GEOHuntsville | Board

MEET OUR BOARD

[Meet OUR Former BOARD]

Greg Schumann \| Executive Director Greg has served on GEOHuntsville’s Board of Directors since inception and as President for the past three years. In 2018, he was elected as Executive Director. His geospatial background is that of a consumer of geospatial products during his 2500+ flying hours as an Air Force aviator.	Joe Francica \| Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Joe is one of the founding members of GeoHuntsville and it's first executive director. He has 35+ years of experience in geospatial technology. He also holds a BA from Rutgers and MA from Dartmouth, and has published numerous articles on location intelligence as well as chairing the original Rocket City Geospatial Conference. He contributed to the Geospatial Technology Competency Model for the US Dept. of Labor and served on the National Visiting Committee for the NSF's GeoTech Center.	Rick Toliver \| Head of NASA Committee Rick is currently the Chief Engineer at Yulista Tactical Services in Huntsville, AL. Rick holds the Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University, the Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of West Florida and additional graduate course work at Stanford University. Rick has 38 years of geospatial-related experience. He has served as a consultant to the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, Department of Defense and NATO on military hardware and software.
Jim Shelton \| Treasurer Jim is a former CIA senior executive and CIA Advisor to the National Security Council on US commercial satellite remote sensing policy to include over 35 years of experience with targeting and geospatial analysis and intelligence production and dissemination. He is currently at Parsons providing analysis and production support to the MSIC. Jim has degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University and The University of Texas at Austin, with a focus on space dynamics and planning.	sh Sheila joined the board as our membership chairman, brings 30+ years’ experience in managing nonprofit organizations and was co-founder of Energy Alabama. Sheila is the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at enGenius Consulting Group.	Jessica Washburn \| Director of Marketing & Communication Jessica graduated Magna Cum Laude from Park University earning a B.S. in Geography. In her Business Development role at MTA, Inc., a WOSB government contractor, she is the head of new business. Jessica volunteers her time as AFCEA’s VP for Information and Public Affairs, the Secretary for Women in Defense (WID), an active member of NDIA and Cyber Huntsville. Golf is her favorite hobby.
John Walker \| Head of Emergency Responders Committee John Walker is an Unmanned Systems Atmospheric Scientist at Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs, working in support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) UAS Program Office. Prior to his work with CNSP and NOAA, he served in various roles as a research meteorologist to support NASA’s Natural Environments branch, the Von Braun Center for Science and Innovation (VCSI), and the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Earth Systems Science Center.	David Lucas \| Head of Biotech Committee David is an intellectual property attorney by trade but shares a strong passion for geospatial technologies. David also serves on the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology board and heads up our new thrust into biotech/geospatial convergence. David is also a founding member of GEOHuntsville.	Michael Meagher \| Head of Military Committee Michael is a former Army intelligence analyst and is now Nou Systems corporate lead for Huntsville. Michael is leading our effort to increase member value.
shannonbio Shannon is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent with over 25 years U. S. Government experience. During her career she served in multiple FBI HQ and Field Offices and as an Assistant Legal Attaché in Brussels, Belgium. Prior to her FBI retirement, she served as the FBI’s Chief of Staff, Redstone Executive Management Team. Shannon is an electrical engineer, graduating with a BSE from UAH, and previously worked for NASA. She currently serves as the VP for Corporate Development at Sigmatech.	Dr. Wubishet Tadesse \| Head of Education & Workforce Development Committee Dr. Wubishet Tadesse is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences (CALNS) at Alabama A&M University. He teaches undergraduate/graduate courses in remote sensing and geographic information systems, spatial analysis and modeling with research focus on land-use land-cover change detection, and environmental quality assessment using satellite/aerial remote sensing data and geospatial/image processing.	Dr. Robert Griffin \| Assistant of Education & Workforce Development Committee Dr. Robert Griffin is a professor of Earth and Atmospheric Science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. His teaching and research focus on techniques of geospatial information analysis and on the application of NASA satellite remote sensing for enhanced decision-making.  Dr. Griffin leads a team of 20+ scientists and graduate students, whose international research is often featured at professional conferences, in journals, and in the popular media.
Keith Conville GISP, CFM \| Assistant of Education & Workforce Development Committee Keith is the GIS Coordinator for the City of Madison. With over 20 years experience in the GIS field, he began his career at Intergraph Services Company in 1996, MD Atlantic Technologies from 1999-2001, and has been at the City of Madison since 2001. Keith has a drafting and civil engineering background that has migrated into GIS through his work experiences. He is a Certified Floodplain Manager and is also the current North Region Director for the GIS Association of Alabama.	Kim King \| Assistant of Education & Workforce Development Committee Kim has an extensive intelligence background in both the military and the IC. Kim is also the President of Cyber Huntsville.	Angela Rittenbach \| Head of Big Data Committee Angela is the President and CEO at Riverstone Solutions, Inc. She is also the founder of Cyberreach.org, a non-profit organization supporting a qualified and diverse cyber workforce.
Shelisa A Huntsville native, Shelisa is a retired civil servant with more than 37 years U. S. Government experience with the Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. Prior to retirement, she served as the Chief of Missile Intelligence with the National Geospatial - Intelligence Agency.	Ben Johnson MAXAR \| Head of Commercial Space Ben spent 21 years in the US Air Force delivering and integrating space-based imagery for many global requirements. He leads systems engineering projects for a variety of government and corporate customers requiring accurate and timely geographic imagery. Ben is a Senior Program Manager for Maxar Corporation and is their Huntsville operations director. He has a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from UAB and an M.B.A from Columbia Southern University.	Joe Fehrenbach \| Commercial Space Currently Joe is providing expertise and guidance to organizations focused on geospatial science, atmospheric and earth science, and the application of space-based LIDAR and optical communications technology in the commercial and defense sectors. Previously Joe served as President and CEO of Hexagon US Federal. Joe received his M.B.A from the University of Alabama, a Master’s degree from the University of Georgia, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware.

MEET OUR FOrmer BOARD

Our board members unselfishly volunteered their time to help GEO Huntsville initiatives. We are grateful for their services and will continue to remember their contributions.

[OUR Current BOARD]

Chris Johnson \| Chief Technology Officer (ret.) Ms. Chris Johnson is a founding member, former Executive Director, and currently serves as Chief Technology Officer of GEOHuntsville. In her professional career, she has worked at the local, state, and federal level in the geospatial sector over the past 30 years. She has led teams through a myriad of programs, partnerships and collaborations, comprised of subject matter experts in the area of visual intelligence, communication, network applications, unmanned aircraft systems, and sensor develo	Tim Barnes \| Secretary (ret.) Tim heads up the City of Huntsville’s GIS department. Tim holds a Masters in Urban System Analysis and Planning from the University of Alabama. He started his Geospatial Career in 1982 working at the University of Alabama Cartographic Research Lab.	Bond Wells \| Head of Law Enforcement Committee (ret.) Retired member of Senior Executive Service DOJ/DEA) and US Army. Forty-plus years experience in managing GEOINT operations and applications in combat and law enforcement operations, both domestically and internationally. Former head of Office of National Security Intelligence, DEA, the 16th member agency of the US Intelligence Community.