Emily Stover DeRocco Speech

Spatial Tech Conference
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
Orlando, Florida
September 28, 2004



[Slide 1 - title slide]

Introduction

Good afternoon. First I would like to thank the Spatial Technologies Industry Association, its members and Fred Corl for providing this great opportunity to imagine for a moment the limitless possibilities that geospatial technologies hold for the U.S. economy and its people.

STIA has been a leader in bringing together the industry to to work with us on implementing the President's geospatial technology High Growth Job Training Initiative process. I am so very pleased to be here with all of you in Orlando today.

Imagine the possibilities

It seems appropriate that we are here in this place that has sparked the imagination of children and adults alike to discuss how together we can build a geospatial workforce that will transform the way we make decisions… in our businesses, in our governments and in our families.

[Slide 2 - welcome]

I brought with me a message from Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

RUN SECRETARY VIDEO

[Slide 3 - overview slide]

Before we add more detail to the Secretary's announcement, I want to touch on the opportunities and possibilities presented by the geospatial technology sector, provide an overview of ETA and our investment in preparing America's 21st century workforce, and outline the President's geospatial High Growth Job Training Initiative.

[Title 4 - Disney]

So, let's imagine the possibilities…

Walt Disney once said of EPCOT, just a stone's throw from this conference center:

- EPCOT will be an experimental prototype community of tomorrow that will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of American industry.

It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed, but will always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and systems. And EPCOT will always be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise.

Disney might very well have been talking about geospatial technologies, data and information and your companies and organizations. You are following the course that Mr. Disney set and are utilizing the American free enterprise system to develop technologies that seemed improbable just a few short years ago.

Workplaces across our nation are undergoing technology transformations, where high technologies…geospatial technologies are being integrated into daily activities.

Yet, workforce and human capital development are widely recognized by many, as a central barrier to ensuring widespread, long term use and adoption of geospatial technology.

The emerging global market for geospatial technologies is expected to grow to more than $30 billion in annual revenues over the next several years.

Spurred by the need for information gathering and improved decision making due largely to the events of September 11, 2001, the geospatial applications sector is growing with thousands of positions needed to be filled immediately.

[Slide 5 - imagine the possibilities]

Imagine the possibilities if together we can build education and training capacity to meet these workforce needs for the geospatial industry.

Imagine the possibilities of a qualified, well-trained geospatial technology workforce. [Slide 6 - imagine the possibilities]

Imagine the possibilities of creating a skilled technology workforce for the Twenty First Century.

Imagine the possibilities of inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, technologists and explorers.

Those possibilities include:

[Slide 7 - homeland security]

A safer and more secure homeland - Where our homes, schools, businesses and other key infrastructure become safer because America's 3,000,000 first responders become better equipped and better trained in the use of geospatial technologies.