GISP Certification
Doctors, lawyers, surveyors, civil engineers… What do these professions have in common? In most states members of these occupations are required by state licensing boards to periodically renew their licenses by obtaining certification of their professional abilities. This certification is designed to protect the public by assuring that these professionals are well versed in the latest standards and procedures of their respective fields. Recertification for these professions is achieved primarily by obtaining continuing educational units, or CEU’s.
While not mandatory for GIS professionals working in Illinois, certification for GIS practitioners is available on a voluntary basis through the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI). GISCI is an independent, non-profit, private organization that provides GIS professional certification upon the submittal and acceptance of documentation that proves that a GIS practitioner has:
• Achieved a high level of GIS related education.
• Advanced his or her professional development through continuing education, GIS conference / workshop attendance, and professional experience.
• Made substantial contributions to the GIS profession such as participating in GIS conferences and workshops, the publishing of professional papers, and active participation in GIS professional organizations.
• Demonstrated his or her understanding of a code of ethics required for their performance as a GIS professional.
The Board of Directors of GISCI themselves are highly regarded GIS professionals, holding top level positions in organizations such as the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC), the American Association of Geographers (AAG), and the University Consortium of Geographic Information Science (UCGIS).
Applicants certified by the GISCI are designated as GISP’s or GIS Professionals. As of January 2009, worldwide there were 2,886 GISP’s certified by the GISCI. The majority of GISP’s are from the United States and Canada. Of the total number of GISP’s, 75 are from the State of Illinois. Out of the nearly 700 members of ILGISA, only 47 are certified as GISP’s, which indicates we have great potential in the future professional certification of our membership.
GISP certification by the GISCI is in effect for a period of five years. At the end of the five year period the GISP must recertify, again documenting their achievements in education, professional development and experience, and contributions to others.
There are many benefits to a GIS practitioner obtaining the GISP designation. A GISP not only receives accreditation for his or her past professional experience and accomplishments, but also establishes a framework for their career path for the next five years.
It is highly recommend that all members of ILGISA consider obtaining and maintaining GISP certification. The GISP designation in itself is not a means to an end, but a structure that we can utilize to further our own personal development in service to our profession and the people we serve. For more information, visit the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI).
GIS Professionals within the State of Illinois as of January 14, 2009
| First Name |
Last Name |
Job Title |
Co Name |
City |
| Mazher |
Ahmed |
GIS Technologies CAD Specialist |
Kane County |
Geneva |
| Kingsley |
Allan |
GIS Manager |
Illinois State Water Survey |
Champaign |
| Scott |
Anderson |
GIS Specialist / Quality Assurance Team Supervisor |
Urbana |
| Joye |
Baker |
GIS/Floodplain Specialist |
Adams County |
Quincy |
| Kenneth |
Baker |
Township MFT Engineer/GIS Coordinator |
McHenry County |
Woodstock |
| Chad |
Bergeson |
GIS Solutions & Support Manager |
The Sidwell Company |
St. Charles |
| Michael |
Bieberitz |
GIS Developer |
HNTB |
Chicago |
| Shawn |
Blobaum |
Vice President of Operations |
Bruce Harris & Associates Inc |
Waterman |
| Keith |
Caldwell |
GIS Applications Supervisor |
Lake County |
Waukegan |
| Lorraine F M |
Chidester |
GIS Technologies Office Mgr |
Kane County |
Geneva |
| Kent |
Cook |
GIS Coordinator |
State of Illinois |
Springfield |
| Leeroy |
Cotton |
GIS Analyst |
City of Batavia |
Chicago |
| Eric |
Creighton |
GIS Analyst |
City of St Charles |
Saint Charles |
| Steven |
Damolaris |
GIS Planner |
City of Elgin |
Elgin |
| Scott |
Dragoo |
