Esri AEC GIS Heroes

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Esri AEC heroes inspire

GIS heroes are GIS champions. They have gained respect from AEC industry colleagues who think of them as problem solvers, who inspire others to imagine how GIS can help them do their work better. Join Esri in celebrating these industry leaders who are making a difference every day at their organizations.

Leigh Chan

Enterprise GIS Lead at Arup

With over 20 years of experience, Leigh Chan helps integrate geospatial thinking into complex infrastructure and AEC projects, connecting people, data, and workflows to support better decisions and project outcomes. 

She works closely with teams to make GIS more accessible and is passionate about emerging geospatial technologies and the opportunities they create to strengthen collaboration, improve decision-making, and deliver better project outcomes.

Leigh Chan smiling in front of a yellow and teal background

Nick DiPaolo, GISP

Digital Transformation Service Line Leader at JMT

Nick DiPaolo, GISP, is known for bridging the physical and digital worlds by integrating GIS with reality capture, BIM, augmented and virtual reality, digital twins, and spatial computing.

His work enables engineers, owners, and field teams to make better decisions with immersive visualization, real-time data access, and location intelligence. A recognized leader in utilities, transportation, and public safety, Nick helped advance Next Generation 911 initiatives and serves as a volunteer firefighter. He earned national recognition from the NG911 Institute for his contributions to emergency response and geospatial innovation.

Nick DiPaolo smiling in front of a yellow and teal background

Past GIS heroes

  • Pam Turner smiling in front of a yellow and teal background
    GIS Heroes 2026

    Pam Turner, GISP | Kimley-Horn

    Geospatial Solutions Lead

    Pam’s work spans disaster management and hazard mitigation assessments, water resources, utility and transportation planning, and more.
  • Bruce Battle smiling in front of a yellow and teal background
    GIS Heroes 2026

    Bruce Battle | Burns & McDonnell

    Geospatial Technology & Innovation Consultant

    Bruce supports GIS at Burns & McDonnell by helping scale geospatial solutions across the different industries the company serves.
  • Kyle Hearing smiling in front of a yellow and teal background
    GIS Heroes 2026

    Kyle Hearing | Foursquare ITP

    GIS Practice Area Lead

    Kyle directs geospatial strategy, mentors colleagues, and helps clients apply spatial thinking to improve mobility.
  • Portrait of Kendra Rodgers McGraw
    GIS Heroes 2026

    Kendra Rodgers McGraw | HDR

    Federal Geospatial Director

    Kendra is a VP with nearly 20 years’ experience building and guiding federal geospatial programs to enhance mission readiness globally.
  • Portrait of Laine Alby
    GIS Heroes 2026

    Laine Alby | 1898 & Co.

    Geospatial Solutions Consultant

    Laine used GIS to co-develop a platform to streamline over 15 GW of renewable projects and support a $1 billion portfolio acquisition.
  • Portrait of Lauren Assyia
    GIS Heroes 2026

    Lauren Assyia | 1898 & Co.

    Senior Geospatial Solutions Consultant

    Lauren leads the National Siting Platform, enabling non-GIS users and fostering GIS-driven decision-making across teams.
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  • Portrait of Amber Horrie smiling in a black cowlneck shirt with a flat gray background
    GIS HEROES 2025

    Amber Horrie | TRC

    Geospatial Technical Director

    Amber has overseen multidisciplinary teams, implemented geospatial technologies, and crafted strategies that improve the accessibility, efficiency, and long-term sustainability of GIS platforms.
  • Portrait of Anthony Le Guen smiling in a dark blue patterned shirt with an abstract blue and white background
    GIS HEROES 2025

    Anthony Le Guen | Pomerleau

    GIS Manager

    Anthony built Pomerleau’s GIS practice from the ground up, integrating BIM, IoT and spatial intelligence to help teams anticipate risks and deliver smarter projects.
  • Portrait of Daniel Johns smiling in a dark suit in a sunlit lobby
    GIS HEROES 2025

    Daniel Johns, GISP | ETM

    Director of Geospatial Technologies

    Daniel leads geospatial consulting solutions for public sector clients, manages key industry partnerships, and developed the firm’s geospatial technologies department.
  • Portrait of Kyle Duncan smiling in a dark suit and tie
    GIS HEROES 2025

