News
Meet Gavin Jaravata, GIS Technician
Where are you from and where do you live now? I grew up in a small unincorporated area called Silverdale in Washington State. I crossed the Puget Sound to go to college in Seattle and decided to stay after graduating. What do you do at FLO? I’m a GIS technician working in the local government…
Ruth McColly, GISPWhat You Need to Know About Student Enrollment Forecasting
Student enrollment forecasts are critically important to all long-term planning efforts. They inform everything from staffing to school capacity planning. But how much do you really know about the forecasts you’re using? Here are the four things you need to know about student enrollment forecasting (no demography degree required!) to be the most strategic school…
Alex BraschSpatial Data Management Best Practices While Working Remote: What Local Governments Need to Know
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced an unprecedented number of local government employees to work from home. While very little is known about when they will be able to return to a physical workplace on a consistent basis, one thing is certain: the health of our communities depends on the vital services local governments provide. To…
Grant Herbert, GISPFLO’s Statement Against Racism
We must work to resist and reverse systemic racism in the communities where we live, work, and serve. We acknowledge that our society is built on systems and institutions that oppress Black people and Black communities. We have had the privilege of remaining silent, and now we commit to using our privilege to speak up…
Tyler VickResults for "2018"
Two new experienced GIS professionals have joined the FLO team—Elliot Frank and Jenny Elstrott. Elliot comes to us from the Big Apple, where he worked as a GIS aide at the New York City of Transportation, honing his skills in spatial...
Leora WernerWhere are you from and where do you live now? I’m originally from New Zealand, and now I live in Seattle, Washington. What do you do at FLO? I manage a number of Local Government and Utilities Sector projects, including those we...
Leora WernerCongratulations to Rachel Roberts, who was recently promoted to GIS Technician 2! Clients and FLO team members alike recognize Rachel’s commitment to excellence in her work, keen analytical perspective, and an ability to calmly juggle a host...
Jenny AxelrodAttendance area boundary updates are just like a "giant sudoku puzzle" as one Bend-La Pine Schools boundary update committee member recently put it. I couldn't agree more. Boundary updates are also complex, lengthy, and can be quite...
Tyler VickAt the Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council (IACC) Conference, senior GIS analysts Grant Herbert and Ruth McColly will be presenting on the nuts and bolts of GIS technology, its ability to manage assets, and considerations for...
Leora WernerThe Association of Washington Cities (AWC) and FLO partner to run the GIS Consortium, an AWC program that helps Washington cities and non-city entities (conservation districts, utility districts, and more) implement or improve the use of GIS....
Grant Herbert, GISPExtreme summer heat, mega forest fires, super storms and flooding—global climate change is already having a significant impact on communities and the environment across the United States, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. How...
Jenny AxelrodIn 2016, FLO joined a multidisciplinary team tasked with evaluating Pierce County’s existing land use policy for designating agricultural resource lands (ARL)—lands that “have long-term significance for the commercial production of food...
Jenny AxelrodCongratulations to North Clackamas School District on the new boundaries! It’s another boundary review success! After many months of hard work on the part of District staff and community members, the North Clackamas School Board approved new...
Jenny AxelrodThe Association of Washington Cities (AWC) and FLO partner to run the GIS Consortium, an AWC program that helps Washington cities and non-city entities (conservation districts, utility districts, and more) implement or improve GIS for their...
Ruth McColly, GISPWe are excited to welcome a new senior GIS analyst to our growing team! Ruth McColly comes to us with 12 years of professional GIS experience, both as a consultant and as an in-house GIS expert. Ruth’s extensive capabilities include...
Leora WernerThe 26th Annual GIS In Action Conference, hosted by the Columbia River Region of the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) and the Oregon-Southwest Washington Chapter of the Urban and Regional Information Systems...
Leora WernerGeographic Information Systems (GIS) provide local government with tools to improve the lives of citizens through increasing internal efficiency, boosting citizen engagement, and improving the delivery of services. But when it comes to...
Grant Herbert, GISPAt some point during the year, most school districts will fall into one of these three areas: Thinking about planning a bond measure Attempting to pass a bond Trying make the most of the bond they just passed No matter which...
Tyler Vick