For 25 years, GEO Jobe has been paving a path through the geospatial industry, serving clients with innovative GIS and IT solutions. Our company’s commitment in this space has led to the highest level of partnership with the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri). What’s the key to our success and longevity? It’s the faces behind our company. GEO Jobe is made up of a growing team of talented, hard-working people who each embody our company philosophy of “acknowledging the person first and the problem second.”
Meet one of those people, Junior Application Developer Kelly Massengill, who joined GEO Jobe in 2023.
Q: What is your role at GEO Jobe, and what does it entail?
A: I am a Junior Application Developer. My day-to-day work involves programming, learning new techniques and tools, coordinating with team members, and engaging with clients to ensure we meet and exceed their expectations.
Q: What has your career path at GEO Jobe looked like and what attracted you to join the team?
A: A little over a year ago, a friend reached out to me about GEO Jobe, which was perfect timing as I was actively seeking a role with more opportunities for personal and professional growth. After researching the company, I was impressed and knew it aligned with what I was looking for. I joined the team in August 2023 and have loved every minute of it, each day has been an opportunity to learn something new.
Q: What jobs and experiences have led you to your current position?
A: For my previous role as a GIS Analyst/Annotator I completed several GIS-related training courses. However, I unfortunately wasn’t able to fully apply much of that knowledge in that position. This motivated me to seek opportunities where I could deepen my understanding and fully immerse myself in the world of GIS. That’s exactly what I’ve found here at GEO Jobe. In my first year, I’ve gained more hands-on experience and knowledge in both programming and GIS than I ever did through past positions or coursework. Much of this growth is thanks to the entire team’s willingness to teach and support each other.
Q: What particular skills or talents are most essential to be effective in your job?
A: I am highly organized, analytical, and passionate about learning. In this field, organization and attention to detail are essential for managing complex tasks. Additionally, having an eagerness to learn enables me to continuously improve my skills and adapt to new challenges.
Q: Any advice for recent graduates entering into the job market and aspiring to a similar role?
A: Do not get hung up on trying to be the best. It can be daunting to enter an environment where everyone seems more experienced, but this is the greatest opportunity to learn, grow, and excel in your field. Embrace the learning process by asking questions and focusing on steady progress instead of comparing yourself to others.
Q: What technologies and strategies do you use in your day-to-day work that are key to success?
A: I use VS Code and various Esri products such as ArcGIS Online for my development work. To stay organized, I rely heavily on checklists. At the beginning of each week, I create a weekly checklist and then break it down into daily tasks that align with the week’s goals. This approach helps me stay on track and ensures that I’m keeping up with client demands and adapting to any changes that arise.
Q: What would you like to learn more about or incorporate into your daily work?
A: I am eager to expand my knowledge of GIS and programming. My goal is not just to learn the basics, but to become great at programming.
Q: On a more personal side, do you have a favorite newspaper, magazine, blog, or sources of inspiration?
A: For inspiration, I look up to my family members a lot, especially my mom and siblings. Seeing them wholeheartedly pursue their education and careers has always been something I’ve admired. From Psychology, to Computer Science, to MBAs, to GIS, to Mechanical Engineering, I’ve been very fortunate to witness their journeys.
Lately, watching my little sister prepare for college has filled me with pride and a renewed sense of optimism. I feel truly grateful to be surrounded by so many strong, inspiring women.
Q: What kind of technology do you prefer and why?
A: To be honest, my preferences are often influenced by what I was introduced to first or what I’m more familiar with. So currently, I lean towards PC and iOS. That said, I make an effort to stay up-to-date with new technology and updates to find what best suits my needs.
Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of the office?
A: I spend a lot of time visiting my family and loved ones, playing games/board games, writing fun coding projects, and working out. I am a huge movie buff, I am always looking for a new movie to watch. I currently have a list of 200 blockbuster movies that I am a little over halfway through. I’m also a foodie, I love to cook and try new cuisines as often as possible.
Learn more about Kelly by connecting with her on LinkedIn. Interested in joining the GEO Jobe team? Keep an eye on our Careers page for future opportunities!
GEO Jobe is a leading GIS software and geospatial solutions provider, serving more than 10,000 organizations globally. GEO Jobe is best known for developing the most popular applications in the ArcGIS Marketplace, including Admin Tools for ArcGIS, Backup My Org, Clean My Org and Scheduler for ArcGIS.
GEO Jobe offers U.S.-based 24/7 Support solutions for organizations using Esri’s ArcGIS© System. GEO Jobe also offers professional services focused on Esri’s ArcGIS© System, including custom software development, enterprise solution implementation, data science and UAV data collection.
Founded in 1999, GEO Jobe is in its 25th year of operation, has been an Esri business partner since 2002 and is currently a Platinum Partner.
For more about our variety of GIS products and services and how we could take your organization’s GIS vision to the next level, email GEO Jobe at connect@geo-jobe.com.
