Ben Chou

Project Manager at The Center for Geospatial Science and Technology
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Contact Information
Location
Los Angeles, California, United States, US
Languages
  • English Native or bilingual proficiency

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Experience

    • United States
    • IT Services and IT Consulting
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Project Manager
      • Jul 2021 - Present

      • Manage geospatial projects focused on various topics (e.g., demographic and socioeconomic analysis, environmental quality, local government operations, disadvantaged/vulnerable communities, wildfire resilience) for industry, government, and academic clients • Manage and provide technical guidance to staff on the use of ArcGIS products (e.g., Pro, Online, Field Maps, Survey123, Dashboard, Hub, StoryMaps) for geospatial visualization and analysis • Develop grant and contract proposals and… Show more • Manage geospatial projects focused on various topics (e.g., demographic and socioeconomic analysis, environmental quality, local government operations, disadvantaged/vulnerable communities, wildfire resilience) for industry, government, and academic clients • Manage and provide technical guidance to staff on the use of ArcGIS products (e.g., Pro, Online, Field Maps, Survey123, Dashboard, Hub, StoryMaps) for geospatial visualization and analysis • Develop grant and contract proposals and budgets • Develop task timelines and track expenditures to ensure timely and cost-effective completion of deliverables for projects valued in excess of $500,000 • Plan, coordinate, and lead internal project team meetings and external client meetings • Respond to client communications and requests in a timely and professional manner • Present project deliverables to internal and external audiences at conferences, community events, and virtual meetings Show less • Manage geospatial projects focused on various topics (e.g., demographic and socioeconomic analysis, environmental quality, local government operations, disadvantaged/vulnerable communities, wildfire resilience) for industry, government, and academic clients • Manage and provide technical guidance to staff on the use of ArcGIS products (e.g., Pro, Online, Field Maps, Survey123, Dashboard, Hub, StoryMaps) for geospatial visualization and analysis • Develop grant and contract proposals and… Show more • Manage geospatial projects focused on various topics (e.g., demographic and socioeconomic analysis, environmental quality, local government operations, disadvantaged/vulnerable communities, wildfire resilience) for industry, government, and academic clients • Manage and provide technical guidance to staff on the use of ArcGIS products (e.g., Pro, Online, Field Maps, Survey123, Dashboard, Hub, StoryMaps) for geospatial visualization and analysis • Develop grant and contract proposals and budgets • Develop task timelines and track expenditures to ensure timely and cost-effective completion of deliverables for projects valued in excess of $500,000 • Plan, coordinate, and lead internal project team meetings and external client meetings • Respond to client communications and requests in a timely and professional manner • Present project deliverables to internal and external audiences at conferences, community events, and virtual meetings Show less

    • United States
    • Entertainment Providers
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Specialist, Global Security Communications Center
      • Dec 2019 - Jul 2021

      • As part of a Global Security Operations Center (GSOC), used open source intelligence (OSINT) to maintain situational awareness of events that may affect company personnel, business operations, and infrastructure • Triaged security incidents and escalated to senior and executive management and other partners when necessary • Communicated tactical and operational risks to internal partners across business segments in support of the GSCC Travel Safety program • Conducted research to… Show more • As part of a Global Security Operations Center (GSOC), used open source intelligence (OSINT) to maintain situational awareness of events that may affect company personnel, business operations, and infrastructure • Triaged security incidents and escalated to senior and executive management and other partners when necessary • Communicated tactical and operational risks to internal partners across business segments in support of the GSCC Travel Safety program • Conducted research to identify concerning and/or threatening posts on various social media platforms • Responded to inquiries from internal security partners and other employees in a timely and professional manner • As mapping program lead, helped manage interns/contractors and more than 1,200 permanent and temporary assets in third-party mapping and incident alerting platforms (e.g., ArcGIS, Anvil, Dataminr)

    • Graduate Associate, Global Security Communications Center
      • Aug 2019 - Dec 2019

      • Created, updated, and maintained GIS data on worldwide assets using ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Online • Developed Python script using Pandas library to automate monthly data updates for temporary assets • Developed thematic maps for internal partners • Supported use of third-party software platforms for threat and risk assessment, real-time incident alerting, and social media research

    • United States
    • Government Administration
    • 300 - 400 Employee
    • GIS Intern, Technology Services Division
      • Mar 2019 - Aug 2019

      • Created reference and thematic maps using ArcGIS Pro/ArcMap for various City departments • Edited and updated GIS datasets • Collected field data using a Trimble GPS device and processed data to support fiber optic infrastructure installation • Created reference and thematic maps using ArcGIS Pro/ArcMap for various City departments • Edited and updated GIS datasets • Collected field data using a Trimble GPS device and processed data to support fiber optic infrastructure installation

    • United States
    • Government Administration
    • 400 - 500 Employee
    • GIS Intern, Information Technology Department
      • May 2018 - Feb 2019

