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The Montana Association of Geographic Information Professionals (MAGIP) looks forward to your participation at this year’s 2026 Big Sky GeoCon!


Thursday April 16, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Join members of the Montana Geospatial Information Advisory Council for a dynamic discussion on the evolving landscape of statewide geospatial coordination. Panelists will share what inspired them to join the Council, how their service has influenced their work, and how emerging technologies—such as AI-driven analytics, real-time sensor networks, and cloud-native GIS—are reshaping agency operations across Montana.

The conversation will explore leadership challenges and opportunities, including prioritizing initiatives with limited resources, supporting local and tribal governments, navigating competing stakeholder needs, and advocating for policy and funding. Panelists will also look ahead to the next five years, offering insights on the skills GIS professionals will need, the future of statewide collaboration, and what success looks like for Montana’s geospatial community.

This session offers a unique opportunity to explore with the Council their role in guiding Montana's geospatial strategy and a forward-focused dialogue on strengthening the state's geospatial ecosystem. 
Presenters
avatar for Erin Fashoway

Erin Fashoway

Montana GIS Coordinator, Montana State Library
Erin Fashoway has served as Montana’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Coordinator with the Montana State Library since 2016. She works to coordinate state of Montana GIS functions, data assets, and activities across local, state, tribal, and federal government as well as private... Read More →
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Jennie Stapp

MGIAC Chair & Montana State Librarian, Montana State Library
Jennie Stapp is the Montana State Librarian, leading statewide efforts to expand access to geospatial, government, water, & natural resource information, strengthen library services, and support digital resource development. In her role as Director of the Montana State Library, she... Read More →
avatar for Allen Armstrong

Allen Armstrong

GIS Manager, Bureau of Land Management
Allen Armstrong is a GIS Professional with a background in GIS consulting, project planning and implementation, project management and partnership development, and data intensive multi-disciplined GPS/GIS projects.  He graduated from the Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology... Read More →
avatar for Eric Spangenberg

Eric Spangenberg

GIS Coordinator, Lewis & Clark County
Eric Spangenberg is the GIS Coordinator for Lewis & Clark County and the City of Helena, where he oversees the enterprise GIS program and manages the development and integration of spatial data and mapping applications across local government departments. He also serves as an adjunct... Read More →
avatar for Nick Youngstrom

Nick Youngstrom

Agency GIS Manager, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Nick Youngstrom is the Agency GIS Manager at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), where he leads a team of Enterprise GIS professionals who manage the agency's geospatial architecture, data services, and system integration.  In this role, he oversees... Read More →
Thursday April 16, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
West Divide Room

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