Welp folks, it’s the Sunday after the conference and ya boy is recuperating. My goodness y’all, what a week it was. I so hope y’all enjoyed it as much as I did! It’s true I was burning the candle on both ends as some of you could attest, but no matter, it was worth it to maximize the time spent and take in as much as possible. No regrets, y’all! As per custom, the end of the annual conference signifies the conclusion of my term as president. Obviously TAGITM has an amazing Board of Directors, Executive Board, and management team as evidenced by all the magic that came to fruition this past year. TAGITM is clearly in excellent hands moving forward, and no doubt my great friend James O’Brien will make an outstanding president taking this incredible org to new heights. TAGITM’s future is indeed bright y’all, and I’m all about it.

Let’s get a little mushy, y’all. Before I do just know regardless of what spills out of me, I’m still a BA (lol). Ok, in all seriousness I am so grateful for the entire experience. WHAT AN HONOR it was to serve as your president this past year. I literally do not have the words to properly put into context how meaningful it was. Anyone that knows me is aware I’m overtly bullish on all things Texas, and that manifests in many ways when it comes to my life. Y’all can ask GMIS about that, I gave them hell as we were working towards our partnership even though I grew to be a fan (love ya Brenda!). I’m certainly glad we established that partnership. I got at least one friend out of it, and don’t tell anyone but the successful vendor speed dating and trivia night we did last week was taken straight from their playbook (ssshhhhhh!!!!!).

By James O’Brien

Standing here today as the incoming President of TAGITM is truly one of the greatest honors of my professional career. I am humbled and deeply grateful for the trust you've placed in me to help lead this extraordinary organization into its next chapter.

TAGITM has been a constant source of support, inspiration, and connection for me over the years. Like many of you, I once worked in a small IT shop, juggling priorities, wearing too many hats, and often feeling isolated. It was during that time I found TAGITM—or maybe more accurately, TAGITM found me. And it changed everything. When I joined TAGITM, I was the network admin in a 2 person IT shop supporting a city around 48,000 people, with 450 users including 24/7 operations for police, fire, EMS and emergency management. I did not have time to solve the problems, just managed to keep our head above water. With the immediate welcoming of me into the family, I knew I had found my home. TAGITM was my lifesaver and that is why it has been so important to me to be involved and give back. I challenge you to find your why and get involved.

By James O’Brien

Another unforgettable TAGITM conference is in the books, and we’re still riding high from the energy, collaboration, and innovation that filled the air in San Antonio! From tech trends, deep-dive technical sessions to unforgettable networking moments, TAGITM 2025 delivered something for everyone.

This year’s GIS track brought new insights and cutting-edge applications to the forefront, showcasing how data visualization is driving smarter decisions across Texas communities. The efforts of bringing GIS to the forefront also put TAGITM in a place to be awarded the SCAUG Founder’s award. We are making big moves forward due to the collective efforts of all those involved, and I thank you for that. Let’s not forget about the first GIS regional event held this year and how remarkable the event was for the GIS community. If you are in GIS, I extend the offer to join the GIS listserv to connect further. I challenge you to get involved and serve in the TAGITM community.

By Angela Wright

And that’s a wrap! I’m not sure about you all, but for me the conference flew by. I am thrilled to share that the Education Committee is honored to have heard such good feedback on the session selections. We were fortunate to have such a fantastic selection of sessions covering new topics this year such as IoT and the new AI track. Thank you to all of our speakers. You all did an outstanding job. Your input is invaluable to us, so please start thinking about what you want to submit for next year!  Also, please, please let us know what you liked or didn’t like. We carefully consider all feedback while planning future events to ensure they meet your expectations. I am honored to have served this year as the chair of the Education Committee for what I believe is the best committee in TAGITM. Feel free to reach out anytime with your thoughts or suggestions. Get some rest, rehydrate, and keep doing what you do. We’ll see you next year!

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By Fay Young

I’m excited to share that on March 17, 2025, I had the incredible opportunity to speak at the International Maxwell Conference (IMC), a prestigious John Maxwell event that brings together leaders from around the world to learn, grow, and connect.

As part of the six-month Stage Time competition, I was selected to speak and share my experiences with a global audience of over two thousand people. Held in Orlando, FL, the IMC focuses on empowering individuals to become better leaders and communicators.

Speaking from the same stage as John Maxwell was a significant moment for me, and I’m proud to have had the chance to participate in such an influential event. It served as a reminder of the importance of continuously growing, learning, and embracing opportunities to step outside of our comfort zones.

I’m truly grateful for this experience and excited to see where it will take me on my journey.