2024-2025 NSGIC Board of Directors Election

Biography

Born in the Mississippi Delta and raised with a deep appreciation for the music of the King of Rock and Roll, Haley is a proud Mississippian. Initially aspiring to become a professional meteorologist, Haley’s career trajectory changed after taking one GIS class. She received her B.A. from Mississippi State University in Geosciences with a concentration in Professional Meteorology in 2010 and an M.S. in Geography from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2018. Haley embarked on her career path at Mississippi 811, Inc., initially serving as a GIS Coordinator. She curated the first statewide addressing dataset with an initial participation rate of 59%. She hopes to have a 75% participation by 2027. She has launched an addressing program within Mississippi 811 that aims at helping local E-911 offices create, validate, maintain, and update their NG-911 datasets through partnerships with local government and electric utilities. Also, she co-authored the state’s first geospatial standards for point addressing and road centerline data on behalf of the Mississippi Coordinating Council for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (MCCRISGIS). As Director of GIS, Haley focuses on governance, policy guidance, and community outreach, emphasizing the value of geospatial technologies in the utility sector.

Haley is a resolute member of the GIS community. She participates in the South Central Arc Users Group (SCAUG) and MS SCAUG, where she helps coordinate education and training events for GIS professionals. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Association for Spatial Technologies (MAST) and the Memphis Area Geographic Information Council (MAGIC). Furthermore, she participates in the GIS 101 group for NSGIC, the GIS Steering Committee for Progressive Partnering (an 811 partnership of eleven state-based OneCall centers), and coordinates with the MCCRSGIS.

Platform Statement

I am delighted to be nominated to serve on the NSGIC Board of Directors for 2024-2026. For the past four years, I have been one of five Mississippi state representatives involved in NSGIC. Serving and supporting Mr. Jim Steil, Director of MARIS, and the MCCRSGIS has been an honor. Jim encouraged me to attend my first NSGIC conference in 2020, describing it as “going to Disney World for a week with the smartest, coolest people who all LOVE GIS.” He was right! My first conference in Dallas was phenomenal.

In my time with NSGIC, I have learned about true leadership, witnessed how other states have overcome challenges like those in Mississippi, and enjoyed the camaraderie among colleagues—not to mention the history lessons on bourbon. These experiences have inspired me to run for the Board of Directors. The past four years have been exciting, and I am eagerly looking forward to serving NSGIC members, engaging in strategic opportunities and collaborations, and addressing challenges to continuously make NSGIC the most esteemed and distinguishable group to be involved in.

If elected, I aim to pursue three goals aligned with NSGIC’s strategic vision. First, I aim to focus on advocacy. I welcome the opportunity to lead a national dialogue through two lenses: state/local government and utility/public services. Drawing from both perspectives, I will advocate for the practical integration of geospatial technologies in policy and technology, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency across all sectors. Having raised awareness on the importance of state standardization of GIS layers in Mississippi, I want to continue educating, raising awareness, and helping NSGIC coordinate with partners and stakeholders to contribute to the vision of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). Understanding that the vision of the NSDI is to have a seamlessly interconnected national geospatial ecosystem, NSGIC and our partners can achieve considerable progress together. Together we can tackle the different goals and objectives of the NSDI involving governance, data and technology, and people.

Another two goals I am enthusiastic about are community engagement and strong partnerships. I understand the importance of engaging and empowering communities to access geospatial data, and I hope to continue contributing with my colleagues in the GIS 101 group to fulfill this mission. With the GIS 101 group, we have a community-centered approach to the geospatial topics we pursue by using member input topics and bringing them to fruition.

