Lessons Learned Defining and Implementing GIS Projects Since 1983
We are pleased to announce our 2027 Conference Keynote Speaker, Dr. Graham (Gray) Hayes. With over 50 years of GIS expertise in a variety of fields, Dr. Hayes will trace the evolution of GIS through projects he has worked on and pass on lessons learned.
BIO
Dr. Graham Hayes has been designing and implementing GIS projects since 1983 (over 50 years of GIS experience). These include stints at Shell Oil’s Rocky Mountain Division and Bellaire Research Lab (focusing on Leases, Wells, and Seismic Lines), the Erie County (NY) Water Authority (focusing on Data Conversion and Application Development), founding the GIS Resource Group, Inc (GIS consulting, training, and sales, including the development of a three-volume set of Local Government Geographic Information Systems Development Guidelines for New York State Archives and Records Administration), Adjunct Professor at Erie Community College and SUNY Buffalo (teaching a variety of GIS courses), Research Scientist and Co-Director of the LESAM Lab within the Geography Department at UB (leading and advising a variety of GIS research projects and graduate students), Senior GIS Consultant/Programmer Analyst/Technical Lead with several local and national engineering firms (developed specialized software and managed teams of programmers to support Environmental Studies, Emergency Response efforts, and digital management of Municipal Infrastructure), and High School teacher at Christian Central Academy and Salamanca High School (teaching Earth Science, AP Computer Science, GIS, Game Design, Robotics, Wood Shop, and an after-school enrichment program called “Cooking Under Pressure with Dr. Hayes”). He “retired” in 2024.
