It’s no surprise that Linda would start a business that involves the great outdoors!
Whenever someone combines their passion with their career amazing things happen!
Linda Rockwood loves the outdoors – no matter what the season – and her business enables others to enjoy year-round outside activities too.
Linda founded Mohawk Valley GIS in 2003, after her family relocated to Herkimer County for her husband’s job. Previously, she owned North Country Technology Integration in New Hampshire, working primarily with school teachers to integrate technology and particularly GPS (global position systems) and GIS (geographic information systems) into the curriculum.
Initially, she had planned to continue offering the same type of services in New York, but found more opportunities providing GIS system development, data creation and training to municipalities and designing custom print maps for organizations.
Mohawk Valley GIS has recently expanded to offer a complete suite of technology services including custom interactive online maps and mobile applications to help promote tourism and recreation, in addition to helping businesses, organizations and local governments update their websites to be mobile responsive.
Mohawk Valley GIS currently employs a full-time systems developer, a full-time GIS analyst and a programming intern, along with part-time support for sales, marketing and social media functions. The business also runs two promotional, e-commerce sites: NYSnowmobileWebmap.com and ADKtrailmap.com.
About Mohawk Valley GIS
What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
I love the variety and excitement. I love taking an idea and seeing it come together into a reality.
What has been the most satisfying moment in business so far this year?
Having a large New York City company find us on the Internet and hire us to provide all their GIS analysis and create a cloud-based service for them.
If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
Know and be true to yourself and seek help in areas where you need knowledge. You absolutely can do it if you have the passion!
About Linda Rockwood
What would constitute a perfect day for you?
Getting outside (I walk every morning year-round), having both mentally challenging and creative pursuits, and spending time with family and friends.
Given the choice of anyone in the world, who would you want as a dinner guest?
I would love to meet Jeff Bezos of Amazon.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
Besides my wonderfully supportive husband, having become partially disabled, resulting in giving up my first career. I thought I wanted to move up the corporate food chain at a Fortune 500 company but being an entrepreneur is immensely more satisfying.
Fast Five – The Fun Stuff!
What are your beverages of choice?
Water, green tea and wine – all three every day!
If you were invisible, where would you go?
Inside Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple.
If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
The Renaissance Period.
What’s your favorite food?
Chocolate, must have a small square every day!
Linda is one of the most fun, techie women I know. I’m hoping to be able to work with her on a future project – and can’t wait to tour her new office space at 114 Genesee Street in Utica, just down the street from the new ThINCubator.
Once MV GIS is fully settled in their new offices we’ll give you an update.
If you need some GIS – perhaps an online map or a mobile ap, give Linda a call at 315-624-9545.
You can download the Herkimer County phone app Linda developed on their chamber’s website.
You can also find Linda on LinkedIn.