Portfolio

Nichole Bonham
ENGL 2100, Technical Writing
Salt Lake Community College
August 4, 2016

Table of Contents

COVER LETTER.....3
Enclosure..4
-

Answers to supplemental questions posed by Ms. Phoebe McNeely, Director,

University of Utahs Digit Lab

WRITING SAMPLES:
Technical Description...5
-

Description of the features and functions of the Open Street Map project

Technical Instructions6
-

Step-by-step instructions on how to update Open Street Map content using an

Android phone

Analytical Report..8
-

A paper exploring the organizational culture and common writing styles in the GIS
field, aimed at determining the authors suitability for a career in that field

RSUM...22

July 17, 2016

Phoebe McNealy, Director
The Digit Lab
675 Arapeen Dr., Rm 103x
Salt Lake City, UT 84132
801-581-3612
Dear Ms. McNealy,
I am applying for a position as an unpaid intern for the University of Utahs Digit Lab. I have
reviewed a recent notice for a position with your facility on the Geography departments jobs and
internship page. That posting is for a paid internship requiring a 20-hour a week commitment. My
current status as an active duty military member with the National Guard does not make this a
feasible option for seven more years, but I would like to find a way to gain experience in the GIS
field prior to that. Therefore, I am requesting that you consider the option of hiring me as an unpaid
intern with a guarantee of 5-8 hours a week.
I am currently in an Active Duty status for the Utah Army National Guard, with a projected
retirement date of June 2023. I am currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Geography and
intend to follow with a Masters degree in GIS. When I retire I will do so with a great deal of
practical work experience; I would like to add to that a body of useful experience in the GIS field.
The practical work experience I refer to could be an immediate benefit to your facility. I have welldeveloped teamwork and problem solving skills and training in all levels of administrative tasks.
Although I have training in operational plan development and project management, I recognize that
training is in a non-related field and am more than comfortable taking a back-seat as I learn. In
short, I am a self-starter who can be trusted with a wide range of tasks from menial to complicated.
In the job posting I reviewed, you requested answers to three supplemental questions to help gauge
a new interns history and awareness of the GIS field. I have attached my answers to those
questions on the next page. I believe my answers will show a level of interest and passion for the
GIS field that would help to make me an asset to your team.
Thank you for reviewing my request for an internship with your facility. I look forward to hearing
from you about this opportunity. I can be reached on my cell phone (
or through
email (nbonham@bruinmail.slcc.edu).
Sincerely,

Nichole Bonham
Enclosed: Answers to supplemental questions

Nichole Bonham
Answers to Supplemental Questions
Describe the three most innovative or impactful GIS projects/solutions in which you played a role.
1. As an assignment for a Human Geography course I used ArcGIS to create a web map
identifying the correlation of types of schools (elementary, middle, high, k-12 and public,
private, or charter) with median household income in Utah. The map debunked assumptions I
had on what types of schools I would find where, and forced me to examine the potential
reasons for other phenomena I had not anticipated. I believe both of those results are the reason
maps can be important information tools. You can see the map and full analysis at
http://nicholebonham.weebly.com/human-geography-geog-1400.html.
2. As an assignment for a technical writing class I designed a tri-fold instruction guide educating
the general public on how to upload map revisions to OpenStreetMap using an Android phone.
The idea of having locals-only knowledge of every corner of the planet is fascinating, but only
really feasible if more people know about it and know how to contribute.
3. As an assignment for a technical writing class I wrote a 10-page analytical report on the
organizational culture and types of writing styles found in the GIS field. The research I
conducted for this paper was instrumental in cementing my plans to pursue this career.
What do you see as the three most important current GIS trends in the GIS field?
1. Open source data. I believe the move away from proprietary data sources to open data sources
will allow for more accurate, varied, and meaningful map creation. Of course it opens the doors
to other problems of verification, redundancy, attribution, etc., but these are common problems
throughout the internet. For GIS to continue to grow and stay relevant it needs to move away
from the static and limited resources available through proprietary data.
2. Transparency. Transparency gives your audience the chance to verify your information, an
important element of any scientific outcome, but even more vital the more we move toward
open source data.
3. Expanding uses for GIS. I cannot think of a single industry that could not improve its focus or
function through the use of GIS data. I think its exciting that more and more people are
recognizing this potential and using it in such varied ways from marketing to crop rotation.
Briefly describe your experience and interest in GIS.
Our world is changing rapidly: our physical borders are shrinking and our information pool is
exploding. Mapping will help define how we organize, interpret, and explain those changes
how we tell our story. The combination of science and creativity, plus the potential for social
engagement, are what draws me to the GIS field.

