How a Data Analyst Became a GIS Expert (And What You Can Learn)

Spatial Stack with Matt Forrest

In this episode, we sit down with David Price, GIS Project Manager for Wood County, Ohio, to explore the evolving landscape of modern GIS. David’s journey into geospatial wasn’t a traditional one—he started in data analytics before discovering GIS, a shift that completely changed his career trajectory.

We dive into:

🔹 Why GIS education is falling behind and how universities are missing the mark
🔹 The critical skills GIS professionals need today (Hint: It’s more than just mapping)
🔹 The debate: Do you really need to learn to code to stay competitive?
🔹 Open-source vs. Esri: Why a hybrid approach is the future of GIS
🔹 The power of real-time data, automation, and APIs in GIS workflows

David shares his experiences managing an enterprise GIS system, adapting to new geospatial technologies, and why he believes learning SQL and Python can future-proof your GIS career.

If you’re a GIS professional, student, or just someone interested in the future of geospatial technology, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!