Veronica Lopez, GISP

Experience

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  New Mexico State University

  Jan 2004 - Feb 2006

  Research Specialist

  New Mexico Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Unit, Center for Applied Spatial Ecology• Updated state-wide databases using editing, topology, and digitizing tools to update for Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Project• Created and modified domain-attributed geodatabases and associated metadata• Collaborated with state agencies and other federal agencies in the development and completion of the New Mexico Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy

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  USDA Forest Service

  Apr 2006 - now

  Provides leadership in the development and use of agency-wide spatial data and advancedgeospatial technological applications, and serves as a national technical authority, consultant,troubleshooter, implementation lead, and training contact for natural resource informationapplications and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).• Advises, counsels and assists national, regional, and forest staffs regarding geospatial datastandards including timelines, data analysis capabilities, and other information managementconsiderations.• Assists in maintaining the policy, oversight, direction, and delivery of the Forest Servicegeospatial program• Develops data standards, data lifecycle workflows, and metadata for national geospatial dataand coordinates conversion of forest geospatial data into national geospatial standards.• Subject matter expert in collaborative agency efforts around the Geospatial Data Act, dataquality and standards, support for regional disasters, and data equity; ability to express dataneeds or limitations confidently to national directors, officers, and program managers Meno dettagli Responsible for developing GIS policy and direction to the National Forests. Assists the Washington Office in the development of national data standards, operational training, and data workflow processes. Primary contact for the Region in sharing resource data with other Federal, State, and local agencies.• Data manager for regional recreation hiring cadre – responsive and calm while delivering a cohesive product from disparate data sources for decision making in a high impact, short duration situation• Experienced in hiring processes, including outreach, pre-hire filing, hiring panel coordinator, and onboarding• Strategically evaluated current regional standards for impact on national tools, data alignment, and best practices; recommended the region align to national standards• Regional fire high value risk assessment data project manager leading the evaluation and discussion of existing data• Planned, organized, and hosted an in-person turned virtual bi-annual Regional Information Management (IM) meeting; created documents, agenda, and virtual setup for the meetingRegional ArcGIS Online (AGOL) Administrator:• Developed regional guidance for AGOL Unit Authoritative Accounts; presented guidance at regional meeting• Gained field level insight by collaborating with a web GIS working group on implementation and AGOL guidance documents for publishing to the public• Maintained professional relationships with another region through collaborating on AGOL Administrator script updates to automate adding new usersNational Working Group Member:• Geospatial Data Mgmt – provided valuable input to Recreation Opportunity Spectrum and Scenery standards to bring consistency and guidance for implementation• WebGIS – facilitated conversations on updating ArcGIS Online guidance and workflows, including mobile Meno dettagli Serves as a principle advisor to the Geospatial Information Officer and is responsible for the policy, oversight, direction, and delivery of the Forest Service geospatial program, including geographic information systems, remote sensing, cartography, photogrammetry, and global positioning systems, and geospatial and tabular data management. • Managed land allocation mapping data standard review process; process incorporated comments from the field as necessary while ensuring alignment with program needs and alignment with proper data structure and workflow processes• Subject matter expert in collaborative agency efforts around the Geospatial Data Act, data quality and standards, support for regional disasters, and data equity; ability to express data needs or limitations confidently to national directors, officers, and program managers• Initiated Information Technology contract proposal, which included a statement of work, market research, government cost estimate, and accessibility requirements, for a software that assesses and resolves data quality issues• Incorporated diverse subject matter expert’s comments for metadata policy, finalized edits, and initiated policy update process into agency handbookThis was a temporary promotion detail, not to exceed 120 days. Meno dettagli Serves as regional support for managers and resource specialists in the use of geospatial technology and GIS for land, natural resources and ecosystem management.