PAMAGIC 2016 Board Elections

Voting is now open for three positions on the PAMAGIC Executive Board.  You can vote using the poll at the right side of this Blog, or you can vote in person by visiting the PaMAGIC booth at the PA GIS Conference.

PaMAGIC members can cast up to 3 votes for the nominees listed below and/or a write-in candidate.

Current, standing PAMAGIC members are eligible to vote.

The following people have been nominated for the 2016 PaMAGIC Board of Directors,  Click on their names below to read more about each candidate.

Mike Bialousz
Christine Iksic
Eric Jespersen

Mike Bialousz

Mike is the GIS Director for the PA DCNR where he oversees and manages GIS activities for the Department.  His primary roles include strategic GIS planning, enterprise Geodatabase administration, map service and web/mobile application development, and promotion of the integration of GIS technology into Department business processes.

Mike has over 21 years of GIS experience in both the private and public sectors and has developed and managed GIS projects throughout the eastern United States.  In addition, he has taught several GIS classes at both Harrisburg and Shippensburg Universities.  Mike has served as a Board member of PA MAGIC for 6 years, including as President in 2011.  He is also serving as the Chair for the Governance Task Force for the State Geospatial Coordinating Council.  

Mike has a Master's degree in Geoenvironmental Studies from Shippensburg University, along with undergraduate degrees in Geography and Forest Technology.  In his spare time, he enjoys running, hiking, fishing, skiing and coaching softball.

Christine Iksic

Christine Iksic is a Mobile Field Solutions Engineer for Precision Laser & Instrument Inc. of Ambridge, Pa. Christine supports clients throughout Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia to implement and improve their GIS data collection workflows. She specializes in integrating Trimble and Esri products for a complete field to office solution with clients in many industries including local government, water and wastewater, engineering, environmental, and energy.  Christine has been with Precision Laser & Instrument since 2009. Christine is also the UAV specialist for partner company Geo-Precision Solutions offering both UAV sales, training, and services to clients interested in gathering or processing their own airborne mapping data.

Christine is a graduate from Slippery Rock University and Beaver County Community College where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Geographic Technology and Associates Degree in Aviation respectively. Before returning to Western Pennsylvania in 2009 Christine spent 3 years abroad working as a freelance aerial surveyor operating spatial imaging equipment on board aircraft to include film cameras and digital imaging systems, LiDAR, and multi-spectral systems gathering data for aerial mapping products. Christine did similar work in the US for from 2005 – 2007 with Merrick & Company and Earth Data International.

Christine’s varied experience has given her insight into various sectors of the geospatial community from airborne mapping, surveying, and GIS. Her current role at Precision Laser & Instrument as well as her position as Event Coordinator with URISA-CAC has given her an opportunity to build close relationships with a large number of her peers throughout Pennsylvania. Christine has a passion for process improvement and social engagement which she hopes will help build a stronger GIS community in Pennsylvania through her on-going involvement with URISA-CAC and any future involvement with PAMAGIC if she is elected.

Christine is an avid outdoor person spending considerable time in the great outdoors of Pennsylvania or West Virginia in search of the best white-water kayaking, camping, or hiking. She occasionally gets out mt. biking and climbing as well.

Eric Jespersen

With over 30 years of experience, Eric is broadly knowledgeable in land surveying, forestry and natural resources, and geospatial technologies. He was instrumental in the founding of PaMAGIC in 1996 and has served six terms as a MAGIC Board Member including five years as President, many years as ad hoc liaison to NSGIC, a long stint as subject matter expert on Political Boundaries for PGDSS, and organizer of the annual InfoSwap party. In 2005 Eric initiated the multi-agency effort for improving FEMA MapMod in Pennsylvania, and is active in that effort’s successor, the PA Association of Flood Plain Managers. He authored the 2005 Strategic Plan for the PA Geospatial Technologies Office, and managed two countywide and many smaller projects that researched and inventoried municipal and County boundaries in PA. 

As co-owner of Planned Dynamics, Inc.in the early 1990’s, he developed a reputation for innovative GPS field practice and trained hundreds of GPS users.

He is known for his ability to analyze and explain complex situations and markets, and for his candor in public service. Mr. Jespersen is fluent in Spanish as a result of his time in Ecuador for the US Peace Corps and land reform work in El Salvador. 

PaMAGIC Call for Board Nominations

PaMAGIC is announcing a call for nominations of individuals to serve on the Board.  According to the organization’s mission statement, the Board is responsible for “providing leadership, coordination and guidance to enhance the development, use and access to spatial information and related services.”  We are looking for individuals who would be interested in using their knowledge and experience to drive this mission forward in Pennsylvania.

Board members represent a diverse cross-section of the Commonwealth’s GIS community. They are typically active PaMAGIC members, serve for three year terms, meet via conference call about every two weeks, and are also active in other professional associations.

Nomination Process

• Email your nominations to: Glenn Mohler at mohler@co.lancaster.pa.us
• Use “PaMAGIC Nomination” in email subject line
• Nominations close at noon on April 18th
• Provide nominee’s name and contact information 
• Both the nominator and nominee must be members of PaMAGIC. 
• You can become a member at any time before the nomination and it is acceptable to nominate yourself.  To join PaMAGIC use http://www.pamagic.org/aboutus/Pages/JoinUs.aspx
• Elections occur on-line in the week before the PA GIS Conference and on-site at the Conference, with results being announced at the Annual InfoSwap.