Speakers

Past speakers have included the following:
Russell McMurry, P.E., Commissioner, GDOT

On Jan. 20, 2015, Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E. was appointed by the State Transportation Board to lead the Georgia Department of Transportation – the $3.7 billion, nearly 4000-employee state agency responsible for building, maintaining and operating the 10th largest transportation system in the country.   

McMurry is certainly no stranger to transportation or Georgia DOT. He began his career with the Department in 1990 as an engineering trainee and has served in a variety of roles that include Construction Project Manager, District Engineer, Director of Engineering and Chief Engineer.  McMurry was also appointed by Governor Deal as Planning Director before he began his role as Commissioner. 

McMurry currently serves as board member for Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA), State Depository Board, UGA College of Engineering Advisory Board, and the ATL Transit Authority Board of Directors. He also chairs the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) Council on Highways and Streets and serves as president of the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO).

Commissioner McMurry has been recognized nationally for his leadership during the I-85 Bridge Rebuild. He was named Georgian of the Year for 2018 by Georgia Trend magazine. He also received the Inaugural Engineering Influence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Georgia.

In January 2019, McMurry was named one of Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians. He was also named one of Atlanta’s most powerful leaders in Atlanta Magazine’s “Atlanta 500.”

McMurry graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Georgia.

Eric Conklin, State Transportation Data Administrator, GDOT

Eric Conklin is the new administrator of the Office of Transportation Data. He was most recently the assistant administrator for OTD. Prior to joining the department in 2015, Conklin worked for 20 years at the Indiana Department of Transportation. During his tenure there, he managed the transportation data section, which included state and local road inventory, traffic data collection, bridge inventory, bridge inspection and federal reporting. Conklin has a bachelor’s in geography from Indiana University.

Susan Miller, Geospatial Information Officer, Georgia Geospatial Information Office

The Geospatial Information Office aims to provide better access to higher quality mapping data at a lower cost, which will lead to better planned and resourced communities that are equipped to attract and expand industry, enhance public safety and protect the prosperity of Georgia’s citizens. As Geospatial Information Officer, Susan Miller is helping to enhance the use and application of mapping technologies in public policy and decision-making to improve the overall safety and economic prosperity in the State of Georgia. She partners with local, regional and state government, along with federal agencies, universities, and the private sector to achieve the goals of the new State Office. 

Prior to joining the team in Georgia, she was the Director of a global GIS program for The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest conservation organization, where she led the design and implementation of organization-wide geospatial strategies in support of approximately 3,500 GIS practitioners in 48 countries and all US States.

In her tenure as Georgia’s GIO, Susan has implemented a statewide remote sensing program, consisting of LiDAR and Aerial Photography. The program has made full, statewide coverage of 6-inch imagery available to all employees of Georgia government. The LiDAR dataset is in acquisition stage and will become fully available by approx. fall 2022.

In 2017, she received the Outstanding Service Award from the National States Geographic Information Council for advancing geospatial technologies and promoting national policy for its use. Due to her outstanding achievement as the Georgia GIO, she was named among the top 50 women in technology by StateScoop in 2018 and earned a 2019 award for State Leadership.

Susan’s undergrad and graduate degrees focus on the application of geospatial sciences to solve complex problems facing our world today.

Allen Brock, CP PLS, GISP, Vice President, GPI Geospatial

Education: Surveying, Middle Ga College

Registration: ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist #R984

GIS Institute-Certified GIS Professional GiSP

Photogrammetric Surveyor SC #22966

Professional Surveyor OR #80747RPP

Land Surveyor Photogrammetrist, VA # 000092

Relevant Project Management Experience:

Mr. Brock has over 35 years of experience in the geospatial industry. He has been involved with aviation projects for the last 15 years and was honored to receive the Jim White corporate member of the year award in 2009.

His background includes executive management, project/program management, topographic mapping, airport obstruction analysis, control and boundary surveys, aerial and ground based LiDAR acquisition, processing, feature collection and data formatting for delivery.

His experience includes both field and office experience utilizing a variety of sensors and platforms. He is adept at utilizing new technology and working with clients to find innovative and cost effective solutions.

Ernest (Lee) Howell, Operations Manager, GDOT

Ernest (Lee) Howell is an Operations Manager with the Georgia Department of Transportation's Statewide Location Bureau. During his 22-year career at GDOT, he has become a subject matter expert on statewide surveying and mapping activities. He has more than 18 years of surveying experience.

Scott Sugar, Geospatial & Technology Manager, HNTB

Scott Sugar is HNTB’s Geospatial & Technology Solutions Manager based out of the Atlanta office and leads a growing team of technology practitioners.  After graduating from Appalachian State University with degrees in Community and Regional Planning, Physical Geography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Scott worked with GIS technologies in the utility infrastructure and public sector. Since joining HNTB in 2011, he has managed geospatial, technical and transportation planning projects across the country. Scott’s favorite part of his job is implementing innovative geospatial technology to help our clients save time, reduce costs and minimize risks through the life of a project.

Bob O'Daniels, Bridge Asset Manager, GDOT

Bob is the Bridge Asset Manager for the GDOT Bridge Maintenance Unit. He started working with bridges as an Underwater Bridge Inspector for GDOT and worked up to Bridge Asset Manager over his 25 year career. Bob enjoys scuba diving, camping, and cruising.

Teague Buchanan, Assistant Administrator-IT Applications, Georgia Department of Transportation
Teague Buchanan is the IT Applications Assistant Administrator managing the GDOT enterprise GIS, Business Analysis, and IT Training Teams. He also oversees procurements and research projects involving IT. Teague plays a role in supporting the technologies in GDOT Emergency Operations for past 6 years during emergency events. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech and has been involved in many key GIS projects at GDOT since his start with the agency in 1999 such as the implementation of Esri Roads and Highways, GeoPi, and WebEOC. Teague lives in-town and just finished a major home renovation in the Adair Park Historic District along the southwest segment of the Atlanta Beltline.
Steve Korzekwa, Independent GIS Consultant, Korzekwa Consulting, Inc.
Steve Korzekwa has been working in the geospatial industry for 30 years and has designed and developed spatial applications for departments of transportation around the country. He has worked with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the last 10 years creating productivity and visualization tools for the Office of Transportation Data.
Elizabeth Vetter
Elizabeth Vetter is a Geographer with the Atlanta Regional Census Center. She is a graduate of Kennesaw State University and began her Census career in 1985 for the 1990 Decennial. Elizabeth subsequently returned to work as a Geographer for the 2000, 2010, and the 2020 Decennials and has a combined 20 years of experience in various Census geographic programs.