• Managed a $750K, multi-year regional grant agreement to update the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) on ten forests in the region; project was on time and in budget and garnering agency recognition• National NHD strategic plan development team member developing objectives and goals for program and provided valuable expertise regarding our regional NHD update• Spatial Data Engine manager for an instance of New Mexico Game & Fish’s Habitat Stamp Program geodatabase for USFS wildlife biologists to update using versioned editing; provided documentation and technical support and training as needed• Back-up regional administrator for ArcGIS Online (AGOL); managing as needed – setting up new profiles, sharing to the public, and transferring content ownership• Produced regional AGOL and geospatial governance for, reviewed forest web GIS products, provided support to forests, and completed projects for regional staff • Created an AGOL story map journal web application of the published Regional Stakeholder Report; learned and adapted to network and software issues or limitations quickly• Provided subject matter expertise and technical support for a high value wildfire risk assessment project on short notice and for an extended period of time• Organized training space, agenda, and lined up speakers, created lesson plans, and taught classes for multiple regional geospatial workshops• Stood up a regional data dictionary cadre to solicit input or concerns on data standard proposals; updated and implemented regional GIS data dictionary guide, templates, and geodatabase schemas• Supervised two volunteer students; set project work and managed agreement• Maintained qualifications for Initial Attack Dispatcher (IADP) and Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher (EDSD) in support of the national fire program Meno dettagli • Subject matter expert on interdisciplinary teams for district vegetation management projects• Created an innovative phasing approach to the road construction/timber sale process by collaborating with multiple resource areas to develop a cost/benefit analysis product; this approach was integral to selecting a NEPA decision• Updated corporate roads data layer with oil and gas roads using imagery in a multi-user versioned editing environment; created methodology for multi-user process• Supervised a summer GIS intern; established work assignments and goals based on planned workdays, scheduled training, and Forest priority program of work• Provided subject matter expertise to a silviculturist on an American chestnut site suitability model; designed, and produced the model for the Forest to be used in management decisions, and co-presented the project and results for Forest staff and outside partners• Provided individual training to resource specialists for the Citrix environment, ArcMap 10, the Geospatial Interface tool, and Forest GIS standards on the district and forest level• Represented the Forest Service in a local county leadership program and was the project leader on the geocaching project taken on by the program participants• Organized, created lesson plans, and taught classes for a three day on-forest GIS training• Worked with the local waste management facility to provide a recycling dumpster at a reduced rate to meet district budget constraints and integrated recycling stream into the janitorial contract• Co-led the Sustainability Team to complete portions of the climate change scorecard and created a team of engineers, purchasers, and passionate employees to get all Elements to Yes• Converted district-wide and forest-wide project data from coverages and shapefiles to personal geodatabases and SDE and provided support for district GIS users in the transition Meno dettagli • Converted forest-wide data from coverage and shapefiles to personal geodatabases• Collaborated with the forest soil scientist to create forest-wide soil layers from existing SSURGO and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources data in ArcGIS 9.2• Digitized private lands both in and outside of the forest boundaries in ArcGIS 9.2 using National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) photos for cumulative effects analyses• Collaborated with hydrologists and silviculturists to draft standards for water and private land polygon coding within timber stand data to solve future data issues• Provided support for district and forest-wide GIS users in transitioning from coverages/shapefiles to geodatabases, SDE, and versioned multi-user editing• Led the forest in collecting raw utility data for the annual environmental footprint• Arranged a building assessment for the Supervisor’s Office which showed the lights in the C&M work shop had dimmed over time and could be considered a safety issue• Completed a utility bill clean-up prior to mandatory compliance, successfully avoiding a water shut off and over-billing• Compiled, analyzed, and drafted the environmental footprint for the Forest for two consecutive years with the latter year showing met and unmet targets; important for long-term management of facilities on a forest with eleven office locations Meno dettagli

  • Geospatial Data Standards Assistant Program Manager

    Apr 2024 - now

  • Regional GIS Program Manager

    Jan 2019 - Apr 2024

  • National Geospatial Data Program Manager

    Feb 2023 - Jan 2023

  • Geographic Information Systems Analyst

    Jan 2013 - Jan 2019

  • Geographic Information System Specialist

    Jan 2009 - Jan 2013

  • Geographic Information System Specialist

    Apr 2006 - Jan 2009
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  Change & Innovation Agency, a vimo company

  Feb 2016 - Apr 2018

  Change Agent

  Change Agent (40 hours every 5-6 months)• Collaborated and lead state, county, or local governments to improve and change business processes for child welfare, child support, and Medicaid• Acquired knowledge of business process improvement strategies and applied that knowledge and federal background to assist in assessing the client’s current business process• Assisted in redesigning and implementing a new business process and provided hands-on, in person support to the client after implementation• Completed daily logs of training needs, potential issues, and other observations Meno dettagli