Training Sessions
1–4 p.m., Tuesday, August 4, 2026, $25
These three hour long sessions are filled on a first come, first served basis. Select and pay for a training session when you register for the conference.
Bring your own device. No software or download requirements unless noted in the description.
GIS programs thrive when they co-create solutions with business owners. This hands-on training equips GIS leaders and practitioners to engage departmental stakeholders, uncover pain points and translate them into geospatial capabilities with measurable outcomes. Through a structured conversation framework and short, guided exercises, participants will practice stakeholder/value mapping, needs discovery (mission, metrics, workflows) and prioritization techniques that lead to actionable roadmaps. We’ll share reusable artifacts — question banks, engagement canvases and a lightweight governance checklist — and demonstrate how to turn findings into initiatives that improve adoption, data trust and service delivery. By the end, attendees will be ready to host focused interviews across departments, align GIS with operational goals and build momentum with quick wins that scale.
About the instructors
Carl Nylen, sales team lead at Esri, has more than 30 years of experience in technology, organizational management, policy and planning. He has held positions with non-profit, government and commercial organizations including The Nature Conservancy and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Nylen currently works in business development with Esri, the global leader in GIS. Over the past 25 years at Esri he has assisted government, education, commercial, utility and non-profit organizations with strategy, planning and implementation of GIS technology in support of their missions. His current work focuses predominantly on state and local government operations and management, and innovation in the civic space. Nylen’s formal education and training is in wildlife biology and natural resource management. He is active in civic and community organizations, including as an elected official for his town executive board.
Grace McDonough is an Esri account manager in the Philadelphia region primarily working with local governments across Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Esri, Grace worked as a GIS analyst in commercial real estate utilizing ArcGIS to drive better real estate decision making. She is particularly interested in sustainable economic development and helping local governments build smarter communities with the power of GIS. Grace earned a bachelor of arts in GIS in 2020 and master of science in geography in 2022, both from West Chester University.
This training covers the various aspects of drone mission planning, execution and processing, with a focus on orthophotography data products. It starts with an overview of piloting requirements, then moves on to sections on software selection, control points usage and data products. These sections delve into sensor selection, flight planning, control planning and data processing.
About the instructors
John Knowlton CP, PMP, GISP oversees AECOM’s UAS program as well as leading a diversified team of geospatial professionals that support drone data acquisition and processing. He is an ASPRS certified photogrammetrist that has been involved in aerial mapping for over 25 years.
John Delp leads AECOM’s UAS program as chief UAS pilot and senior instructor pilot. His responsibilities include flight planning, airspace deconfliction, FAA waiver filing, complex flight operations and imagery post-processing. He is skilled in operating multiple UAS platforms and sensors and is a certified Level I UAS Thermographer and P107 Pilot.
This is both a hands-on workshop and group discussion to review different methods of using GIS programming from simple automation to application development. Attendees are introduced to basic Python and SQL, and by the end of the workshop will learn how to use Python to automate simple GIS tasks. Attendees will also build upon our simple task and use Python to create new tools within the ArcGIS Pro environment. Finally, attendees are introduced to Python packages that will allow them to seamlessly integrate both Esri software and open-source software together to complete a simple GIS task.
About the instructor
Art Lembo is a professor in the Department of Geography and Geosciences at Salisbury University where he also served as Department Chair and Director of Graduate Studies for the Masters of GIS Management. Art has been involved in the field of GIS for 40 years in both the private and academic sectors. During his career he has implemented some of the larger GIS projects for numerous agencies, and as a professor has written over 30 peer reviewed publications and won numerous awards for his teaching. His focus is on applications of GIS, both with commercial and open source products.
This training is designed primarily to help participants prepare for the GISP exam, with a focus on study strategies, key knowledge areas, preparation resources and what to expect on test day. We will review the core topics covered on the exam, discuss effective ways to study and share practical tips to improve your chances of success.
The session will also provide guidance on building your GISP portfolio for initial certification or recertification. We will briefly cover the submission areas — education, experience and contributions to the profession — as well as touch on ethics and professional standards.
Anyone planning to take the GISP exam, or looking to better understand the overall certification process, is encouraged to attend.
About the instructors
Shannon Doyle, PhD, GISP, PMP has worked across a wide range of fields — from transportation and engineering to defense, intelligence, and even space systems — in her 25-year career in GIS. Shannon is passionate about advancing the GIS profession through talent management and GISP community engagement. She currently serves on the GISCI Board and has been involved in developing the GISCI certification exam since 2014, and has played a large role in the recent accreditation of the GISP certification. In December 2025, Shannon’s contributions and enthusiasm for the GISP certification were recognized by GISCI and the GIS community, and she was awarded GISP of the Year. During the past four years at JMT Technology Group, Shannon has grown from GIS Project Manager to Director of Client Engagement, where she works closely with clients in transportation, aviation, and higher education.
Kyle Satterfield, GISP is a GIS professional and content creator known for developing practical, accessible study resources for the GISP certification exam. After earning his GISP certification in 2024, he noticed a gap in accessible and easily understandable preparation materials for the GISP exam and set out to produce user-friendly preparation resources. He is the author of The Ultimate GISP Study Guide, a comprehensive resource that consolidates the core concepts across all exam knowledge areas into a single, structured format. He also produces a YouTube channel featuring audio-based study notes designed to make exam preparation more efficient and approachable. Through his writing and educational content, Satterfield continues to support GIS professionals in navigating the GISP certification process with clarity and confidence.