Welcome to 2025's New Esri Community MVPs!
The Esri Community MVP Program is designed to support and empower Esri Community’s most engaged members whose contributions positively impact others. Members who join the program as MVPs demonstrate high standards of conduct and embody the goal of helping the global community of GIS practitioners advance through the voluntary sharing of their knowledge, collaboration, and the championing of ideas.
A sizeable group of 14 new MVPs have accepted invitations to join the program this year, adding to the reach and effectiveness of this program whose collective have a remarkable impact on others.
Learn more about these newest MVPs in their own words and be sure to leave a warm message of appreciation in the comments!
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— Alphabetical by last name or username —
I am a passionate GIS professional with over 25 years of experience in geospatial solutions and data management. In the beginning of my career, I was a GIS Technician using MicroStation and AutoCAD Civil to maintain parcel data and provide cartographic support. I then moved into a GIS Analyst role, where I analyzed vector and raster datasets, designing geodatabases, and developing custom GIS tools with Python. I have extensive experience creating efficient workflows for publishing web applications and developing detailed map products.
Currently, I serve as the GIS Supervisor for local county government, where I oversee GIS operations, manage the design and implementation of ArcSDE geodatabases, ensure data integrity and administer addressing across the County. In addition, I mentor one team member to support their growth and development. My expertise spans multiple aspects of GIS, allowing me to translate technical expertise into practical, real-world solutions that support organizational objectives and community needs.
I am from a small (but ever growing) town in Ireland called Celbridge, more famous as the birthplace of Arthur Guinness. I studied Geography at Maynooth University and followed that up with a postgraduate (H.Dip) in Applied Remote Sensing & GIS (2007). After several years of experience applying GIS technology in agriculture, oil & gas, and mineral exploration, I once again found myself back at Maynooth University for a Higher Diploma in Information Technology (2013) and a Masters in Geocomputation (2014) that helped me weld Computer Science and Geography together. For over a decade I have been utilising Python for automating tasks and promoting the benefits of data standards and naming conventions as a foundation for efficient automation, I have no doubt colleagues were sick of hearing me talk about them! In October 2023 I took the leap to start my own GIS Consultancy - Final Draft Mapping Ltd (https://finaldraftmapping.com). My daily grind is heavily based with creating bespoke tools with ArcPy and the ArcGIS API for Python. My interests include watching and playing football (soccer), movies, and travel.
I have always loved working in and with maps, and so after graduating from the University of Florida with an MS in Geography in 2003, I was fortunate enough to land my first real GIS Analyst position with the City of Gainesville, FL. This gave me my first real exposure to geodatabase design in modifying early ArcHydro schemas to support stormwater asset inventories, floodplain delineation and then to automate some of these tasks using VBA in ArcMap.
My wife and I then left Gainesville, FL for Sarasota FL in 2006, where I became the SDE Administrator for Sarasota County GIS working to deploy and tune SDE user databases within a SQL Server 2005 instance. My schema modification skills came in handy, because I was immediately tasked with developing and modifying variety Local Government Data Models, using UML and Visio in those days.
After our adoption of ArcGIS Server (but prior to our adoption of Enterprise Portal in 2016) I did a lot of work standing up Feature Access services and working in Javascript 3.x (and dojo, the dom, html and css media queries) to present location focused apps. I then migrated almost exclusively to the Developer Editon of the Web Application Builder, mainly to take advantage of the framework and Robert Scheitlin’s famous eSearch tool. I look forward to re-engaging in web application development with the JavaScript 4.x API and the Calcite Design System.
Currently, I concentrate on ArcGIS Enterprise Administration using ArcPy and the Python API for ArcGIS as the Arc Enterprise Administrator and Web Application Developer. In this role I now use the ever-growing Arcade profiles to build in intelligence like geo-enrichment and feature summaries into my webmaps and then use Experience Builder and Instant Apps to present the solutions in Online and Enterprise.
I have a Chemistry degree from UMASS Amherst and a Forestry / Soils degree and Geospatial certificate from Humboldt State University.
