Tanya Stephens Profile

Degree: B.Sc
Major: Geographic Information Systems and Earth Science
Year Of Graduation: 2001

Tanya Stephens is the Engineering Technologist for the City of Niagara Falls.

“I create, maintain, analyze and implement solutions to complex technical problems related to spatial databases, applications, infrastructure system models, asset management models and budgeting analysis,” says Tanya, who also has a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) post-grad degree from Niagara College.

“I am able to practice GIS using analysis within public works and engineering rather than within an IT environment. Government jobs also have great benefits as well as being secure. Challenges include learning corporate policy and some engineering type analysis since I do not have a degree in Engineering.”

Above all, Tanya says you have to have good time management, project management, leadership, and presentation skills to succeed in her line of work. It is also important to be a problem solver and have an ability to work independently and as part of a team.

She found that networking was the best strategy in finding work.

“I got involved in conferences and memberships to meet people in the field. Never rule out your professors. They are well known in the field and have colleagues that have
hiring capabilities. Resume submission mostly occurred over the internet using a long list of employment websites,” she says.

“I was a good student and graduated within the top five of my postgraduate class. I was referred to my boss by two of my instructors.”

Tanya worked as a GIS technician for four months for a private consulting firm before being hired on with the City of Niagara Falls. She is currently in the process of getting certified as an OACETT Certified Engineering Technologist and is a member of URISA, a non-profit organization with a focus on education in spatial related information systems.

If she could do anything differently, she would have combined GIS with a major more closely related to it, such as Environmental Science or Computer Science.

“Work hard and be creative and innovative. GIS is a fairly new field so it allows you to come up with new ideas for applications and uses. Also keep up to date with your research,” she says.