As a second-generation Geographic Information System (GIS) professional, Tyler Reynolds is enthusiastic about her field of work as well as her career in the utility industry.  

GIS provides our operating departments with tools for mapping, data analysis, and utility management. Examples include enhancing maps with customer information, weather, rights-of-ways, and field data (like the location of a fire hydrant or transformer) as well as having the ability to better inform customers on the status of service orders or outages – just to name a few. 

Tyler is one of six employees in the GIS Data Services Group (GDS) in the IT Department. As a GIS Technician I, Tyler’s responsibilities can be broken into three categories: GIS portal, mobile applications (apps), and database management. 

The GIS Portal is GUC’s online component of the ArcGIS enterprise system that allows us to share maps, scenes, applications, and other GIS information across the entire organization. “It’s our job to work on the back end of this system to support the front end for our employees,” said Tyler. “Field employees are using our Portal and other mobile apps now more than ever, so our work is critical in supporting this real-time effort of information sharing and digital maps.” 

Separate from the GIS Portal are stand-alone mobile apps such as Explorer, Collector, Survey123, and Field Maps  that are used to collect and edit GIS data. Tyler also assists on the back end of these apps, often working closely with other IT groups. Most recently, Tyler was instrumental in developing the Hydrant and System Valve Inspection app as well as the Trouble Log app. Both apps allow field crews to report customer or GUC facility issues in real time using their iPads.  

Tyler also assists with database management. “The best example of this,” she said, “would be our redlines – where we collect changes from field employees to update our databases (and ultimately maps) to keep them matching the real world.”  

Tyler says she loves to see employees put a product that she and her team made to good use. “I enjoy making a product that helps others achieve something better,” she said. “I also really enjoy the teamwork quality of GDS. The willingness to brainstorm and work together makes our group efficient and effective.” 

As noted earlier, Tyler is a second-generation GIS professional. Her mother is a GIS professor at the University of Maryland-Frostburg, and was previously a GIS professor at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG).  

Originally from Buffalo, New York, Tyler moved with her family to Greensboro when she was in high school. She followed in her mom’s footsteps by getting her Bachelor of Arts in Geography with a concentration in Environmental Sciences from UNCG and a Master’s in Geography from East Carolina University (ECU), as well as a Geographic Information Science and Technology Certificate from ECU. Before joining GUC, Tyler was a Research Assistant at ECU for the Department of Geography, where her main focus was drone research and terrestrial laser scanning.  

Tyler lives in Winterville with her husband, Taylor, who works as a Pitt County Probation/Parole Officer and serves in the Inactive Ready Reserve after having served six years in the NC Army National Guard. They enjoy watching their nine-year-old daughter, Mason, play soccer as well as traveling and cruising. Their main travel “go-to,” especially during the past year and a half, is camping with their Jeep and roof-top tent. In her spare time, Tyler also likes to decorate, especially around the holidays. 

Favorites

TV Show: The Office
Vacation: Beach
Sports Team: Steelers
Snack: Cheeze-Its