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 Big news at AGRC as last week, Dennis Goreham, AGRC's Manager announced his retirement from state government, effective December 31st.
Effective, January 1, Jeannie Watanabe, AGRC's current business manager and a former staff member of the Utah CIO's office, will take over the helm of AGRC. After 24 years with AGRC (including 19 as Manager) and 6 years with the US Forest Service, Dennis leaves behind quite a legacy. In addition to presiding over a stable expansion of Utah's impressive collection of geospatial data and services offerings, many of Utah's GIS milestones were a direct result of Dennis's leadership and coordination skills. Among these accomplishments are: - the formalization of the State Geographic Information Database ('91);
- creation of UGIC and its first statewide conference as its first President ('91);
- the Federal-State data sharing MOUs ('97 & '04) and I-Team Framework Data Implementation plan ('01);
- AGRC's staying atop the latest geospatial technology including its evolution from Prime mini computers to UNIX work stations to Desktop GIS to Server-based mapping and data warehousing.
- Rural parcel and cadastral data grant programs ('97-'07);
- E911 support to PSAPs and local government ('04), and
- the Utah Geospatial Infrastructure strategic plan ('08).
While Dennis sums up his career and retirement plans by simply stating that "I had the best job in state government but it's time to go hiking", he'll retain some geospatial connections. His schedule will no doubt be filled exploring mountain peaks, ridgelines, canyons, and other geographic features across the west. Dennis plans to stay involved with the National States Geographic Information Council and remain an appointed member of the FGDC's National Geospatial Advisory Committee. He also plans to devote more time to his vintage postcard collection and business which began as a high school hobby in his native South Dakota.
Jeannie takes over at an exciting time for AGRC and Utah GIS. With the UGI strategic plan in place, the challenge now is to prioritize and implement, something that she and AGRC are very much committed to even within the current lean funding cycle. In addition, Jeannie and the rest of the AGRC staff will be working hard to maintain and expand the many working relationships between AGRC and its federal, state and local partners which have been invaluable to the success of countless geospatial projects in Utah over the years. "We wish Dennis the best and thank him for leading development of GIS across the state and making AGRC and Utah a geospatial leader nationally," Jeannie said. "We hope to continue in that tradition using the these technologies to better serve the citizens of Utah. The challenges are different but the opportunities are as exciting as they have ever been."
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