GIS Heroes in the Electric Community

Esri electric heroes inspire

GIS heroes are GIS champions. They have gained respect from electric industry colleagues who see them as problem solvers. Their humble natures and genuine love of GIS make them the people everyone wants to work with. They inspire others to imagine how GIS can help them do their work better. Join us in celebrating these industry leaders who are making a difference every day at their organizations.

Brandon Keinath

GIS Supervisor at ALLETE

Brandon has over 15 years of experience delivering geospatial technology solutions to ALLETE and its family of businesses, including two regulated utilities.

Currently, Brandon oversees ALLETE’s implementation of the ArcGIS Utility Network across electric, gas, and water systems. His team also supports key initiatives such as lead service line replacement, mapping the company’s real estate assets, and developing wildfire response plans.

Outside of work, Brandon enjoys staying active, playing board games, and running a 10-acre hobby farm near Duluth, Minnesota, with his wife, Molly, and their son, Owen.

Brandon Keinath wearing business attire and smiling overlaid on a yellow and purple background

Past GIS heroes

Rami AlyGad, GISP | Arizona Public Service

GIS and Smart Grid Manager

Rami leads GIS data management, solution delivery, and utility network transformation, driving improvements in system accuracy and efficiency.
Jeffrey Grussing | Great River Energy

GIS Development Manager

Jeff spearheaded GRE’s enterprise GIS deployment and focuses on maintaining the utility's business GIS solutions and backend infrastructure.

Kristen Conrad | FirstEnergy

GIS Application Supervisor

Kristen focuses on keeping system data relevant and reliable for downstream systems and critical decision-making.
Patrick Gans | Lincoln Electric System (LES)

Business Solutions Supervisor

Patrick guides LES’s GIS vision, which includes migrating to ArcGIS Utility Network and replacing their outage management system.
Lucas Rodrigo Halphen Rivera | ETESA

Engineering Director

Lucas modernized field data collection at ETESA with ArcGIS QuickCapture and ArcGIS Survey123, boosting workflow efficiency.
Amanda Opp | Flathead Electric Cooperative

Integrated Services Manager

Amanda implemented ArcGIS Collector for field data collection, which replaced paper-based processes—a significant improvement for FEC.

Chris Berryman | Santee Cooper

GIS Architect

Chris developed a GIS strategy to ensure long-term growth and creates solutions that keep crews and stakeholders informed during power outages.
Jamie Chipps | FirstEnergy

Applications Support for Distribution Manager

Jamie has spent the last 5 years leading the team implementing a new Design tool and Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network called the aDAPT project.
Jonathan Blazs | Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company

GIS Manager

Jonathan leads a team of 12 GIS professionals whose focus is on timely and accurate electric distribution data for operational and field use.
George Nadar | Pacific Gas & Electric Company

Principal GIS Technology Architect

George led the transformation of PG&E’s ArcGIS platform into the cloud, allowing efficient management of a services with remotely sensed data.

Hussam Al Jabri | MEDC

Senior GIS Analyst

As acting head of GIS at Muscat Electricity Distribution Company (MEDC), Hussam digitally transformed maintenance inspection activities.
Holly Dewbre | Oncor Electric Delivery

Manager

Holly develops GIS strategies that improve situational awareness for those who design, construct, and operate Oncor’s transmission lines.
Duane Holt | CORE Electric Cooperative

GIS Manager

In his 28-year career, Duane is most proud of the widespread acceptance of GIS technologies that he has generated at CORE.
Sephe Fox | Clatskanie People’s Utility District

GIS Analyst

Sephe built a GIS system from the ground up and maintains and analyzes all GIS data, including an outage management system.
Mark Shibuta | UEDCL

Head of GIS

In his six years at Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), Mark moved the company from paper maps to a GIS-based ecosystem.

Keith Aubin | Enel Green Power North America

Head of Digital Hub for Business Development

Keith Aubin took GIS from being a tool for creating PDF maps to becoming a core business system that supports renewable energy projects.
Darris Friend | Gainesville Regional Utilities

Utility Project Team Leader

With 20 years of GIS experience, Darris Friend leads energy delivery at Gainesville Regional Utilities by migrating electric and gas networks.
Melissa Mayo | Alabama Power

Team Leader

Melissa Mayo’s team produces cartographic products, mobile solutions, and apps to support transmission efforts in the company’s service areas.
Kurt Towler | SSVEC

GIS Manager

Kurt Towler manages the GIS network at Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) and is fully migrating their GIS to the cloud.