Board Members

Learn more about the governing body which stewards the GIS Colorado organization. 

Strategic Plan

What is the big overall strategic plan for the organization? Find out more about where GIS Colorado is going in the future.

BYLAWS

Learn more about the GIS Colorado’s bylaws.  and how they guide the organization.

Who we are

GIS Colorado provides geospatial professionals with a collaborative environment for the support and exchange of GIS information, resources, and technology.

GIS Education and networking

GIS experts and educators will keep their skills up-to-date by participating in training, educational events, and networking opportunities around the state of Colorado and beyond. Our user-based offerings and resources cover specific technologies professionals need to know in order to progress in their careers, including support of GISP certification.

reinvesting in the community

Over 80% of funding is reinvested into the community as scholarships, low-cost training and free events. Become a member to invest in your own career as well as the up-and-coming GIS community of the future. Join today and make GIS Colorado your geospatial connection.

GIS Colorado Board of 
Directors

Board members make it possible for GIS Colorado to continue to enrich professionals and so much more. 

Voting Board Members

2023 Officers
•  
Luke Kaim Thelen, Chair, (2023-2024 finishing N. Viau’s term)
• 
 Peter Horgan, (2022 to 2025),  Co Chair, Events
•
   David (Barney) Barnett, (2022 to 2025) Treasurer
•   Stefanie (Stef) Von Flue, Secretary (2023-2025 finishing for M Crocker’s term) 

•   Lindsey Danforth, (2021 to 2024 finishing S. Rollins’s term) Website 
•   Anna Riling, (2021-2024) Mapping Contest Coordinator
•  
Genie Hays, (2023-2026) National Geodetic Society RM Rep
•   Catherine Hoemke, (2023-2026) Website and Communcations
•  Nicole Pepper, (2023-2026) Social Media 

Committee Chairs 
Scholarship Committee – 
Rachel Pierstorff, Chair
Training Committee – Nickolas Viau, Co-Chair


The GIS Colorado Board

GIS Colorado is a non-profit organization which provides geospatial professionals with a collaborative environment for the support and exchange of GIS information, resources, and technology. 

GIS experts and educators will keep their skills up-to-date by participating in training, educational events, and networking opportunities around the state of the Colorado and beyond. Our user-based offerings and resources cover specific technologies professionals need to know in order to progress in their careers, including support of GIS Professional certification. 

Over 80% of funding is reinvested into the community as scholarships, low-cost training, and free events. Become a member to invest in your own career as well as the up-and coming GIS community of the future. Sponsor GIS Colorado as an organization and increase your reach into the Colorado GIS professional community. Join the GISCO Board and guide how we serve the community with other like-minded individuals.  Join us and make GIS Colorado your geospatial connection.

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is an activity used to set priorities and focus energy and resources for an organization. The effort produces fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, who it serves, what it does, and why it does it, with a focus on the future. Effective strategic planning articulates not only where an organization is going and the actions needed to make progress, but also how it will know if it is successful. The result of the effort is a strategic plan used to communicate the organizations goals, the actions needed to achieve those goals and all of the other critical elements developed during the planning exercise.

The GIS Colorado Board developed a strategic plan in 2021 to document the vision, mission, and goals of the organization. The Plan also includes key objectives to accomplish the goals. Each year the GIS Colorado Board reviews the Plan and develops concrete actions that moves GIS Colorado toward our goals and objectives.

GIS Colorado Bylaws

The GIS Colorado organization is guided and governed by its bylaws.  All in coming and returning board members must read, understand and follow the bylaws to be in good standing. 


Frequently Asked Questions

Not a member?

Signing up is an easy 5-minute process which supports GIS professional development in the Colorado area.

How do I find out my membership status?

Login to My Account to confirm your membership is active and you are up-to-date on your dues.

Why should I become a GISCO Board member?

As a Board member, you would give your time and talent to GISCO because you’d want to help us make a positive difference in the GIS community in Colorado. People usually join our Board because they personally believe in and feel committed to our Strategic Planning Goals to Educate, Communicate, Engage and Inspire. In addition, serving on the Board offers the opportunity to meet interesting people and connect with your GIS peers, work as part of a dedicated team, and gain significant leadership experience. Being on the GISCO Board is also worth 4 GISP points per year of office.

What qualifications do I need to be on the GISCO Board?