    Kyle Duncan | Brasfield & Gorrie

    Senior Innov and Ops Tech Specialist

    Kyle has advanced hardware solutions like drones and robotics as well as software innovations like SaaS, in-house apps, and GIS integration.
  • Portrait of Steven Hochart smiling in a blue collared shirt
    GIS HEROES 2025

    Steven Hochart | Dudek

    Practice Director

    Steven integrates GIS into land surveying with drone mapping, creating a turnkey land development portal for CAD/GIS integration.
  • Rob Grotefend smiling and wearing a business suit overlaid on a yellow and teal background
    GIS HEROES 2025

    Rob Grotefend, GISP | RS&H

    National Discipline Leader

    Rob delivers tailored GIS solutions for aviation, aerospace, and transportation clients to enhance data-driven decision-making.
  • Portrait of Greg Coniglio smiling in a charcoal gray suit and blue shirt
    GIS HEROES 2025

    Greg Coniglio | LaBella Associates

    Data Intelligence Group Leader

    Greg has 31 years of experience with GIS, including desktop, web and mobile GIS experience, project management, business development, and more.
  • Portrait of Rory Kaip smiling in a light gray suit and pale blue collared shirt with a flat yellow background
    GIS HEROES 2025

    Rory Kaip | Verdantas

    Geospatial Systems Manager

    Rory’s passion for innovation has driven transformative projects that enhance the accuracy, accessibility, and impact of data across the firm.
  • Portrait of Julia Wolanski smiling in a brown sweater with a flat yellow background
    GIS HEROES 2025

    Julia Wolanski | CED

    Senior GIS Project Manager

    Julia manages client GIS projects and participates in business development. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Temple University.
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  • Jeremy wearing a dress shirt and smiling on a yellow and teal background
    GIS HEROES 2024

    Jeremy Gaskins | BGE

    Director, Technology Solutions

    Jeremy excels at using GIS-powered solutions to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and help people make better decisions.
  • Carla Evans wearing a black blazer and smiling overlaid on a yellow and teal background
    GIS HEROES 2024

    Carla Evans | WSP

    Senior Geospatial Consultant

    With over 25 years of experience, Carla has worked with various GIS, remote sensing, and geotechnical and environmental data management apps.
  • Gautam Sundaram smiling and wearing a gray suit and white shirt overlaid on a yellow and teal background
    GIS HEROES 2024

    Gautam Sundaram | Perkins&Will

    Principal

    Gautam uses GIS data to create tools that help clients make decisions and adapt to changing needs.
  • Matt Kramer smiling and wearing a collared shirt overlaid on a yellow and blue background
    GIS HEROES 2024

    Matt Kramer, GSIP | CEC

    Geospatial Systems Administrator

    Matt helped transition CEC’s operations to a more GIS- and datacentric approach by developing tools and processes to promote efficiency.
  • David Edmends smiling and wearing glasses and a collared shirt overlaid on a yellow and blue background
    GIS Heroes 2024

    David Edmends | Arup

    Enterprise GIS Specialist

    With over 20 years of experience, David uses cloud engineering and advanced GIS data management to make projects easier to complete.
  • Tim Rink and Matt Wagoner smiling and wearing business attire overlaid on a yellow and blue background
    GIS Heroes 2024

    Tim Rink & Matt Wagoner | Stantec

    Geospatial Leaders

    As the geospatial leaders for Stantec’s water business, Tim and Matt implement geospatial technologies across their organization.
  • Portrait of Molly Casey smiling and wearing a gold necklace and dark blue patterned top
    GIS HERO 2024

    Molly Casey | R.E.Y. Engineers, Inc.

    GIS Project Manager

    Molly Casey pioneered the GIS department at R.E.Y. Engineers as the organization's first GIS project manager.
  • Portrait of Hiba Daou smiling in a colorful printed shirt with a flat yellow background
    GIS HERO 2024

    Hiba Daou | Solidere

    Senior Architect and GIS Manager

    Hiba manages, designs, operates, oversees, and maintains GIS for a variety of local and international projects.
  • Portrait of Ally Kennedy smiling in a light blue collared shirt with a flat yellow background
    GIS HERO 2024

    Ally Kennedy | Timmons Group

    Project Manager

    Ally leads a GIS team focused on developing solutions for utilities. With her leadership, Timmons has become a leader in modernization projects.
  • Wesley Williams smiling and wearing a dress shirt overlaid on a yellow and blue background
    GIS HERO 2024

    Wesley Williams | Mears Group Inc.

