Alumni News

Brad Roman - Engineering Technician, GIS Support/Applications

November 14, 2006

Brad Roman of the Twin Cites MSGIS program was recently hired as a GIS Support Applications & Engineering Technician with Hennepin County (Twin Cities Metro area).

Brad's job responsibilities and duties include: developing geocoded street centerlines and address point features to satisfy various Hennepin County departments' needs; contacting and collecting geographic data from departments within the County, municipalities, and other entities. He also explores and develops new procedures to increase efficiency of parcel-level map production, provides GIS technical support to Survey Division employees, and develops complex geoprocessing models to increase efficiency of map production. Brad has also been working to develop procedure manuals and mapping standards and has served as an address and geocoding technical representative at local and regional GIS meetings.

Brad offers some thoughts regarding his educational experience at Saint Mary's: “The Masters of GIS program offered at St. Mary's University was instrumental in starting my career in the government sector. The theories, techniques, and applications learned in the program continue to serve me as well as the citizens of Hennepin County. The journey from a non-fullfilling job to my current position was akin to a salmon swimming upstream. St. Mary's helped to lessen the current.”

He also offers the following advice for new learners begin studies in GIS: “My advice to others starting their own journey: Immerse yourselves in GIS and make the effort to learn topics that may not be covered in the curriculum. Most importantly, have patience and never relent in achieving your goals.”

Brad, congratulations! It sounds like you are thoroughly enjoying what you do.