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Geography and Planning

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Student Success Stories

Current activities of some graduates who have contacted us about what they are doing today:

• Emily Bantel (2011). Paraprofessional at M.L.K. Jr. Leadership Academy, A.R.C.H. Program Activities Coordinator at Glenwood Elementary, Grand Rapids.
• Richard Beaudin (2006). Cartographer, Map Supply, Lexington, North Carolina.
• Neil Besteman (2004). Senior GIS Analyst, Allegan County Land Information Services,Allegan, Michigan.
• Stephen Carlson (2005). Associate Planner, West Michigan Shoreline Commission, Muskegon, Michigan.
• Matt Catanzarite (2005). M.A. graduate program in Applied Geography at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Matt is currently conducting grant work related to wireless broadband coverage in the state of North Carolina. His research interests are GIS, urban planning, time geography and socioeconomics. He also works as a GIS Specialist for the Center for Geographic Information Science at UNC Greensboro.
• Richard Cole (2009) Community Planner, Randolph Airforce Base, San Antonio, Texas. Richard earned a M.A. in Urban Planning, Design, and Development from Cleveland State University in 2011.
• Latisha Cooley (2005). U.S. Navy.
• Donald Curry (2010). Planning Aide, Economic Development Office, City of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Maxwell Dillivan (2010). Graduate Assistant, MA program in Urban and Regional Planning, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana.
• Joel Dye (2000). Community Development Coordinator, City of Holland.
• Tim DeYoung (2004). Director, Medical Ministries International, Haiti.
• Matthew Dondanville (2012). GIS Technician, Cloudpoint Geographics, Roanoke, Illinois.
• Ian Fox (2009). GIS Analyst, Professional Media Management, Grand Rapids.
• Heather Haskell. (2003). GIS Consultant at EMA, Inc, Grand Rapids.
• Brodey Hill (2000). Geospatial Analyst, Kent County Information Technology Department, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brodey previously worked as Senior GIS Analyst for Northrop Grumman, LSL Planning, and at Grand Valley Metro Council (REGIS).
• Laura Hite (2006). Lead Mitigation Planner, Florida Division of Emergency Management - Bureau of Recovery and Mitigation, Tallahassee Florida. She uses GIS and FEMA's HAZUS risk assessment program.
• Tyler Homrich (2009). GIS Analyst II at Williams Energy, Denver, Colorado. Formerly at Williams Midstream, Pittsburgh, PA, and Western Land Services, Ludington, Michigan.
• Michael Horsting (2001). Principal Transportation Analyst at Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago, Illinois (Greater Chicago Area). Previously Principal Planner at Lee County.
• Miles Hunsinger (2011). GIS Analyst, REGIS, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Carissa Jackson (2005). MA program, Department of Geography, Western Michigan University.
• Patrick Jurgens (2008). GIS Analyst, U.S. Census Bureau.
• Aaron Kates (2011). Masters in Social Work program (MSW), Grand Valley State University. Aaron has a graduate research assistantship at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthroppy.
• Tammy Keck (2006). Data Analyst, SGS, Tulsa Oklahoma.
• Matt Lashell (2007). GIS Analyst at SAIC, McLean, Virginia.
• Greg Lowman (2009). GIS Analyst at 3001 International, New York. MA program in Geography at Western Michigan University. Previously GIS Analyst in the Information Systems department of the DOD contractor Northrup Grumman and before that for the Army Corps of Engineers.
• Craig McDade (2005). GIS Technician at City of Wildwood, Wildwood, Florida.
• Nathan Mehmed (2012). Masters program in Public Adminstration, GVSU. GIS Analyst Intern at Allendale Charter Township. Cook Leadership Fellow at Cook Leadership Academy, Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, GVSU.
• Diane Miller (2010). MA program in Public Administration, GVSU, Grand Rapids.
• Andrew Million (2007). Geospatial Analyst for Wiser Engineering, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
• Trent Mills (2007). Compass Environmental, Arizona.
• Ben O'Connor (2004). GIS Specialist II, The Wooten Company, Raleigh, North Carolina. The Wooten Company is one of the oldest and most successful engineering, planning, and architectural firms in North Carolina.
• Leon Palmer (2006). GIS Analyst, Florida.
• Pangiotes "Pete" Papadokos (2008). GIS Analyst, Western Land Services, Ludington, Michigan.
• Jeremy Pyne (2003). GIS Specialist for the Community Research Institute (CRI), GVSU, Grand Rapids, Michigan, where his specialty is demographic mapping and community based research.
• Matthew Rowbotham (2004). GIS Coordinator, North Country Trail Association, Lowell, Michigan.
• Tara Russell (1999). GIS Analyst, City of Troy, Michigan. Responsibilities range from data editing to GIS system management and asset management for all levels of government.
• Ben Sanborn (2008). GIS Analyst, URS Corporation, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Previously Mr. Sanborn was a Cartographic Technician, U.S. Census Bureau, Jeffersonville, Indiana.
• Jeremiah Saier (2005). GIS Specialist, Valpak Corporation, Largo, Florida.
• Anne Santa Maria (2011). Assistant Researcher, Michigan Technological University Research Institute (MTRI), Ann Arbor. Anne is also starting a graduate program at the University of Michigan.
• Luke Savage (2001). GIS Program Manager, 3DI West, Eugene, Oregon. Luke is one of the five top executives at 3DI.
• Kirk Scarbrough (2009). Assistant Researcher-Remote Sensing Analyst, Michigan Technological University Research Institute (MTRI), Ann Arbor.
• Pete Schneider (2007). GIS/CAD Specialist with the Holland Board of Public Works, Holland, Michigan.
• Joe Shafer (2007). Community Planner, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.
• David Shriver (2007). U.S. Census Bureau.
• Sunalath Siakhsone (2007). Labor Market Research Economist, Labor Force and Occupational Analysis Bureau, State of Iowa, Des Moines.
• Jessica Stempky (2004). Owner of The Winchester restaurant and pub, 648 Wealthy, SE Grand Rapids.
• Steve Stepek (2002). Senior Transportation Planner, Kalamazoo Area Transportation Authority.
• Blake Terhune (2006). Senior GIS Technician, City of Phoenix Aviation Department, Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona.
• Brent Thelen (2008). Masters program in GIS, Western Michigan University.
• Ted Titus (2011). Project Manager, Wolverine Building Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Karen  Vaughn (Cooper) (2005). Senior Planner, LaFourche Parish, Louisiana.
• Brian VandenBrand (2006). Associate Planner in Traverse City.
• Malinda VanSledright (2005). Analyst, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.
• Andrew, "Nate," VanderMeer (2008). Agricultural Statistician, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Springfield, Illinois.
• David Welch. (2007). MA program, Architecture and Planning Program, University of Colorado at Denver.
• Jon Witmer (2003). Urban Development Grants Manager, Capital Access, Hamtramack, Michigan. Previously Jon was Contract Administrator, City of Muskegon Heights.