Esri Electric GIS Heroes

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Esri electric heroes inspire

GIS heroes are GIS champions. They have gained respect from electric industry colleagues who see them as problem solvers. Their humble natures and genuine love of GIS make them the people everyone wants to work with. They inspire others to imagine how GIS can help them do their work better. Join us in celebrating these industry leaders who are making a difference every day at their organizations. 

Amanda Opp | Flathead Electric Cooperative

Amanda is the integrated services manager at Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC). She oversees vegetation management, meter services, warehouse and facilities, and security.

One of her notable achievements was implementing ArcGIS Collector for field data collection, which replaced paper-based processes—a significant improvement for FEC. Her proudest accomplishment was establishing a vegetation management work group that uses ArcGIS Field Maps, eliminating the need for paper workflows. This has made FEC’s data analysis more organized and efficient. Amanda is also a member of the board of directors for the Utility Arborist Association, where she advocates for outreach and women’s representation in utility vegetation management. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two orange tabby cats.

Amanda Opp smiling overlaid on a yellow and purple graphic background

Past GIS heroes

  • Chris Berryman smiling in a white sweater overlaid on a yellow and purple graphic background

    Chris Berryman | Santee Cooper

    GIS Architect

    Chris developed a GIS strategy to ensure long-term growth and creates solutions that keep crews and stakeholders informed during power outages.
  • Portrait of Jamie Chipps smiling in a dark sweater and blouse

    Jamie Chipps | FirstEnergy

    Applications Support for Distribution Manager

    Jamie has spent the last 5 years leading the team implementing a new Design tool and Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network called the aDAPT project.
  • Portrait of Jonathan Blazs smiling in a light blue collared shirt with a flat yellow background in a circular border

    Jonathan Blazs | Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company

    GIS Manager

    Jonathan leads a team of 12 GIS professionals whose focus is on timely and accurate electric distribution data for operational and field use.
  • George Nadar smiling and wearing business attire overlaid on a circular yellow background

    George Nadar | Pacific Gas & Electric Company

    Principal GIS Technology Architect

    George led the transformation of PG&E’s ArcGIS platform into the cloud, allowing efficient management of a services with remotely sensed data.
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  • Hussam Al Jabri smiling and wearing a white tunic standing in front of lush greenery in soft focus

    Hussam Al Jabri | MEDC

    Senior GIS Analyst

    As acting head of GIS at Muscat Electricity Distribution Company (MEDC), Hussam digitally transformed maintenance inspection activities.
  • Holly Dewbre smiling and wearing a grey shirt in a brightly lit modern office

    Holly Dewbre | Oncor Electric Delivery

    Manager

    Holly develops GIS strategies that improve situational awareness for those who design, construct, and operate Oncor’s transmission lines.
  • Duane Holt smiling and wearing a grey dress shirt in a modern glass building

    Duane Holt | CORE Electric Cooperative

    GIS Manager

    In his 28-year career, Duane is most proud of the widespread acceptance of GIS technologies that he has generated at CORE.
  • Sephe Fox smiling and wearing a blue shirt in front of a corporate office building

    Sephe Fox | Clatskanie People’s Utility District

    GIS Analyst

    Sephe built a GIS system from the ground up and maintains and analyzes all GIS data, including an outage management system.
  • Mark Shibuta smiling and wearing business attire in a modern glass office

    Mark Shibuta | UEDCL

    Head of GIS

    In his six years at Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), Mark moved the company from paper maps to a GIS-based ecosystem.
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  • Portrait of Keith Aubin in a royal blue suit standing outside in a lush green garden

    Keith Aubin | Enel Green Power North America

    Head of Digital Hub for Business Development

    Keith Aubin took GIS from being a tool for creating PDF maps to becoming a core business system that supports renewable energy projects.
  • Darris Friend wearing a white button up shirt and standing in the middle of a utility truck yard

    Darris Friend | Gainesville Regional Utilities

    Utility Project Team Leader

    With 20 years of GIS experience, Darris Friend leads energy delivery at Gainesville Regional Utilities by migrating electric and gas networks.
  • Melissa Maya smiling with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a blue blouse

    Melissa Mayo | Alabama Power

    Team Leader

    Melissa Mayo’s team produces cartographic products, mobile solutions, and apps to support transmission efforts in the company’s service areas.
  • Kurt Towler with glasses and a gray-white, short beard and a blue collared shirt

    Kurt Towler | SSVEC

    GIS Manager

    Kurt Towler manages the GIS network at Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) and is fully migrating their GIS to the cloud.
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Who will be the next Esri Electric GIS Hero?

Do you know someone who uses GIS to create innovative solutions and inspire others?

Nominate an electric GIS hero