PATHFINDERS

Some people see the problems in their communities and feel overwhelmed. Others, like Ali, see a call to action. "Our vision at PGL is to help create cities that are more sustainable, comfortable, and ready for the future." By developing a groundbreaking City Digital Twin platform, he is helping planners and architects rethink urban design from the ground up, ensuring that sustainability and livability are built in, not added later.

Some people see the challenges in the world and feel overwhelmed. Others, like Jeff Lamb, step up and build solutions. "There's so much we can do to make the world a better place just by focusing on the things we know and the things we're good at." For him, that means protecting our natural resources, our data, and the untold stories of everyday heroes.

For Michaela Tuell, a forester with Northwest Management, forestry is not just about trees—it’s about legacy, balance, and...

In a remote corner of California, nestled in the southern Sierra Mountains, Dr. Donna Miranda-Begay is doing something quietly...

If you scroll LinkedIn long enough, chances are you’ll see a post from Jamie Christensen — often with a dose of humor, a dash of Homer...

Julia Wagemann didn’t grow up with a clear path to follow. Raised in a small German village with just ten houses, she was the first in...

Steve Mark doesn’t just see maps—he sees connection. For nearly 15 years, he’s helped knit together a fabric of collaboration across...

Growing up in a rural farming community in Jamaica, Valrie Grant saw firsthand how geography could limit someone’s future. But she also...

n this episode of Pathfinders, host Jeff Lamb sits down with Shannon Foxx Day, a passionate advocate for GIS, leadership, and women in GIS.

James Britton is a leader in the Canadian GIS industry, known for his instrumental role in building and advancing GIS education.

“How do you describe GIS?” It’s the question that kicks off every Pathfinders interview, and Tim Nolan doesn’t hesitate. “I describe it...

In the latest Pathfinders podcast, GIS educator Joseph Kerski shares how geospatial tools are transforming education and change.

In this episode of Pathfinders, GIS expert Brendan Walashek shares his 25-year journey in the GIS industry.

When Ryan Garnett was seven years old, he had a simple mission: prove his dad wrong. His father worked night shifts for the City of...

When Frederic Blouin-Michaud talks about GIS—Geographic Information Systems—he doesn’t just talk about maps or data. He talks about...

Most careers don’t come with lifelong friendships. But for Duncan Rowe and Peter Vinstra, a shared love of maps, data, and...

“Not everybody wants to hear they’re doing it wrong,” Shawn Morgan admits, reflecting on his years as a GIS educator. “But the time to do...

When someone asks Greg Babinski what he does for a living, he usually starts with a game. “I ask if they’ve ever played Sim City,” he...

Most of us don’t think much about roads—until something goes wrong. But for Arif K. Rafiq, roads are not just concrete and paint. They’re...

When Peter Hettstedt tells people he works in GIS, their eyes often glaze over—until he explains how location-based data shapes...

Linda Stevens never planned on becoming one of the most influential voices in the world of geographic information systems (GIS). In fact,...

When Ron Cook tells people what he does for a living, he often gets puzzled looks. “I make maps,” he says with a smile. But there’s so...

When James Burn first stepped into the world of civil engineering, GIS wasn’t even on his radar. He was a geology grad working with test...

Nik Smilovsky’s journey into GIS didn’t start with a job title or a college major. It began in his grandmother’s den, staring at a map of...