Hi, my name is Megan! I am a Senior GIS Analyst at Cloudpoint, working remotely from Chicago, Illinois. My work days are filled with maps, spatial analysis, client collaboration, and plenty of coffee! Here’s a look at my typical workday.
Morning Routine: Emails and Coffee
My day kicks off at 8 AM with coffee #1 and my inbox. Some mornings, I breeze through emails in 5-10 minutes, while other days require an hour to carefully respond to client inquiries, coordinate with my team, and review project updates.
Client Meetings and Project Reviews
Today, I had a monthly check-in with a client, so I spent some time preparing beforehand, I reviewed the ArcGIS Online maps and apps I’ve been working on over the past month, ensuring they were ready for discussion. This month’s highlight was a public-facing ArcGIS Online app designed to help residents find important community information, such as their trash collection day, school district, and voting precinct based on their address. The meeting provided a great opportunity to showcase progress and gather feedback.
Deep Work: Enhancing an ArcGIS Online App
After the meeting, I grabbed coffee cup #2 and dove into focused work. I incorporated client feedback into the ArcGIS Online app, adding a new data layer, adjusting the language for clarity, and refining the app’s appearance to improve usability. This kind of detailed work requires uninterrupted time and is one of my favorite parts of my job.
Midday Walk Around Chicago
If the weather cooperates, my husband (who also works remotely) and I take a midday walk together. Living in Chicago offers great options for a quick reset - sometimes we head to Lake Michigan, stroll past Wrigley Field, or just wander our neighborhood on the lookout for cute dogs. It’s a refreshing break before diving back into work.
Afternoon Tasks: Emailing, Scheduling, and Training Prep
Post-lunch, I tackle any new emails that have come in. Today, this took a bit longer since I needed to coordinate and schedule multiple fieldwork events, ensuring they aligned with client availability.
With the remaining time in my day, I shifted gears to prepare for an upcoming client training session on ArcGIS Pro. I developed a PowerPoint presentation and created hands-on exercises to help participants get comfortable with the software. I get a lot of satisfaction out of helping clients build their GIS skills and get the most out of their data.
Logging off and Wrapping Up the Day
At 5 PM, I shut down my laptop and transitioned into my evening routine. Today, that meant heading to the kitchen to start prepping dinner.
Every day in GIS is different, but that’s what makes it exciting. Whether I’m problem-solving in ArcGIS Online, prepping for a client meeting, or developing a training session, I love the variety and impact of my work at Cloudpoint.