Technical Description
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this document is to
describe the Open Street Map project and explain its
features and functions. Open Street Map is an open data
source mapping application that aims to build a map of
the world with a level of information only a local resident
could supply.

Figure 1. World map with countries.

FEATURES: Maps and data are available license free, all

they ask you attribute where you got the data and share
any improvements you make to their data under the same
license free status.

FUNCTIONS: Updates to the map data on Open Street Map can be as simple as adding notes, such
missing place names or feature, Editors can add functional points like post boxes or bus stops or
points of interest like favorite restaraunts or hang out spots. Or if you find an area with no data you
could even use photos, GPS traces, or other methods to create a map from scratch.
CONCLUSION: Free map data, with locals only level knowledge, for everywhere in the world! If
you ever find yourself in Addis Ababa, youll know where to get great coffee. If the road outside
your house is blocked off for construction you can post the change so drivers can avoid the delay. Its
free, its available for anyone to use, and it will help bring a sense of connected community to every
corner of this far flung world we live in.

You can create an account and

start editing today at
openstreetmap.org!

RELEVANT ISOs: ISO/TC 211, Geographic information/

Geomatics technical committee; ISO 3166, codes for
countries and their subdivisions; ISO 639, language
codes; ISO 8601, time and date format.

Figure 2. Murray, UT with local points of interest.

Source of all maps: Apple Maps. (2012-2014). Maps Version (2.0, 1844.0.15) [Map application software with data from
TomTom and others]. Retreived on July 12, 2016 from a desktop iMac running OS X Yosemite, Version 10.10.5.

Real World Example

Before:

Possible Applications

Everyday use:

Instructions:

Keep your friends updated on major

construction in the area.

How to Update

BharataHS (user name), a data analyst in

Bengaluru - official name of Bangalore, India
has been updating the map information for his
hometown of Gubbi, Karnataka, India.

Emergency situations:

Public park near a

hospital designated as
an Ambulatory Care
location for victims of
disaster.

He has added missing roads, a railway

track, public buildings, nearby farms and fields
and other places of interest.

After:

Mark unsafe buildings, temporary aid

locations, areas with stranded survivors.

Zombie Apocolypse:

with your
Android Phone

Identify pockets of zombie infection* so

everyone stays safe!

OpenStreetMap is a project
that aims to build a locals
only map ... that covers
every corner of the globe.
*Zombie image not actually an OpenStreetMap option...yet.
Source of maps: BharataHS. (July 2016). Gubbi, Karnataka, India [Map].
Open Street Map. Retreived from https://www.openstreetmap.org/
diary?page=2

Source of images: Bonham, N. (July 2016). Draper UT intersection;

Storm Mountain Park, Sandy UT; Paris, Fr. [Screenshots with added
notes/images]. Maps Retreived from https://www.openstreetmap.org

And you can help!

Create an OSM account

Go to Openstreetmap.org and sign up. Its

free and easy, and you only fill out profile
information if you want to!

Update Parameters

The symbol in the top left corner of the

screen will open this menu:

However, the functionality isnt the same

so its easier to just use one of the many
applications that will allow you to make
changes to OSM map data.
Weve chosen OSM Contributor. It doesnt
allow for complex editing, but it does
offer a quick and easy way to create Notes
and Points of Interest (POIs).
Perfect for a beginning mapper!

Choose an icon that most closely matches

the description of your point of interest.

