MAPPS, the only national association of private geospatial firms, will kick-off a new Washington Policy Forum on December 8 with a luncheon featuring Col. Brian Cullis, USAF, Special Assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary for Installations and Environment for Geospatial Information Policy and Executive Manager of the Defense Installation Spatial Data Infrastructure.

MAPPS (www.mapps.org), the only national association of private geospatial firms, will kick-off a new Washington Policy Forum on December 8 with a luncheon featuring Col. Brian Cullis, USAF, Special Assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary for Installations and Environment for Geospatial Information Policy and Executive Manager of the Defense Installation Spatial Data Infrastructure.

The new MAPPS Washington Policy Forum is designed to bring together MAPPS member firm personnel from Washington offices for marketing and business development; those engaged government relations; firms based in or with offices in the Washington, DC area; lobbyists and others consultants of MAPPS member firms in Washington, DC; and MAPPS member firm principals and senior executives who are otherwise in the Nation's Capital on other business.

The Forum provides another of MAPPS recognized networking opportunities, as well as an opportunity to hear and meet a major policy figure, and create more coordination of MAPPS member firms lobbying activities.

The kick-off Forum will be a luncheon at 12:00 noon on Thursday, December 8 at the City Club at Franklin Square, 1300 I St NW Washington, DC (McPherson Square Metro Station (Blue and Orange Lines).

Col. Cullis will discuss "Geo-Enabling the DoD Business Enterprise". The briefing will highlight the new attention being given to the role of geospatial information resources and spatial technologies in achieving the goals of the Business Modernization Management Program for the Department of Defense. Specific emphasis will be given to describing the role and structure of the Defense Installation Spatial Data Infrastructure in geo-enabling key defense business processes.

"Many more MAPPS member firms are involved in Federal markets, as well as in state and local projects that include Federal funds. We have more members with offices in Washington, consultants and lobbyists in Washington, and frequent trips to Washington either to meet with Federal agencies or with Congressional representatives, and the Washington Policy Forum provides an opportunity to get our members more involved in MAPPS activities in Washington, DC and engage with major policy figures," said MAPPS Executive Director John Palatiello. He said future speakers will include members of Congress, and high level political and government agency officials.

Palatiello said the advantages of such the Washington Policy Forum include additional benefits to membership in MAPPS, increased visibility for MAPPS among policy figures, enhanced coordination of policy activities of MAPPS member firms so that the private geospatial community speaks with a more unified voice, additional networking opportunity for member firms, and more MAPPS member firm involvement in the MAPPS legislative and policy activities. "This Forum will give MAPPS an even greater presence in Washington, DC," Palatiello said. The Forum is an initiative of MAPPS President Kurt Allen, first announced when he took office at the MAPPS Annual Conference in July.

The Forum is for MAPPS member firms only and seating is limited. MAPPS is the only U.S. trade and professional association of private geospatial firms. Former in 1982, MAPPS has more than 150 private sector firms from all aspects of the geospatial profession. Its member firms are in the mapping, spatial data and geographic information systems field engaged in mapping, photogrammetry, satellite and airborne remote sensing, aerial photography, hydrography, aerial and satellite image processing, GPS and GIS data collection, integration and conversion services. For information, including membership application and registration for the December 8 luncheon, visit the association's website at www.mapps.org.

Source: MAPPS, November 17, 2005