Keith Andre Searles is a civil engineer, IT consultant, GIS evangelist, world traveler, public speaker, content creator, poet, and CEO/founder of Urban GIS, an infrastructure focused GIS consulting firm.As a longstanding and successful member of the GIS, civil engineering, and small business communities, he serves as a pioneer in developing innovative geospatial solutions and approaches to managing and designing public and private infrastructure. Recently, he has concurrently leveraged all three of his lifelong career aspects by advocating for more diversity, equity, and inclusion within the geospatial industry.He recently founded a 501c3 nonprofit called EDGE (Ethnically Diverse Geospatial Engagement), with the primary purpose of building a network of involved geospatial professionals and enthusiasts.  The EDGE network is open to all, no matter one's ethnic background or socio-economic standing. The only criteria to join EDGE is genuinely embracing the collective goals of increased opportunities, exposure, education, and impact. EDGE brings forth bi-directional awareness to underrepresneted communities, and to the geospatial industry through a variety of networking platforms, collaboration opportunities, and corporate education. With your support, together we can take the mapping industry to the EDGE. Group link: https://lnkd.in/e2dymyaWebsite: https://edgegeospatial.comUrban GIS, Inc. is a consulting firm specializing in providing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services. Urban GIS is a MBE/DBE/8A company with various agencies nationally. This Chicago based organization combines unsurpassed expertise with a personable yet professional approach. The experienced professionals of Urban GIS are committed to providing comprehensive, high quality, technically oriented consulting services.