On the Map: 9 questions with Barney Krucoff

April 23, 2012

Ashley

As I have been working in the GIS field for 10 years in Maryland, I have met some interesting, talented, intelligent, and motivating GIS colleagues along the way.  Hopefully this blog series will share with you some exciting tidbits of information from each person who has touched my career in some way.

I first met Barney Krucoff at a Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments GIS committee meeting in 2006. At the time, Barney was the GIS manager for Washington DC and I was very impressed with his knowledge of spatial technology and the cohesiveness of DCs GIS. When I heard the news that Barney was coming to work in Maryland, I knew that Maryland GIS would be in good hands.

  Quick Facts about Barney Krucoff

Tell me something fun about your job.
Governor O’Malley
has a special interest in geospatial technology and really uses maps and data to manage and lead the state. I bet that I’m the only state GIO who sits in his governor’s senior staff meetings. The challenge is delivering data and applications fast enough.

What is one of your favorite hobbies?
Ultimate Frisbee

Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Washington, DC, and have lived in Bethesda, Maryland since 1995.

What is your favorite GIS book?
To be honest, I don’t read GIS books cover-to-cover. That said, I’m a sucker for books that use transparent pages, like GIS applications use layers, to tell a story about a place.  For example:

  • Cities Then and Now, by Jim Antoniou
  • Transparent Cities, by Brian McGrath

1. What professional organizations are you active in?
I became active in the National State Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) when I became the District of Columbia GIS manager in 2004.  Over the years NSGIC has been a great source of contacts and information. NSGIC also provides benchmarks to measure how a state-level geospatial program is doing, and a little friendly comparison between states never hurts.

Now I’m also becoming involved with the Maryland State Geographic Information Committee (MSGIC). Maryland is lucky to have so many professionals and students interested and active in the organization.

2. How would you recommend others get involved in GIS?
I’m amazed at the quality and quantity of GIS programs in Maryland universities and colleges.  Whether you want to major in GIS or support another specialty by adding GIS knowledge, here are some links:

3. How has GIS changed since you first started your career?
Here is some of the stuff we didn’t have:

  • Data (except TIGER and some DLG)
  • Graphical user interfaces
  •  GPS (it existed, but few civilians had seen it)
  • Email (it existed, but wasn’t widely used)
  • The World Wide Web
  • Did I mention we didn’t have any data?

4. Where do you see GIS going in the future?
I haven’t been all that good at predicting the future of GIS during the first 21 years of my career, but as they say, “past performance is no indication or guarantee of future results,” so there is hope. The obvious trends seem to be the same ones that are moving the IT industry generally:

  • GIS, more than most information technologies, was focused on the public sector. It is now mass market and consumer oriented. The public sector is still adjusting to this shift.
  • Open source software is coming on strong.
  • Crowdsourcing and volunteer geographic information are coming on strong.
  • The cloud hosting is changing business models.
  • Web offerings continue to evolve rapidly from publishing pages to publishing services.
  • Citizen expectations for presentation and quality of government data are rising.

5. Could you explain how/why GIS is important in today’s world?
We are living in a new geologic epoch, the Anthropocene, aka, the Age of Man. Through development, farming, and energy use, humans are now changing the Earth itself and geologic time is accelerating. GIS helps us manage many things today (crime, transportation, health, land use, farms, etc.). What many people don’t yet realize is that now we need to start managing the planet holistically. GIS isn’t a tool in the planetary management tool box, it is the schematic.

6. Where do you see the job market going in terms of opportunities in GIS?
I see the job market remaining strong, but at the same time GIS is becoming less like magic every day.

7. How did you get interested in the field of Geography/GIS?
I was always interested in maps and cities, and I was comfortable with computers. I was already on my way to getting a Master’s in City Planning from Georgia Tech when I took Dr. Bill Drummond’s GIS class in 1990. I knew quickly that I had found my calling.

8. Did/do you have a mentor?  Who?
Many people inspired me, taught me, and helped me establish my career. They include:

My greatest professional inspiration has come from my staff at Michael Baker and the District of Columbia. They are too numerous to mention here.

