Kathrine Cargo URISA President Elect
URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association)

Kathrine Cargo, GIS-P, ENP, the OPCD GIS/Mapping Coordinator, was recently appointed by the Governor’s Office to represent  the Louisiana Chapter of NENA (LANENA) on the Louisiana Geographic Information Systems Council (LGISC). LGISC was created by the state Legislature in 1995 to: "eliminate duplication of effort and unnecessary redundancy in data collections and systems and to provide for integration of geographically-related data bases to facilitate the policy and planning purposes of the state of Louisiana" (La R.S. 49:1051-1057; Acts 1995, No.922 amended by Act 772 of 2001 and Act 68 of 2005). The LGISC is made up of representatives of twenty-six state agencies and entities. Seventeen of the twenty-five agencies were appointed by legislation in 1995; seven additional entities, including LA NENA, were subsequently added to better serve all members of the Louisiana ospatial data community. The Council meets monthly and regularly recommends spatial data policy and provides a forum for coordination of spatial issues in state initiatives. With Ms. Cargo’s appointment, LA NENA expects to continue to have a voice in the development of data systems supporting NextGen 911 and a statewide broadband data emergency network.

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July 21, 2008 (PARK RIDGE, IL) - URISA is pleased to announce the results of its 2008 Board of Directors Election. Kathrine Cargo, GISP (New Orleans Parish Communications District) will become President-Elect of the association and Clare Brown, GISP, Michael Lovett, GISP and Karen Stewart, GISP will begin their three-year terms as members of the Board of Directors, at the close of URISA's 46th Annual Conference in New Orleans this October.
“URISA means professional growth, as I feel that my participation in conferences, committees and chapter functions better prepared me to recognize challenges as opportunities for improvement. URISA has been and continues to be a great source of inspiration to me in my work as a GIS/Mapping Coordinator, mainly due to the GIS educational offerings and the industry information that streams from the association on a regular basis,” said Cargo.
Three new directors were elected by the URISA membership to serve a three-year term on the URISA Board, also beginning in October.

The three new Board members are:

• Clare Brown, GISP, Montgomery Watson Harza, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Michael Lovett, GISP, CDM, Maitland, Florida
• Karen Stewart, GISP, ESRI Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia

Professional Experience

• 2002-Present – GIS/Mapping Coordinator. Orleans Parish Communication District.
• 1996-2002 – Principal City Planner. New Orleans City Planning Commission.
• 1986-1996 – Project Manager. Vernon F. Meyer and Associates, Inc. (now 3001, Inc.).

Education

• MURP – Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, 1999
• University of New Orleans College of Urban and Public Affairs. BA – Geography, 1986
• University of New Orleans

URISA Activities

• 2007 Geospatial Integration with Public Safety Conference, Conference Chair
• 2003-2006 URISA Board of Directors, Board Secretary
• 2001 URISA Service Award
• 2000 Chapter Relations Committee Chair,
• 1992 - Present URISA Member
• URISA Annual Conference Program Committee
• Street Smart/GIPSC/URISA NENA Addressing Conference Committee
• Nominations Committee
• Awards Committee
• Ongoing URISA workshop instructor
• Ongoing URISA conference presenter

Other Professional Activities & Memberships

• Certified GIS Professional (GISP)
• Louisiana Chapter of URISA, Past President, Officer, Charter member
• National Emergency Number Association (NENA)