Dear Members and Friends of Georgia URISA,

We are proud to announce to you that one of our members, Tripp Corbin, has been nominated for the URISA International Board of Directors. Many of you know Tripp professionally and personally, whether through business engagements or his involvement with Georgia URISA. As you can attest, he will serve URISA International with the utmost of integrity and fervor, just as he has given to Georgia URISA over the last decade. Please show Tripp your support when the election commences. Below you will find his biography and platform statement.

The URISA International election will run from July 19th through September 2nd. The election is only open to URISA International members. Voting instructions will be sent to members as the election approaches. If you are not a URISA International member, we would like to remind you that the $20.00 Introductory Membership offer runs throughout the 2011 calendar year. Click here for more information and an application.

Tripp Corbin, MCP, CFM, GISP

Professional Experience:

• 2010 – Present – CEO, eGIS Associates, Inc.
• 2001 – Present – Vice President, GIS/IT, Keck & Wood, Inc.
• 1999-2001 – Network Administrator, Keck & Wood, Inc.
• 1996-1999 – GIS/GPS Project Manager, Keck & Wood, Inc.
• 1993-1996 – Survey Crew/Mapping Technician, Keck & Wood, Inc.
• 1988-1993 – US Navy – Operations Specialist, USS Saratoga

Education:

• Pre-engineering, University of West Georgia
• Civil Engineering (Land Survey Focus), Southern Polytechnic University
• Various classes for Autodesk, Bentley, Esri and Microsoft products

Certifications:

• GIS Professional (GISP) – GIS Certification Institute, 2005
• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) – Association of State Floodplain Managers, 2006
• Authorized/Certified ArcGIS Desktop Instructor – Esri, 2003
• ArcGIS Desktop Associate - Esri, 2010
• Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) – Microsoft Corporation, 2000 (original certification)
• Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+) – CompTIA, 2010

Geospatial Professional Organizations:

• URISA International – 2007-Present
• GA URISA – 2003 – Present
• FL URISA – 2007 – Present
• AL URISA, Alaska URISA, & Carolina URISA - 2011
• IAAO – 2009 – 2010
• GAAO 2003 - 2010
• GITA – 2009 - Present
• SHRUG – 2004 – Present
• NW Florida GIS Users Group – 2008 – Present
• Pee Dee GIS Users Group – 2009 – present
• Surveying & Mapping Society of Georgia – 1994 -1995, 2006 – Present
• Association of State Floodplain Managers – 2007 - Present

URISA Activities:

• URISA member, 2007 to present
• URISA Workshop Instructor, 2007 to present
• URISA Chapter Relations Committee, Member 2008-2010, Chair 2011
• GA URISA Board Member, 2005-2010, various positions including President

Other Professional Activities:

• GISP Application Review Committee – 2006 to present
• Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM) Development Panel – 2010
• GITA Southeast Board Member 2009 to present

Statement to the Membership:

"Geospatial technology has managed to work its way into the daily lives of just about everyone. The explosion geospatial awareness is causing our community to face many new challenges and even revisit some old ones in a new light. URISA is uniquely positioned to help our profession answer these increasing pressures with its links to other geospatial organizations, ties to education, and its international presence. Few Geospatial organizations have been around as long or are as plugged into what is happening throughout this geospatial revolution as URISA.

To address these challenges successfully, URISA needs to keep looking forward. We need to strengthen the organization as a whole developing stronger ties between the Local Chapters and URISA International. This will require better communication and tools for sharing resources. The new Advocacy Agenda put forth by Cy Smith, President of URISA, is another important step in strengthening the bonds by defining some key goals for URISA that can be applied at all levels. As the Chapter Relations Committee Chair, I have been working hard to get the URISA and the local chapters more engaged with one another by pushing the Chapter Liaisons to maintain monthly contact with the local chapters. There is still a lot of work to do though.

As the use of spatial data increases so will the need and frequency of various geospatially related professions to work together. It is even more important that the roles of these various professions be clearly defined for the betterment of our industry and the public we serve. URISA needs to take an active role assisting the further the development of the Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM), which was produced last year for the Department of Labor by the GeoTech Center. This is a key step in helping to define the roles of GIS Practioners and Professionals within the bigger geospatial picture, including Surveyors, Photogrametrists and other geo-professionals. Continued participation with organizations such as GISCI and NSGIC are also critical.

I am extremely honored to have been nominated for the URISA Board. URISA has done so much to help further GIS. If given the opportunity I will do my best to see URISA continues to represent and support our community in meaningful and positive ways."

Please help us support Tripp in his endeavor to serve our association and industry at the international level. If you are not a URISA International member, we encourage you to become one today and to participate in the election.

Thank you.

Melanie Tabb
Georgia URISA Secretary
Email: secretary@gaurisa.org
Web: www.gaurisa.org