Michelle Thomas is a senior content strategist and customer engagement lead on Esri's ArcGIS Storytelling team. She manages the annual ArcGIS StoryMaps competition, digital platforms, and storytelling campaigns that feature storytellers globally. Prior to joining Esri, Michelle created digital campaigns at the U.S. Interior Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture. She leveraged Esri's storytelling tools at both agencies, connecting people, resources, and places through stories. She joined Esri's ArcGIS Storytelling team to share those experiences widely and empower storytellers to make a difference with maps and GIS.