it is used in everyday life. I tried to approach it in a way that connected directly to their daily experiences.
I started by explaining that GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, is essentially a way of combining maps with data to help people better understand what is happening in a specific location. I told them to think of it as layering different types of information, like utilities, zoning, crime data, or infrastructure on top of a map so that patterns and relationships become easier to see and analyze.
To make it more relatable, I pulled up some of the city’s public-facing web maps and dashboards. This really helped bridge the gap between theory and real-world application. For example, I showed them interactive maps where they could view things like flood data, zoning and future land use, and parcel data. I also showed them a city development activity dashboard that presents near real-time data in a visual format, such as charts and maps, which help city staff and the public quickly understand what is going on without digging through spreadsheets. This dashboard shows all the development activities going on in the city and provides statuses and contact information as well as access to documents such as architecture/landscape plans and surveys.
What seemed to resonate most with them was how practical GIS is. They began to see that it’s not just about making maps, it is about supporting decisions that affect their community. Whether it is being part of the city’s emergency response team, assisting code enforcement officers in the field, or allowing residents to explore city data online, GIS plays a role in improving efficiency, transparency, and communication.
By the end of the conversation, they had a much clearer understanding of what I do and why it matters. It was rewarding to see that shift, from thinking GIS is something abstract or technical to recognizing it as a powerful tool that directly impacts the city they live in. This experience also reminded me how important it is to communicate technical concepts in a way that is accessible and relevant to a general audience.
For my discussion with my family I started with the Esri video titled “What is GIS.”Links to an external site. I always thought this was a solid introduction for those outside the field. Naturally this video generated some good questions which I was able to answer more clearly by showing them ArcGIS Pro in action. Since a lot of our data at the City of Port Orange is publicly available on ArcGIS Online I was able to show them some data sets that I will be working with in my position.
The data I showed them included our city’s sewer and water network. Since we live within the city, it was especially impactful to zoom into our subdivision and highlight features they were already familiar with, such as manholes and drainage inlets on our street that they have seen many times. I also introduced them to our stormwater system. Because we have a swale bordering our backyard, along with a few retention ponds and drainage inlets nearby, these served as great real-world examples to demonstrate how GIS is used to map and manage stormwater infrastructure. They were amazed at how the attribute table made it possible to quickly answer questions, like how many drainage inlets exist in the city or within a specific area, and the total length of water lines, all with just a few mouse clicks.
Overall, this was a very successful experience. It not only helped others better understand GIS, but also gave me the opportunity to refine how I communicate its value to a non-technical audience. Seeing their interest and curiosity grow throughout the discussion confirmed that GIS is most effective when it is tied to real-world, relatable examples. Moving forward, I will continue to focus on making GIS accessible and meaningful to those outside the field.
The industry topic I chose focused on the role of GIS in public safety and emergency managment. I selected this topic because, in my new role as a GIS
Analyst, I will be part of the City of Port Orange, Florida’s Emergency
Management Team. This was an interview with Richard Butgereit, GISP, Information Management Section Head at Florida Division of Emergency Management. The interview provided several important insights that are
especially relevant to this work, including the following:
Richard talked about the importance of
coordination and information sharing among emergency management agencies. He
stressed that successful disaster response relies heavily on collaboration, not
just individual agency efforts.
He also emphasized that proactive
planning and preparedness efforts were especially important and required the
most time. Emphasis on risk assessment, training, and pre-event planning being
key for success. He reinforces the idea that emergency management is an ongoing
process, not something that begins only when a disaster strikes.
Finally, he emphasizes the growing role of data and technology in
emergency management decision making. He made it a point to say that one of his
jobs in emergency management was to provide data in as many ways/formats as
possible. Even though this interview is likely slightly dated, the idea of
providing data in multiple formats is still very relevant in 2026. I would
think, as technology and user expectations have expanded, emergency managers
now need to deliver the same information through dashboards, web maps, mobile
tools, and raw datasets. While the formats have changed since this interview,
the responsibility to make data accessible to different users has likely only
grown.
