Des Plaines, IL (January 12, 2023) The GISCI is pleased to announce The City of Coral Gables, FL as GISCI designated Endorsing Employer. The city’s Innovation and Technology Department (IT) works to advance the goals of the GISCI through the certification of GIS professionals. Since 2019 the GIS manager has been certified as GISP by GISCI, applying the utmost professional and ethical standards; providing consistent community engagement; and developing staff and interns.
“We support staff development and encourage all GIS staff to obtain their GISP certification, assisting in the initial and recertification process, by providing the training required as well as continuing education courses,” said Raimundo Rodulfo IT director. “Additionally, when hiring we look for GISP certification and strive to meet the highest ethical standards.”
Ongoing support of staff development is fostered by tuition reimbursements and by underwriting professional certifications and memberships. IT staff have attained advanced degrees and certifications and actively participate in professional organizations like GISCI, URISA and AAG.
GIS staff have presented at the ESRI User Conference, the ESRI Southeast User Conference, the South Florida GIS Expo, and the American Association of Geographers Conference. IT staff frequently participate in annual conferences for smart cities, digital excellence, quality performance, lean agile technology and other innovative industry working groups.
Founded in 1925, Coral Gables is a city of more than 50,000 residents centrally located in the Greater Miami area. “The City Beautiful” is home to more than 10 properties and one district on the National Register of Historic Places. Coral Gables was Florida’s first planned community and was designed to be an international city. Today, it is home to more than 20 consulates and foreign government offices and more than 100 multinational corporations. It serves as a major employment center with almost as many people working as residing in the city. The economy is a mixture of local and international businesses and home to the nationally ranked University of Miami, the city’s largest employer. It is renowned for its excellent municipal services, including accredited Police, Fire and Community Recreation departments, as well as a Class 1 Fire Department and Building Division. Additionally, it has received Triple A ratings from Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings. Exceptional municipal services, strong finances, high quality of life, convenient travel access, responsible growth, and a diversified economy make Coral Gables a highly desirable place to live, work, learn, and play.
The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) has created the GISCI Endorsing Employer Designation Program to help increase the value of GISP Certification for our primary stakeholders, and to help facilitate the growth of the GISP Program within the geospatial community. The GISCI will grant the GISCI Endorsing Employer Designation to organizations that meet the criteria established by the GISCI as supportive of GIS Professionals and the GISP Certification process by way of internal activities, programs, and policies. The designation is not only a commitment to GISP Certification for staff, but also to uphold the ideals of the GIS Certification Institute.
The GISCI Endorsing Employer Designation is available to all organizations (public, private/commercial) apart from GISCI member organizations. Organizations seeking the designation must submit a formal application listing the criteria met as verified by the organization’s HR representative. A review committee will evaluate each application and if the organization meets the criteria, the committee will forward the application to the GISCI Board of Directors for approval. Each approved GISCI Endorsing Employer will last for three (3) years, provide the organization with permission to display their organization logo on our website and provide permission to display the GISCI Endorsing Employer designation on their website. There is no cost to obtain this designation. A list of GISCI Endorsing Organizations can be found on the GISCI website at: https://www.gisci.org/Employers/GISCI-Endorsing-Employer/GISCI-Endorsing-Organizations
About GISCI The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) is a non-profit organization that promotes the advancement of proficient GIS professionals through its international GISP® (Certified GIS Professional) certification program. The Institute fosters rigorous professional and ethical standards, community engagement, and professional mentoring within the GIS industry. GISCI’s member organizations include the American Association of Geographers (AAG), National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC), University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS), and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA).
More information about the GISCI is available at www.gisci.org and https://www.coralgables.com/