9. What is one piece of advice you would give to a newbie in the field?
I have never loved the traditional five-part definition of GIS (hardware, software, data, processes, people). It is accurate but too clinical. I prefer a two-part definition: “GIS combines the power of maps with the power of computers.” Now the advice, don’t forget the computer part – particularly relational database management.

In case you missed the second installment of “On the Map,” check out my interview with Kenny Miller.


Hiring Student Interns: Tips & Tricks

March 15, 2012

Nicole

Almost weekly I get asked by colleagues and clients, “Nicole, how and where can I find a student intern?”  Since 2009, DECO has hired over 125 student interns, and has helped multiple state agencies and regional businesses employ Towson students.

Even more amazing is that 13 of our current 76 employees are former student interns, here’s a bit more about a few of them.  In this week’s post (my first post as an “official blogger”) I’m going to share with you my tips & tricks on finding and hiring the very best student interns.

DO:

  • Craft an exciting job description.  Students aren’t going to apply for your internship if they think they’ll be standing at the copy machine for hours on end. Describe the ways in which you are going to provide real-world experience. What is your intern going to get out of their internship? What kind of connections will they make for future jobs?
  • Make the experience a valuable one.  The more you put into your internship program, the more you’ll get back. When you create a valuable and memorable experience, you’ll attract great candidates.
  • Pay your interns.  The fact-of-the-matter is that student debt doubled between 1996 and 2006. If you want great interns, I think you need to invest in them.

DON’T:

  • Get overwhelmed by the hiring process.  Towson University offers many valuable resources to help departments and organizations hire students.  Hire@TU is TU’s internship database and helps place hundreds of interns a year.  Additionally, if you have a contact at the University, pass your job description to them – word-of-mouth recruiting works wonders.
  • Set unattainable expectations.   An internship provides an opportunity for the student to put what they are learning in the classroom to work. Thus it’s important to remember they are still learning!  Expect that in addition to training them on the project or projects they’ll focus on you may also need to mentor them on working in a business environment.

I began working for Bobbie in 2008 as a DECO intern. Four years later, I’m here as a full-time employee just beginning the process of hiring my own intern and how exciting it is to finally be on the other side of the table!

Center for GIS student interns verifying a broadband hotspot: Alex Stapleton, Justin Mannion, and James Parmeter


Graduate Assistantships—A Win-Win for Students and CPS

January 26, 2012

Allie

Each year, a number of Towson University departments, both academic and administrative, offer opportunities for qualified students to become graduate assistants.  . The process is competitive and responsibilities vary depending on the sponsoring department.  Depending on the number of hours graduate assistants (or GA’s) work they receive tuition remission and a stipend making these limited positions highly sought after.  The objective of a graduate assistantship is to provide the student with rich professional experiences that also support the department’s goals and activities.

Within our department, Center for Professional Studies, we regularly utilize graduate assistants to support a number of areas ranging from customized training programs to continuing education.  For the past two years we have had been lucky enough to have, Jenna Frazzini as a member of our team. Jenna is a speech and language pathology major. When Jenna first joined our group we were in the process of submitting a grant to the Maryland Higher Education Commission and identified an active role for Jenna to play in the proposed project. Over the past two years, Jenna has regularly traveled to Dundalk High School to help high school seniors with the college application process, essay writing, and basic interview skills. Jenna worked one on one with the students and feels confident that her interaction with the students had a large impact on the student’s confidence as it came time for them to begin applying to college.

When I asked Jenna what she’s found most rewarding during her tenure as a GA, she responded, “that the skills that she learned from dealing and communicating with several different groups of people in a business-like setting have been invaluable.”

Our Director, Jeff Beeson, while new to the job, is already looking for opportunities for us to employ more graduate assistants in the future.

