“I have confidence in my skills, and I can thank CCSU for that!”

Meet Edward Alibozek!
GIS Certificate Graduate

Edward Alibozek is the Chief Operator for the Town of East Windsor Water Pollution Control Authority, where he has been an asset to the town of East Windsor for over 25 years. He attended and completed the Continuing Education Department’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate Program from October 2013 through May 2014 at Central Connecticut State University, and believes the program helped him with his work immensely. Mr. Alibozek joined the GIS program to stay active and avoid “getting rusty,” learn multiple usable functions to improve his skills, and to learn to be prepared in the occasional situations he would not normally work in. The GIS program helps students learn to analyze and visualize data to answer questions and solve spatial problems.

Mr. Alibozek attended four GIS courses during his time at CCSU. The first was “Basic Principles of GIS.” The class allowed him to learn rudimentary geography such as direction, coordinate systems, spatial relationships, and geographic thought. The course served as an introduction to GIS. Mr. Alibozek left the class with the ability to navigate basic software tools and create GIS data. The second class he attended was “Practical Applications of GIS“. The course allowed him to use applications of GIS in the real world using geoprocessing tools. An introduction to the geodatabase data structure, the class equipped Mr. Alibozek with basic skills in geoprocessing, geocoding, georeferencing, and an ability to create a geodatabase and associated data structures. The third course Mr. Alibozek took was “Advanced Applications of GIS,” which taught more intricate uses of GIS in the real world; such as crime analysis, geostatistical analysis, and spatial analysis. The course entailed a personal GIS project that incorporates database design and GIS analysis of the student’s choosing. The fourth and final class Mr. Albiozek attended was “Web Applications of GIS, GPS, Remote Sensing, and GIS Integration.” The course left him with the ability to create basic web GIS applications and gave him exposure to using internet GIS data sources.

Due to his experience in GIS, Mr. Alibozek was able to use his newly acquired skills at work. The program enabled him to use GIS at work several times a week when working on quick and accurate blue-prints or video collection system for developers. Mr. Alibozek believes that “having it all at the touch of a keyboard, in GIS, really improves our performance, and our ability to work well with other departments and potential development projects.” Because of his understanding of GIS, Mr. Alibozek has helped the Town of East Windsor’s Water Pollution Control Authority on multiple projects, including: East Windsor’s Voting Redistricting Map of the 57th and 59th precincts, numerous map projects during the North Road USDA Projects, supplied maps to the Conservation Commission for the Four-Town Fair when East Windsor was the host town in 2013, managed the upgrade of all WPCA paper maps scanned to digitized versions and implemented them into a geodatabase, and is currently updating all WPCA Collection System (manholes, sewer lines, and lateral connections) with hyperlinked video while field checking with Trimble GPS with ArcPad installed. Mr. Alibozek believes that “constant learning is the minimum requirement for success at a position.” He was interested in doing something that would allow him to be a better and more valuable employee, and believes the CCSU GIS program provided that.

Mr. Alibozek recommends the program to anyone interested in GIS. He appreciated the small class size, where students were able to interact constantly with the instructors and each other. Mr. Alibozek claimed that the courses were “enjoyable and fun,” and misses getting together twice a week with his classmates and instructors. He continues to use GIS as much as possible, and often comes across a problem that he can relate back to the program. He believes that not being overwhelmed or intimidated is a position of strength when it comes to GIS. He has aligned himself toward working on several GIS projects, forestry related. In addition to his work as a student and employee, Edward Alibozek lives at home with his wife Donnalee and their dog Tippi. He considers himself a lifelong learner, and lives by the phrase by Mahatma Gandhi, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

If you are interested or want to learn more about the GIS Hybrid Certificate program at CCSU, please contact Christa Sterling at CSterling@ccsu.edu or 860-832-2277.