In addition to my work with GIS 101, I have actively facilitated data sharing and accessibility. Mississippi 811 sends all data created, curated, or aggregated from its various programs or projects to the Mississippi Automated Resource Information System (MARIS) GeoExchange, ensuring that Mississippi communities can download and use this data for mapping services. This initiative has significantly enhanced the ability of local governments and organizations to access accurate and up-to-date geospatial information, empowering them to make better-informed decisions. None of these achievements would be possible without the collaborative effort of NSGIC’s initiatives working together such as the NG-911 work group. The NG-911 work group has been essential to my success in educating MS counties on NG-911 standards and deploying the Mississippi 811 addressing program. These achievements bring the MCCRSGIS closer to achieving its goal of a statewide addressing dataset and participating in the National Address Database (NAD).

Moreover, to accessibility and education, I have organized and led various workshops and training sessions to educate community members and stakeholders on the importance and use of geospatial data. By collaborating with local and state governments, educational institutions, and utility companies, I have helped bridge the knowledge gap, fostered collaboration, and inspired the next generation of GIS professionals. These partnerships have improved data quality, resource sharing, and collective problem-solving, further strengthening our community’s geospatial capabilities. Through these efforts, I am committed to fostering a culture of engagement and collaboration within the NSGIC community. By prioritizing community engagement, I aim to ensure that all members have the tools, knowledge, and support they need to fully leverage geospatial technologies and
contribute to the vision and success of NSGIC.

I am eager to serve and contribute to the foundational partnerships that are vital to the NSGIC community. NSGIC’s past successes have driven innovation, fueled by ideation and inspiration. I can help NSGIC ask the right questions to spark innovative ideas and champion the partnerships needed to bring those solutions to life.

Hearing William Johnson speak at the 2024 Midyear about NSGIC’s beginnings and accomplishments since 1991 was inspiring. His passionate delivery made me reflect on what NSGIC means to me and what I want the organization to become. NSGIC has always stood apart from other organizations, making it more meaningful and impactful than anything else I have ever been involved in. I want to be part of the NSGIC fabric and the next sequence of DNA that leads NSGIC to new heights.

“The work that we do matters. When we work together, we can solve big problems. We can really make the world a better place.” William Johnson (2024 NSGIC Midyear Arlington, VA)

Biography

Alfredo Herrera is the first Geographic Information Officer for the State of Connecticut, a new position that was created in 2021. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning and Certificate in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) from Arizona State University in 2010. The Southwest native then moved to Connecticut and took on various roles including IT, Facilities Management consulting, Municipal GIS consulting, and GIS Coordination at the City of New Haven, before being selected to be Connecticut’s GIO.

At New Haven, he developed a transformative platform for interdepartmental interaction and coordination by implementing advanced tools, applications, and processes using GIS as a platform for collaboration and decision-making. In November of 2021, Alfredo was selected to be the first Geographic Information Officer for the State of Connecticut. Since starting his tenure in January 2022, he has significantly increased the level of coordination between state agencies, and local and regional government entities, and began working on several important initiatives that will ensure the long-term growth, stability, and presence of GIS as an important tool for effective governing. Some notable achievements in this time include:

• The creation and adoption of the CT Geospatial Strategic Plan.
• The creation of an imagery and elevation data acquisition program.
• The collection, aggregation, and publication of a statewide parcel dataset.
• Providing innovative tools, data products, and outreach to the local and national geospatial community.
• Collaborating with other states, the federal government, and business partners to further goals important to the success of initiatives such as 3DEP, 3DHP, NSDI, and broadband.

Alfredo’s diverse background and life experience inform both the kind of leader he is to the geospatial community in Connecticut and the kinds of unique solutions he brings to the problems and issues that the professional community faces.

Platform Statement

NSGIC is a hugely important organization that strives to be at the intersection of geospatial issues and initiatives at a national and local level. To that end, being intentional about the ways in which it facilitates collaboration between all its members is critically important as a core part of its mission. In my view, the organization’s leadership, which includes all the officers, staff, and the board, plays a critical role in ensuring that this mission continues to be fulfilled. In the nearly three years that I have been Connecticut’s GIO and consequently involved and participating in NSGIC, I have been informed, guided, and helped by the free and open environment that this organization fosters, which has led to much greater success in my position that otherwise would have been achievable in such a short time.