Click on Parameters and enter your OSM

login/email and password.
(Also, make sure your phones Location
mode is on. OSM Contributor will work
without it, but it will start you off in Paris
instead of your current location. Cest bon!)

Use your filter

to decide which types of
Notes or Points of Interest you want to see.

Create New POIs

See something missing that could be

helpful? Click on the plus sign
and
choose to create a Note
or POI

Fit the Map to your POI

Move the map around until your point of
interest or note is centered correctly, then
click the checkmark
to confirm.

Open Notes and POIs

Then go back to the map and zoom in until

you can download
all the notes and
points of interest already in your area.

Source of images: MapSquare (2015). OSM Contributor (v2.2.2) [Mobile

application software]. Retrieved from https://www.jawg.io

Choose a POI preset

Try to stay consistent with what other

people in your area are calling the same
type of object.

Download an App

You could access OpenStreetMap (OSM)

directly from their website using a web
browser, like Chrome. It will work on an
Android.

Add Details

Fill in details for this location. For instance,

if its an ATM, is it a drive-thru?

Thats it! Youre Done!

Theres your spot! Helpfully
telling everyone where to
find an ATM or a post box.

Great job, and Thanks for Contributing to OSM!

Running head: ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

Organizational Culture and Writing Styles of the GIS Career Field

Nichole Bonham
Salt Lake Community College
August 4, 2016

Author Note
This paper was prepared for English 2100, Technical Writing, taught by Daniel D. Baird,
dbaird14@bruinmail.slcc.edu.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

Abstract
Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is the study and creation of visual representations,
maps, showing relationships between physical, spatial, social, economic, and cultural aspects of
our world using data from Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This paper explores the
organizational culture and common writing genres used in the GIS field. The author is currently
pursuing an Associates degree with the ultimate goal of a Masters in GIS. She directed the
focus of the report to determine if manipulating GIS data as a career would be a good fit for her
skills and abilities. The end result is a renewed dedication to GIScience, though not specifically
to manipulating GIS data. Identifying and helping to solve world issues through the use of
visualized data can be accomplished with minimal experience in the highly technical field of
writing the mapping software.
Keywords: GIS, Geographic Information Science, Geographic Information Systems,
Organizational Culture, Technical Writing Genres.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

10

Organizational Culture and Writing Styles of the GIS Career Field

Geographic information scientists study and create maps with the use of geographic
information systems software. Maps can include a wide range of data: socio-political
information; terrain and soil properties; flora and fauna type, density, and movement or growth
patterns; and many others. Creating a map requires a mix of both science and art. Its not enough
to simply understand the data being represented, the map designer must create a platform that
presents raw data in a way that will convey information clearly and effectively.
This report explores the organizational culture of the GIS career field and includes an
investigation of the genres of writing and types of products a GIS professional is expected to
generate. The purpose of gathering this data was to assist the author in determining if the GIS
field is a good match for her personality, skills, and abilities. The combination of art and science
in a field with such a wide range of application is an intriguing mix. However, GIS as a primary
career does require a high level of technical knowledge, including coding and software
development, which can be daunting for a beginning student. However, there are less technically
focused aspects of the GIScience field for the author to focus on.
Methodology
The information for this report came from a mix of personal interviews with current GIS
professionals, a study of published information on the career field, and a review of actual
documents prepared by GIS professionals for use in their work activities.
Interviews
The author interviewed three different GIS professionals currently working in the field. First, the
author searched multiple online job search sites for GIS positions. Next the author researched the
GIS departments of two local companies with GIS job postings: Utah Department of

