Career Path Of A Program Coordinator At ECOSLO
Grant's career path, beginning with environmental management studies at Cal Poly, involved GIS work with Cal Fire, community organizing for the Carrizo Plain's monument status ("drove around the county and interacted with community members"), and currently, a Program Coordinator role at ECOSLO, where their work blends GIS, community events ("a lot of the tree plantings"), and internal mapping, showcasing diverse experiences within SLO County's environmental sector. The career progression demonstrates a transition from technical skills to community engagement and advocacy.
Environmental Management, GIS, Community Organizing, Advocacy, Data Analysis
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Grant Helete
Program Coordinator
ECOSLO - Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University
N/A
Environmental & Related Sciences
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Grant pursued a degree in Environmental Management at Cal Poly, focusing on GIS work.
2. He gained valuable experience through internships and jobs, including a role with Cal Fire and community organizing for the Carrizo Plain.
3. His current position at ECOSLO combines GIS work, community organizing (e.g., tree plantings), and maintaining internal maps, showcasing diverse aspects of environmental work.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college and any internships or jobs you had before your current role?
My career path isn't the most unique, but it has taken me all across SLO County. I started by attending Cal Poly and studying environmental management. I actually went to Cuesta first and then transferred.
At Cal Poly, I had a great experience and did a lot of GIS work. One of my first positions after college was with Cal Fire, also doing GIS work. I started with an internship that turned into a full-time position.
Along the way, I also began working on group cyclist projects and with ForestWatch. In 2017, I did advocacy work for the Carrizo Plain when its monument status was being reconsidered. My role involved driving around the county, interacting with community members, and collecting letters of support. This highlighted the plane's importance, particularly its role in the local economy.
When an opportunity arose with Eco SLO, I applied. As a lifelong resident of SLO County, I was already familiar with Eco SLO and was excited about the chance to work there. That was about four years ago, and I've been with Eco SLO ever since.
My work here has involved a mix of GIS and community organizing. I handle a lot of community events, especially our tree plantings. I also maintain our internal mapping resources. Overall, I've been able to experience many different aspects of environmental work in SLO County.
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