Jesse Eckenrode

After graduating from Minnesota State University in 2010 with a degree in geography, I worked as a paraprofessional for one year. I talked with a relative during that time about an open GIS role in his company. Since I had already completed my GIS certificate and understood GIS programming, I applied for the position at GeoDecisions and have been here for the past 12 years. I get to work with the latest technology, leverage my understanding of geospatial information, and work with my passion for geography and the natural world.

I originally applied to GeoDecisions because of a conversation with a relative. I stay for the continued opportunities to develop and gain a skill set tailored to geospatial solutions. We have a great culture, and I enjoy working with all my wonderful coworkers and other geospatial professionals. Everyone is so willing to collaborate with me.

Currently, I wear a few different hats. My primary responsibilities include providing technical understanding, complex solution design, and GIS process orientation on our geospatial projects.

I also supervise a GIS team with various skill levels. I oversee their tasks, answer questions, and guide innovative solutions development. More importantly, I mentor them in their careers and help them grow their skill sets as they discover the specialties they find most rewarding.

When I was in college, I discovered a love for how the world works from metaphysical and social perspectives. GIS merges those two ideas into one space. I also like to build strong client relationships and develop tools and processes using geospatial technology that give them insights and help them make better decisions. I couldn’t ask for a better option than a GIS career.

Gannett Fleming and GeoDecisions have always provided regular GIS skills training for my professional development in the field of GIS. I have participated in Connected Relationships, our internal mentor program led by Connected Women at Gannett Fleming^TM. Finally, the natural mentor mindset of my GeoDecisions coworkers and GIS professionals has given me room and support to grow.

I participate in ERG events, especially the Rainbow Connection events that LGBTQ+ of Gannett Fleming sponsors. I love how the company embraces diversity, plays to the strengths of the many different types of people we work with, and creates these specialized groups.

I was recently asked to assist with launching our partnership with Women in GIS, one of the professional organizations we support. Several women on our team have already joined. Our work with Women in GIS will give even more support to help everyone thrive in our company and work groups.

One of the most interesting projects I have been working on for the past couple of years is with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). We are supporting them with many initiatives that overlap with different state departments. When I think about impactful and innovative, I think of automating NCDOT’s emergency pipe recommendation efforts.

After a severe weather event, the State Maintenance Office installed ArcGIS Survey123, an Esri® application and smart form, to collect storm damage data. The hydraulics unit evaluates collected pipe/culvert/bridge damage data and recommends corrections and mitigation strategies for future storm events. The tools we are developing provide stronger resource management access and allow design recommendations, updates, and final design documentation.

Teaming with the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, we have automated systems to provide field assessments in the unit workspace. These automations allow the unit to easily send recommendations to other state departments without bogging down email systems.

Many of my projects are related to process improvements, environmental compliance, and data and spatial analysis. The results give our clients better tools and access to data analytics that provide insights and identify trends. Our innovative solutions also improve processes and increase analytical power to make their data work for them while introducing new data sources and analytical techniques that enhance data-driven decision-making.

Every individual brings complex and different perspectives to anything they are working on. To find the best solution to any challenge, you need to view it from all perspectives. This diversity allows us to elevate ideas and mitigate risks that a different perspective identifies.

My first supervisor loved to talk about innovation and how to always keep it in mind. He felt it is paramount to keep an open mind to any idea someone brings to the team.

My wife and I have been together for 17 years. One of our Christmas traditions is to create a list of questions the other has to answer with a small gift. The questions usually include how we would describe the additional or specific criteria, i.e., size, color, use, etc. We exchange the gifts and hopefully give the other fun and meaningful gifts.

When I am not working, you can find me either gaming with friends and my wife or working on a yard or home improvement project. My wife and I bought a house built in 1906 and have been renovating it room by room for the last two years. I always love working with my hands, completing new projects, and seeing what I can learn to do for myself.

I am very interested in woodworking, especially highly detailed items such as Kumiko-style wooden lattices. The intricate designs you can create allow you to bring so much character to an item.

I love working in the yard. I enjoy working with flowers and assisting the local ecosystem. Right now, I’m working to create a yard that is a mix of grasses, clovers, and other native plants that allow us to maintain a trimmed yard while keeping large swaths of short, attractive flowers for pollinators. This also gives me many opportunities to take photos and videos of the creatures who come to visit.