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

11

Transportation and Global Consulting International. Becky Hjelm, the statewide GIS Manager
for Utah Department of Transportations Project Development team, had an online PowerPoint
presentation on the benefits of open source data. Her email was listed on the final slide, but the
author also did a search of the UDOT General Directory to verify she was still with UDOT,
before making contact. Global Consulting International (GCI) was hiring a contractor to work
out of the Forest Services Geospatial Service and Technology Center (GSTC). The author went
the GSTC website and contacted the centers Portfolio Manager, Andrea Rodriguez, who was
listed at the bottom of the centers webpage. The author also sent an email to GCI through the
contact link on their website, gci-usa.com, requesting they put me in contact with a GIS
professional for the purpose of a school research paper. Greg Hughes, a contractor for GCI
working for the Forest Service GSTC as their GIS Helpdesk Manager, responded to that email.
Direct communication with those three individuals resulted in a face-to-face interview with Ms.
Hjelm, a conference call interview with Ms. Rodriguez and three other members of the GSTC
team, and a phone interview with Mr. Hughes.
Peer reviewed articles
To find relevant articles for this report the author did a database search of the Salt Lake
Community College Library. Searches were limited to full text entries that were sourced from
scholarly (peer reviewed) journals. Keywords used for the search were: GIS; GIScience;
Working in the GIS field; Geographic Information Science; Changes in Geographic
Information Science; and Organizational culture of Geographic Information Systems.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

12

GIS writing examples

The author chose four samples to evaluate writing genres found in the GIS field. The first sample
was Ms. Hjelms presentation on open source data. Ms. Rodriguez offered additional documents
during her interview and forwarded them shortly after.
Limitations
GIS has a wide range of applications and can fit within many different industries and locations.
The articles are limited in scope by the keywords used to search for them. If the author had more
experience in the field she may have had a better idea what keywords could produce more
specific results. The interviews conducted for this report reflect the direct experience of only a
handful of GIS professionals, all living in one major U.S. city.
Results
The following is a detailed review of the interviews, publications and products used in
this evaluation of the GIS career field.
Organizational culture
Organizational culture is defined as the beliefs, values, and practices unique to a particular
company, industry, or organization. GIScience is a fairly new field. The software application part
of it, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has been around since the 1960s. But the
theoretical side of geographic information, the multidisciplinary mix of overlapping older
disciplines like geography, statistics, political science, computer science, and cartography that
have come together in new and unique ways, was first tentatively batted around as an idea in the
1980s (Goodchild, 2010).
Family atmosphere. Many people employed in GIS departments describe an
environment geared toward close teamwork and casual setting. Becky Hjelm answered questions

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

13

about the company rituals and group activities by saying she had a fairly tight-knit group (Hjelm,
B. personal interview, July 8, 2016). She said she felt that may have just been part of the
Department of Transportation culture but members of the Forest Service GSTC team reported a
similar feeling. Karen Nabity even told a story about once crawling into the ceiling tiles to fire
silly string at a manager (GSTC team phone interview, July 1, 2016). Longevity may be one
explanation behind the feeling of family in the GIS field. The GSTC team spoke of one team
member, Cheryl, who had been there 46 years, and Dave Gray said he was still considered the
new guy, after 11 years. Another reason may be the unfamiliarity of what the field entails by nonprofessionals. In an article about a conference session aimed at women in the GIS field
(Mehta,B., 2013) Diana Maties, a GIS Specialist at CDM Smith talked about the connection felt
between GIS professionals. She said, Its hard to describe what we doI make mapsand
when we describe what we do, people tend to move on from the conversation. People who do
GIS talk the same language and get excited about what were interested in. However, Karen
Nabity (GSTC team) did say that much of the closeness of the team has gotten buried in recent
years by the volume of work in the office.
Effects of swift technological changes. Greg Hughes, a Global Consulting International
(GCI) contractor working for the U.S. Forest Services Geospatial Service and Technology
Center (GSTC) felt that some of the confusion as to what GIS professionals do is based on the
technological changes in the industry in the past twenty years (Hughes, G., phone interview, July
8, 2016). This shift is highlighted by the Forest Services GSTC teams range of experience.
Karen Nabity remembers a time when everything was more hands-on: people manipulating data,
cartographers portraying the information, the final product produced from plates in a photo lab.
She even mentioned a story where a design error created a situation that required a bridge

