Sectors throughout the geospatial industry all face a similar challenge: the pipeline of new talent doesn't build itself. At a recent Geo Week webinar, two practitioners Shawn Beecher, GIS Administrator for Spanish Fork City, Utah, and William Wing, Project Surveyor/President of Infinity Land Surveying, shared what's actually working when it comes to developing the next generation of geospatial professionals.
Hire for Character, Train for Skill
Shawn Beecher has run a successful intern program at Spanish Fork City for nearly two decades, and for most of that time with just himself and a couple of interns. His core philosophy: don't hire for technical knowledge, hire for character.
"I can teach GIS. I can't teach character," Beecher said.
He recruits students early in their studies, ideally in intro-level GIS courses, so he can shape their development over one to four years. Interview questions focus on self-awareness and growth mindset. ("What is your greatest weakness, and how have you overcome it?") Interns are expected to follow workplace norms from day one, and expectations are set explicitly upfront.
His program runs a rotating model: a newer intern learns from a more experienced one, reducing the training burden on staff while keeping work moving. Once interns are up to speed, Beecher gives them real challenges to tackle independently which is a strategy he says produces his best performers and, sometimes, future full-time hires.
His closing advice: give credit generously, treat interns as team members, and invest in their success. "I don't care how much you know until I know how much you care."
Take Them Into the Field
William Wing approaches pipeline-building through high-energy outreach events. As a supporter of the Arizona Young Surveyors Network (YSN), he has organized hands-on field days that bring students and early-career professionals into real surveying environments, including a recent underground mapping project at the historic Good Enough Mine in Tombstone, Arizona.
The event brought 25 participants underground to conduct GNSS control surveys, drone flights, and 3D laser scanning, producing a detailed digital twin of the mine. The goal wasn't just technical exposure, it was to produce inspiration.
"If you don't know this stuff, you don't know it," Wing said. "We're all using the same tools," whether in surveying, GIS, mining, or geology.
Wing's model relies on stations, rotation, and real equipment, not lectures. Vendors loan gear, sponsors provide support, and a core team of dedicated volunteers makes the logistics work. His advice for firms considering a career day: divide attendees into small groups, get tools in their hands immediately, and make it memorable. "Food's always good. Tacos are usually the best."
What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?
Both speakers were asked what they wished someone had told them early in their careers.
Beecher said "Be willing to learn. The more you can learn, the more you can grow."
And Will said "Build your toolbox. Make yourself valuable to your company. Have a five-year plan and a ten-year plan, and equip yourself for both."
Getting Started
For anyone considering launching an intern program or outreach event, both speakers offered the same underlying message: it starts with intention, not perfection. Start small, find a team of two to five people who share your energy, assign clear responsibilities, and build from there. The return on investment from talent, industry reputation, to personal satisfaction is worth it.
