Meet the IGC-EC

Keith Weber is the GIS Director at Idaho State University and has held this position since founding the GIS Center in 1998.  He has worked in the Geospatial industry since 1989, is a Certified GIS Professional (GISP), and recipient of Esri’s SAG award in 2000 and again in 2013, as well as URISA’s ESIG award in 2014 for his wildfire decision support system work.  Keith is the Science Advisor for NASA DEVELOP at ISU, a standing member of IGC-EC, and chair of the Geodetic Control TWG.

Sydney Lewis, GIS Analyst III at the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). Sydney was born in Utah, but raised in Idaho, where she now lives with her husband and 2 children. She has been a GIS professional for 8 years, where she’s worked most of her career at ITD. She first worked as a ITD District GIS Analyst II at the Shoshone, ID office (South Central Idaho). Sydney then promoted up and now works as a GIS Analyst III at ITD’s HQ location (Boise, ID). Sydney has served on the IGC-EC for almost 2 years, in the State Seat position and chairs the Transportation TWG.

Eric Buehler holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Geographic Information Systems and a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources.  Eric has been a GIS Specialist for the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency for the past 6 years and is transferring to the Natural Resources Conservation Service this spring.  He loves all things GIS and outdoors.  He has been on the SWIG committee for several years, including the SWIG Chair in 2018.  Previous to his federal government position, he was the GIS Manager for Horrocks Engineers (covering several western states) and also involved with the Utah Valley GIS user group leadership.  He has worked in both the private and public sectors of GIS for over 15 years.  When not working on GIS he enjoys coaching several youth soccer teams, playing frisbee golf, and has recently gotten into pinball.  He enjoys being involved in the GIS community both at the local and state levels and was appointed to fill the remaining term for the Federal seat 3.  He is looking forward to the opportunity to serve Idaho GIS in this capacity for a full term.   

Cyndi has been the GIS Director for Bannock County for the past 4 years and has been using GIS technology since the late 90’s.  She started her career with an Associate’s degree in Civil Engineering and took GIS coursework from ISU, became a GISP in 2014,  earned a Bachelor’s in Technology and Management with a GIS minor in 2017, and plans to finish her Master’s in Public Administration in 2022.    Over the years she has worked on a survey crew, as a civil drafter/designer, an engineering tech, and most importantly, a GIS professional.  While working for the City of Hillsboro, in Oregon she was a member of ORURISA, PAGIS, and NWGIS.  Since returning to Idaho, has participated in the EIG and NRURISA, and is still a member of NWGIS.  She became a member of the IGC-EC in 2018, when appointed to fill a vacated local government seat.   Since joining the IGC-EC, she helped plan the 2018 Fall Conference, has made contributions to policy review and proposals, and is participating on several TWG’s.  

Kelly Green is a GIS Analyst III with the Blaine County GIS Department and is currently serving her second term on the IGC-EC.  Kelly has worked in the GIS industry for over 22 years.  Prior to moving to Idaho in 2016, she worked for the State of Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC) for 14 years and served on the Utah Geographic Information Council (UGIC) for 3 years.  She also worked for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and as an intern with the Energy and Geoscience Institute (EGI).   

Laurie Ames is the GIS Coordinator for the Nez Perce Tribe.  A graduate of the University of Idaho with a B. S. in Geography emphasis in Physical Science and Environment and completed the GIS Certification.  She also has a M.S. in Geography in Remote Sensing/GIS course work completed ABT at University of Idaho.  She has worked for the Idaho State Climate Lab as a Climate Technician and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality as the Smoke Management Coordinator for the initial Smoke Management Program in Idaho and helped write the first draft of Idaho’s Smoke Management plan. In 2002 she under took the job of building the Remote Sensing program at the Nez Perce Tribe on a NASA BAA grant in conjunction with the University of Idaho.  The tribal council saw the benefit of remote sensing in managing the tribal lands and made the job permanent.  When the current GIS Coordinator moved to a new position Laurie applied and was hired as the GIS Coordinator for the GIS program with a staff of four who oversee GIS software, manage data for all tribal departments and maintain servers and ArcGIS licensing for tribal department use.  Additionally, GIS staff help departments with data analysis such as site selection of alternative crops and viability of reintroduction of the California Condor in the Hells Canyon area.  It is Laurie’s desire to build relationships with other GIS staff and programs that led her to become a part of the IGC-EC because “Together we can do great things for the people of Idaho and the environment”.  She loves all things Disney and cruising, looking out over the ocean from the balcony is extremely relaxing.  An avid knitter and reader she can be found curled up somewhere with a book or knitting needles in her off time.

Pam Bond, Enterprise GIS Analyst Senior at the City of Boise. Although not an Idaho native, Pam has been living in the state since 2004 when she moved to Pocatello to attend Idaho State University. Although she started in wildlife biology, Pam transitioned to a full-time GISer after receiving her M.S. in GIS in 2011. Pam worked as a GIS Analyst for Idaho Fish and Game for seven years before taking a position with the City of Boise. She is also teaching online GIS classes for the College of Western Idaho. Pam has been an IGC-EC member since 2013.

Jeff May is a Software Engineer III with the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System team at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.  He got his start in GIS at Idaho State University in 2013 where he received his M.S. in Geographic Information Science in 2016 and subsequently became a certified GIS Professional in 2018. He resides in Pocatello with his wife and children. Jeff is a new IGC-EC member, starting his first term on April 1, 2021.

Mary Frances Coffman is the Administrative Assistant for the Office of Information Technology Services. She provides support for the IGC-EC, and is eager to learn more about the Idaho GIS community.