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

14

symbol be inked onto 10,000 copies of a map by hand. Her team mate Dave Gray went to school
in the command line days and points out that now people just click on menus. Greg Hughes
(GCI contractor) said that initially the data and methods used for GIS information retrieval and
manipulation were so technical that no one questioned the need for a professional, but now there
are applications and open source data that make it look like anyone can create a map. The focus
of the industry has shifted to data management and storage, collecting data and sharing content,
in order to make the massive amount of available data more effective and meaningful a task
that a University of Idaho Library curation team described as daunting (Kenyon, J. et. al.,
2012). Which is why both Greg Hughes (GCI contractor) and Becky Hjelm (UDOT) both spoke
of the importance of transparency in all the choices a GIS professional makes. She also said that
GIS had been overlooked as a valuable resource, had trouble getting traction, but that had
changed over the past four years.
Level of autonomy. One main theme in all the interviews was that a GIS analyst had a
great deal of autonomy in the performance of their duties. Karen Nabity (GSTC team member
said that initiative was encouraged. Her teammate Dave Gray said that what to do may be
assigned but there was much more latitude in how to do it. There were many projects where
everything was not fully defined and it was the analysts job to help define and refine. Greg
Hughes (GCI contractor) said there was generally not just one way to arrive at the product. The
client might have basic information on what they need this map, that number but how the
analyst got there was a mix of problem solving and critical thinking. Becky Hjelm (UDOT) said
she puts key emphasis on innovation and said that most people have a lot of freedom in how they
do their job. These personal examples are reinforced by the reviewed journals on the GIScience
field. In a paper for the International Journal of Geographical Information Science, Paul Longley

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

15

pointed out, there are few if any general laws to guide the creation of real-world representations
of attributes, spaces and timesthere is no best analytical solution (Longley, P., 2012). In
fact, the level of autonomy may be one of the biggest complaints about GIS. In his paper, A
Beast in the Field, Miller talks about the people reaching different results based on whether their
focus was factual geospace information or more subjective political and social relationships. The
possibility exists for GIS to be a social, communal, and local collaboration tool more than a
hard scientific instrument (Miller, C., 2006).
Writing genres
Andrea Rodriquez with the Forest Service provided a variety of work samples to show the range
of products a GIS professional can be expected to generate. GIS professionals create maps as
their primary product, but must also be able to explain to clients and other laypeople how to
access, manipulate and understand the compiled data.
Reports. The Yakutat Foreland Existing Vegetation Map Project (Bellante, G., et. al.,
2015) provided by the Forest Service is a 24-page completion report detailing the creation of a
map showing existing vegetation in an area of Southeastern Alaska. The report introduces the
reason for producing the map, a description of the area, a breakdown of the methods used to
collect and classify the data used as well as details related to final production of the map and a
discussion of the maps limitations. The creation of the map, as well as the report that detailed
the process and results, was a collaborative effort between multiple agencies and participants.
The introduction includes a list of possible industries or research that would find use for the
information on the map, such as land management planning, ecosystem assessment, recreation
management, and climate change analysis.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

16

Instructional guides and presentations. The Quick Start Guide to DAT/EM Summit
Evolution provided by the Forest Service is directed at internal users who were being introduced
to new 3D digital viewing software. The instruction guide was produced by GIS professionals in
the Remote Sensing Applications Center who were more familiar with the program and outlines
how to navigate the new interface, how to make it work with existing applications, and how to
use it to digitize basic shapes and features. The other instructional writing sample reviewed for
this report is a slide presentation by Becky Hjelm (UDOT) on the transition from proprietary
data sources to an open data source platform. This product discusses the transition to open data
as something that has already occurred. It discusses the pros and cons of open data as well as the
long-term benefits to the transition.
Reviews. The Progression of PBS Map Fills article (Wood, D., 2011) is a 12-page
article that describe the changes to methodologies in map fill collection, generation, and revision
over the past few decades. It includes graphic, samples, and explanations for everything it
describes.
Discussion
The GIS field has gone through dramatic changes in the past two decades. Many industry
professionals still remember a time when map creation was a manual process. Rapid
technological advancements have created a field with widely expanded applications that are still
being explored. GIS experts must stay current with changing technologies while simultaneously
explaining their increased capabilities to potential clients.
Organizational culture
The rapid technological changes in the GIS field have started to result in a shift in the
organizational culture. What used to be more of an academy and club culture with skilled, long-