    GIS Manager

    The tools Wesley has implemented revolutionized Mears Group’s approach to spatial data management and made work more efficient and precise.
  • Gabriela Gonjon smiling and wearing business clothing overlaid on a yellow circle on a blue graphic background
    GIS HERO 2024

    Gabriela Gonjon | Ennead Architects

    Architectural Designer

    Gabriela builds interactive, scale-dependent dashboards for her clients and helps her peers at Ennead get started on their own GIS journeys.
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  • Portrait of Kelsey Fournier
    GIS HERO 2023

    Kelsey Fournier | Mortenson

    Integrated Construction Coordinator

    Kelsey kick-started her solar career in the field, where she gained insight into how project sites work from mobilization to commissioning.
  • Portrait of Andrew Smart smiling in a light gray suit and blue shirt
    GIS HERO 2023

    Andrew Smart | Michael Baker International

    Geospatial Technology Director

    Andrew supports the organization’s consulting and technology services as a subject matter expert on ArcGIS Enterprise and cloud services.
  • Portrait photo of Nancy Lewis smiling in dark glasses and a gray shirt
    GIS HERO 2023

    Nancy Lewis | Ames Construction

    Geospatial Manager

    Nancy uses GIS as part of a greater integration of methods and technologies so her industry can deliver successful, error-free projects.
  • Portrait photo of Tim Ultee smiling in a dark blue suit and tie
    GIS HERO 2023

    Tim Ultee | Parsons Corporation

    Principal GIS Specialist and Project Manager

    Tim has championed the growth of GIS throughout his career and currently administers ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online for Parsons.
  • Portrait of Sean Henry
    GIS HERO 2023

    Sean Henry | Bechtel Corporation

    Corporate GIS Manager

    Sean works closely with Bechtel’s innovation teams to bring sustainable, safe, and green solutions to AEC projects globally.
  • Portrait of Tony Garro smiling in a light blue collared shirt and tie with a flat yellow background in a round border
    GIS HERO 2023

    Anthony Garro | BETA

    Senior Vice President

    Tony uses a wide range of GIS and asset management software to assist his clients in preparing for the future.
  • Portrait of Gideon Simons in a dark suit and tie with a flat yellow background in a round border
    GIS HERO 2023

    Gideon Simons | Arcadis

    Associate Director

    Gideon oversees project delivery across AEC and sustainability for Arcadis’ UK GIS & Geospatial team.
  • Portrait of Sophie Stouki smiling in a dark blue turtleneck with a flat golden yellow background in a round border
    GIS HERO 2023

    Sophie Stouki | Costain Group

    Head of GIS and Geospatial Consultancy

    Sophie advocates for achieving operational efficiencies and improvements through geospatial technologies, data and capability integration.
  • Portrait of Devon Jones smiling in a blue polka-dotted shirt with a flat golden yellow background in a round border
    GIS HERO 2023

    Devon Jones | Hazen and Sawyer

    Senior GIS Analyst

    Devon manages GIS for capacity management, operations, and maintenance work, ensuring that registered data are leveraged for complex projects.
  • Bobby Radakovich smiling and wearing business attire overlaid on a yellow and blue graphic background
    GIS HERO 2023

    Bobby Radakovich | Ramboll

    GIS Specialist

    With 20 years of experience, Bobby is committed to driving sustainable change by integrating digital workflows with geospatial solutions.
  • Olivia Godfrey smiling and wearing a white shirt and black blazer on a yellow and blue abstract background
    GIS HERO 2023

    Olivia Godfrey | Langan Engineering

    GIS Consultant, Digital Solutions Group

    Olivia uses GIS to visualize sustainability metrics through dashboards, improving data access and conversations around corporate sustainability.
  • Portrait of Manal Sayed smiling in a gray blazer against a gold background in a round border
    GIS HERO 2023

    Manal Sayed | Khatib & Alami

    Vice President of Digital Services

    Manal has 30 years of GIS and systems integration experience focused on GIS implementation and geospatial solutions management.
  • Portrait of Krishna Murthy smiling in a blue blazer and dark button-down shirt with a warm yellow background and abstract geometric green border
    GIS HERO 2023

    Krishna Murthy | Beans.ai

    Head of GIS

    Krishna leads the GIS team in creating detailed 3D indoor datasets for apartments, multi-dwelling units and complex addresses.
  • Donna Huey wearing a white dress shirt under a blue jacket and smiling with an abstract blue and yellow background
    GIS HERO 2023

