About

About The GIS Consortium

The GIS Consortium is an organization of Chicago-area communities unified by a common goal: to share resources, information, staffing, and technology so that municipalities can optimize the value of geographic information systems (GIS).

GIS helps communities automate and improve local government business processes, from mapping incidents to supporting infrastructure systems and projects.  GIS is a visualization technology that integrates information, uncovers complex information relationships, and supports local government decision-making.  GIS results in better understanding, more effective communications, and greater operational efficiencies.

The GIS Consortium creates value for its members by identifying opportunities for minimizing cost and risk.  Members do not pay annual dues, but apply their entire GIS investment directly to solutions.  All intellectual property developed by the GIS Consortium belongs to its members.

The GIS Consortium is a proven solution for communities who are increasingly being challenged to do more with less.  Its collaborative approach reduces costs while improving public services.

MISSION

To reduce the cost and risk of GIS for small- and medium-sized communities.


VISION

To create value for our membership through collaboration, sharing, and smart solutions.


VALUES

  • Put Residents First
  • Specialize and Partner
  • Make It Happen
  • Constant Innovation
  • People Drive Success

HISTORY

In 1994, the City of Highland Park formed a GIS program based on an in-house staffing approach.  Although the system achieved its early objectives, staff attrition and stagnation put the program in jeopardy.

In 1998, Municipal GIS Partners, Inc. (MGP) founder Thomas Thomey introduced a staffing concept to David Limardi, City Manager of Highland Park.  This model was based on a shared-staffing approach that would provide multiple communities access to the necessary professional resources without the full-time cost.  By combining staffing, communities could target their investment on data, solutions, and staff development.

The City of Highland Park invited other communities to help develop the model, and in 1999 the GIS Consortium was formed with the following four communities:

• City of Highland Park      • Village of Glencoe      • Village of Lincolnshire      • City of Park Ridge

LEADERSHIP

The GIS Consortium Board elects officers every two-years to provide leadership and innovation. The current Board officers are:

Annette Cardiff

Chuck Meyer

Charity Jones

Nikki Larson

Marc Talavera

FAQs

The community member owns its own data.

Software developed for the GIS Consortium, or its community members, is owned by all member communities.

None.

All service providers are evaluated annually by the GIS Consortium Board to ensure they are offering the best value the market has to offer.

The model was built to scale so that every additional member accrues value to the existing members.  We continue to see value by continually dividing up the pie.

GOVERNANCE

Each member community has one vote, regardless of their population, geographic size, or membership date.  Each community owns its data and has equal rights to intellectual property.  Data sharing among members is encouraged to facilitate greater efficiencies, better business processes, and mutual aid support.

DOCUMENTATION