Water GIS Heroes | Industry Leaders in the Water Community

Esri water GIS heroes inspire

Each quarter, the Esri water team highlights a GIS hero from the Esri water community. These heroes are leaders within the GIS community and true GIS champions. As proven problem solvers, they have gained deep respect from colleagues. Their genuine love of GIS inspires others to imagine how GIS can help them achieve their own ambitious goals. Join Esri in celebrating these industry leaders who are making a difference every day.

Lindsay Dreckman | Metropolitan Utilities District

Lindsay has played a key role in advancing enterprise GIS at Metropolitan Utilities District. During her 10-year tenure, she led the upgrade to ArcGIS Enterprise and deployed new GIS environments while also migrating to ArcGIS Utility Network for both gas and water systems.

Lindsay and her team developed apps using Utility Network capabilities to enhance functionality with outage management and workflows for lead service line replacements. She also supports integration with SAP S4 HANA, AutoCAD, and other business systems.

Portrait of Lindsay Dreckman smiling in a dark gray suit with an abstract blue and white background

Many of us know Lindsay as our GIS Hero! While she has led innovative enhancements to our GIS platform, her magic power is her communication skills and ability to connect with key stakeholders. Knowing her business partners and how they can perform better and provide better service enables Lindsay and her team to focus on what matters most. She is a tremendous asset to the Metropolitan Utilities District.

Sue Lobsiger

Sr. VP, Chief Information Officer | Metropolitan Utilities District

Past GIS heroes

GIS Hero winter 2025

Gavin Runyon | Helix Water District

GIS Analyst

Gavin created apps that modernize workflows for outage management, pavement repair, and more.

GIS hero fall 2024

Carl Von Stetten | Central San

GIS Analyst

Carl designs and implements GIS systems and integrations between ArcGIS Enterprise and other business systems.
GIS Hero Summer 2024

Clint Dickerson | Mustang Special Utility District

GIS Specialist

Clint led Mustang’s digitization and upload of as-built infrastructure plans to a GIS, enabling instant field access for staff.
GIS Hero Summer 2024

Emily McBroom | Mustang Special Utility District

GIS Manager

Emily transitioned Mustang from paper to digital maps, creating GIS tools that streamline operations and track infrastructure projects.
GIS Hero Spring 2024

Mark Rees | City of Wentzville

GIS Analyst

Mark leads Wentzville's Water Division mapping team, where he uses ArcGIS and Python to boost efficiency and get real-time data updates.

GIS Hero Winter 2023

Thomas Matich | Delaware Rural Water Association

Training Specialist

Thomas advised organizations on how to integrate GIS into their operational processes to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
GIS hero Fall 2023

John Nolte | Denver Water

GIS Manager

John oversaw an effort to inventory service lines throughout Denver Water’s service area, which streamlined the utility’s Lead Reduction Program.
GIS hero Fall 2023

Sean Quarnstrom | HMRD

Senior Engineer

Under Sean’s guidance, Henry Miller Reclamation District (HMRD) developed and implemented a variety of GIS workflows that saved valuable time.
GIS HERO SPRING 2023

Josh Rhamy | American States Utility Services

GIS Manager

Josh is the driving force behind advancing the enterprise geospatial program at American States Utility Services.

GIS Hero Winter 2022

Erik Nelson | NW Natural Water

GIS Manager

Erik leverages GIS data to streamline processes and provides analysis that informs key decisions and enables the company to scale for growth.
GIS Hero Fall 2022

Mackenzie Collins | Placer County Water Agency

GIS Analyst

Mackenzie Collins’ passion for finding solutions that use GIS has increased productivity and simplified workflows for PCWA mobile crews.
GIS Hero Summer 2022

Ryan Rodriguez | Lower Valley Water District

IT Manager

Ryan Rodriguez focuses on a technology strategy that supports organizational goals, improves daily workflows, and supports sustainability.
GIS HERO SPRING 2022

Bob Ayensu | Trinity River Authority of Texas

Geospatial Services Manager

Bob and his team successfully implemented enterprise GIS, transforming GIS into a vital information resource hub that has streamlined processes.
GIS Hero Winter 2022

Amy Peters | SFWMD

Geographer

Amy’s creative applications of Esri’s geospatial tools positively impacts many South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) projects.
GIS Hero Winter 2022

Jim Trimble | WaterOne

Geospatial Services Manager

Jim has been a transformative leader for WaterOne’s GIS department, always looking for opportunities to enable WaterOne with GIS capabilities.