Official Government Website

Meet the IGC-EC

The Current Geographic Information Officer (GIO) – Wilma Robertson

Wilma Robertson, Geographic Information Officer for Idaho, is housed within the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) and has been involved with GIS Leadership since first joining the IGC-EC in 2013.  Wilma was born and raised in the Netherlands where she received a Masters’ Degree in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences from Wageningen University. After working as a crop consultant, accountant and owner of a consulting firm in Canada, Wilma moved to Boise in 2000. Wilma has been working as a GIS Professional for over 18 years. She has worked at the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the Idaho State Tax Commission before joining ITS.  

The Current Idaho Geospatial Clearinghouse/Portal Manager – Bruce Godfrey

Bruce Godfrey, GIS Librarian at the University of Idaho.  Bruce has held positions as a GIS technician and a GIS specialist in his over 20 years of working experience with GIS.  He holds a GIS Professional (GISP) certification and he is currently serving as a Standing Member of the IGC-EC as the Idaho Geospatial Clearinghouse (INSIDE Idaho) Manager.

The Current GIS Training and Research Center Manager – Keith Weber

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.

The Current USGS Liaison for the State of Idaho – Tom Carlson

Tom Carlson is the USGS Geospatial Liaison for Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington. In this capacity, he is responsible for geospatial coordination with State, Federal, local, tribal and USGS disciplines in the region. These collaborations lead to agreements to collect and exchange geospatial data for The National Map, the 3D Elevation Program, the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), and other initiatives that advance and support USGS science.


Two State Agency Representatives

Sydney Lewis – Idaho Transportation Department (Term Ends: Mar 2024) (IGC-EC Chair)

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.

Gabe Osterhout – Idaho Secretary of State (Term Ends: Mar 2025)

Gabe Osterhout is the data visualization specialist at Idaho Secretary of State, where he creates dashboards about registered voters, campaign finance, and election results. He previously worked as a research associate at the Idaho Policy Institute at Boise State University. Gabe earned a bachelor’s degree from The College of Idaho and a master’s degree from King’s College London. He once held the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to identify all national flags.

Two Federal Agency Representatives

Eric Buehler – United States Department of Agriculture (Term Ends: Mar 2025)

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.   

Dan Determan – NOAA Geodetic Survey (Term Ends: Mar 2024)

16+ Years:  DoD (DMA, NIMA, NGS); Cartographer (3.5yrs), Geodesist (10.5 yrs), Orbit Analyst (2+ yrs).

8 Years:  DoI (USGS); Geodesist in charge of operation and maintenance, and managing the Southern California Integrated GPS Network (SCIGN) for crustal deformation studies and various research projects.

2+ Years:  DOC (NGS); Regional Geodetic Advisor

Three Local Government Representatives

Cyndi Andersen- City of Meridian (Term Ends: Mar 2025)

Cyndi Andersen is the GIS Program Manager for the City of Meridian.  As a GIS practitioner for more than 25 years, she earned her GIS Profession (GISP) certification in 2014 and has GIS experience at the city, county, and state levels of government.  She has a Master’s in Public Administration, Bachelor’s in Technology and Management w/GIS minor, and began her career with an Associate’s degree in Civil Engineering.  Over the years, she has participated in local and regional GIS groups and previously served on the IGC-EC from 2018-2021; during which she helped plan conferences, contributed to policy development, and has participated on several IGC-EC TWG’s. She enjoys being involved in the GIS community and looks forward to more in the coming years!

Bob Folsom – City of Post Falls (Term Ends: Mar 2024)

Bob Folsom, GIS Coordinator with the City of Post Falls.  Bob has worked in the GIS industry for over 30 years. Prior to his employment with the City of Post Falls he worked for the Spokane County Assessor’s Office researching and creating Tax Parcel data from Land Surveys,  Simultaneous Conveyances, and deeds of record. He has worked for the City of Post Falls for the last 7 years and absolutely is enjoying having the opportunity to take an active role in not only the data creation step but the sharing of the GIS Spatial data to assist in the making of decisions by not only to the Employees of the City but the Public as well.

Kelly Green – Blaine County (Term Ends: Mar 2024)

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).   

One Tribal Representative

Laurie Ames – Nez Perce Tribe (Term Ends: Mar 2024)

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.

One Utility Representative

Wendy Largent – Northern Lights Cooperative (Term Ends: Mar 2025)

Wendy Largent is the GIS Administrator for Northern Lights Cooperative in Sandpoint, Idaho. She started her GIS career in utilities 20 years ago at NorthWestern Energy in Missoula, MT. She then moved into local government work at Lake County, Montana as the GIS Coordinator where she served on the MAGIP, MLIAC and local school boards. She moved on to work for Tetra Tech for 2 years where she traveled back and forth to the Texas Brine Sinkhole Project in Louisiana overseeing an experimental GIS based alert system for residential toxic gas monitoring.  At the end of the sinkhole project, she went to work for Umatilla Electric Cooperative in Hermiston, Oregon as the GIS Administrator overseeing their GIS conversion as well as implementing mobile map apps for linemen and field work. Seeing an opportunity to live in the rain forest, Wendy left UEC and took a job as the GIS Administrator and Natural Resources Director for the Hoh Indian Tribe on the Olympic Peninsula near Forks, WA. Now she is back in the utilities world at Northern Lights and settled in at Sandpoint, Idaho.

One Private Sector Representative

Jan Cunningham – ESRI (Term Ends: Mar 2024)

Jan Cunningham is an Account Manager with ESRI, focused on local government accounts. She works with city, county and regional decision makers across government domains (IT, Planning, Land Records, Public Safety, Social Services, etc.). Jan’s background includes 13 years with ESRI, and 22 years in the lumber industry. Jan is a new IGC-EC member, joining upon her transfer to Idaho March 2020.

Two Open Representatives

Tom Kearns – Idaho Department of Lands (Term Ends: Mar 2025)

Tom Kearns is the Technical Services Bureau Chief with the Idaho Department of Lands. He started with GIS at the University of Idaho where he studied History and Geography. Tom was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico but has lived in Idaho for the past 25 years. Starting in Boise, he spent over 10 years in Moscow before moving to Coeur d’Alene where he lives with his wife and two awesome kids. He enjoys gardening, fishing and anything woods related.

Jaqueline Reader – GIS Contractor (Term Ends: Mar 2025)

Jacqueline Reader, GIS Contractor working with the Idaho Department of Commerce and Idaho Office of Information Technology Services on Broadband mapping.  Jacqueline was born in Germany while her father served in the US military, she was raised in Iowa, but has called Idaho home since 2001.  Jacqueline is passionate about outdoor recreation and spending time with her family.  She has worked at the City of Chubbuck since her final semester as a Geology student in 2017 and was promoted to GIS Coordinator shortly after obtaining her Master’s in GIS in 2021.  She loves taking an active role in GIS and looks forward to contributing more through the IGC-EC.”

Executive Support Staff (non-members)

Kristin Bartz – Office of Information Technology Services

Kristin Bartz, Management Assistant at the Idaho State Office of Information Technology Services. Kristin has been an Idaho resident since she was a young child and worked for several agencies at the State since 2009, including six years as a board member with the Occupational Therapy Licensure Board. She has 30 years of public and private administrative experience, including communications, operations, and strategic planning.

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