Image credit: Desiree Stover


Six Ways Towson University Is Becoming More Entrepreneurial

October 17, 2011
http://tuoutreach.com/author/clayhickson/

Clay

The Princeton Review’s recent release of its list of the most entrepreneurial colleges in the US provides a great opportunity for us at Towson University to reflect on how we are supporting the development of entrepreneurship.  While Towson was not included on this year’s list, there are a number of things we already are doing or can strengthen to be more entrepreneurial, including the following six initiatives:

  1. Business Incubation—In the spring of 2007 Towson University launched TowsonGlobal, a business incubator that helps entrepreneurial ventures, both university based and non-university based, learn how to compete in the global economy.  Research has shown that incubators associated with universities are more effective at developing thriving, sustainable businesses compared to stand-alone community incubators.  Currently, with 15 members and at 100% occupancy rate, the incubator plans to expand to larger facility in 2012 in the heart of Towson.

    TowsonGlobal's New Home, Expected Summer 2012

  2. Entrepreneurship Program/Major—Towson University established an entrepreneurship track in 2008 under the College of Business and Economics.  This program includes courses like Entrepreneurship & Small Business, Entrepreneurial Finance, and an Entrepreneurship Practicum.  The addition of experienced entrepreneurial faculty is helping to attract more and more students into the program.  CBE also is reviewing that curriculum and comparing it to top schools to explore opportunities for improvement.
  3. Business Plan Competitions—Under the direction of the incubator’s Advisory Board, the TowsonGlobal Business Plan Competition was launched in the spring of 2011.  The competition’s main goal is to encourage small business growth and innovation within the region.  The inaugural competition resulted in a tie after a panel of judges from leading companies in the area determined that both Pure Bang Games and My Hopeful Journeywere deserving of the honor.  Together, the winners received prize packages valued at almost $15,000.  For the 2012 competition, a series of workshops have been organized during the fall to help participants prepare even better business plans.  The finalists will present at a public forum on May 2, 2012.

    TowsonGlobal Business Plan Competition winners Lisa Drouillard of My Hopeful Journey (L) and Ben Walsh of Pure Bang Games( R) posing with their prize checks, April 28, 2011

  4. Facilitate Entrepreneurial Spirit—By partnering with other area organizations, Towson University is building a reputation as an institution that puts words into action.  For instance, in July 2011 TU hosted Think Big Baltimore, a day-long conference organized by area innovators that attracted over 200 registrants and featured expert panel discussions, keynote speakers, in-depth educational sessions, and lively networking events.  Plans already are underway for TBB 2012.
  5. Entrepreneurship Organizations/ClubsSIFE(Students in Free Enterprise), returned to Towson University in the spring of 2011. This is an international, non-profit organization that mobilizes students of all majors to become socially responsible business leaders by developing entrepreneurial skills.  It brings business leaders and student teams together to develop outreach projects that make a difference in their communities by using the positive power of business.

    (L-R) Biruk Lulseged, Curtis Johnson, Clay Hickson, Laleh Yousefi at SIFE Regional Competition, Philadelphia, PA, March 25, 2011

  6. Mentorship Programs—TowsonGlobal staff regularly meets with both student and community entrepreneurs to help review business ideas and to provide advice.  Budding entrepreneurs also are referred to mentors from SCORE, a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed.  In fact, TowsonGlobal and SCORE will be launching monthly Entrepreneur Office Hours, which will be open to anyone with a business idea who wants practical advice and critique.

Entrepreneurship Professor David Brannon captures the spirit of what is developing here at Towson University when he says:   “One of the keys, which aids in the growth and development of a successful program, is the approach that entrepreneurship is a way of thinking. Entrepreneurship is a means to follow your passions, develop innovation, create jobs, and to enact social change. It is a focus on recognizing opportunities to create value and understanding how to pursue those opportunities.”

Over time, colleges like those on The Princeton Review’s list (e.g., University of Houston, Babson College and Syracuse University) have developed extensive sources of support from within their institutions and across their communities that are focused on entrepreneurship education and on supporting entrepreneurial spirit.  There is much we can learn from the schools on the list, but I believe Towson University is well on its way to being a great entrepreneurial university.