All board members are required to adhere to the  GISCO Bylaws, G ISCO Board Member Code of Ethics and the G ISCO Board Expectations. Anyone running for the GISCO Board must be a current GISCO member in good standing, and reside in the state of Colorado. All Board members need to have 1-2 hours each week, on average, to work on assigned Board activities. These activities are mutually agreed upon between you and Board leadership. Board members should be good team players, conscientious and reliable, and excellent communicators. Specific skills (e.g., legal or financial knowledge) are also very helpful to the Board, and we value the diversity and specialized skills of each of our Board members. You do not need to have advanced levels of education to be an effective Board member – dedication, energy, and the willingness to donate your time are much more important. 

How do I nominate myself?

If you are interested in nominating yourself (and are a GISCO member in good standing and reside in the State of Colorado), please fill out the online nomination form when the nominations are being accepted. Please provide a brief bio and describe the qualifications that will enable you to contribute in a meaningful way to overseeing and guiding the activities of GIS Colorado. Please limit your responses to a few paragraphs. Nominations will be accepted starting October 20, 2022 and are due by the end of the day on Monday, November 14, 2022. All information provided will be made available to the voting members of GIS Colorado so they can make an informed decision when they cast their vote. Current Board members whose term is ending can nominate themselves for the position they will be vacating and will be voted on along with new nominations.

Can I nominate someone else?

We currently only accept self-nominations. If you think someone would be a good fit for GISCO, please urge them to self-nominate using the online nomination form.

What is the term for Board members?

The term is three years, beginning on January 2.

Do I have to be on the Board to contribute to GISCO?

No. There are many ways to contribute to GISCO without being a Board member. You can become a GISCO member, volunteer time or services, become a sponsor, or serve on a committee. Please reach out to us about volunteer opportunities at questions@giscolorado.org.

How is the Board structured and how many Board members are there?

There are nine members of the GIS Colorado Board. Each member serves a three year term. The terms are set up so that every year, three Board members will be ending their three year term. This means that every fall there is an election for three positions on the Board. There are four officers: President/Chair, Vice-President/Co-Chair, Secretary; Treasurer. You can see our current officers and Board members on our website.

How can I run as an officer?

Board members should ideally have completed the first year of their first term before being nominated to an officer role. Officers will be elected as dictated by the bylaws, during the Spring monthly Board meeting.

What are the roles and responsibilities of each officer?

Briefly, the President/Chair presides at all Board meetings, has general supervision, direction, and control of day-to-day business and affairs of the organization, and votes only in the event of a tie by the Board. The Vice-President/Co-Chair, in the absence or disability of the President, performs all the duties of the President. The Secretary keeps the organization’s official and administrative record (physical and virtual), following documented protocols of information distribution. The Treasurer accounts for all funds of the organization and provides reports according to documented procedure.

How often does the Board meet?

The Board meets monthly for 1-hour virtual meetings.

Can former Board members run again?

Yes. They may self nominate at the end of their term or during any nomination period.


How much time should I expect to contribute as a GISCO Board member?

Depending on your committee assignments and other roles, you should expect to contribute 5-15 hours per month. This includes attendance at virtual, 1-hour monthly Board meetings (you’ll be expected to attend at least 75% of the monthly Board meetings).

What would I do as a Board member?

Attend and contribute to virtual, 1-hour monthly Board meetings to help direct GISCO activities to align with our Mission and Strategic Planning Goals; attend and help facilitate quarterly meetups around the state; assist in planning at least one quarterly meetup a year; potentially serve on a committee (e.g. Scholarship Committee, Outreach Committee, Communications Committee); find ways to contribute your specialized skillset to the organization.

Does GISCO have committees?

GISCO recognizes that working committees are essential and vital to accomplish the mission and goals of the organization. The Board of Directors shall establish standing and ad-hoc committees to manage the organization and achieve the goals and objectives set by the organization. Chairpersons of committees must be voting members of GIS Colorado. Responsibilities of the Committee Chair, or designee, include attending committee meetings (attendance may be virtual) and providing committee updates to the Board prior to the Board meeting for inclusion in the agenda and minutes.

Does the Board have a strategic plan and how can I view it?

Yes! Strategic planning is an activity used to set priorities and focus energy and resources for an organization. The effort produces fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, who it serves, what it does, and why it does it, with a focus on the future. Effective strategic planning articulates not only where an organization is going and the actions needed to make progress, but also how it will know if it is successful. The result of the effort is a strategic plan used to communicate the organization’s goals, the actions needed to achieve those goals and all of the other critical elements developed during the planning exercise. The GIS Colorado Board developed a strategic plan in 2021 to document the vision, mission, and goals of the organization. The Plan also includes key objectives to accomplish the goals. Each year the GIS Colorado Board reviews the Plan and develops concrete actions that moves GIS Colorado toward our goals and objectives. You can view the GISCO Strategic Plan on our website.