Noelle Mecoli (geognoelle@hotmail.com) |
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Job Title: Demographer Specialist |
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Job Function |
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Demographer with the 6th largest school district. Collecting and analyzing student data with the aid of GIS to better inform Board members on Policy descions. |
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Experience |
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I have several years GIS experience in the public and private sector. I worked for an engineering company, county elections office, and water managment district to name a few. |
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Education |
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Bachelors and Masters in Geography from the Univeristy of Florida with a minor in Urban Planning. I specialized in Geodemographics and Business GIS, but my early years centered on GIS and the environment. |
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Daily work assignments |
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Geocoding students, site selections or boudary changes for new and existing schools, spatial analysis of differing datasets such as Traffic Analysis Zones and students to generate numbers. Large amounts of database and spreadsheet work, public speaking, and of course, stress! |
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The background needed to get current job |
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I needed a masters in Geography or related field with several years experience in GIS/spatial stats/demography and presentation (public speaking)and writing skills are a must - not to mention a great personality, of course. |
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What do you like/not like about this career track? |
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There are many different directions it can take you. Demography which covers many aspects such as transportation planning or site selection. I would like to eventually move to GIS in business. I believe this is good experience since Schools are run like a business. |
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What do you really spend your time doing? |
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Finding new way to use GIS. Oh yea, how to make a million with GIS... |
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What advice would you give somebody who wants to get into this area? |
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Be ready to be stressed and work long hours. I feel like I should have went to law school instead. GIS is only a portion of the job, there is a ton that goes on yet I'm most comfortable when I have my GIS up and can show the data I'm talking about. |
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What plans do you have for your career? |
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GIS in schools or business. |
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What do you do for fun? |
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Sleep. |
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What do you like most about working in GIS? |
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Showing people that Geographers are not just teachers. I don't know how many times I heard that. After I explain what I do, most are amazed that such a thing exists. |
