Kansas Association of Mappers

2026 Keynote Speaker

Brandi Rank, PMP

Principal Product Engineer, ESRI

The Evolution: Redefining the GIS Professional

The GIS profession has changed dramatically over the last two decades—and so has the opportunity for those who work within it. Brandi Rank, PMP, shares personal stories and lessons learned from her journey through local government, challenging attendees to rethink what it means to be a GIS professional today.

As GIS technology becomes easier to use and more widely adopted, technical expertise alone is no longer enough. Success increasingly depends on skills that cannot be automated: communication, relationship building, process improvement, project leadership, and the ability to translate between data, systems, and business needs. Through real-world examples, Brandi explores how GIS professionals can evolve their identity, increase the visibility of their work, and expand their influence across their organizations.

Attendees will learn how to move beyond the traditional “map maker” label, communicate the value of their work in terms of business outcomes, build stronger partnerships, and create greater organizational impact. This session is both a call to action and a roadmap for GIS professionals who want to grow their careers, strengthen their programs, and remain indispensable in an era of rapid technological change and artificial intelligence.

Join this inspiring opening keynote and discover why the future of GIS belongs not just to those who master technology, but to those who master people, process, and purposeful leadership.

Brandi Rank, PMP, is a dynamic geospatial technology leader with over two decades of experience designing and delivering mission-critical GIS solutions that align tightly with business objectives. As Principal Product Engineer at Esri, she crafts innovative stormwater and utility network capabilities—ensuring organizations extract tangible ROI from location intelligence and drive strategic enterprise impact.

Brandi’s career spans roles in consulting and over 20 years in public sector leadership—serving as Senior Consultant at POWER Engineers, GIS Manager for the City of Thornton, and Business Solutions Manager for Adams County. Across these roles, she has harnessed geospatial technology to re-engineer permitting systems, improve data integrity, and accelerate process timelines from over 30 days to under 10—boosting operational efficiency and transparency with measurable success.

A certified Project Management Professional, and Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Brandi expertly weaves proactive storytelling with data-driven insights. Her work shows how organizations can frame GIS not as a technical function, but as a strategic asset that unlocks cost savings, mitigates risk, and champions change.