Federal Tax Update Seminar Early Bird Discount Still Available

October 6, 2011

Allie

Towson University Center for Professional Studies is hosting an annual Federal Tax Update Seminar on November 2 and 3, 2011 in the Minnegan Room located in the Johnny Unitas Field house overlooking Towson’s Football stadium.

The seminar’s objective is to provide an update on federal law changes including bills that might pass later this month.

Participants have the opportunity to

  • earn 16 Credits of CPE/NASBA/CFP/EA and
  • receive certificates upon course completion
  • speak one on one with the instructors and questions in a group or setting

Two instructors lead the seminar discussing topics including:

  • New Legislation
  • Rulings and Cases
  • Individual Taxpayer Issues
  • Financial Distress
  • Business Issues, Retirement Issues
  • Agricultural Issues
  • Investment Issues
  • IRS Issues
  • Trusts and Estates
  • Tax Practices
  • Basis of Assets
  • Ethics
  • Tax Rates and Useful Tables

Don’t miss out on this great seminar! Contact me at 410-296-8596 for more information or register now.

Towson University's Johhny Unitas Stadium


Guest Blog: Maryland Stem Cell Research Symposium

September 26, 2011

Dan Gincel

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) has been promoting state-funded research and cures for the past five years. This year, we are partnering with Baltimore County, Stevenson University and Towson University to bring the 4th Annual Stem Cell Research Symposium to Towson University campus on Thursday, October 6, 2011.

The Symposium will feature remarks from policy makers such as Governor Martin O’Malley and Baltimore County Executive, Kevin Kamenetz, on how MSCRF research is creating jobs, expanding opportunities for Maryland graduates and changing the state and regional economy to become hi- and bio-tech driven.

The day will also include an unparalleled opportunity to:

  •  Learn about stem cell ethics issues such as embryonic stem cell dilemmas, animal/human chimeras and other hot topics that are covered in the media.
  • Listen to scientific talks that will cover topics from induced pluripotent stem cells, adult stem cells, clinical trials and many more all being performed right here in Maryland.
  • See 120 plus research posters summarizing years of progress towards finding cures to devastating diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disease and many more.
  • Join a community of 600 symposium attendees all of whom are passionate about stem cell research and cures.

Please check out our agenda and join Towson’s Interim President, Marcia Welsh, and myself and be part of this great event!


Guest Blogger: 2011 DECO Service Awards Breakfast

June 27, 2011

Cindy Knight

Once again DECO gathered together on June 22, 2011(in fine fashion I might add) to participate in one of our favorite activities together…Eating.  However this meeting of the minds and stomachs served a very special purpose; to honor and celebrate our colleagues who had reached their longevity milestones of five and ten years of service to the Division of Economic and Community Outreach and Towson University.

The day started bright and early in the Minnegan room.  Daraius Irani got the program started with a rousing, engaging, and extremely funny welcome, and then we dined on a delicious breakfast and enjoyed each other’s company.  After breakfast, Dan Leonard our keynote speaker captured our attention with his encouraging and thoughtful words regarding the contributions DECO has provided to the University.  Dan congratulated everyone because the phrase “That’s not my job” does not reside in the DECO vocabulary.

DECO Staff in the Breakfast Line

Next we heard from Vice President Dyan Brasington who motivated and congratulated the honorees on reaching this significant milestone in their careers.  After the speakers we were onto the fun part, the Service Awards.  The following staff members were recognized:

5 years

George Edmonds, Raquel Frye, Lance Konig, Robert Telewicz, Carol Williams

10 Years

Michael Bentivegna, Marina Gendlina, Ruslana Kachay, Sharyn Grove, Linda Natale, Erin Nueslein

After we completed the Service Awards we transitioned into The Annual Awards.  This was the first year DECO has had the Annual Awards.   There are two categories of Awards:  the Who’s Who awards and the Excellence Award.

