Scaling Smarter: Using GIS & Automation to Keep Pace with Rapid Growth
Presentation Outline:
As one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation, Celina, Texas, continues to experience rapid development that requires City staff to find smarter and more efficient ways to deliver services. This presentation will provide a brief overview of Celina’s growth and explore how the GIS team has leveraged automation to keep pace with increasing demands without sacrificing efficiency or service quality. Attendees will see real-world examples of projects built using Arcade, ArcGIS Solutions, Python, Power Automate, and other GIS technologies to automate workflows, streamline processes, improve data accessibility, and support departments across the organization.
About the Presenters:
Ogi Colakovic
Ogi Colakovic serves as the GIS Director for the City of Celina, Texas, with over 10 years of experience across local government and the private sector. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Florida and a Master of Science in GIS from the University of Texas at Dallas. His work focuses on leveraging GIS, automation, and emerging technologies to improve efficiency, support data-driven decision-making, and keep pace with Celina’s rapid growth.
Lisa Kasemodel
Lisa Kasemodel has dedicated 8 years to municipal service, nearly 6 of those with the City of Celina. In her role as GIS Manager, Lisa helps oversee the day-to-day operations of the GIS Department, coordinate projects and priorities, and provide guidance and support to GIS staff. She works closely with departments across the organization to identify opportunities where GIS, technology, and automation can improve processes and better support the City’s continued growth.
Gerrit van Loggerenberg
Gerrit van Loggerenberg began his professional journey as a GIS Intern with the City of Plano in 2022 and joined the City of Celina in 2023. He now serves as a Senior GIS Analyst and earned his Master of Science in GIS from UT at Dallas in 2025. He specializes in developing automated workflows and creating custom geospatial solutions tailored to the needs of municipal operations
Gordon Walcott
Gordon Walcott will be completing his second full year working in GIS as well as local government this upcoming December. He graduated in the spring of 2024 from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & GIS, joining the Celina GIS team a couple months later. He works as a GIS Analyst and alongside his normal daily/weekly/monthly tasks, specializes in developing robust scripts and ETL tools to assist in daily workflows and integrations.
REMINDER: GPN TX OFFERS 1 CREDIT HOUR
PDH CERTIFICATES FOR PARTICIPANTS WHO REGISTER AND ATTEND THE MONTHLY SPEAKER SERIES WEBINARS!
To Join:
Zoom info will be available upon registration.
In order to receive a PDH certificate each participant must register for the event. Certificates will not be issued to those who have not.
A big THANK YOU to our sponsors!
The Speaker Series would not be possible without you!
Geodetic Level Sponsors
UTM Level Sponsors
Become a 2026 Sponsor