Lee Owens, president

Canopy Spatial

Lee graduated from the University of Memphis in 2009 with a degree in Anthropology/Archaeology. Landscape archaeology introduced Lee to GPS surveying, remote sensing, and GIS analyses. Since, Lee has worked primarily on a variety of Civil infrastructure GIS management projects. He specializes in data management and migration, spatial analysis, and network management. Lee is currently an owner and GIS Specialist with Canopy Spatial.

Lee has been a MAGIC member for many years and joined the board in 2021. He sees MAGIC as a great opportunity to collaborate with other professionals and as a platform to educate.

David Branson, vice president/president-elect

Northcentral Electric Cooperative

David began his GIS journey at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) College as a student after enlisting in the Marine Corps. He spent nine months studying at NGA in both GIS and Survey and upon conclusion became a 0261 Geospatial Intelligence Analyst. He then spent four years in the Marine Corps doing intelligence, logistics, and combat support work with GIS.

Following his time in the United States Marine Corps he attended Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts and obtained a bachelor’s in history with a specific focus on Middle Eastern and Military Conflict history.

Once moving to the Memphis Area, David started working for Northcentral Electric Cooperative, Olive Branch, Mississippi, doing GIS and data management work. His current role is to maintain the electrical mapping network to keep accountability of the equipment, identify problems, and assist during emergency management.

Mary Dubose, secretary

The University of Memphis’ Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research (CAESER)

Mary is the Associate Director for Geographic Analysis at CAESER. She first took a GIS class for her environmental science degree and knew she wanted to build a career where she could use GIS daily. In 2016, she was hired as a full-time GIS staff member, and since then, she’s taken on new roles and responsibilities, eventually landing where she is now as the leader of CAESER’s GIS division.

She first attended the MAGIC conference as a student in 2013, and her favorite part was seeing the variety of people whose careers included GIS.

“The conference and regular meetings are invaluable for creating a true GIS community, where we can collaborate and learn from each other rather than being stuck in our own silos.”

Shawn Anderson, GISP, treasurer (Past President)

Tipton County, TN Government

Shawn Anderson is the GIS Director for Tipton County, TN Government and has served in this role since 2004.  He also served as IT Administrator for the County from 2012-2020.  In 2001, Shawn started his career as GIS Coordinator for Allen & Hoshall in Memphis and worked part-time as GIS Analyst for the Town of Arlington, TN from 2006-2016.  He graduated with a B.S. from Austin Peay State University in Environmental Geography in 1998 and an M.S. in Geography from the University of Memphis in 2001.  He was also certified as a GISP in 2008.

Shawn has been a member of MAGIC since 2003 serving as an officer, committee chairman, or whatever it took to get things done.  He’s also presented many times at conferences or general meetings helping spread the advancement of GIS in the Midsouth region.  Shawn is also a member of TNGIC and URISA since 2003.

Shawn lives in Atoka, TN with his wife Sara of 22 years and their daughter Cora, who is 16.  Shawn is very active with his church family and enjoys every opportunity to serve others.  If he’s not serving, Shawn likes to read, mow the yard and attend his daughter’s band events with his family in West Tennessee and Midsouth area.

Carrie Baker

Memphis Light, Gas and Water

Haley Feather

Mississippi 811, Inc

Haley Feather is the Director of GIS at Mississippi 811, Inc. She received her B.A. from Mississippi State University in Geosciences with a concentration in Professional Meteorology in 2010 and a M.S. in Geography from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2018.

Haley embarked on her career path at Mississippi 811 in 2015, initially serving as a GIS Coordinator. Her effective leadership played a pivotal role in her team's development and implementation of GIS systems, along with conducting extensive training in GIS data management for eleven Mississippi counties. Haley became involved in MAGIC in 2019 after presenting on the achievements of helping Mississippi counties. Her impactful efforts in integrating GIS solutions continues to meet the diverse needs of local governments, utilities, and businesses in the private sector.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Haley is a dedicated member of the GIS community. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Association for Spatial Technologies (MAST), participates in the GIS 101 Leadership committee for the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC), and is heavily involved in coordination for the Mississippi Coordinating Council for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (MCCRSGIS). She looks forward to serving the next three years on the Board of Directors for MAGIC.

Jessica Wallace

City of Germantown

Lauren Patterson (past president)

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC)

Lesley Rakestraw

City of Oxford, Mississippi

Rob Winkler (past President)

DeSoto County, MS Government

Rob Winkler is a GIS Analyst for DeSoto County, MS. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Lehigh University and a master’s degree in GIS from Penn State University. Rob joined MAGIC while he was still working on his master’s degree in order to make connections in pursuit of full-time employment as a GIS professional. Prior to moving to Mississippi, Rob has lived in Pennsylvania, Florida, Arizona, California, and Guatemala.

Uday Bhanu Burrey

Memphis Light, Gas and Water

Uday has over 15 years of GIS experience. Starting his career out as a software engineer, he has had the opportunity to lead teams and manage projects with implementation partners, as well as work with Esri products, AutoDesk, MapInfo, GeoServer, and Small World products.

Living and working in different places such as India, the UK, and the Unite States, he has had opportunities to work on projects that dealt with a every detail in GIS like data capturing, QA, data conversion, development of desktop applications and web applications, the functional and technical design of GIS systems and integrations, providing solutions at architectural level, aerial imagery procurement, and Enterprise Systems support and maintenance.

Uday currently works as a GIS Specialist at Memphis Light, Gas and Water and has been there since 2018.