Being able to build upon the work I have already done helping with the Council of Councils workgroup to guide the discussion about how to make state councils more engaged and effective. Continuing to engage in informing the rest of the state-level geospatial community about our challenges and victories in the landscape of broadband mapping and grant programs, collaborating in my regional community to develop a regional 3DHP effort, and opining on other initiatives and shared challenges with my peers is an important goal for me in the way I interact with this organization. I hope that my willingness to speak up and contribute to important conversations with any and all partners and stakeholders speaks to my determination and intent to be not just an active member of this community, but also an effective part of its leadership team.

I am grateful for this opportunity and if elected, I will do my utmost to serve the NSGIC community, support national and local coordination efforts of all kinds, and contribute to the future direction of NSGIC and its members.  Thank you for your support.

Biography

Natalie Lee first got hooked on GIS in 2002 during her studies at Virginia Tech. Graduating with a degree in Geography, she then took a job with The Nature Conservancy in 2004. After living her whole life in Virginia, in late 2004 she decided to try something new and moved to Georgia to work for the private sector, where she had the privilege of seeing GIS fit into a multitude of disciplines and projects. She fell in love with Georgians and her husband and decided to stay. In 2018, she left the private sector looking for a new way to serve her community. In 2020 she happily joined the Georgia Geospatial Information Office as the new Geospatial Programs Manager. Since then, she has specifically worked on Covid response and the Next Generation 911 programs, combining her love of people and process with solid geospatial solutions. In all, she has been practicing GIS for 18 years, and is a GISP.

Natalie got involved with NSGIC first in the private sector, following the Next Generation 911 committee and benefitting from its webinars and open content. After joining the GIO in 2020, she converted her membership to a public sector employee. Since then, she has been a frequent presenter and she now sits on the Membership Working Group. In her current role, she has been leading the Next Generation 911 Data programs to build seamless address, road centerline, and boundary datasets for Georgia, which has required the construction of communities of practice spanning the public and private sector. In 2022, she was elected to the Board and is seeking reelection.

Platform Statement

I am Natalie Lee, the Deputy GIO in Georgia, and I am so grateful to be nominated for a second term on a NSGIC Board (for 2024-2025).  If elected, this would be my 3rd and 4th years serving on the Board.

When I was elected to the Board in 2022, NSGIC was experiencing quite a bit of change. We had a new Executive Director in John Jordan, and we were in many ways all still coming out of Covid. The task for the Board was clear: find the new normal, support our organization on finding its financial footing under a new Director, and continue to rebuild our network of geospatial solidarity amidst the change and tumult of the past 2 years.

As I said in 2022, (and it still rings true today): the mission of NSGIC is the calling for every GIS professional. We all seek to advance our states in geospatial coordination to a new, better end. From my first job with the Nature Conservancy mapping ecoregional portfolio sites, to my time in the private sector digitizing impervious surfaces and then working at the Regional Service Center for FEMA, to my current position with the Georgia Geospatial Information Office leading data programs, I continue to experience joy and satisfaction in seeing the power of geospatial technology bring data to life and improve efficiency and outcomes. It remains part of our “geospatial DNA” to be unsatisfied with what is today, and constantly searching for ways to make a new path that is even better.

As a Board member, I sought to do four things for us: to Maintain a Collaborative Mindset, To pull up more “chairs” to the table, to continue to place Value in our Mentors, and to lead by example, doing the work, and being held accountable to it. 

When considering whether I would run again, I asked many of you how you thought I had done on those items because I take the accountability of this role incredible seriously. While I think there have been strides made in those four categories, I think we have room to grow. In many ways, in running again for the Board, I am asking you to evaluate whether my time on the Board has been successful, and if it is heading in the direction you would like it to go.

