GIS in Lakes Region

[KEP]

I am a GIS Analyst possibly looking to relocate to the Gilford, NH area. I'd like to find out what's going on in the world of GIS (geographic information systems) up there - as far as municipal/state agencies and private companies that do it. Does anyone have any info on this?? There are a few openings in the State Dept of Security in Laconia, for Cartographers, and I've applied to one of them. But I would like to find out as much as I can.
Email me! Thanks, KEP

[fmgate]

What about Eastern Topographics in Wolfeboro?
http://www.e-topo.com/index.html

[KEP]

It's funny that you send me their info, b/c I did find them in my searches online, and they have a few surveyor positions open. Since there's a chance they do GIS too, I sent an email to the president, Wayne, but haven't heard back yet. I also asked him for any info on companies in the area. Hopefully he'll have some good info for me.

Thanks for the info, though, and pass my question along to anyone else who might know about GIS in the area.

Thanks!
KEP

[djwoodward]

KEP,

Check out Tele Atlas @ teleatlas.com.

Unfortunately we're located in Lebanon, which is in the Upper Valley region not the Lakes Region. It’s about 1.5 hours west of Gilford. I'm fortunate to live in the western side of the lakes region, which makes the commute bearable.

[jellybean]

Hey KEP, I had >10 years of experience as a GIS Manager/Developer before moving to the Lakes Region, so I think I can give you a sense of what is going on in this area. I spent 6+ months searching for a GIS position after taking time off with my first baby in 2003, and didn't really find anything locally. However, things do come up occasionally ... more at the Analyst level than at the Manager/Developer level. There is active GIS going on at UNH, which is quite a commute from Gilford. There is a geologic/engineering consulting firm in Gilford which does some GIS, but I cannot recall their name. The Lakes Region Planning Commission in Meredith offered me a part time position, but I couldn't make it work financially with a commute from Alton to Meridith. Finally, there are various organizations in Concord -- the City, the State, the Nature Conservancy, etc. -- which have openings at times. I believe there is currently an opening near Concord if you look at the GIS Jobs Clearinghouse website at www.gjc.org .

A little further away, there are companies in NH & VT near Lebanon, as already mentioned, and further north in St. Johnsbury.

There are a lot of SMALL towns and companies in this region which probably dabble in GIS but can't afford to hire anyone, so perhaps you would do well in consulting here. I toy with the idea of offering GIS consulting services locally in my extra time, but I haven't yet made that leap (I have small children), so I can't tell you how much demand there would be. I'm also not sure I could afford the software licensing as a part-time consultant.

Good luck ... I am now in Educational Administration and I LOVE it ... but I am also integrating GIS into our curriculum, so I am able to share my passion for GIS with children.

Hope that helps, let me know if you'd like to talk further via email :)