As mentioned above, I am pleased to share that I have recently accepted a GIS Analyst position with the City of Port Orange, FL. I am excited to begin this new role and look forward to serving the citizens of my hometown. I believe this position will be a great fit, and I am eager to apply the skills I developed at UWF while continuing to grow as a GIS professional.
I recently updated my LinkedIn profile, which had not been revised in several years. I added the courses I completed at UWF and ensured that my blog/portfolio site is clearly visible and easily accessible in both the contact information and education sections. I also refined my listed skills to better reflect my GIS experience, particularly in my recent roles as an Environmental Scientist and GIS Cadastral Mapper. These updates helped create a cleaner and more professional overall presentation.
Additionally, I have begun ESRI training on creating ArcGIS StoryMaps. In the coming weeks, I plan to continue expanding my knowledge through additional StoryMaps training and ArcGIS Online coursework as I prepare to create and maintain web applications in my new role.
This week we were tasked with either revisiting our initial GIS dream job or conducting a new GIS job search to check out what types of jobs are currently available.
Since I have been researching and checking GIS jobs for several years now I initially thought I wanted a job that would utilize my background in archaeology but since beginning the certificate program at UWF over time I have started to lean more towards a GIS position that is more broad. One that I could utilize the variety of the skills I have now acquired through the program at UWF and recent positions I have held since starting at UWF. As I was recently searching for jobs I came across a GIS Analystposition in my hometown of Port Orange, FL.
The position appealed to me because the job description described much of what I was looking for since it wanted someone who had a diverse background to support various city departments. Some of the essential functions included developing and maintaining web maps, applications, and interactive custom dashboards, converting various data types, querying SQL databases and communicating internal and external technical resources to resolve conflicting data issues and provide guidance on best methods to apply results derived from GIS driven data to name a few. Most of these I have experience in either from coursework or from prior positions I have held. I think the only function I don't have much experience in is creating and maintaining ArcGIS web maps, applications and interactive custom dashboards. As far as the skills, knowledge and abilities listed I also checked most of those boxes with either coursework or prior positions I have held.
In addition to being the type of GIS job I have been searching for, the idea of potentially using GIS to help support my hometown's community efforts in various functions is very exciting to me.
Needless to say I applied for the position and interviewed for it this past Monday morning. I'm happy to say that I received an offer later that afternoon and accepted the position!!!
This semester I am completing my GIS Internship course as my
final requirement for the GIS Graduate Certificate at UWF. I recently held a position
as a Cadastral Mapper so I am using that experience for my internship and will
continue to take some ESRI classes during the semester.
I have been a member of a few groups since starting my GIS
journey at UWF in 2023. I have been a Friend of FLURISA since I started the
program in which I have attended some webinars when available. This past year I
attended the Central Florida GIS Workshop at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach,
FL. This is a great event filled with presentations on a variety of GIS topics,
ESRI trainings, a map and app gallery, and exhibitors representing private sector companies as well as public sector organizations. This workshop is a great way
to learn about a variety of GIS topics and applications as well as network with
other GIS professionals. I was able to meet Amber Bloechle and Dr. John Morgan
at the workshop, so that was great to connect in person!
Since I have some experience working with the Brevard County
Property Appraiser as a Cadastral Mapper, I decided to join the Florida
Association of Cadastral Mappers (FACM). FACM is dedicated to promoting, educating, and
assisting in the development of cadastral mapping in Florida. They also offer a
series of courses designed to support and educate cadastral mapping professionals.
In addition, since beginning the program in 2023 I have
maintained an ESRI Professional Plus/Student user license. This has allowed me
to take ESRI courses during down times and stay familiar with ArcGIS Online. Also included in the license is the ArcUser publications which are great for keeping up on the GIS industry. I
highly encourage anyone in this program to take advantage of this license as the
cost is minimal at $100/yr.
