Welcome to Skagit County

May 13, 2015

Greenberg elected president of GIS professionals organization

Skagit County employee Joshua Greenberg, PhD, GISP, was recently elected president of the Washington State Chapter of URISA, the primary organization for GIS professionals in Washington State.
URISA’s mission is to recognize, support and encourage professional growth through continuing education, communication, technical development and service to its members and others in the field of geospatial and information technologies.

It is a non-profit association of GIS professionals who use geospatial technology to solve problems in state, regional and local government.

Greenberg, who has been a member of WAURISA for five years, said one of his goals as president is to seek ways city and county GIS professionals can share best management practices, ranging from software purchases to in-house systems such as Skagit County’s popular iMap system.

“Unlike competing businesses in the private sector, public agencies don’t compete with each other,” said Greenberg. “I would like to create incentives for us to share, to help our colleagues so we can more efficiently use public funds and deliver the best product possible to our clients.”

Greenberg, who has worked for Skagit County for 14 years, has more than 25 years of experience with GIS.

WAURISA members are from many disciplines and are dedicated to advancing the effective application of GIS in decision making and streamlining government operations and services. Other areas in which members use this technology for problem solving include planning, transportation, public works, the environment, emergency services and utilities.