Director’s Message | | | I recently began a new adventure as a member of Leadership Maryland’s Class of 2022. We have only completed our two-day orientation, but I am truly awestruck by the talent, diversity and commitment to Maryland of the 51 leaders that are participating this year. So, this has me thinking about the concept of leadership, particularly related to the work of the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative. | | | Leadership is a very amorphous thing; it’s tough to define precisely, but most people feel they know it when they see it. Are leaders born with an innate ability to inspire and motivate or are leaders made, formed from their training, their experiences and the mentorship they receive? Leadership takes many forms and can be found in almost every context – in the kindergarten classroom, on the factory floor, in our civic organizations, in our communities and in our nation. Leaders can be inspirational, passionate, underwhelming but capable, even intimidating. But the leadership style that I most identify with, and that we have tried to embody at the ESRGC, is the concept of servant-leadership. | | | In the realm of regional geographic information systems, the ESRGC seeks to serve the governments, organizations and businesses of the Delmarva Peninsula – and by extension, the citizens, members and customers of our partners. We are always searching for new ways to serve, demonstrated by our expansion of our offerings in data modeling, analysis and visualization. We seek to be leaders in this space, for the benefit of the communities we serve. This has long included advocating for the development of better funding mechanisms, leveraging federal, state and local partnerships for improved data gathering, supporting statewide professional organizations like the Maryland State Geographic Information Committee (MSGIC) and establishing a strong presence at regional conferences like TUGIS and the Delmarva GIS Conference. Our ESRGC team members are similarly encouraged to take on leadership roles inside and outside Salisbury University, as we know that acting as a servant-leader yields personal and professional benefits as well. | | | As we progress through our 18th year at the ESRGC, we would love your feedback on how we can further our leadership in the GIS and data science industries in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. For to be an effective servant-leader, active listening to those you serve is absolutely critical. Thank you for being a partner on this journey with us – and for your own leadership in your organization. Together, we will continue to serve this very special place the best way we know how. | | | Michael Scott, Ph.D., GISP | Director, Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative
Dean, Henson School of Science and Technology |
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