Rolling for Initiative at the ITAG Conference
I recently had the incredible opportunity to attend the ITAG Conference from June 3-5, 2025, at The Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona, IA. As a first-timer, I was half-expecting the typical tech conference, but the whole Dungeons & Dragons theme was a brilliant touch – it really set the stage for an ‘epic adventure’ in learning and networking, right from the entryway.
I recently had the incredible opportunity to attend the ITAG Conference from June 3-5, 2025, at The Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona, IA. As a first-timer, I was half-expecting the typical tech conference, but the whole Dungeons & Dragons theme was a brilliant touch – it really set the stage for an ‘epic adventure’ in learning and networking, right from the entryway.
For those unfamiliar with this quest, the ITAG Conference is a collaborative annual event brought to us by the Iowa Geographic Information Council (IGIC) and the Iowa Counties Information Technology (ICIT) organizations. It's awesome how they combine their individual conferences into one big, comprehensive technology and geospatial event. They really understand the overlap between IT and GIS and celebrate with nerd within.
I was there as both an exhibitor and a presenter, which gave me a unique and engaging perspective on the entire event. The conference was packed with valuable insights, offering over 50 hours of diverse educational content. The main conference, spanning from Wednesday, June 4, through Friday, June 6, was thoughtfully structured with five distinct educational tracks. Two of these tracks were specifically dedicated to geospatial technologies, while another two delved deep into essential IT technologies. The fifth track provided a more general focus, ensuring there was something for everyone. This variety allowed attendees to really tailor their experience and dive into the topics most relevant to their skills, strength and charisma.
Beyond the structured learning, the emphasis on networking and the exchange of knowledge and professional practices truly shone through. I loved having the chance to connect with so many talented professionals from various fields, sharing ideas, and hearing about different approaches and best practices. It's clear that the primary goal of the conference is to promote education, training, and cooperation in both technology and GIS, and they certainly achieved that, even rolling a 20! (OK, last lame joke)
The conference fostered a very welcoming environment, and it was great to see that attendance wasn't restricted by IGIC or ICIT membership, as I have neither. This inclusivity really broadens the scope of discussions and makes for a richer experience for everyone involved. Plus, the well-organized opportunities for professional networking, combined with pleasant meals and entertainment, added to the overall positive atmosphere, making the entire experience even more enjoyable and memorable.
Whether you're deeply immersed in GIS, passionate about IT, or simply curious about the latest advancements and collaborations in technology, this conference is definitely for you. I gained so much, both in terms of knowledge and valuable connections, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in the field and can’t wait to see the theme for next year.
I had such a positive experience and learned an immense amount. I'm already looking forward to next year and can't wait to see what new insights and connections the next ITAG Conference brings!
It's Conference Season Already! (PART 2)
It’s September, which means the fall conference season is here. While our young team is still deciding which organizations to support and be a part of, there are a few that are a no brainer: ILGISA, IACE, EPN just to name three. Last week, Baylor and I both visited separate conferences to see if they would be good conferences to attend or even exhibit at in future years.
Geospatial > The Layer File > It's Conference Season Already! (PART 2)
it’s September.
Which means the fall conference season is here. While our young team is still deciding which organizations to support and be a part of, there are a few that are a no brainer: ILGISA, IACE, EPN just to name three. Last week, Baylor and I both visited separate conferences to see if they would be good conferences to attend or even exhibit at in future years. Below is Baylor’s Summary of GEOGRAPH and Micah’s summary of FOSS4G NA was earlier this week.
Maurer-Stutz Geospatial Services Attends the 2024 GEOGRAPH User Conference: A New Chapter in Fiber Network Management
Maurer-Stutz Geospatial Services (MSGS) had the privilege of attending the 2024 GEOGRAPH User Conference in Greenville, SC from September 9-11. This year’s event brought together industry leaders, software developers, and telecommunications experts, providing us with invaluable insights into the latest advancements in fiber network management, broadband mapping, and digital infrastructure planning.
