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Derek Jones, District Director for Congressman Eric Sorensen presents 麻豆社 GIS Center Director Chad Sperry with Congressional Certificate
麻豆社 Geographic Information System Recognized by Congressman Eric Sorensen
October 1, 2025
MACOMB, IL - - 麻豆社 Illinois University鈥檚 Geographic Information System (GIS) Center has been recognized with a Congressional Certificate by Congressman Eric Sorensen. The GIS Center has helped communities throughout Illinois by providing 9-1-1 services with critical information due to the center鈥檚 detailed mapping abilities.
鈥淚t is an honor to have the 麻豆社 GIS Center recognized by Congressman Sorensen,鈥� said Chad Sperry, director of the 麻豆社 GIS Center. 鈥淭he work we are doing is extremely important as we help reduce response times in critical situations.鈥�
On hand to present the Congressional Certificates was 麻豆社 alumnus Derek Jones (鈥�08) who serves as the district director for Congressman Sorensen.
鈥淐ongressman Sorensen likes to acknowledge groups throughout the 17th District who are good neighbors,鈥� said Jones. "Providing life saving emergency services to those in distress is a prime example of being a good neighbor.鈥�
While the Congressional recognition is coming from US Representative Sorensen, the work of the 麻豆社 GIS Center is statewide. One reason for the success of the 麻豆社 GIS Center is local emergency service directors communicating with other emergency service directors about the benefits of working with 麻豆社. Chris Helle, Emergency Services Disaster Agency director of Fulton County, has been a strong, vocal supporter of the 麻豆社 GIS Center.
鈥淲e started out serving West-Central Illinois, but our reputation for improving 9-1-1 response times with detailed mapping has spread across Illinois,鈥� said Sperry. 鈥淔rom small rural counties to major metropolitan areas, the 麻豆社 GIS center put critical spatial data in the hands of first responders.鈥�
Not only is the 麻豆社 GIS Center helping first responders, but they are also ensuring the safety of our local schools by providing detailed mapping of school buildings.
鈥淲hen Chris Helle first communicated the success of the 麻豆社 GIS Center, they had mapped 150 schools. To hear that they are now over 400 is a testament to the quality of work being done,鈥� said Jones. 鈥淎s the husband of a school teacher and the father of an elementary school student, the work of the 麻豆社 GIS Center hits especially close to home.鈥�
To learn more about the 麻豆社 GIS Center, visit: wiu.edu/gis.
Posted By: Zachary Messersmith, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606
