David Branson, president

Northcentral Electric Cooperative

David began his GIS journey at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) College as a student after enlisting in the Marine Corps. He spent nine months studying at NGA in both GIS and Survey and upon conclusion became a 0261 Geospatial Intelligence Analyst. He then spent four years in the Marine Corps doing intelligence, logistics, and combat support work with GIS.

Following his time in the United States Marine Corps he attended Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts and obtained a bachelor’s in history with a specific focus on Middle Eastern and Military Conflict history.

Once moving to the Memphis Area, David started working for Northcentral Electric Cooperative, Olive Branch, Mississippi, doing GIS and data management work. His current role is to maintain the electrical mapping network to keep accountability of the equipment, identify problems, and assist during emergency management.

Carrie Baker, Vice president/president-elect

Memphis Light, Gas and Water

Carrie Baker is a Computer Software Specialist on the GIS EAM & Materials Systems team at Memphis Light, Gas and Water. She graduated with a B. A. in Geography from Mississippi State University in 2016 and a M.S. in Geospatial Information Technology from Delta State University in 2018. She has worked with GIS in local government, public safety and the utility industry. Carrie lives in a quiet country setting and enjoys gardening, hunting, sports and all things Mississippi State.

Lesley Rakestraw, secretary

City of Oxford, Mississippi

Lesley began his career as a GIS professional in 2006 with the City of Tupelo, MS, where he worked for 14 years. He’s worked as the GIS Analyst for City of Oxford, MS, since 2020. His introduction to GIS was a half a semester class on GIS while getting his Civil Technology Associates Degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College, after deciding that the History degree he was pursuing at Ole Miss just was not for him.

In addition to maintaining and producing the City’s geospatial data, he is responsible for assigning all addresses within the city and serves as a Certified Floodplain Manager, drone pilot, plan reviewer and System Administrator for the City’s permitting software. 

Lesley first joined MAGIC in 2017 and joined the Board in 2023. He is active in Mississippi Association for Spatial Technologies (MAST), Mississippi Firefighters Association, and the Mississippi Fire Chiefs Association. He also serves his community as Deputy Chief and an EMR for his volunteer fire department where he has volunteered since 1998.  This has led him to be elected as Secretary and Treasurer of the Mississippi Fire Instructors Association, the Mississippi Search and Rescue Association, the Union County (MS) EMR Association, and the Union County Search and Rescue Team.

Shawn Anderson, GISP, treasurer (Past President)

Tipton County, TN Government

Shawn Anderson is the GIS Director for Tipton County, TN Government and has served in this role since 2004.  He also served as IT Administrator for the County from 2012-2020.  In 2001, Shawn started his career as GIS Coordinator for Allen & Hoshall in Memphis and worked part-time as GIS Analyst for the Town of Arlington, TN from 2006-2016.  He graduated with a B.S. from Austin Peay State University in Environmental Geography in 1998 and an M.S. in Geography from the University of Memphis in 2001.  He was also certified as a GISP in 2008.

Shawn has been a member of MAGIC since 2003 serving as an officer, committee chairman, or whatever it took to get things done.  He’s also presented many times at conferences or general meetings helping spread the advancement of GIS in the Midsouth region.  Shawn is also a member of TNGIC and Geospatial Professional Network (formerly URISA) since 2003.

Shawn lives in Atoka, TN with his wife Sara of 25 years and their daughter Cora who is attending Austin Peay State University as a legacy from her parents.  Shawn is very active with his church family and enjoys every opportunity to serve others.  If he’s not serving, Shawn likes to read, mow the yard and do whatever his girls want to do.

alyssa huffman

City of Southaven

Alyssa holds a bachelor's degree in marine biology from the University of Southern Mississippi and a GIS certification from Michigan State University. She furthered her education with a master's degree in Earth Science, concentrating in GIS and Environmental Science, from the University of Memphis. Alyssa transitioned from her role as a GIS intern at Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority to her current position as a data analyst for the City of Southaven's IT department in November 2024. She served as a student ambassador for MAGIC for two years before being elected to the board of directors. Alyssa lives in Mid-town Memphis with her husband and their two cats, Mai and Zuko. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, gardening, and walking the trails and Shelby Farms Park.

