Elliott Plack

Learn the software early. Most entry-level roles involve a lot of hands-on technical work, so having a strong foundation with GIS tools will set you up for success. Beyond that, I always recommend starting work in government if at all possible. My own career began with Baltimore County; it was the perfect environment to learn, experiment, and grow without the pressure of immediate billable hours or consulting deadlines. 

Government work gives you exposure to a wide range of tasks and colleagues — some make it their lifelong career, others use it as a springboard. It’s a great way to figure out your interests and strengths. Once you’ve built that foundation, you can stay for the long haul, or, like I did, move into the consulting world after a few years with a stronger skillset and clearer direction. That’s also a good stage to pursue further education; I earned my master’s degree partly while working for Baltimore County, which was far easier to balance than when I transitioned to private consulting. 

GIS brings order to complexity by showing how interconnected everything really is. In transportation, especially, you’re working within a compact footprint — say, a 200-foot-wide corridor. But inside that space, you have roadway assets, green infrastructure, utilities, safety features, and more. Each of those systems affects the others, and GIS ties them all together. 

By layering data, clients can see relationships they might otherwise miss. That means they can identify risks earlier, plan more efficiently, and make decisions that balance competing priorities. Whether it’s optimizing maintenance, improving safety, or managing environmental impacts, GIS makes those trade-offs visible so leaders can act with confidence. 

I’m especially proud of leading the modernization of Maryland SHA’s Adopt-A-Highway program. It’s been a long road to bring it from concept to launch, but today, it’s live, growing, and making a real impact. We’ve presented the system at multiple conferences, and more than 250 other departments have adopted highway segments across the state. 

The project is also a great case study in how the full Esri® ecosystem can come together. It leverages ArcGIS Hub for the public portal, ArcGIS Survey123 for sign-ups and applications, ArcGIS Dashboards for program oversight, ArcGIS Experience Builder to tie everything together, and ArcGIS Roads and Highways as the backbone for linear referencing and integration with SHA’s enterprise roadway network.

What started as a paper-heavy, hard-to-manage process is now an efficient, digital program that’s easier for volunteers, field staff, and leadership. Seeing it gain traction, deliver measurable outcomes, and receive recognition beyond Maryland makes the hard work worth it. 

I served in the U.S. Army Reserve and deployed to Iraq in 2010–2011 with the 220th Transportation Company as a specialist. My unit’s mission was heavy equipment transport and convoy support during the transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn. Over nine months in theater, I logged more than 22,000 convoy miles across northern Iraq, supporting the drawdown by hauling equipment between bases like Speicher, Balad, and Kirkuk. 

While I never fired my weapon in combat, I experienced convoys that were struck by IEDs and engaged by small arms fire, and I saw firsthand the importance of teamwork and preparation under stress. I also served as the unit’s public affairs representative, publishing articles and documenting our operations with thousands of photos. For my service, I was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and several campaign and service medals. 

That experience shaped my perspective on leadership, resilience, and problem-solving in ways that still guide me in my professional career today. 

I love gardening, especially starting plants from seed each year. It’s become a full operation in my basement each winter and spring, and by summer, our vegetable and flower gardens are thriving. It’s both relaxing and rewarding, and it’s been fun to share with my family and neighbors. 

Running is another passion of mine. Beyond distance and trail runs, I’ve gotten into “street completion,” where I track and run every road in a city or town. I’ve already finished several places at 100%, and it keeps me motivated to explore new areas one block at a time. 

I also enjoy tinkering with home automation. At this point, I have more than 150 automations and hundreds of smart devices running everything from lights and outlets to climate systems, garage doors, and security. It’s like a living lab where I can experiment with technology while making everyday life a little easier.