GIS-Pro 2026

Dive into the evolving technical landscape of geospatial innovation through sessions focused on agentic AI frameworks, LLM-powered geospatial interfaces, and mobile workforce optimization. Learn how open-source AI models can power automated GeoAgent workflows, including evaluation methods, cost management, and deployment considerations.

Keywords: Agentic AI, Workflow Automation, GeoAI, Machine Learning, Open-Source Tools

No Budget, No Barrier: Building GeoAgent Workflows with Open Source AI
Dave Cook, GISP, Teaching Faculty/Professor of Practice/Chief Innovation Officer/Co-Founder, University of Maryland Wake Forest University/Cornerstone Defense/The Training Data Project, Washington, DC - USA

From Maps to Meaning: Agentic AI for Natural Language Interaction with Geospatial Data and Imagery
Brianna Zumhof, MA, Partner Strategy Manager, Eagleview, San Diego, CA - USA

Your ArcGIS Monitor Has Been Taking Notes. Are You Reading Them?
Jessica Lott, Director of Technical Solutions, dymaptic, Paducah, KY – USA
Holly Kluever, COO, dymaptic, Norwalk, IA - USA

This session focuses on leadership best practices and strategies that have proven success in scaling and delivering GIS across organizations.  In this modern age of hybrid and remote work, it is more important than ever to build strong relationships and operate with best practices such as those from the Project Management Institute (PMI) so that work and teams align to organizational priorities, achieve goals on time and budget, and garner executive support.  Building trust, maintaining accountability, supporting staff development, and using governance, standards, and technology are all essential to sustaining GIS program consistency and reducing burnout.

Keywords: leadership, management, project management, executive, team building

Leading GIS Teams in a Remote World
Christian Hartnett, MSc, MBA, GISP Adjunct Professor of GIS/Vice President Practice Technology, SWCA Environmental Consultants, Austin, TX – USA

Driving GIS Success: Leveraging Executive Engagement, Governance, and KPIs
Curtis Pulford, Enterprise GIS Manager, City of Phoenix, New River, AZ – USA

Applying Project Management Principles to Geospatial Projects and Programs
Ashley Hitt, GISP, PMP, COO, Cultivate Geospatial Solutions, Indianapolis, IN - USA

Eight Ways to Identify Opportunities for GIS in Public Works
Adam Carnow, AICP, GISP, Public Works Industry Specialist, Esri, Charlotte, NC - USA

Starting a GIS consulting business can feel like stepping into the unknown: equal parts exciting, unpredictable, and, at times, downright intimidating. In this session, three small business owners will share their personal journeys of building GIS consulting firms from the ground up. Through candid stories, they’ll highlight the real-world challenges they’ve faced, the lessons learned along the way, and the practical strategies that helped them navigate everything from landing clients to managing growth.

Following the presentations, a moderated panel discussion will dive deeper into what it truly takes to start, run, and sustain a GIS consulting practice. The conversation will explore not only the technical and operational aspects of entrepreneurship, but also the less visible side - uncertainty, risk, and fear.

Attendees can expect an honest, grounded discussion about how fear shows up in entrepreneurship and how to work through it without letting it stall progress. Panelists will share practical approaches for building confidence, maintaining momentum, and creating a business that is both sustainable and personally fulfilling. Whether you’re considering going out on your own or looking to grow an existing firm, this session offers real insights from those actively navigating the path.

Keywords: small business, consulting, entrepreneurship, career growth, leadership

Panelists
Judy Colby-George, GISP, Owner/Principal, VIEWSHED, Yarmouth, ME - USA
Other panelists - TBD