The conference, hosted by GEOGRAPH Technologies, gave us the opportunity to further explore CrescentLink, the powerful fiber network management solution that we’ve been integrating into our geospatial services. Through this collaboration with GEOGRAPH, MSGS is excited to expand our fiber solution offerings, reinforcing our commitment to delivering comprehensive, cutting-edge GIS support for fiber providers.
Highlights from the Event:
GEOGRAPH’s Vision for the Future: CEO Bruce Smith shared an exciting update on GEOGRAPH's growth and future innovations during the opening keynote. With new developments on the horizon for CrescentLink, we look forward to continuing our partnership, enhancing our service offerings to ensure our clients can take full advantage of the CrescentLink platform.
Broadband Mapping and Digital Divide Solutions: One of the most impactful sessions featured Jim Stritzinger, the South Carolina Broadband Director, who shared how their state is leading the way in broadband mapping and BEAD fund management to bridge the digital divide. This insight fuels our passion for working with underserved fiber providers, ensuring communities across Illinois and beyond benefit from the same cutting-edge fiber management tools.
CrescentLink for ArcGIS Pro: With CrescentLink’s move from desktop to ArcGIS Pro, MSGS is eager to help our clients transition smoothly. Sessions led by Grey Pittman and DJ Henrique offered best practices and valuable tips on how to fully leverage CrescentLink within ArcGIS Pro. With MSGS’s expertise in enterprise GIS, we are well-positioned to support our clients in making this shift and maximizing the benefits of this next-generation software.
Engaging One-on-One with GEOGRAPH Experts: A unique feature of this year’s conference was the GEOGRAPH Tech Talk, where we had the opportunity to engage in in-depth, one-on-one conversations with the CrescentLink development team. Our team was able to discuss current and future needs for our clients, planning how we can continue to innovate and provide exceptional geospatial services in fiber network management.
Looking Ahead:
At MSGS, our focus has always been on providing specialized geospatial solutions that turn our clients’ visions into reality. Partnering with GEOGRAPH Technologies allows us to expand our offerings to include enhanced fiber network deployment, conversion, and ongoing management services—ensuring our clients can optimize their fiber networks from the ground up.
The 2024 GEOGRAPH User Conference affirmed that fiber networks are the digital backbone of tomorrow’s infrastructure. By combining MSGS’s deep expertise in GIS with CrescentLink’s powerful tools, we’re setting a new standard for fiber management, particularly for small and mid-sized providers who may lack access to these advanced solutions.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue working closely with GEOGRAPH, offering a seamless experience for our clients in deploying and managing fiber networks. This collaboration allows us to deliver tailored, scalable solutions, empowering providers to expand their network capabilities, enhance customer satisfaction, and ultimately stay ahead in the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry.
For more information on how MSGS and CrescentLink can transform your fiber network management, visit our website or schedule a call with one of our experts today.
We've got SWAG!
Lets admit it, we all go to conferences to get our own bags of stuff… and training, but really the stuff. Well, thanks to the great marketing strategy already established at Maurer-Stutz INC, We’ve got a whole storage room filled with SWAG to give away Plus some of our own.
Geospatial > The Layer File > We’ve Got Swag
Not the Jay Z kind, rather the Stuff-We-All-Get kind.
Contrary to popular belief, JayZ didn’t come up with the word swag, he just shortened swagger. In the original Middle-English (according to Google) ‘swag’ is a word of Scandinavian origin meaning ‘bulging bag’. Which is fitting.
Let’s admit it, we all go to conferences to get our own bags of stuff… and training, but really the stuff. Well, thanks to the great marketing strategy already established at Maurer-Stutz, We’ve got a whole storage room filled with SWAG to give away, including a few humorous stress toys from our Agriculture group. While we are not bringing cows or poop-emojis to ILGISA, we are bringing some MSGS-specific stuff: Stickers, Pens, and a few t-shirt for selected clients. We have our own geospatial-related banners and an expanding table-top display. In short, we are ready for the fall conference season.
