From finding utilities, to maintenance tracking, to resident communication, to asset management, our GIS team solves all kinds of challenges for our clients! Get to know the unsung heroes on our GIS team in celebration of National GIS Day on November 15, 2023.
Sterling Smethurst
What are some of YOUR main jobs and responsibilities in your position?
I do a bit of everything, from helping the members of the team with projects or Geocortex by fixing maps and errors. I recently started doing more ArcGIS Online by building Hub Sites and assisting with the transition from Enterprise to ArcGIS Online.
What led you to your career in GIS?
I went to school for physical geography and a professor told me how GIS is a growing industry, so I also got a degree in GIS.
What is your favorite place you have traveled to?
St. John’s in the US Virgin Islands. It's beautiful and the whole island is like a state park so it’s very clean and way more relaxed compared to some of the other islands down there.
Do you have any pets?
Not at the moment but I grew up with dogs and would like to get one of my own someday. Maybe a Weimaraner, Lab, or Shar Pei. A pet hippo would also be cool!
Where is your go-to place for food right now?
O’Lydia’s in Milwaukee.
What is your favorite part about your job?
The GIS team and the diversity of work. There is always something new every day.
Erin Schultz
What are some of your main jobs and responsibilities in your position?
I am the direct contact for our clients if they have any questions. I help to identify their problems and take them to our team. I also coordinate meetings with clients, general GIS project management, and business development.
What made you interested in GIS?
When I first went to college, I had an interest in Environmental Sciences and was hoping to go into conservation. Some of the classes I took really pushed GIS and I was able to find a lot more jobs in this career field.
What is your favorite place you have traveled to?
I grew up going to Door County with my family and that tradition is special to me! I love camping, biking, and hiking up there.
Do you have any pets?
I have a Coonhound mix named June who is so stubborn, and a black cat named Smokey!
Where is your go-to place for food right now?
Foxtown Brewing in Mequon!
What is your favorite part about your job?
Being able to see the impact that GIS has on a community. These are very important problems that we help to solve behind the scenes, which is really rewarding.
Enrika Hlavacek
What are some of your main jobs and responsibilities in your position?
I am responsible for ArcGIS Online application development, building custom solutions for field data collection, and technology upgrades like ArcGIS Online applications as new products come out.
What made you interested in GIS?
I was interested in all the different ways you can use GIS! You can use GIS for so many different things that it keeps every day interesting.
What is your favorite place you have traveled to?
Lake O’Hara in Yoho National Park Canada!
Do you have any pets?
I have a six-year-old cattle dog mix named Bo who is mean and stubborn.
Where is your go-to place for food right now?
Maxie’s in Wauwatosa.
What is your favorite part about your job?
Putting solutions in clients' hands so they can use them to make their job easier.
Debbie Anderson
How long have you been at R/M?
29 years
What are some of your main jobs and responsibilities in your position?
Training new staff, maintaining client data, creating exhibits, doing analysis and overlays of different data sets, and acquiring data from various engineering firms/counties.
What made you interested in GIS?
I've always been interested in maps. When I started this career digital mapping wasn’t a thing yet so I started with exhibits and doing them freehand.
What is your favorite place you have traveled to?
Alaska. There is no other place like it and it was so beautiful.
Where is your go-to place for food right now?
Holiday Inn Supper Club on Kelley Lake.
What is your favorite part about your job?
Making people aware of what GIS can do for them to make their jobs easier. Internally and externally.
Tim Anderson
How long have you been at R/M?
31 years
What are some of your main jobs and responsibilities in your position?
I manage the GIS team and help to organize and manage our services with our clients.
What made you interested in GIS?
I went to school for architectural drafting and when the internships came up this was one of the first things I saw. I started out drafting and eventually made it here.
Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to?
Anywhere out West like Montana, Idaho, or Wyoming!
Do you have any pets?
I have a 9-year-old terrier mix named Beamer that we rescued from the humane society.
What is your favorite restaurant right now?
Fox and Hounds or Holiday Inn Supper Club on Kelley Lake.
What is your favorite part about your job?
Learning what's new and staying on the leading edge with technology. I enjoy working with our staff and our clients.
Robert Yarbrough
What are some of your main jobs and responsibilities in your position?
I manage the Asset Management product lines. Everything we do to manage assets through AssetAlly and VUEWorks is part of my responsibilities.
What made you interested in GIS?
Prior to this job, I had 20 years of project management experience along with experience in meeting clients through sales opportunities. This position at R/M is the perfect blend of the things I have done within the past 30 years.
Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled to?
That’s a tough question! I have had the opportunity to travel to many places. Barcelona and Singapore are among my favorite places.
Do you have any pets?
I have two dogs. We have a 75 lb. lap dog who is an American Staffordshire mixed with a bit of Pitbull and a 25 lb. attack dog who is a Mini Pitbull mix. They are both mixes that we rescued.
What is your favorite restaurant right now?
The Calderone Club – Downtown Milwaukee.
What is your favorite part about your job?
Every client that I work with operates differently so it keeps me continuously thinking about their needs. Each client has significantly different needs so every day is different.