The Who’s Who awards are peer nominated and peer elected :

Rising Star Award- recognizes a DECO employee with 2 years or less of service who their peers feels is a great addition to the team and sees great things in their future with DECO.

  • Anna Orfanidis, Budget Analyst, DECO Administration and Finance

You Make a World of Difference Award- recognizes the person who embraces the DECO culture, goes above and beyond to be friendly and increases morale, the person people most enjoy working with on a daily basis.

  • Linda Natale, Administrative Assistant, DECO Administration and Finance

The DECO Essential Piece Award- recognizes the person who exemplifies extraordinary customer service by consistently making superior contributions both to clients and to DECO by going above and beyond their day to day responsibilities.

  • Susan Wooden, Manager of Writing, Editing, and Technical Communications, Center for GIS

The 2011 Who’s Who Award Recipients:

After we concluded with the Who’s Who awards it was on to the Showstopper Award, The Excellence Award.

The Excellence Award is The Deco “crème de la crème” annual award.  This prestigious honor recognizes an individual who surpasses their current responsibilities and consistently excels in the following areas: innovation, developing new business opportunities, superior customer service, leadership potential, and valued by peers.    The nominees for these awards are nominated by Managers (however Staff are allowed to recommend a nominee to the manager) and the recipients are selected by a VP appointed panel of Directors;

The selection committee was unable to select one individual so we had two Excellence Award Winners for this year.

The 2011 Excellence Award Winners:

  • Sharon Seybold, Administrative Business Analyst, DECO Administration and Finance
  • Bobbie Laur, Manager of External Affairs and Strategic Communications, DECO Vice President’s Office

Overall this was a great time of reflection and acknowledgement.  DECO is proud of its employee’s longevity and achievements and recognizes that without their invaluable service and dedication, our division success would not be possible.  Congratulations to all our 2011 Service Award and Annual Awards Recipients!

2011 DECO Service Award & Annual Award Winners

For individual award photos as well as other photos from this event, please visit our Flickr Photostream.


Going On a Mission: Governor Martin O’Malley’s Asia Trade Mission

June 20, 2011

Clay

Developing personal relationships is crucial for success when doing business in the Asian region, and that means spending quality face-to-face time on the ground.  In an effort to encourage foreign investment, stimulate economic development, strengthen commercial ties, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley led a trade mission to Asia May 31-June 11.  Towson University Interim President Marcia Welsh, Asia Studies Director Stephen Phillips, and I were privileged to be among the 68 people chosen to represent the State on this productive trip through China, South Korea and Vietnam.

This 11-day trip was the perfect opportunity, not only to improve existing relationships, but to showcase what Maryland and Towson University have to offer and how our ties can benefit all parties.

During our travels through Shanghai, Nanjing, Beijing, Seoul, and Hanoi, we attended some key events like the 13th Shanghai Bio-Forum, BioCapital Leadership’s Luncheon, the Maryland-Jiangsu Partnership Banquet, and the Vietnam-Maryland Cooperation Ceremony and Luncheon. Shanghai’s Tasly Group announced a $40 million investment in Maryland, the largest direct investment ever in our state by a Chinese company.

Additionally, Marlin Steel Wire, a Baltimore steel wire basket manufacturer, signed a collaboration agreement in Vietnam with a state-owned steel production firm.  AmeriSure Pharmaceuticals, a Rockville based company, signed an agreement to collaborate with one of Vietnam’s largest state-owned pharmaceutical firms. In addition, the Vietnam Natural Resources and Environmental Corporation agreed to promote Ellicott City’sBlue Wing Environmental Solutions & Technologies floating island products.

Towson University representatives (Steve Phillips, Clay Hickson, Ohoe Kim, and Marcia Welsh, 2nd – 5th from left, respectively) and Inha University representatives, Incheon, South Korea

Not to be left out, Towson University also signed three MOUs in Shanghai to provide faculty training and school management services programs in the Pudong area.  Two other Towson representatives also joined us for parts of the trip.  Alexandria Liu, a Towson University student interning at the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, participated in the China leg of the trip, and Mathematics Professor Ohoe Kim was in Korea helping to arrange meetings with various partner universities there.