    Donna Huey | AtkinsRéalis

    Senior Vice President | Chief Digital Officer

    With over 30 years of industry experience, Donna applies technology—including GIS, BIM, and databases—to solve design and engineering challenges.
  • Mattias Kunz wearing a black dress shirt and smiling with an abstract blue and yellow background
    GIS HERO 2023

    Matthias Kunz | Afry

    Senior GIS Expert

    Matthias’ team combines BIM, GIS, sustainability, and business intelligence to reduce the carbon footprint of infrastructure projects.
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  • Amanda O'Shea wearing a dark turtleneck and smiling with an abstract blue and yellow background
    GIS Hero 2022

    Amanda O’Shea | KCI Technologies, Inc.

    Senior Solutions Engineer

    With over 20 years of experience, Amanda supports clients in their use and deployment of geospatial technology and improves workflow processes.
  • Jodie Gosselin wearing a black blazer and smiling with an abstract blue and yellow background
    GIS Hero 2022

    Jodie Gosselin | Dawood Engineering, Inc.

    Geospatial Technologies Director

    Jodie focuses on utilities and asset management and delivers comprehensive geospatial services across multiple markets in the US and Europe.
  • Bridget Brown wearing a light blue shirt and smiling with an abstract blue and yellow background
    GIS Hero 2022

    Bridget Brown | HDR

    Geospatial and Technology Program Director

    Bridget helped grow HDR’s GIS practice and leads client GIS modernization efforts, supporting impactful disruption while improving efficiencies.
  • Sheng Tan wearing a blue dress shirt and smiling with an abstract blue and yellow background
    GIS Hero 2022

    Sheng Tan | Wood Rodgers, Inc.

    GIS Director

    With 26 years of experience, Sheng honed his skills in multiple industries and transforms business operations with geospatial technology.
  • Janine Latham wearing a gold necklace and navy shirt and smiling with an abstract blue and yellow background
    GIS Hero 2022

    Janine Latham | Weston Solutions, Inc.

    Geospatial Technical Director

    Janine sees the connections between the where, how, and why and aspires to improve the environment and communities with science and technology.
  • Jon Brown wearing a blue plaid dress shirt and smiling with an abstract blue and yellow background
    GIS Hero 2022

    Jon Brown | Arcadis

    Associate Technical Director

    With 20 years of experience, Jon uses location intelligence to give spatial context to infrastructure projects and support data-driven decisions.
  • Sid Pandey wearing a white dress shirt and suit jacket and smiling with an abstract blue and yellow background
    GIS Hero 2022

    Sid Pandey | Deloitte

    GIS Senior Consultant

    Sid helps organizations leverage geospatial technology, actively volunteering to support emerging professionals across the geospatial industry.
  • Dan Boudreau wearing a dress shirt, tie, and suit jacket and smiling with an abstract blue and yellow background
    GIS Hero 2022

    Dan Boudreau | GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

    Geospatial Systems Lead

    With over 30 years of experience, Dan drives innovation by implementing Esri’s enterprise, desktop, web, and mobile technology.
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  • Zach Jaffe smiling and wearing business attire overlaid on a yellow and blue background
    GIS Hero 2021

    Zach Jaffe | Map I.T.

    Founder and CEO

    Zach works diligently at implementing the latest workflows to help clients achieve their goals and expands his solutions to all AEC industries.
  • Steve Anderson smiling and wearing business attire overlaid on a yellow and blue background
    GIS Hero 2021

    Steve Anderson | VHB

    Vice President of Technology Services

    Steve is driving innovation in the transportation industry through the application of GIS technology.
  • George Floros smiling and wearing business attire overlaid on a yellow and blue background
    GIS Hero 2021

    George Floros | Skanska Infrastructure UK

    GIS Lead

    George has promoted innovations such as improving and automating workflows for GIS applications on a live mega construction project.
  • Darin Welch wearing business attire overlaid on a yellow and blue background
    GIS Hero 2021

    Darin Welch | HNTB Technology Solutions Center

    National Geospatial Manager

    Darin and his talented team of professionals lead many of HNTB’s most significant geospatial innovation projects.
  • Michelle Watson smiling and wearing business attire overlaid on a yellow and blue background
    GIS Hero 2021

    Michelle Watson | Jacobs

    Global Director, Geospatial Solutions

    Michelle believes in providing practical, fit-for-purpose solutions that grow and scale as organizations transition towards a digital future.
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