Riley Denning

Riley is a GIS Analyst for Butler County, Kansas. She graduated from Friends University in 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Conservation Science. She started working in the Butler County GIS department in 2024. Riley started in the GIS Technician role at Butler County where she was responsible for maintaining zoning and agriculture use delineation for Butler County. Now, as a GIS Analyst, Riley is responsible for developing and implementing new GIS centered applications and workflows for various departments working toward a county-wide GIS deployment. She also maintains and edits NG911 data, hazardous materials, and many other datasets for the county using ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Enterprise.

Presentation - Modernizing Butler County Public Works

Marie Dawes

Marie is the GIS Technician for Pottawatomie County Public Works where she manages the department's GIS supporting transportation, utilities and public infrastructure. She's leading the integration of her department's new asset management software with ArcGIS Online, developing workflows that emphasize data integrity, consistency and long-term maintainability.

Marie earned her degree in Architectural Engineering from Kansas State University and spent nearly 20 years as a structural engineer before transitioning to GIS. She brings an engineering perspective to GIS, leaning on logical problem solving to build reliable, maintainable systems with practical workflows. She is currently serving her second year as Treasurer of the Kansas Association of Mappers.

Presentation - Using ArcGIS Online View Layers for Long-Term Maintainability

Luke Finley

Luke Finley is a Senior Solution Engineer at Esri, specializing in geospatial solutions for state and local government. He partners with organizations to design and implement GIS workflows that improve decision-making and operational efficiency. Luke focuses on helping agencies connect, manage, and share data in meaningful ways to support everyday priorities and long-term goals.

Presentation - Introduction to ArcGIS for Microsoft 365

Presentation - Introduction to ArcGIS Velocity

Presentation - Introduction to Workflow Manager

DJ Gering

DJ Gering serves as the Kansas Public Health Analyst for the CDC Foundation in the Overdose Response Strategy program. He has more than eight years of experience in public health, specializing in geospatial analysis and data visualization. His work centers on translating complex data into practical tools that help communities identify risk, allocate resources and build more cross-sector collaboration. DJ holds an MA in Global Security from Arizona State University and has taught political data analysis, health policy and drug policy as an adjunct at Wichita State University.

Presentation - From Tracts to Interstates: Scaling Overdose Analysis Across Kansas

Louise Jennings

Louise Jennings, GISP, is a Senior GIS Analyst at HNTB with over nine years of experience in geospatial strategy, data management, and application development for complex infrastructure and planning projects. They specialize in designing and deploying scalable GIS solutions that drive digital transformation, enhance data transparency, and optimize public engagement and internal decision-making through robust data governance and integrated data sources.

Presentation - Kansas City World Cup: An Integrated Platform for Real Time Data Management and Display

Chris Johnston

Years of Experience: 3.5 years (2026)

Years with ESS: 10 months (2026)

As a GIS Analyst, Chris develops and maintains GIS solutions that support project teams and field operations across ESS. His work includes managing ArcGIS Online applications, building web maps and dashboards, integrating engineering and construction data, and transforming complex CAD information into accessible GIS resources. By connecting information from multiple sources and presenting it in user-friendly applications, Chris helps teams improve communication, understand project conditions, and make informed decisions throughout construction.

Presentation - See It. Share It. Build It Safer: GIS in Construction Operations

Quinton Lewis

Quinton Lewis is the Managing Director and co-founder of Helios Airborne Solutions, an aerial acquisition and platforming firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. He began his career in aerial survey in 2018 with Geomni, where he managed a large team of aerial sensor operators before the company was acquired by Vexcel Imaging. At Vexcel, Quinton participated in the testing and operation of the first Vexcel Condor system.

In 2021, Quinton co-founded Helios Airborne Solutions with a mission to improve the efficiency and flexibility of manned aerial acquisition. Today, Helios operates a diverse fleet of multi-engine aircraft capable of supporting a wide range of sensor payloads while maintaining an extensive network of strategically located single-engine aircraft partners across the United States and Canada to reduce mobilization costs and increase operational responsiveness.

Quinton is an active leader within MAPPS, serving as Chair of the Membership Committee, moderator of the Aerial Acquisition Forum, and FAA liaison to the Legislative Action

Presentation - Adapting to the Next Generation of Manned-Aerial Acquisition Platforms

Teona Marko

Presentation - Kansas City World Cup: An Integrated Platform for Real Time Data Management and Display

Sherry Massey

Presentation - Kansas NG911 GIS User Group

Scott Perkins

Scott Perkins, GISP is a longtime member of KAM with 40 years of experience collecting, processing and delivering geospatial data from air, land and water. His experience includes serving on the Federal Advisory Committee to NOAA for Hydrographic Surveying. Scott was elected as chair of the Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) committee and during his term the HSRP held public meetings at major US Ports and Harbors to meet with local stake holders and learn about their safety of navigation concerns and bathymetry needs. HSRP travels took Scott to the Ports of Anchorage, Honolulu, New York-New Jersy, Long Beach, Houston, New Orleans, Charleston and Galveston. Scott is a recreational paddler who has participated six times in the MR-340, a three hundred a forty-mile-long paddle race from KC to STL on the Big Muddy Missouri River.

Presentation - Geospatial Innovations for Aging Canals: A Path to Water Security

Avantika Ramekar

Avantika Ramekar, PhD, joined Prairie Engineers in 2024 as a Geospatial Analyst. At Prairie Engineers, she applies her expertise in GIS across a range of projects for teams specializing in natural resources, hydrology, and civil engineering. Her past research has taken her to rural areas of Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, gaining valuable field experience. Currently, she is engaged in projects involving key agencies such as the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Illinois Department Natural Resources (IDNR), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and others.