To develop opportunities for TowsonGlobal Business Incubator and its member companies I met up with representatives of Shanghai Juke Biotech Park, an incubator specializing in helping biotech SMEs.  I also met with Ningxia Yinxing Energy Co., which focuses on green technologies and is exploring expansion to the US.  In Beijing, I met with Xin Feng Zhuoqun Technology Co., a professional circuit board processor that may be able to support current members.   These meetings were important steps to open doors for future collaborations between Asian enterprises and TowsonGlobal.

Despite a few hurdles – our bus got stuck on a mound of dirt and broken asphalt – we also had the opportunity to visit historic landmarks like the Presidential Palace in Nanjing and the Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing, to go hiking in Seoul, and to tour around the city of Hanoi.

Clay Hickson (center) and delegation members at the Presidential Palace, Nanjing, China

Clay Hickson and Marcia Welsh at the Great Wall, Beijing, China

I was honored to be a part of such significant efforts to bring Asia and Maryland together.  Being a part of the Governor’s delegation offered business and educational professionals opportunities to expand their networks and strengthen existing ties while gaining credibility.  The mission brought many opportunities for technology development and economic growth to our state.  Maryland’s future in these foreign markets looks bright, but success will all depend on the efforts we make to continue building ties in the region.


Baltimore “Thinks Big”

June 6, 2011

Clay

Baltimore’s time to think big has arrived! TowsonGlobal and Baltimore area innovators are organizing the first annual Think Big Baltimore, an educational forum where entrepreneurs and investors get together to discuss ideas and opportunities for growth.

This day-long event, hosted at Towson University, will feature expert panel discussions, keynote speakers, and in-depth educational sessions.  Attendees also will have the opportunity to generate new connections, catch up with other entrepreneurs, and share ideas over cocktails and appetizers in a powerful networking session the evening before. Finally, guests will participate in CrowdPitch, an event where selected pitching companies will present in front of a panel of experts and an audience.  Audience attendees will receive $100 of fun money which they can “invest” in their favorite pitching company.   The winner will be selected based on who receives the most “money”.

Events like Think Big Baltimore keep entrepreneurial spirit alive, create more jobs, generate opportunities for start-ups and small businesses, encourage innovation, and promote competition—all necessary for the Greater Baltimore area’s growth and success. Do not miss out on the opportunity to receive valuable advice from experts, or network with peers and investors.  Regardless of the stage a business is in, whether it is just an idea or a reality, Think Big Baltimore will be place to be!

The event will start with a networking reception on Tuesday, July 12th at 6:00 pm, followed by a day-long conference on July 13th, 2011, at Towson University. Use TowsonGlobal’s code 07132011 when you register, to get a special discount.  For more information, please visit http://www.thinkbigbaltimore.com/


Towson University hosting the 2011 Oracle Summer Academy

June 2, 2011

Allie

Providing teachers from around the U.S. world class training and professional development opportunities.

From July 11th -15th over 70 teachers from the around the U.S. will be coming to Towson to take part in the Oracle Academy at Towson University. While on campus, teachers will be staying in dormitories as well as the Towson University Marriott and will even utilize campus dining services for their meals throughout the week.

The Oracle Academy is a cutting edge program that provides educational institutions with industry-leading software, curriculum, support, and certification resources that faculty can integrate into their classrooms. As a result, these teachers can then assist their students in gaining hands on experience with the latest technologies and develop skills that will help them excel in the 21st century workplace while developing their technical, analytical, and business skills.

Currently, Oracle Academy Instructors’ Institutes are in Romania, Egypt, Czech-Republic, China and USA. However, there are only 4 states in the U.S. that currently house an Instructors Institute, Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, and Maryland. The Oracle Academy is said to support over 850,000 students in 91 countries through their instruction.

The Oracle Academy has 3 specific areas of instruction:

  • Introduction to Computer Science
  • Advanced Computer Science
  • Enterprise Business Application

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