I have an insatiable curiosity about the true nature of the universe. I think the best science comes from well-made measurements and observations.
I enjoy cartography and spatial analysis, the first for my appreciation of graphic design, and the second for my love of multivariable calculus, deterministic and statistical modeling.
I encourage people to dream and wonder, from the smallest of the small to the grandest of the grand.
I live among the ancient redwoods near the Pacific ocean in Humboldt County California USA.
I began my career as a botanist in 1994, working on a threatened plant program for one of South Africa's provinces. My passion for plants has led me to co-author two books on plant identification in Mpumalanga and Mozambique, and I've led the development of a national vegetation map for Mozambique. While working on threatened plants, using ArcView 3.2, I learnt how to predict the likely occurrence of plants using GIS. This led me into the fascinating world of systematic conservation planning, where GIS plays a central role. Today, I serve as the GIS Manager and Biodiversity Planner for the Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency.
However, I could not do this on my own as I have no formal GIS training. In Africa, we say it takes a village to raise a child, and the Society of Conservation GIS (SCGIS) has been that village for me. I participated in their one-month Global Scholarship Program in 2011, returned in 2014 under their Train-the-Trainer program, and came back in 2018 as a Master Trainer. Now, I help coordinate their global scholarship program to ensure our 'village' continues its good work. The Esri Community is another global 'village' that helps grow and support others. It's a privilege to be part of this community, particularly now as a village elder (aka MVP).
Is a GIS Analyst who has published hundreds of posts during their time in Esri Community, dating back to 2023.
I’m a GIS Administrator and Software Developer at a telecommunications company with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and currently pursuing my Master’s in Computer Science. My journey in GIS started just a year and a half ago, but it has quickly become one of my favorite fields to work in. The ESRI community has been an incredible resource, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such talented professionals.
Beyond GIS, I’m passionate about embedded development, rock climbing, skydiving, and piloting. My ultimate dream is to combine my technical expertise with my desire to see humanity reach the stars, contributing to space science and, hopefully, one day becoming an astronaut! I’m excited to continue growing in GIS and giving back to the community that has supported me along the way!
Growing up and living in the South-West of Western Australia, I trained as a Mining Surveyor. I had my first taste of GIS when I started working for the Forest Products Commission, doing field work capturing new plantation areas with a DGPS, data processing and making the required maps in ArcMap. A shift in government resulted in me changing jobs after less than a year and moving into the mining industry as a Mining Surveyor. Three years later though, I was engaged to my now wife and was ready to stop doing FIFO (Fly-In Fly-Out) work. The opportunity arose to apply for a job back at the FPC in their GIS Section and that’s where I still am 12 years later.
In that time, I championed the early adoption of ArcGIS Online and Collector (now Field Maps) to streamline data provisioning to and from the field. ArcGIS Online along with shifting to ArcGIS Pro has resulted in GIS becoming embedded across our organisation. The GIS Team has gradually shifted from being a group that were primarily responsible for data entry and map making to data management and solution development. I’ve produced many ArcGIS Pro templates, WebMaps and WebApps, putting GIS into the hands of our many field staff, planners and other roles. I also worked to modernise and centralise GIS data and mapping, bringing our 3 distinct business areas (Plantations, Native Forests and Wild Sandalwood) into the same sphere. These improvements to data creation, data sharing and standardisation of mapping products has made a huge difference to the way that we do business. After many years championing it as an option that would see forms and GIS inherently integrated, Survey123 is now being rolled out across the business. I love problem solving and creating solutions for people that adds value to their work without also becoming a burden.
I was a volunteer fire-fighter in my community for many years and am currently an active member of our in-house fire response team. I hope to one day be able to branch out into incident mapping roles as well. Outside of work, I’m a busy dad to 2 young boys and love taking my family on adventures and hosting other campers at our semi-rural property via Hipcamp. Meeting people and hearing their stories are what makes truly life interesting. The Esri Community is no different, with so many people sharing their stories, struggles and triumphs, all of which benefits so many others through the simple act of sharing.
Is a GIS Analyst who has published over 500 posts in Esri Community, dating back to 2018.
