MaSSSoftech

"The Ranch", Larimer County Fairgrounds, Loveland, Colorado



DENVER - September 11, 2009 - As the importance of geospatial technology continues to increase, professionals, educators, and students will gather at the 22nd annual GIS in the Rockies Conference, to be held at "The Ranch" in Loveland, Colorado, September 16-17, 2009*.
GIS in the Rockies is the intermountain west's premier geospatial information and technology conference. The conference offers opportunities for industry professionals to learn more about geospatial technology issues and business-centric strategies supporting every vertical market touched by the geospatial industry. With the ever-shifting economic climate, there are many reasons that 2009 feels like a turning point and a year for re-evaluation, transformation, and new beginnings. At the 2009 GIS In the Rockies Conference, we will be doing just that: Evaluating Spatial Solutions for the New Economy. This year's conference will focus on how geospatial industries can create innovative and effective solutions for the local and world economy. The many challenges facing us today require the geospatial industry to focus both on our foundations, but also on innovation and collaboration towards systemic solutions. GIS in the Rockies brings professionals from many different geospatial sectors to do just that through inter-related services, products, and solutions.
*Optional pre-event conference workshops are being held Tuesday, September 15th, tours of regional GIS organizations offered Friday, September 18th

WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

Wednesday, September 16th, 8:00 am - 10:30 am: REGIONAL GEOSPATIAL INDUSTRY JOB FAIR AT THE RANCH

This job fair will allow the future geospatial workforce to gain valuable insight into the skills employers are seeking from its prospective labor pools. Your participation in this event gives you exposure in the geospatial community and provides the opportunity to match the right candidates with professional positions. It provides a venue for employers, geospatial professionals, and for those who are just entering this exciting industry.


The Job Fair is free for the job seekers. Employers interested in participating should contact Darcee Killpack at jobfair@gisintherockies.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wednesday, September 16th, 10:30 am: OPENING LENARY PANEL DISCUSSION & KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

The GIS in the Rockies 2009 conference will begin with an opening plenary session on Wednesday, September 16 at 10:30 a.m. The plenary will include a keynote address by Karen Siderelis, Geospatial Information Officer (GIO) for the Department of the Interior. Ms. Siderelis provides leadership to advance the National Spatial Data Infrastructure through Interior's national and international responsibilities associated with the Federal Geographic Data Committee and other collaborative activities. She also ensures the coordination and advancement of GIS efforts across all nine Interior bureaus. She will be a great addition to our Plenary and we look forward to her presentation. The plenary also includes a panel of industry experts from multiple disciplines including:
 Stephen Fisher Center for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure at the University of
Colorado Denver

 Donna Heimiller National Renewal Energy Lab (NREL)

 Deborah Thomas Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Denver

 David Blankenship Senior GIS Analyst, Colorado Springs Fire Department

 Jeff Evans U.S. Forest Service



The plenary panel will be discussing how geospatial technology can support the many issues facing our neighborhoods today and in the future.
Plenary Session Keynote Speaker: Karen Siderelis, Geospatial Information Officer (GIO), Department of the Interior

Karen Siderelis holds the position of Geospatial Information Officer (GIO) for the Department of the Interior. She became the first GIO for Interior when she was appointed to the position in September 2008. In that role, she provides leadership to advance the National Spatial Data Infrastructure through Interior's national and international responsibilities associated with the Federal Geographic Data Committee and other collaborative activities. She also ensures the coordination and advancement of GIS efforts across all nine Interior bureaus. Siderelis previously served as Associate Director for Geospatial Information and Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Geological Survey. Before joining the U.S. Geological Survey, she was Director of the North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis. Karen has served as vice chair of the Mapping Science Committee of the National Academy of Sciences and president of the National States Geographic Information Council. She has masters and bachelor's degrees from the University of Georgia.


Thursday, September 17th, Luncheon Keynote: Michael W. Locatis, State Chief Information Officer

Mike Locatis was appointed by Governor Bill Ritter as State CIO in January 2007. Prior to being Chief Information Officer for Colorado, Mike was CIO for the City and County of Denver where he was recognized nationally by the Public Technology Institute for consolidating twenty disparate information technology departments into a single city-wide Technology Services Division. Mike's Technology Service team delivered new enterprise applications including 3-1-1 a comprehensive "one-stop shop" constituent service offering available today in Denver.
Before joining the City and County of Denver, Mike was the Senior Director of Enterprise Technology Strategy for Time Warner Cable. In this capacity, he managed the technology strategy and architecture development - responsible for transforming customer service delivery systems, including the alignment of call center, ERP, web and retail systems.

ABOUT GIS IN THE ROCKIES

"Creating a forum for business, government, and academia to foster collaboration and education related to important topics, emerging trends and innovations across the geospatial community."


The sponsoring societies include: the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Geospatial Information and Technology Association (GITA), the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), the Professional Land Surveyors of Colorado (PLSC), the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) and GIS Colorado (GISCO).