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

17

term employees that valued seniority, has started to resemble more of a baseball team culture
free agents with highly prized skills that can easily find employment elsewhere (McNamara,
2000).
Family atmosphere. The GIS field has been fairly small and intimate for a long time, but
its possible that feeling is changing. There is a rapidly growing body of data derived from new
and evolving technologies, and a need for skilled professionals who can manage it effectively,
which has resulted in an explosion of activity. The volume of work can cut into a teams morale.
The field will also soon be losing some of its most seasoned people. The generation that started
when GIS was young will be retiring over the next decade or so, which will mean a loss of
historical perspective. However, the level of technical knowledge and the rapidly changing tools
still tends to help draw people together if for no other reason than to have someone to talk to
who understands what theyre saying.
Effects of swift technological changes. One negative effect of the quickly changing
technological landscape is that its hard to keep up with what a GIS analyst needs to be able to
do. It does seem that this is leading toward a break-up of the field into specializations. Greg
Hughes (GCI contractor) had described an almost cyclical process the field started by needing
professionals, then everyone could do it, now theres a need for professionals again. Its possible
the same cycle could affect how a GIS team operates. Karen Nabity (GSTC) spoke of different
people (photographers, cartographers, data managers), then it went to all GIS analysts being able
to manage all those functions in one-stops-shops. Perhaps soon the field will expand to the point
where there will need to be a return to separation in tasks in order to handle the volume of data
and the increase in workload.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

18

Level of autonomy. Autonomy has its plusses and minuses. On the one hand, it allows
for the analyst to use innovation, creative thinking, and problem solving skills. But on the other
hand, theres a line between science and art that makes some people uncomfortable. Bias is
impossible to avoid in almost any endeavor, but the more latitude you offer an analyst on what
data and what sources they use, the higher your chance of influence. Clearly, this is a field that
requires a high-degree of character and integrity.
Writing genres
GIS professionals must be versed in a wide variety of technical writing genres. They must be
able to explain their processes to peers for the sake of scientific duplication. They also need to be
able to direct laypersons in the usage of the newer open data sources for the sake of transparency.
Lastly, they must be able to regularly redefine their abilities and relevancy to a wider range of
clients in the face of a rapidly changing industry.
Reports. The Yakutat map report is written toward an audience familiar with geologic
terms and land use needs, but it also takes the time to highlight other industries that would find
the information useful. Information given without an explanation of what one might do with it
runs the risk of being overlooked. The report is also written with an eye toward transparency,
detailing specific data collection and management methods, helping it maintain a high level of
scientific credibility.
Instructional guides and presentations. This genre of writing is normally directed at
laypersons to introduce or explain a device or process. The level of technical detail in the
Summit quick-start guide indicates that many people the guide are already familiar with imagery
software and just need an overview of the differences in the new product. This is an example of
map and image creation at a wide-spread level. And since it was the Remote Sensing team with

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

19

the experience needed to train the general users, its also an example of GIS professionals as the
keepers of the info, as Greg Hughes (GCI contractor) described them. Becky Hjelms
presentation about the benefits of a transition that her wording seemed to indicate had already
started, appears to have been directed at UDOT team members who only worked peripherally
with the data systems to make sure everyone was on board with the change.
Reviews. The Map Fills article (Wood, D., 2011) was the least technical of the samples
this report reviews. It is aimed at a non-GIS audience and gives an historical overview of
changes in the GIS field. The advantage of publishing this type of document is two-fold. It
creates some historical perspective for anyone familiar with the GIS field, and it introduces GIS
capabilities and changes to interested markets. Both of those advantages are important in an
industry that has seen such rapid transformation in function and potential.
Conclusion and recommendations
The creation and analysis of maps is a fascinating field that continues to draw the
authors interest; however, the high level of technical knowledge required is daunting. It may be
advisable to shift focus slightly and pursue an academic career in the theoretical side, GIScience.
This will still require familiarity with GIS applications, but will align better with the authors
interests.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

