Dave Fodroczi retired from his distinguished career as Planning & Zoning Director and former Land Information Officer for St. Croix County on November 4th, 2011, after 21 years of service in that role. With no intention of slowing down, Dave took on the role of Executive Director of the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust based in River Falls, Wisconsin effective November 15th. In his new role, he’s looking forward to renewing and building new partnerships in “keeping the Kinni Cold, Clean and Clear,” and is excited about the new geospatial challenges and opportunities in his new position.
Prior to moving to Hudson in 1990, Dave resided in Madison and served as Executive Director of the State of Wisconsin’s Farmland Preservation Program for seven years. His long history with Wisconsin’s Land Information Program included chairing key task forces as well as service as President of the Wisconsin Land Information Association in 1994 and as a member of the Wisconsin Land Council In 2011, Dave was awarded the Al Miller Sustained Service award by the Wisconsin Land Information Association.
Dave shared his thoughts on Wisconsin’s land information community of which he’s been an integral part of the past 20 years.
Which accomplishment(s) in Land Records during your tenure make you most proud?
The most satisfying accomplishment has been the long-term, incremental implementation of the master’s thesis I researched and wrote at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at UW-Madison. Under the tutelage and mentorship of Jim Clapp, Ben Niemann, D. David Moyer and Earl Epstein from UW-Madison and Arnie Clement from Racine County, I evaluated the institutional considerations for implementing the multi-purpose cadastre concept within the framework of Wisconsin county government. During my 21+ years in St. Croix County as County Planner, Planning Director, Planning & Zoning Director and Land Information Officer, I had the opportunity to work with dedicated and creative staff, some enlightened local officials, and top notch consultants to “live out” my thesis. We evolved from mylar and ink maps and paper records floating in space to GIS data sets and digital land records integrated through survey control and coordinates all served up on the Internet. Pretty cool!
Which challenges do you see as most pressing in keeping Wisconsin’s geospatial community strong?
My answer won’t surprise anybody that knows me. The most pressing challenge will always be the overriding need to sustain a critical mass of creative, passionate people, financial resources and progressive policy through changing economies and politics. Our institutions will always be trying to catch up to the technology.
What advice would you pass on to the next generation of land information professionals here?
Make a difference. Get involved. The best things always happen through collaboration.
We’d like to thank Dave for all of his hard work and continual engagement in the community. And we wish him the best of luck and good fortune in the future!