      • Automated updates of production tables used in GIS software applications using Python • Collected field data using Collector for ArcGIS; synced, reconciled, and posted edits to enterprise geodatabase • Created vector feature layers from hard copy data and published to ArcGIS Server • Verified accuracy of digital datasets (e.g., addresses) • Georeferenced historical aerial imagery and created mosaic dataset • Created thematic maps per customer requests • Maintained hardware… Show more • Automated updates of production tables used in GIS software applications using Python • Collected field data using Collector for ArcGIS; synced, reconciled, and posted edits to enterprise geodatabase • Created vector feature layers from hard copy data and published to ArcGIS Server • Verified accuracy of digital datasets (e.g., addresses) • Georeferenced historical aerial imagery and created mosaic dataset • Created thematic maps per customer requests • Maintained hardware and installed software Show less • Automated updates of production tables used in GIS software applications using Python • Collected field data using Collector for ArcGIS; synced, reconciled, and posted edits to enterprise geodatabase • Created vector feature layers from hard copy data and published to ArcGIS Server • Verified accuracy of digital datasets (e.g., addresses) • Georeferenced historical aerial imagery and created mosaic dataset • Created thematic maps per customer requests • Maintained hardware… Show more • Automated updates of production tables used in GIS software applications using Python • Collected field data using Collector for ArcGIS; synced, reconciled, and posted edits to enterprise geodatabase • Created vector feature layers from hard copy data and published to ArcGIS Server • Verified accuracy of digital datasets (e.g., addresses) • Georeferenced historical aerial imagery and created mosaic dataset • Created thematic maps per customer requests • Maintained hardware and installed software Show less

    • China
    • Renewable Energy Semiconductor Manufacturing
    • Policy Analyst, Water Program
      • Feb 2011 - Sep 2017

      • Advocated for improvements to California's agricultural water management planning process • Supported efforts to promote soil health management practices through the Federal Crop Insurance Program • Managed project to save water and energy through replacement of inefficient appliances in California and the Great Lakes by collaborating with utilities, regulatory agencies (e.g., California Energy Commission), and other stakeholders • Coordinated NRDC's engagement in the California… Show more • Advocated for improvements to California's agricultural water management planning process • Supported efforts to promote soil health management practices through the Federal Crop Insurance Program • Managed project to save water and energy through replacement of inefficient appliances in California and the Great Lakes by collaborating with utilities, regulatory agencies (e.g., California Energy Commission), and other stakeholders • Coordinated NRDC's engagement in the California Public Utilities Commission's water-energy nexus proceeding (R. 13-12-011) by participating in workshops, reviewing rulings and party comments, and drafting comments • Developed outreach materials (e.g., blog posts, issue papers, web content) to effectively communicate policy solutions • Presented policy research at national and state conferences and through webinars • Managed external project consultants and interns Show less • Advocated for improvements to California's agricultural water management planning process • Supported efforts to promote soil health management practices through the Federal Crop Insurance Program • Managed project to save water and energy through replacement of inefficient appliances in California and the Great Lakes by collaborating with utilities, regulatory agencies (e.g., California Energy Commission), and other stakeholders • Coordinated NRDC's engagement in the California… Show more • Advocated for improvements to California's agricultural water management planning process • Supported efforts to promote soil health management practices through the Federal Crop Insurance Program • Managed project to save water and energy through replacement of inefficient appliances in California and the Great Lakes by collaborating with utilities, regulatory agencies (e.g., California Energy Commission), and other stakeholders • Coordinated NRDC's engagement in the California Public Utilities Commission's water-energy nexus proceeding (R. 13-12-011) by participating in workshops, reviewing rulings and party comments, and drafting comments • Developed outreach materials (e.g., blog posts, issue papers, web content) to effectively communicate policy solutions • Presented policy research at national and state conferences and through webinars • Managed external project consultants and interns Show less

    • United States
    • Environmental Services
    • 400 - 500 Employee
    • Drinking Water Programs Unit Manager
      • Jan 2010 - Feb 2011

      • Managed a unit of 7 employees that included the public water system capacity development, monitoring assistance, and operator certification programs, which provide services to 6,000 certified operators and 900 public water systems that serve nearly 1 million people • Ensured efficient and responsible use of $1 million in federal and state funds annually • Regularly communicated with senior-level agency management, public water system personnel, third-party consultants, and contractors

    • Drinking Water Rules Specialist
      • Dec 2007 - Jan 2010

      • Provided guidance for public water systems on compliance with inorganic and organic contaminants and lead and copper regulations under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act • Developed outreach publications and tools to inform water system stakeholders of regulatory requirements • Communicated with federal and state officials regarding public water system compliance with drinking water regulations

Education

  • Penn State University
    Master of Geographic Information Systems (MGIS)
  • Penn State University
    Graduate Certificate, Geospatial Programming and Web Map Development
  • Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
    Master of Arts (M.A.), Climate and Society
  • University of South Carolina-Columbia
    Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Geography
  • South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
    Academic Honors High School Diploma

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