Ambassador Spotlight ‘James Campbell’

Welcoming our latest Brand Ambassador James Campbell from the Mid West, USA:

How did you get into the geospatial industry? It was 1996, I was working in the construction industry in Arizona in the summer heat and had a friend that worked for an aerial mapping company that was looking for people to train, even if they had zero experience. So, I took the leap of faith and 28ish, 29 years later, I am still doing what I love!!!

Tell us a bit about what you do? I am the Specialty Services Team Lead for Schneider Geomatics in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is responsibility to oversee and direct all of the UAV Mapping and LiDAR projects and development, oversee and direct all of our terrestrial scanning projects for mapping and energy client purposes and to help coordinate all Utility Locating services for mapping and some construction projects with our in-house utility locator.

What are your plans as a Brand Ambassador? The land survey and photogrammetry industry, in my opinion, will not be around the way it is now in the next 50 years. Our industry must have people like us to spread the word about what we do on a daily basis and why it is vital to keep our industry strong. The only way we are going to be able to keep doing the job we do everyday is to highlight the advantages of being a surveyor or photogrammetrist to the younger generations and get them excited about this industry like I am every day that I get to come to work and have a career that I LOVE!! This might be a good time to mention, that I have been able to accomplish everything I have as a high school graduate, I do not have a college degree, I have taken some classes but I think kiddos these days need to know that there are other options for a very fulfilling career even if they have no interest in attending college.

Anything else that you’d like to add? I am a people person, my wife is a kindergarten through 4th grade STEM teacher, I am used to helping her prepare all of the projects she does with her kiddos, I help cut her lamination for the projects, anything I can do to give back to the younger ones so they get excited about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.