Lauren Peckman

Lauren Peckman started with T-Kartor in 2019 as a GIS Developer, taking our team to new levels. She began her journey in the geospatial field in 2008 as a Geospatial Analyst for GeoEye. After leaving, Lauren left the industry to focus on academia and nonprofit work. She eventually began to miss the work and connected with us in 2019; she has been with us ever since.

Lauren was well-versed in Java and Python before starting at T-Kartor, and during her tenure, she has added C# to her tool belt.

One of her favorite parts about working with us is the continual professional development opportunities provided to her (she recently attended a GIS seminar at Saint Louis University).

Lauren finds excellent joy when something she's created or updated makes one of the analysts' jobs easier. Her role entails learning what editions to an analyst's toolset will help them complete tasks efficiently, and Lauren feels a deep sense of satisfaction when she can help her team succeed.

Lauren cites her time with LaunchCode to transition from an analyst to a developer. This vocational training program focuses on preparing its students for careers in tech and software. The program helped align her past and current experiences, leading to a smooth transition to her T-Kartor role. 

Lauren has enjoyed the welcoming and friendly atmosphere fostered at our organization. She feels that Simon (Bailey), Ron (Cantwell), and Mercedes (Fernandez) set a positive tone for the rest of the group. She is especially thankful for the mentorship of her team manager, Anthony Stevens. 

Recently, T-Kartor’s U.S. Headquarters hosted a summer gathering in Edwardsville, IL; Lauren noted that while she hadn't seen some team members in person in some time, there were no awkward or unpleasant moments - everyone had an incredible time of collaboration and comradery.

This trend isn't unique to our team: Lauren has always enjoyed this culture prevalent in the geospatial field. She has found that those in it are curious by nature, always striving to learn and make our world more accessible in meaningful ways. 

Lauren is eager to see the industry's changes in the coming years, especially in how the U.S. will continue to undertake long-haul infrastructure projects and how the country will respond to the compounding effects of climate change. 

Many people may think that the world is already mapped, but Lauren asserts that the maps are constantly changing as we learn new information, which is why possessing a sense of discovery is vital. 

Lauren would advise anyone looking to start in geospatial to find those with more experience, build rapport, and seek mentorship opportunities. She also emphasizes the importance of steady, continuous learning opportunities – each year, you should be able to look back and identify what you've learned.

After Lauren logs off for the day, you will probably find her dancing; she instructs social and folk dancing at weekend festivals nationwide!