GIS-Pro 2026

This session explores the GIS career journey from early professional uncertainty through mid-career transitions and career advancement, highlighting both expected and unexpected paths along the way. Attendees will learn how to move from academic GIS work into real-world practice, navigate ambiguity, and build confidence beyond foundational technical GIS skills. The discussion also covers diverse career paths beyond traditional analyst roles, including opportunities in leadership, project management, operations, and product-focused work, emphasizing the importance of communication, curiosity, and relationship-building. Finally, the session addresses the “missing middle” of mid-career professionals which is often a key point defining the choice to pursue deeper technical or business centric focuses. This session offers strategies for finding direction, mentorship, and growth opportunities while deciding between technical specialization and leadership pathways.

Keywords:  career, growth, learning, leadership, management, mentorship
Stuck in the Middle: Navigating the Mid-Career GIS Identity Crisis
Christina Brunsvold, MS, GISP, Lead GIS Administrator/Project Manager, CAL FIRE, Sacramento, CA - USA

Beyond the Map: Career Paths GIS Doesn’t Talk About
Johnny Harley, GISP, GIS Analyst, TREKK Design Group, Fairway KS - USA
Brianna Zumhof, Partner Strategy Manager for Government, Eagleview, San Diego, CA – USA

Mapping the Transition from Student to Geospatial Professional
Allison Bednar, GIS Analyst, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, Tampa, FL - USA