The geospatial program director and senior associate has worked with the state GIS council since 2001.
Knoxville, Tenn. (May 14, 2020) — Woolpert Geospatial Program Director Sam Moffat assumed the role of president of the Tennessee Geographic Information Council (TNGIC) today at the group’s online business meeting. The meeting was held in place of the annual TNGIC Conference, which was canceled this year.
Moffat, a Certified GIS Professional and senior associate at Woolpert, said he joined TNGIC in 2001 after moving to Tennessee to help manage and deliver a statewide mapping project. Moffat specializes in large-scale federal, state and local government mapping projects, working with aerial imagery and airborne lidar data collection.
TNGIC is a nonprofit organization with close to 400 members that was created in 1993. The group provides GIS training and networking, hosts educational conferences, and connects geospatial professionals and students working with GIS.
“TNGIC was created to spread the gospel of GIS across Tennessee to equip members throughout the state with the latest in geospatial technologies,” Moffat said. “It bridges GIS professionals who work in state and local governments, federal agencies, engineering firms, nonprofits and commercial industries. The organization promotes collaboration and education, networking and data dissemination.”
Moffat, who has served TNGIC in multiple capacities, said his primary goals for the organization as president are to improve outreach, to grow through statewide partnerships, to promote GIS in K-12 education, to develop online educational resources, and to connect recent college graduates with jobs and/or internships. Moffat said he also intends to help the council modernize its communication methods to facilitate the frequent sharing of ideas.
“We want to increase access to data and information to encourage engagement,” Moffat said. “We can do this by holding more small networking get-togethers across the state, like ‘mappy’ hours and virtual meetings, and by collaborating with other state groups and consortiums. TNGIC is in good financial shape, and it’s time we move the organization forward in a way that will best help members, the state and the profession.”
Moffat also thanked Mark Tuttle and Dennis Pedersen, the former and current Tennessee GIS services directors, for their mentorship and support over the last 20 years.
“Mark and Dennis have made the relationship between TNGIC and the state a two-way street, benefiting all involved,” Moffat said. “Their dedication to advancing GIS has made Tennessee a leader in providing geospatial data and mapping applications for state agencies, businesses and residents. I am honored to have worked with them both.”
About Woolpert
Woolpert is committed to a vision to become the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, and one of the best companies in the world. It’s a vision we’ve been fine-tuning for decades. It guides our decisions and investments, provides our clients with optimal solutions and offers our employees unrivaled opportunities. Woolpert is recognized as a Great Place to Work by its employees and is America’s fastest-growing AEG firm. With more than a century of experience, close to 1,000 employees and 30 offices, Woolpert supports public, private, federal, and U.S. military clients nationally and around the globe. For more information, visit woolpert.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