20

References
Bellante, G.; Goetz, W.; Maus, P.; Riley, M.; Schrader, B.; Johnson, E.; Megown, K. (2015).
Yakutat Foreland existing vegetation map project. RSAC-10106-RPT1. Salt Lake City,
UT: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Remote Sensing Applications Center.
Goodchild, M. F. (2010). Twenty years of progress: GIScience in 2010. Journal Of Spatial
Information Science, (1), 3.
Hjelm, B. (2015). UDOT Open Data [Slide presentation]. Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Dept. of
Transportation. Retrieved from www.gis-t.org/uploads/2015-6.3.2.pdf.
Kenyon, J., Godfrey, B., & Eckwright, G. Z. (2012). Geospatial Data Curation at the University
of Idaho. Journal Of Web Librarianship, 6 (4), 251-262.
doi:10.1080/19322909.2012.729983
Longley, P. A. (2012). Geodemographics and the practices of geographic information science.
International Journal Of Geographical Information Science, 26 (12), 2227-2237.
doi:10.1080/13658816.2012.719623
McNamara, C. (2000). Organizational Culture and Changing Culture. Adapted from Field Guide
to Leadership and Supervision. Retrieved from
http://managementhelp.org/organizations/culture.htm.
Mehta, B. (September 12, 2013). Women in GIS to share experiences, discuss challenges.
GeoDataPoint. Retrieved on June 19, 2016 from
http://geodatapoint.com/articles/view/women_in_gis_to_share_experiences_discuss_chal
lenges
Miller, C. C. (2006). A Beast in the Field: The Google Maps Mashup as GIS/2. Cartographica,
41 (3), 187-199.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF GIS CAREER FIELD

Remote Sensing Applications Center (February 2016). Quick Start Guide to DAT/EM Summit
Evolution. Salt Lake City, UT: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
Wood, D. (May 2011). Progression of PBS Map Fills. Salt Lake City, UT: U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Geospatial Service and Technology Center.

21

NICHOLE BONHAM
linkedin.com/in/nicholebonham

Skills Summary
Leadership/Team Building; Training/Development; Strategic Planning; Operations
Management; Customer Relations; Problem Solving; Risk Management

Professional Experience
Utah Army National Guard
Education Office Specialist / Oct 2015 - Present
Verifying, tracking and documenting applications for State Tuition Assistance programs;
Educating students on education assistance options; Managing the state testing
facility.
Public Affairs Operations & Readiness/Training Manager / Nov 2007 Oct 2015
Broadcast section supervisor, managing a team of 5 people creating video news
products; acting First Sergeant, managing a unit of 20 people; Responsible for
maintaining and documenting readiness and training standards for the unit.
Human Resources Manager / Sep 1994 Nov 2007
Managed documentation and tracking of personnel strength, evaluations, awards,
promotions, legal actions for a 400-person battalion.

Education
Salt Lake Community College / Expected graduation, Aug 2016
Associate of Science, General Studies. 3.91 GPA. Coursework includes: Physical Geography,
Human Geography, Technical Writing, Conflict Management and Diversity.
Army / Military Occupational Specialty & Leadership Courses
Human Resources Specialist (1995), Basic Combat Correspondent (2008), Joint Senior Enlisted
Public Affairs course (2012), Senior Leadership Development (2011).

Awards and Acknowledgements

Military Awards
Army Commendation Medal: 4, Army Achievement Medal: 5
Training Acknowledgements
Commandants List for Academic Achievement, Senior Leadership Course, Public Affairs, 2011
Honor Graduate, Advanced Leadership Course, Human Resources Specialist, Phase II, 2006
Honor Graduate, Advance Individual Training, Human Resources Specialist, 1995