UGIC 2025 Board Elections

This year the three open seats are County, Federal, and At-Large. However, because we do not have any nominations from the Federal community, this position will be filled by an At-Large nominee. Members will vote for two At-Large nominees and the two with the most votes will be selected.

Voting will open Tuesday, June 3rd and close Friday, June 6th at 5:00 PM MDT.

County

Mellissa Campbell

Bio:
I am the GIS Administrator for Carbon County, where I oversee geospatial initiatives that support local government operations and community planning. With 17 years of experience in the GIS field, I bring a deep understanding of both technical and strategic aspects of geographic information systems. I previously served on the UGIC Board for 10 years, holding several leadership positions including Treasurer, Conference Chair, and Board Chair. During that time, I helped plan and organize multiple UGIC conferences, working to create meaningful experiences for attendees and promote professional growth. My longstanding involvement with UGIC reflects my commitment to advancing GIS education, collaboration, and innovation in Utah.

Reason for Running:
I am running for the UGIC Board because I am passionate about supporting the Utah GIS community and ensuring UGIC remains a strong resource for professionals across the state. My previous board service gave me insight into the challenges and opportunities our community faces, and I would be honored to contribute again. I believe in the power of GIS to solve real-world problems, and I want to help guide UGIC’s efforts to promote professional development, networking, and knowledge-sharing among Utah’s GIS practitioners.

Emily Jones

Bio:
Emily Jones is the Director of Operations for the Tooele County Recorder/Surveyor’s Office, where she leads initiatives to modernize parcel management, streamline mapping workflows, and implement innovative GIS solutions. With a strong background in cadastral mapping and extensive experience in land records management, she has played a key role in transitioning the office to ArcGIS Pro Parcel Fabric, automating plat map production, and expanding public access to land data.

Emily has presented at state and regional conferences on GIS modernization, automation, and the integration of AI tools in parcel management. She is committed to fostering interagency collaboration and strengthening GIS capacity at the county level.

Reason for Running:
I’m passionate about the ability of GIS to transform how local governments serve their communities. Serving on the UGIC Board would allow me to advocate for rural GIS needs, promote statewide collaboration, and support ongoing training and innovation efforts across Utah. I hope to bring a practical, operations-focused perspective to the board and continue building meaningful connections among counties, vendors, and GIS professionals.

At-Large

James Burton

Bio:
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Utah, where I developed a strong foundation in geospatial science and analysis. Early in my career, I gained valuable field experience working at Snowbird, collecting GPS asset inventories. At the same time, I interned with Salt Lake County’s IT/GIS department, further expanding my technical and operational understanding of GIS in the public sector.

Following graduation, I transitioned into the private sector, where I had the opportunity to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In this role, I developed near real-time dashboards to assist in the cleanup of munitions at former military sites—a project that demanded precision, responsiveness, and close collaboration with federal stakeholders.

My career path eventually led me to the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District. I began as a GIS Analyst focusing on addressing and data management, and I now serve as the Senior GIS Analyst. In this capacity, I have led several strategic initiatives, including the launch of the MSD’s drone program, which has enhanced data collection, asset inspection, and project planning capabilities across departments.

In addition to my professional work, I am an active board member of the Salt Lake Users Group for GIS (SLUG), where I help foster collaboration, share technical innovations, and support the regional GIS community.

Reason for running:
Early in my career, I rarely attended user group meetings or conferences—I simply didn’t realize what I was missing. That changed when I joined the MSD, where I was encouraged to attend, present, and actively contribute to both local user groups and national GIS conferences. Those experiences opened my eyes to the immense value of community engagement. What once felt intimidating—networking and presenting—quickly became opportunities to connect, learn, and grow alongside my peers.

As a UGIC board member, I would be passionate about expanding access to the knowledge and resources experienced GIS professionals have to offer. Whether it’s students entering the field or established analysts exploring new capabilities, I believe in the power of GIS to generate meaningful, actionable data that helps improve our communities. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned and help others thrive in their own GIS journeys.

David Gunther

Bio:
David Gunther works as a Senior GIS Analyst for the Utah Division of Water Resources. David earned his. B.S. in Geography from BYU in 2021 and his M.S. in Geospatial Information Sciences from the University of Maryland in 2024. He earned his GISP in 2024.

Reason for running:
I’m honored to be nominated by my colleagues to serve on the UGIC Board. UGIC is what it is today because of the dedication and commitment of the professionals who have volunteered their time and resources over the years.

UGIC plays a vital role in organizing events that allow geospatial professionals to learn from one another. It also serves as an important resource for educating the public about the power and potential of geospatial technology. What we learn at UGIC events filters back into our workplaces and has a ripple effect across the state.

I’m interested in serving on the board as a way to give back to a community that has significantly shaped my professional journey. Whether elected or not, I want to contribute wherever I can to help UGIC fulfill its mission.

I bring an eagerness to collaborate, a commitment to selfless service, and a strong desire to learn from others. I also bring a younger perspective—one that values the insights of those who came before while contributing fresh ideas. I will work hard to ensure UGIC continues to meet the needs of its members and the broader public.

Thank you for your consideration.

Stan McShinsky

Reason for running:
I am honored to be nominated to continue serving as an At-Large member of the UGIC Board of Directors. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of holding several leadership roles, including Board Chair, Vice Chair, Conference Chair, and Secretary. I currently serve as the GIS Coordinator at Provo City, where I lead efforts to use geospatial technology to better serve the public.

During my time on the UGIC Board, I’ve worked hard to strengthen our community and elevate our impact. I’ve helped organize and streamline our annual conferences, including developing the conference app and coordinating detailed agendas to ensure smooth, engaging events. I led the creation of the Utah Excellence in GIS Award as well as increased the level of creative map making by thinking outside the standard paper map. I’ve also helped provide a program for others to acquire home-use GIS software accounts to ensure broader access to critical tools.

A particular passion of mine has been expanding UGIC’s involvement in STEM outreach. I’ve played a key role in organizing materials and participation for GIS Day and STEM Fest events, introducing young minds to the power and excitement of GIS.

I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together and excited for what lies ahead. If re-elected, I hope to strengthen UGIC’s presence across the state, grow our role in STEM education, and support our members by promoting innovation and collaboration. UGIC has given me so much, and I am eager to continue giving back.

Julia Surkis

Bio:
Hi there! I’m the GIS Program Manager for the State of Utah’s Division of Emergency Management, where I lead projects that support spatial decision making before, during and after disasters. I also provide GIS consulting services for FFKR, an Architecture and Urban Planning firm based in Salt Lake. I have 5 years of professional experience in GIS and hold a Master’s in GIS from the U. Currently, I am the chair of the Utah Mapping Emergency Technical Team, a group that meets quarterly to share best practices in Emergency Management GIS. I am involved with a variety of projects in my day-to-day, but primarily focus on Web GIS and making spatial data accessible and actionable for non-technical stakeholders. 

When I’m not mapping, I enjoy mountain biking, climbing peaks with my husband, cooking, reading, playing strategic board games, or getting in way over my head in home renovation projects.

Reason for running:
Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this incredible board of geo-geeks?! I am excited to connect with the GIS community across the state and contribute in a meaningful way. I’d also love to put my event-planning enthusiasm to work in support of Utah’s most prestigious GIS conference.