Featured Speakers

Discover insights and proven strategies

These speakers bring inspiration and real-world examples of how they are leading the way to adoption, expansion, and innovation of GIS in their organizations.

Learn proven tactics to influence change

Explore how GIS leaders approach change, sharing real‑world tactics and challenges drawn from their own work.
Champion GIS in your organization

Discover how leaders champion GIS adoption and expansion through innovative approaches that prove the value of GIS.
Communicate and deliver measurable results

Leaders share how they quantify GIS project results and communicate outcomes leaders care about.

Christie Pleiss, Esri

Director of Mission Alignment in Professional Services

Christie is a strategic integrator who works across Esri to connect strategy, execution, and long-term impact. She aligns people and priorities, helps inform enterprise direction, and also plays a key role in advancing investment in the GIS leadership community.
John Lenahan, Esri

Director, Commercial and Emerging Technology Services

John guides the direction and execution of services engagements across the AEC, commercial natural resources, energy, banking, retail, real estate, insurance, manufacturing, entertainment/media, high-tech, and the trucking and distribution verticals for Esri.
Alex Harper, Central Arkansas Water

Senior Information Services Manager

Alex focuses on advancing GIS from a technical function to a strategic leadership driver. He leads enterprise initiatives including ArcGIS Enterprise, Utility Network, and AI governance. He is passionate about helping organizations adopt a geospatial mindset.
Stevo Robinson, Aukland Council

Product Manager

Stevo is a product manager at Auckland Council, the largest local government organization in Australasia. He focuses on bringing together technology, data, and people to create practical solutions while aligning product roadmaps to strategic goals.
Trich Maupin, Bonneville County, Idaho

Department Manager

Trich has spent 20 years working in GIS, beginning with hands-on experience using Trimble workflows, TerraSync, and ArcMap evolving to ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, and ArcGIS Experience Builder. She continues to share her knowledge and support the growth of GIS within her organization.
Corey Unger, Utah Department of Transportation

GIS Program Manager

Corey and his team support GIS implementation, innovation, and policy across the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). Corey holds a master’s degree in geography and has more than 20 years working in GIS, including 12 years at UDOT.
Izabela Miller, Growing Curiosity

Author and Founder

Izabela helps GIS professionals become the leaders whom executives trust and teams follow. Her book, The Science of GIS Leadership, is built on more than 60 interviews with leaders across the field.
Tim Haynes, City of Philadelphia

Geographic Information Officer and Chief Data Officer

Tim leads enterprise GIS, data, and spatial strategy for citywide programs that help departments improve services, modernize operations, and make better decisions with data.
Anthony Powell, City of Houston Public Works IT

HPWIT-GIS Assistant Director

With nearly 40 years of professional GIS experience, Anthony has successfully led multiple multi-million-dollar initiatives across complex public works business units.
Billy Ferguson, California Office of Emergency Services

GIS Architect

Billy Ferguson designs and implements geospatial solutions that support emergency response and coordination across the state. He brings a strong governance and change‑management perspective shaped by both operational and strategic roles.
Kirk Wythers, Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Lead Data Scientist

Kirk brings deep expertise in advanced data science, spatial analytics, enterprise geospatial platforms, and translating emerging technologies into pragmatic, business‑aligned solutions.
Cyril Smith, State of Massachusetts

State Geographic Information Officer and MassGIS director

Cyril Smith has been the Massachusetts State Geographic Information Officer since 2023. He is the founding Chair of the Coalition of Geospatial Organizations, a coalition of 14 geospatial professional organizations representing over 170,000 members.
Lorin Lima, Kaingaroa Tipu Ltd.

Geospatial Manager

Lorin has over two decades of experience building high-performing geospatial teams and advancing enterprise GIS capabilities across both government and industry–including national crisis response, enterprise GIS transformation, and the advancement of emerging geospatial technologies.
Wade Kloos, Utah Dept. of Natural Resources

GIS Director and Director of Enterprise Systems

Wade was a city planner in Laguna Niguel, California, where he built the city’s GIS system. Wade joined Esri before returning to public-sector GIS practice, where he created a process to measure and document the return on investment of GIS operations.
Eric Shreve, City of Goodyear

Geospatial Manager

Eric has worked with the city’s Public Safety, Water, Public Works, and Development Services to connect data, systems, and people. His career in GIS has traversed wildland fire to Next Generation 9-1-1, shaping his belief that success isn't just about technology, but trust, relationships, and buy-in.