Presentation - Geospatial Innovations for Aging Canals: A Path to Water Security

Presentation - Challenges in Wetland Delineation Fieldwork Across Kansas and Missouri

Amy Roust

Amy Roust, GISP, PMP is the GIS Administrator for the City of Lawrence, Kansas. She has 15 years of experience in GIS for state and local government and earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in April 2026. Amy served on the KAM board for 6 years, including as president in 2022.

Presentation - GIS Project Pitfalls (and how to fix them)

Mark Schmidt

Mark is the GIS Director at Butler County with a strong background in GIS, atmospheric science and meteorology. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Science from the University of Kansas and a Master of Science in GIS from Northwest Missouri State University. His professional experience includes serving as a GIS Analyst for Butler County, where he developed GIS applications for various departments and worked towards a county-wide GIS deployment, and as a GIS Technician for gWorks, providing GIS customer support, maintaining property ownership boundaries and land data for 84 counties in Nebraska. As the GIS Director, Mark is responsible for communicating and implementing the Geospatial Strategy across all departments at Butler County

Presentation - Modernizing Butler County Public Works

Allen Shafer

Allen Shafer joined DASC as a part of the crash mapping team in 2022, and has worked on a variety of projects since.  He has a Geography degree from Kansas State, and two decades of (mostly city/county agency) GIS experience.

Presentation - Kansas NG911 GIS User Group

Kevin Skridulis

Kevin Skridulis, GISP, is a GIS Project Analyst with over 30 years of experience in geospatial analysis and mapping. He joined the AIMS department of Johnson County, Kansas in 2019, after working in the County Appraiser’s Office since 1993 as both a GIS Technician and Analyst.

Currently embedded within the Appraiser’s Office as part of AIMS, Kevin specializes in agricultural use delineation and contributes to a wide range of mapping and technology-driven initiatives that support the Appraiser. He earned both his B.A. and M.A. in Geography from the University of Kansas.

Presentation - Preparing for the GISCI Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam®

Tony Spicci

Tony Spicci is a seasoned geospatial professional with over 35 years of experience. He began his career in 1992 at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), where he led teams in geospatial sciences, technology, biometrics, and social science. After retiring from MDC, he became Executive Director of the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI), advancing the GIS profession through its GISP® and GISP-E certifications.

Tony is active in the geospatial community, serving on multiple committees and boards, including the Missouri GIS Advisory Committee and the National States Geographic Information Council. He played a key role in founding the Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO).

Additionally, Tony volunteers with Missouri Task Force 1, a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team, and the Boone County Fire Protection District. He also works the sidelines of high school, collegiate, and professional football games, including for the Mizzou Tigers and Kansas City Chiefs.

Presentation - Preparing for the GISCI Geospatial Core Technical Knowledge Exam®

Presentation - Who Is a GISP: A Guide to Becoming a Certified Geospatial Professional

Jeremy Taylor

Presentation - Automating ADA-Compliant PDF Exports with ArcGIS Pro and Python

Paul Tierney

Years of Experience: 15 years (2026)

Years with ESS: 7 years (2026)

In his role as Director of Technology, Paul leads the strategy and development of technology solutions that support employee-owners across ESS. With more than a decade of experience in heavy civil construction, including project engineering and project management roles, he brings a practical understanding of field operations and project execution to the organization.

Paul has been instrumental in advancing technology initiatives at ESS, including helping lead the early adoption of GIS technology within ESS — efforts that laid the foundation for today’s GIS solutions across ESS Companies. His leadership focuses on improving efficiency, creating clear processes, and equipping teams with the technology and support they need to succeed.

Regina B. Thomas

Presentation - Using Experience Builder for End-to-End Project Data Management

William Trimble

Presentation - Kansas NG911 GIS User Group

Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson, P.E. has been a Licensed Professional Engineer in Kansas since 1976. Steve was a design and project engineer and computer programmer for Wilson & Co., Engineers & Architects in Salina, KS (1972-1982).

(1982-2003) Steve was an Associate Professor at KSU-Salina where he taught Computer Science, Surveying, Civil Engineering, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) / Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). He began the first GIS/GNSS Associate Degree option in the U.S. and established the first GNSS base station in KS at the KSU-Salina campus in 1990 with funding from National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Kansas GIS Initiative. Steve served as a member of the Kansas GIS Technical Advisory Committee (1987-2003) and served as a grant reviewer for NSF (1991-1998) helping them determine which GIS/GNSS grant proposals to fund nationally. Steve has written many GIS/GNSS articles and made numerous GIS/GNSS presentations at local, state, regional, national, and international conferences and proceedings.

(2003-Present) Steve has been a GIS/GNSS consultant working with local, state, and federal agencies and the private sector in Kansas regarding parcel and centerline mapping, utility mapping, and GIS/GNSS training and advising related to E-911 and Homeland Security. He has also been an adjunct professor at Butler Community College-Andover campus (8/2008-12/2014) and Cloud County Community College-Concordia campus (8/2010-12/2013), teaching GIS/GNSS.

Presentation - How will GNSS and the Modernization of the NSRS affect us now and in the future?

Tyler Wehr

Tyler Wehr, GISP, LAZ Parking, I'm the GIS'er in Parking Industry. GIS'er for 10 years, critical thinker at heart :D

Presentation - Using AI as a Study Tool for the GISP Exam

Presentation - Analyst to Advocate: GIS Strategy in the Private Sector