Pictured back row, from left: Danny Menikheim, GEO Jobe’s VP of Operations; Nicholas Markwardt, Chief Experience Officer for AerialSphere; Joslyn Brough, Product Manager for AerialSphere; Eric Goforth, GEO Jobe’s Chief Technology Officer; and Mike Roberson, GEO Jobe’s Chief Innovation Officer. Pictured front row, from left: Lexi Zades, Sales Engineer at AerialSphere; AerialSphere COO Suzi Shoemaker; GEO Jobe CEO David Hansen; Corey Baker, GEO Jobe’s Director of Sales; and Courtney Menikheim, GEO Jobe’s Chief Support Officer.
In July 2024, GEO Jobe announced a new reseller partnership with AerialSphere, the premier provider of Oriented Imagery software, based in Phoenix, Arizona. The partnership was formed through the organizations’ mutual involvement in the Esri Partner Network and a shared interest in taking customer service to new heights by expanding the tools, resources, and solutions available to our clients.
The following is a brief interview with AerialSphere President and Chief Operating Officer Suzi Shoemaker about the details behind the partnership and what it means for customers.
GJ: How would you describe what AerialSphere does – both in its respective niche industry and within GIS?
Shoemaker: AerialSphere provides software and solutions that make it easy to turn all kinds of imagery into GIS data. We started as a data provider capturing and processing 360-degree aerial panoramic imagery. Over the course of time we recognized that the real value wasn’t the data but instead in the software used to process, view, and access the data. We already had a JavaScript API and a viewer proprietary to us, but when we partnered with Esri in 2021 we recognized the importance of creating tools and widgets to make using Oriented Imagery easier and more accessible. More Imagery, less effort.
GJ: When did you become an Esri Partner and what motivated you or attracted you to the Esri Partner Network?
Shoemaker: We’ve been an Esri partner since 2021, having started off as a Bronze Partner during COVID, then moving to Silver. We were recruited into the Esri ecosystem by the original Oriented Imagery product team after they discovered we had tens of thousands of images that worked for their new Oriented Imagery tools. We were intrigued by the opportunity to help define the industry standard for Oriented Imagery.
GJ: What inspired the partnership with GEO Jobe?
Shoemaker: GEO Jobe has been a great example for us to follow in understanding how to navigate the Esri ecosystem. Finding out what Esri offers, something that’s got great potential but is either too complex or too time consuming for people to want to use, then giving them the tools to simplify that process. Oriented Imagery has amazing potential but there’s a lot of improvement needed. We’ve spent several years listening to customers, understanding what they want it to do and then providing a way to make that happen.
GJ: What does this partnership mean for both companies, as well as respective clients?
Shoemaker: GEO Jobe already has an outstanding reputation for solving problems. We do the same thing on a much smaller scale, but we also fill a need in a niche where the solutions currently offered are not ideal. Everyone has imagery data, especially non-traditional imagery data (think smart phones, drones, 360 panorama, video), that isn’t being used to its full potential. We offer solutions for that, and GEO Jobe’s already large customer base can and will benefit.
GJ: How has Esri enabled or influenced this collaboration, and how do you feel it lends to their initiative to bring Esri Partners together?
Shoemaker: The relationship between AerialSphere and GEO Jobe began because David Hansen, CEO of GEO Jobe, and myself were on a research panel together regarding the Esri Marketplace. David’s honesty and willingness to openly share his opinions caught my attention and we connected face to face at the next partner conference. David has continued to meet with and advise the AerialSphere team, leading into our decision to partner. AerialSphere has built relationships with other Esri partners as well and continues to seek out opportunities to provide technical assistance, tools, and professional services to those partners.
GJ: Why do you think it’s important or valuable for Esri Partners to work together?
Shoemaker: Esri does an amazing job building solutions, and the partners take those solutions and push them to the next level by solving specific problems for the customers. GEO Jobe’s guidance helped AerialSphere as they shifted their focus on software, specifically Oriented Imagery tools and widgets. The partners work together, taking the tools Esri creates, and then customize them for the end user’s solutions. This is what the Partner program is all about.
GJ: What does AerialSphere look forward to about partnering with GEO Jobe, and how do you feel GEO Jobe can contribute to your company’s success and service to customers?
Shoemaker: GEO Jobe is a fast growing team of highly energetic, agile, resourceful, and dedicated people. Having the opportunity to utilize GEO Jobe’s expertise and work with its sales team to get Oriented Imagery more widely adopted is thrilling.
GJ: Any final thoughts or comments?
Shoemaker: Esri’s ecosystem of partners is flush with opportunities and, working together, we can provide a much more robust and complete solution for all the end users of Esri’s products. Thus, a win for the partners, for Esri, and for the end users whose ultimate goal is to find solutions that make their work life easier and more efficient.
Interested in more about AerialSphere and its GIS and imagery solutions?
Visit them at aerialsphere.com, and follow them on LinkedIn and YouTube.
AerialSphere is a pioneering company in the geospatial technology sector, specializing in Oriented Imagery technology. Our innovative software solutions are designed to unlock the full potential of various types of imagery, providing intuitive and powerful tools for businesses, governments, and organizations. AerialSphere’s technology enhances decision-making processes, operational efficiency, and user engagement by offering easy-to-use and highly functional mapping solutions. Committed to accuracy, innovation, and customer satisfaction, AerialSphere is transforming the geospatial industry. For more information, visit www.aerialsphere.com.
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.
