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 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!

Sue Parsons is the GIS Coordinator for the City of Chubbuck, Idaho.  She has lived in southeast Idaho since 2006, and earned her Master’s Degree and GIS Certificate from Idaho State University. Prior to joining the City of Chubbuck Public Works team, Sue spent a decade working as a GIS Specialist and Data Manager for a combination of NSF-funded grants, including the Reynolds Creek Critical Zone Observatory, Managing Idaho Landscapes for Ecosystem Services, and Genes by Environment (GEM3) at Idaho State, and the Dryland Critical Zone at University of Texas at El Paso.  Sue enjoys spending time with her family, various outdoor sports, and DIY home improvement projects. 

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.

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.

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.”