GIS Project Manager |
The Sidwell Company |
St. Charles |
| William |
Faedtke |
Manager of GIS |
DuPage County |
Wheaton |
| Brian |
Fee |
GIS Analyst |
Patrick Engineering |
Chicago |
| Peter |
Ferretti |
GIS Analyst |
Vernon Hills |
| Jennifer |
Gandy |
GIS Coordinator |
Village of Niles |
Niles |
| Nicole |
Gattuso |
GIS Manager |
McHenry County |
Woodstock |
| Adam |
Gibson |
Application Support Specialist |
Chicago |
| Dennis |
Gilbertson |
GIS Manager |
Village of Lisle |
Lisle |
| Michael |
Grasso |
GIS Manager |
CDM - Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. |
Chicago |
| Hal |
Greenwood |
GIS Coordinator |
City of Wheaton |
Wheaton |
| Ryon |
Gross |
Business Development Manager |
Quincy |
| Matthew |
Hanks |
GIS Specialist |
SAIC |
Swansea |
| Khalid |
Hasan |
Director of Regional GIS |
Mc Lean County |
Bloomington |
| William |
Jackson |
GIS Coordinator |
Mc Lean County |
Bloomington |
| John |
Jiang |
Director of IS |
Metro Chicago Information Center |
Chicago |
| Greg |
Johnson |
GIS Support Specialist |
Will County |
Joliet |
| George |
Katsambas |
GIS Supervisor |
Pace Suburban Bus |
Arlington Heights |
| Mark |
Kemper |
GIS Project Management |
The Sidwell Company |
St Charles |
| Soomee |
Kong |
GIS Analyst |
The Sidwell Company |
St. Charles |
| Krista |
Koster |
GIS Coordinator |
Rogina and Associates |
Oswego |
| Janusz |
Kwiatkowski |
GIS Manager |
Village of Arlington Heights |
Arlington Heights |
| Jeffrey |
Laramy |
GIS Analyst |
Lake County |
Libertyville |
| Brent |
Mainzinger |
Vice President of Business Development |
The Sidwell Company |
St Charles |
| Robert |
Marros |
GIS Developer/Analyst |
HNTB |
Chicago |
| Richard |
Marshall |
President |
O Fallon |
| Carmen |
Maso' |
Environmental Protection Specialist/GIS Analyst |
Chicago |
| Curtis |
McBride |
GIS Coordinator |
Baxter & Woodman |
Saint Charles |
| Shane |
McDermott |
President |
Mid-West GIS Inc |
Quincy |
| Timothy |
Mescher |
GIS Mapping Coordinator |
Kane County |
Geneva |
| Ramakrishna |
Mulukutla |
Senior Development Manager |
GEODecisions, Inc. |
Normal |
| Jay |
Nemeth |
GIS Projects Manager |
Engineering Enterprises |
Sugar Grove |
| Thomas |
Nicoski |
GIS Technologies Director |
Kane County |
Geneva |
| Keith |
Nightlinger |
GIS Manager |
City of St Charles |
Saint Charles |
| Troy |
Olson |
Engineering Technician |
City of Bloomington |
Normal |
| Perla |
Peralta |
Mapping, Research and Data Collection |
Chicago |
| Kenneth |
Prchal |
Rich Content Integration Engineer |
NAVTEQ |
Chicago |
| Edward |
Prescott |
GIS / GPS Coordinator |
State of Illinois |
Springfield |
| Thomas |
Ricker |
Director of Project Management |
The Sidwell Company |
Saint Charles |
| Chandrima |
Roy |
Research Associate |
Northern Illinois University |
Dekalb |
| Lisa |
Sagami |
Senior Project Engineer |
Consoer Townsend Evirodyne Engineers Inc |
Chicago |
| Peter |
Schoenfield |
Principal GIS Analyst |
Lake County |
Waukegan |
| Mehul |
Shah |
GIS Applications Developer |
Chicago |
| Jeff |
Siegel |
Technology Services Director |
HNTB |
Chicago |
| Delbert |
Skimerhorn |
Planner / GIS Specialist |
Kankakee County |
Kankakee |
| Vincent |
Smith |
GIS/Land Analyst |
City of Aurora |
Aurora |
| Stephen |
Sochotsky |
GIS Specialist |
Town of Normal |
Normal |
| Lori |
Sommers |
Assistant Village Planner |
Village of Oak Park |
Oak Park |
| Scott |
Stocking |
GIS Manager |
Patrick Engineering |
Chicago |
| Michael |
Tasker |
CADD-GIS Coordinator |
Village of Glenview |
Glenview |
| Joseph |
Tauer |
GIS Coordinator/Planner |
Oak Lawn |
| Mark |
Toalson |
GIS Manager |
Champaign County |
Urbana |
| Eric |
Venden |
GIS Coordinator |
Village of Gurnee |
Gurnee |
| Jason |
Verachtert |
GIS Analyst |
Kane County |
Geneva |
| Andrew |
Vitale |
Senior GIS Coordinator |
Village of Niles |
Niles |
| Vladimir |
Vojvodic |
Sr GIS Specialist |
Integrys |
Chicago |
| Alan |
Waddilove |
GIS Consultant |
Lombard |
| Alfred |
Weiss |
GIS Specialist / GIS Faculty |
Village of Hoffman Estates |
Hoffman Estates |
| Ryan |
Williams |
GIS Analyst |
Lake County |
Libertyville |
| Micah |
Williamson |
GIS Manager |
Peoria County |
Peoria |
| Philip |
Young |
Research Associate, Director - Advanced Geospatial Lab |
Northern Illinois University |
Dekalb |
| Xun |
Zhang |
GIS Technical Manager |
Bruce Harris & Associates Inc |
Batavia |