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NEWS RELEASE

-- For Immediate Release --

Date: May 8, 2008

Contact: Doug Lau, Director of Marketing & Public Relations

Columbia College GIS program featured at statewide conference

Two Columbia College students and their instructor were guest presenters at the 14^th Annual California Geographic Information Systems (CalGIS) Conference on April 23-25 in Modesto, held at the DoubleTree Hotel and adjoining Modesto Centre Plaza. Their presentation on “Education and Workforce Training” was conducted at a breakout session on the first day of the conference.

Susannah “Mae” Frantz, Kimberly Grissom and Dr. Jeff Tolhurst addressed an audience of geoscience educators and GIS professionals about the training and education offered through the Columbia College Geographic Information Systems Program. Both Frantz and Grissom credited the college program with helping them gain their present employment as GIS technicians in local county government.

Frantz, 32, received an associate in science degree in environmental science and a certificate of achievement in GIS from Columbia College in 2007. Her talk focused on a number of class projects that she worked on while at the college. Among them was the Tuolumne County green map project, a mapping of sustainable features within the county, including green businesses and outdoor activities. Next, her earth sheltered home suitability analysis studied the slope, aspect, and sizes of appropriate areas. One of her other studies on remote sensing was used to classify vegetated versus non-vegetated areas in the county. In addition, Frantz used GIS to create a sustainable development model for Tuolumne County.

“The skills and training that I received at Columbia College were good preparation for my current job in Tuolumne County government,” said Frantz. “My presentation at the conference was intended to showcase the skills that I acquired in the program and how they apply to what I do now in my daily work serving the public. The GIS program was very beneficial for me and I hope our CalGIS presentation helped increase awareness of this excellent educational program at Columbia.”

Kim Grissom, 42, has already earned two associate degrees from Columbia College: A.A. in liberal studies in 2003 and A.S. in natural resources in 2006. She is currently pursuing a certificate in GIS. Before entering college, Grissom was employed for eight years as a journeyman electrician in the construction industry and when work slowed down, she returned to school to explore other career options.

Grissom’s presentation was also based on a college project in Dr. Tolhurst’s GIS class. The project was titled “Cellular telephone service coverage in Calaveras County, California.” Like Frantz, she explained how the training helped her connect with the job she landed seven months ago as a GIS technician for Amador County in Jackson.

According to Grissom, “The conference was a great opportunity to address educators as well as technicians. As GIS students, we are engaged in project-based classroom learning with lots of support and encouragement from one another. What I saw at the conference was an ongoing form of this kind of support and technical networking among professionals in our field. That was very encouraging to me.”

Frantz and Grissom were followed by Dr. Tolhurst, professor of geoscience, GIS and GPS (Global Positioning Systems) who has taught at the college for the past 12 years. His speech and subsequent audience discussion focused on the topic “The Columbia College GIS Program: Are we meeting our goals?” He covered the competencies, basic skills, thinking skills, and personal skills that GIS technicians require for workforce preparation. While his remarks drew the session to a conclusion, the two earlier student presentations were testimonials on the success of the program.

The CalGIS conference is conducted annually as a non-vendor specific event to showcase and promote GIS in our state and the individuals who work in this field. Conference attendees include GIS professionals and technicians from all parts of California, including academic institutions, government agencies, private consulting firms, and students.

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News Release No. 047-08

May 8, 2008

For Immediate Release

Attached: Photos of Susannah “Mae” Frantz, Kimberly Grissom and Dr. Jeff Tolhurst