I know now, first hand, that the role of Director is a second (or third!) job in many ways. An active Board member is engaged between meetings as well as in them- catching up on documents and leadership reports, and also out and among our members and sister organizations asking  for feedback. We find ourselves at the ESRI UC, URISA, or Regional conferences putting on our NSGIC hats to ask “how has your experience been with NSGIC? What’s working? What’s not?” We then bring that back to the Board, and use it to inform our questions and discussions. Being a Director has required time, and passion, and enthusiasm to keep jumping in and finding ways to connect. And of course, we are a strong willed and passionate people! We at times find ourselves in conflict as we find the right path to go down. A collaborative mindset is easy to adopt, but harder to operationalize. As we roll out the Strategic Plan, I know I share many member’s desire to find ways to get the Board active and engaged so that as a group they are able to tackle some of these new initiatives with fresh, hands-on, approaches. There is so much to do, and we need to do it together, spreading the work around amongst the membership and bringing others into our work, even if that may slow things down a bit. It is the most fascinating and pervasive study of my life and career(and yours too?):  to discover what makes people shut down and what makes them roll up their sleeves and jump in. NSGIC is at its best when we get people involved, when they feel good about spending their time and passion with us, and inviting others into the work we do together. The fire tends to go out in organizations when work is isolated to the few.

The more I have gotten to know the membership, the more convinced I am that NSGIC really does have some of the finest people, and they do good work. Bringing more chairs to the table, inviting new disciplines and subject matter experts into our work is easy once anyone meets the membership. There are more seats now; in Accessibility, Cyber Security, Sentinel Landscapes. There is more to do with our partner network, though: communicating value to our partners and learning what will work best for all of us as we grow. It is a delicate balance, and of particular importance to the Board to navigate bringing people to the table and engaging them in our mission while valuing their distinct perspectives.

As a candidate I sought to elevate mentorship. In many ways, my time on the Board has been about receiving that mentorship myself. I have been so grateful to learn from folks like Megan, Leland, Richard, and Leslie. Learning from each other is key to our success, and I look forward to finding more ways that the Board can elevate the voices of those who have gone before so that more of us can benefit from them – especially in terms of engagement, delegation, and leadership.

Being elected to the Board has granted me the opportunity to speak for and be held accountable to you. I have taken that responsibility seriously, and I continue to see the  ways that we can do more to have good relationships with our sister organizations and partners; remaining open, and communicative, and organized. NSGIC is a place where people go to solve problems and make the work better through a geospatial mindset. I think in many ways we are on the cusp of some very exciting change and development with the formation of the NGC and our Strategic Plan. It would be my privilege to continue on the Board to ensure that with that change is a commitment to our mission and the values we hold dear: integrity, accountability, collaboration, and true leadership.  I would love your vote!

Biography

Jackie is the GIS Manager for the State of Colorado’s Governor’s Office of Information Technology Geospatial Program. She has a B.A. in Geography and Social Science from Cal Poly Humboldt and a M.S. in Geographic Information Systems. As a dedicated public servant, she strives to improve the lives of Coloradans by increasing access to spatial data and tools for State Agencies, Local Government, and members of the public.

Platform Statement

As a dedicated public servant with nearly three years in my current state role, previous experience working in local government, and having served on the board of a state-level GIS group, I am passionate about leveraging geospatial technology to drive positive change. My diverse experience has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within GIS at both local and state levels. This perspective enables me to foster collaboration and bridge gaps across different sectors.

While I am still learning, I bring a fresh and innovative approach that is adaptable and forward-thinking. My time on a state-level GIS board has equipped me with valuable insights into governance, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, which I am eager to apply at NSGIC. I am committed to advocating for resources, sharing best practices, and working collaboratively to advance NSGIC’s mission. By combining my board experience, hands-on local and state insights, and commitment to public service, I am ready to help lead NSGIC towards a future of growth and innovation.