Joel Masselink

Geospatial Professional

Hi there! My name is Joel Masselink and I am a Geospatial Professional. I live in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, which is a fantastic place to be.

My Career

As a geographer and geospatial professional, my career has spanned different sectors:

  • Data and Software Engineering
  • Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation
  • International and Community Development

A geographer’s perspective and geospatial/GIS skillset has opened really interesting doors for me and I am thankful that I pursued studies in this field. Every geospatial professional follows a unique professional path given that GIS is not a vertical market. Its provided a rewarding career filled with challenges, opportunities, impactful focus areas, and whip-smart colleagues.

I currently work for Oasys International LLC, an IT services contractor based in Virginia. I previously worked for Creative Associates International, Vulcan, and for Wildlife Conservation Society, among others.

I have worked as an independent consultant with my “DBA” as Rock Creek Maps and previously as an LLC registered in Washington state.

Check out my resume for more details about my career.

I enjoy working with open source software tools and am constantly honing my data analysis, visualization, and engineering skills using Python, SQL, and JavaScript.

Current toolbox
  • QGIS
  • Visual Studio Code
  • Python & Jupyter
  • PostgreSQL/PostGIS
  • DBeaver
  • Docker & GitHub

Volunteering

I am on the Conference Committee for the Society for Conservation GIS. We organize a banging conference every year. In 2025, it’ll again be hosted at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

In my spare time, I am a volunteer board member and treasurer with Tusubira, a nonprofit organization which supports secondary education and vocational training in eastern Uganda’s Kamuli District. My role includes bookkeeping, fundraising, and coordinating with our Uganda-based partners.

I am also active in my church where I serve as an elder and member of session.

Occasionally, I contribute my geographic knowledge to Humanitarian OpenStreetMap projects.

Outside of work

I try to keep active - conjuring up intricate road trips, exercising, and reading. I like to hike, boulder (verb?), occasional running, watch birds, and watch sports. I love getting out in nature, which I don’t do nearly often enough. I also enjoy hanging around with my lovely wife, Carol, my daughter, and my old friends.