My fascination with Geography began during my school years when I created my first map in the form of a literary map for a novel we were required to analyse. I then repurposed the CAD software I had access to and was experienced with to create my own maps.
Instead of pursuing a degree in Engineering, I chose to study Geography.
During my time at university, I worked intensively with Esri Software. I now hold an MSc in Geography and work as a consultant for con terra in Germany, an Esri Platinum Partner. To date, I have worked with a diverse range of clients, from public agencies to private enterprises, across various industries, which makes my job so interesting.
The primary products I use include ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, and ArcGIS Online.
My current special interest lies in ArcGIS Enterprise architecture and security. I enjoy exploring new features through the Early Adopter program and delving into technical documentation.
I have been working with Esri software for over ten years and currently hold five Esri certifications.
The Esri community has become an invaluable resource for me over the years, providing a wealth of knowledge and welcoming environment.
This is why I am passionate about sharing my expertise with the community, enabling others to benefit as I have.
I am a GIS Specialist from Vancouver Canada and have spent the past ten years working in the Telecommunications industry, helping teams manage their fiber cable builds and get accurate deliverables to their clients. I spend my free time riding around the beautiful mountains of British Columbia.
I got my start in GIS after taking my first GIS class in college. I originally started out as a meteorology major, but after taking my first GIS class, I decided that GIS is what I’m passionate about, so I changed majors and haven’t looked back since. I received my B.S. in Geographic Information Science from Western Kentucky University in 2016 and have received numerous Esri certifications since then.
Professionally, I have worn a lot of different hats over the years. I have experience managing multiple ArcGIS Enterprise environments, developing data collection workflows in Survey123, creating maps, apps, and dashboards, and developing ETL processes in FME. I especially enjoy developing GIS-centric solutions that improves existing processes and increases productivity.
On a personal level, I enjoy helping people on Geonet! I’ve received a lot of help on Geonet over the years, and now I like to give back to the Esri community when I can. And in my free time when I’m not doing anything GIS related, I like playing video games, amateur radio, and traveling the world.
Hello! My name is Hayden Welch. I work in the OSP fiber optic design industry and focus heavily on building tools and automations for designing large scale networks using arcpy and ArcGIS Pro.
As native of West Virginia and now a transplant in southwestern Virginia, by way of Blacksburg, VA, I began my journey at West Virginia University pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering. Upon graduating, I fell in love with developing software applications and began my journey as a C++ Application developer for a small computer aided transcription company, Stenovations, which produces software and other items for Court Reporters. Since 2005 my primary focus has been on developing, testing, and architecting web applications on a variety of platforms including C# (.Net Framework), JavaScript based applications using react.
A lot of my early programming efforts were related to integration one software tool with another to enable more Enterprise value. For a decade I focused in on how to expedite software testing, using automation and a host of tools. In 2017, I began my pivot back to application development in a NodeJS and React based product environment before ending up with Montgomery County, Virginia as a systems architect. There I was responsible for system maintenance, as well as coding and specifically focused on Architecture. It was at Montgomery County that I had my first exposure with ArcGIS, as a user, and integrator, it was one of the tools I most enjoyed working with during my time spent there.
As an Eagle Scout, I have always enjoyed maps, not just because of what they tell us of terrain, but how they tell a story about an issue, an area, or help create solutions to better manage the ever-connected world. Since fall of 2023, I have worked with Geographic Technologies Group, on an array of projects including but not limited to, third party data integration and services, Web AppBuilder developer and custom widget designer, Experience Builder widget developer, and have also worked on lighter weight application integrations with the JavaScript API (as well as some python development here and there).
I’m a civic minded person, who loves the opportunity to use software to help make our cities, counties, and states better, and improve how they communicate and connect with other citizens about their missions. After twenty or more years in the software industry, I approach everything with a service mindset, and a desire to use the best technical practices we can, within the scope and time that we are granted. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing and managing a small collaborative writing game, as well as my family of two children. I’m a big fan of vintage board and card games, and really enjoy the outdoors, as much as I can get out and appreciate them these days.