Andrew Humphreys

City of Olive Branch

After 35 years of composing code symphonies, the pixels lost their luster. Craving a fresh canvas, I embarked on a midlife renaissance, trading my coding baton for a protractor and enrolling in Delta State's Geospatial program. Algorithms became data-crunching allies, logic waltzed with mapmaking artistry, and pixels morphed into stories etched on landscapes. Now, as a GIS intern at the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority, I stand at the crossroads of code and cartography, an alchemist blending pixels and projections. Age my compass, curiosity my fuel, I navigate the endless expanse of data, my promised land. This map, drawn with ambition and possibility, leads me not to a new career, but to a vibrant tapestry of discovery, where drones whisper secrets and satellites dance cosmic ballets. I am a storyteller, ready to paint the world anew, not with code, but with the vibrant hues of geospatial possibility.

Haley Feather

Mississippi 811, Inc

Haley Feather is the Director of GIS at Mississippi 811, Inc. She received her B.A. from Mississippi State University in Geosciences with a concentration in Professional Meteorology in 2010 and a M.S. in Geography from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2018.

Haley embarked on her career path at Mississippi 811 in 2015, initially serving as a GIS Coordinator. Her effective leadership played a pivotal role in her team's development and implementation of GIS systems, along with conducting extensive training in GIS data management for eleven Mississippi counties. Haley became involved in MAGIC in 2019 after presenting on the achievements of helping Mississippi counties. Her impactful efforts in integrating GIS solutions continues to meet the diverse needs of local governments, utilities, and businesses in the private sector.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Haley is a dedicated member of the GIS community. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Association for Spatial Technologies (MAST), participates in the GIS 101 Leadership committee for the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC), and is heavily involved in coordination for the Mississippi Coordinating Council for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (MCCRSGIS). She looks forward to serving the next three years on the Board of Directors for MAGIC.

Jessica Wallace

City of Germantown

Lauren Scott

DATAMARK Technologies

Lauren is a GIS Associate with DATAMARK Technologies at Michael Baker International. She received her B.S. from Mississippi State University in Geosciences with a concentration in Environmental as well as a minor in Political Science in 2016. She currently works in data editing for NG911 GIS services for the Public Safety industry.

Lauren has worked in water and soil quality, real estate mapping, ROW GIS data management, and NG911 data management. She enjoys reading, volunteering in various organizations, and spending time exploring Memphis with her husband and daughter.

Lee Owens (Past president)

Canopy Spatial

Lee graduated from the University of Memphis in 2009 with a degree in Anthropology/Archaeology. Landscape archaeology introduced Lee to GPS surveying, remote sensing, and GIS analyses. Since, Lee has worked primarily on a variety of Civil infrastructure GIS management projects. He specializes in data management and migration, spatial analysis, and network management. Lee is currently an owner and GIS Specialist with Canopy Spatial.

Lee has been a MAGIC member for many years and joined the board in 2021. He sees MAGIC as a great opportunity to collaborate with other professionals and as a platform to educate.

Rob Winkler (past President)

DeSoto County, MS Government

Rob Winkler is a GIS Analyst for DeSoto County, MS. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Lehigh University and a master’s degree in GIS from Penn State University. Rob joined MAGIC in 2016 while he was still working on his master’s degree in order to make connections in pursuit of full-time employment as a GIS professional. He has since served on the MAGIC Board since 2017. Prior to moving to Mississippi, Rob has lived in Pennsylvania, Florida, Arizona, California, and Guatemala.

Uday Bhanu Burrey

Memphis Light, Gas and Water

Uday has over 15 years of GIS experience. Starting his career out as a software engineer, he has had the opportunity to lead teams and manage projects with implementation partners, as well as work with Esri products, AutoDesk, MapInfo, GeoServer, and Small World products.

Living and working in different places such as India, the UK, and the Unite States, he has had opportunities to work on projects that dealt with a every detail in GIS like data capturing, QA, data conversion, development of desktop applications and web applications, the functional and technical design of GIS systems and integrations, providing solutions at architectural level, aerial imagery procurement, and Enterprise Systems support and maintenance.

Uday currently works as a GIS Specialist at Memphis Light, Gas and Water and has been there since 2018.