One of my primary research interests is in GIS, which is a decision support tool for linking databases with digital maps. GIS provides an array of tools that can be used to analyze and manage data based on location. As such, this is an important technology for managers and business professionals to service customers, monitor operations, control resources, and support decision making.
The GeoBusiness Association (GBA) is a professional association charged with promoting communicating, and advancing the understanding, implementation, and application of geographic information, technology, and methodology for business applications. I was the Past-President of the GBA in 1999. The Association was recently merged into the American Marketing Association.
The Harvard Business School Colloquium was a forum that was held on November 15-17, 1995. It was designed to explore how the integration of multimedia technologies with computers and telecommunications will redefine how organizations sense and respond to customers, which marketing strategies organizations employ, and the industry and organizational boundaries in which organizations operate. I coauthored and presented a paper entitled Using Geographic Information Systems as a Tool for Sensing and Responding to Customer Needs with Jack Dangermond (The Environmental Systems Research Institute), P.J. Santoro ( Levi Strauss & Co.), Mark Darling (American Isuzu Motors), and Marty Crossland (Southwest Missouri State University). An Executive Summary of this paper is available.
I was co-chair with Larry West for the 2000 Geographic Information Systems Mini-Track at the Americas Conference for Information Systems (AMCIS) 2000 Americas Conference. The GIS Mini-Track was designed to provide a forum for promoting and discussing research related to the conceptual design of geographic technologies, the implementation and use of these systemts in business settings, and/or their evaluation in controlled or organizational settings.
I was also a Mini-Track chair for the 1996 AMCIS GIS Mini-Track, 1997 AMCIS GIS Mini-Track, 1998 AMCIS GIS Mini-track, 1999 AMCIS GIS Mini-track, and for the HICSS GIS Mini-Track from 1993-1996. Abstracts from the HICSS sessions are also available.
I was the Program Co-Chair for the Second Annual Business Geographics for Educators and Researchers conference. This conference was held in conjunction with GIS World's Business Geographics Conference during the summer of 1997. I was also on the organizing committee for the 1996 Business Geographics for Educators and Researchers conference. The conferencewas co-sponsored by the GeoBusiness Association, the Association of American Geographers, and GIS World, Inc.
I was invited to participate in the NC CGIA conference which was held February 7-9, 1996. I made a presentation entitled "The Role for GIS in Business: Applications and Opportunities for the North Carolina Business Community." The presentation was telecast via an interactive video teleconference to East Carolina University, Western Carolina University, and Appalacian State University.