Founding & History

2023

The National Geospatial Collaborative (NGC) was established through the visionary efforts of the 2023 National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) Board, whose foresight, commitment, and ongoing support remain integral to NGC’s mission and impact.

In May 2023, the NSGIC Board of Directors embarked on a significant endeavor by initiating the formation of NGC with the mission to advance the understanding, use, and integration of geographic information systems (GIS) and associated emerging technologies by supporting geospatial professionals, organizations, and initiatives through collaborative research, education, knowledge-sharing, and strategic partnerships.  

The inception of NGC was marked by the appointment of the Founding NGC Board meticulously curated to ensure representation from diverse sectors and expertise, comprising of Tim Johnson, the North Carolina GIO; Sheila Steffenson, CEO of 1Spatial; Jenna Leveille, Past-President of NSGIC. In its inaugural year, the Founding Board of NGC played a pivotal role in shaping NGC’s mission, establishing governance structures, and laying the groundwork for future growth and success.   

2024

2024 was a year of firsts and significant growth for the National Geospatial Collaborative (NGC), particularly in the organization’s

foundational elements. In January 2024, Jonathan Duran assumed the pivotal role of NGC Board President, and nominations from the NSGIC community led to the appointment of additional directors, including Bill Johnson, Retired (2-year term, 2024-2025), Eric Kolb, Google Maps (2-year term, 2024-2025), Jenna Leveille, Sanborn (2-year term, 2024-2025) and Frank Winters, Retired (1-year term, 2024) , joining the Founding Board, Tim Johnson, NC (2-year term, 2023-2024),  and Sheila Steffenson, 1Spatial, (2-year term, 2023-2024), to complete NGC's full seven-member board. The appointed directors represented a combined 233 years of professional experience in the geospatial industry and brought a wealth of personal knowledge and insights to the organization. During the first board meeting of 2024, the board appointed Jenna Leveille as Vice Chair, Dan Ross (Retired) as Treasurer, and Susan Miller (GA) as Secretary.

In August 2024, NGC successfully received its IRS 501(c)(3) tax exemption status. This milestone was an important step in solidifying the nonprofit's

standing and eligibility for tax-exempt benefits. Notably, the exemption was granted with retroactive effect to June 4, 2023, which corresponds to the NGC State of Texas filing.