Spartan Geographer Mike Cousins named a member of Oakland Together 40 Under 40
May 30, 2024
If you want to spend time with Spartan Geographer Mike Cousins, you may have trouble keeping up. From his position as Practice Leader and partner with OHM Advisors to his volunteer work with the GIS Pathways Program at Frederick Douglass Academy to serving as the Chair of the MSU Geography Alumni Advisory Board to being a loving husband and father, Cousins, a 2007 graduate of the Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, is seemingly always on the move. He is always focused on improving himself professionally and personally. And now, he has a new honor to add to his already long list of accomplishments as Cousins was recently named a member of the Oakland Together 40 Under 40 Class of 2024.
The Oakland Together 40 Under 40 program recognizes and spotlights dynamic leaders under the age of 40 who are making a difference in Oakland County, Michigan, and beyond—a description fitting for Cousins. In its twelfth year, the 2024 class is comprised of individuals born after December 31, 1983, who live or work in Oakland County and whose work and service to the community align with County Executive Dave Coulter's Oakland Together vision for a community working together to leverage its strengths, address its challenges, and find value in working with regional partners.
Cousins discussing the activities of the MSU GEO Alumni Advisory Board at the recent GEO-GTU Awards Ceremony.
Cousins was chosen from among more than 290 candidates who applied for the recognition. A panel of independent judges selected the new class, which includes a teacher, mental health professionals, physicians, non-profit leaders, university professors, lawyers, diversity consultants, and automotive supplier employees. "This diverse group of young leaders embodies the spirit of innovation, resilience, and community engagement. Their contributions are shaping the future of our region, and I am proud to celebrate their accomplishments and commitment to making a positive difference in our county," said Coulter.
Cousins and Eos Positioning Systems CTO Jean-Yves Lauture (far right) pose with members of the GIS Pathways Program at Frederick Douglass Academy, where Cousins serves as a mentor and Vice-Chair.”
Cousins is the Practice Leader for GIS and a partner at OHM Advisors and currently oversees a team of 13 GIS Professionals. He graduated from MSU with a B.S. in Geography with a specialization in Spatial Information Processing. With 18 years of GIS experience, Cousins is a certified GIS Professional (GISP) and a certified Esri ArcGIS Desktop Professional. He has been with OHM Advisors for ten years and specializes in the areas of GIS, GPS, Asset Management, Mixed Reality (MR) applications, and other innovative technologies. Mike is the Chair of the MSU Geography Department Alumni Advisory Board and vice-chair of the Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men High School GIS Pathways program, a dual-enrollment program for students that has helped decrease drop-out rates and increase college applications located in Detroit, Michigan. He is also a Board Member for MiCAMP, a non-profit, statewide group that encourages the exchange of ideas, experiences, and practical development of GIS between all levels of government, non-profits, agencies, and the private sector, and he serves as an industrial mentor and leader in the Geospatial Technologies Talent Consortium. And for the past six years, Cousins has helped lead the OHM Advisors "Stuff the Truck" gift donation event for the Detroit Shriners where gifts are donated to the patients at the Shriners Hospital for Children who are receiving treatment during the holidays.
Please join the MSU Geography Department and the College of Social Science in extending our congratulations to Mike on this outstanding achievement!