Five outstanding individuals and teams recognized for innovative uses of GIS technology in economic development

GIS WebTech is proud to announce the recipients of the 8th Annual GIS WebTech Technology Leadership Awards, recognizing excellence in GIS innovation for economic development.

This year's winners demonstrate how GIS technology is transforming economic development, from improving infrastructure planning and identifying industrial sites to strengthening business recruitment, regional collaboration, and community engagement.

The five awards were presented during the inaugural Economic Development Tech Summit, held November 4–5, 2026, in Alpharetta, Georgia.

"We continue to be impressed by the creativity and ingenuity of economic development professionals who are finding new ways to put GIS technology to work," said Ron Bertasi, CEO of GIS WebTech. "This year's winners are great examples of how innovative thinking, combined with the right technology, can make a meaningful difference for communities and businesses."

Meet the 2026 Technology Leadership Award Winners

Gus Fontenot, Director of Special Projects and Site Selection, Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance

Transforming fragmented infrastructure data into a regional resource

Gus Fontenot has helped address a major challenge in Southwest Louisiana: the lack of publicly accessible water and sewer infrastructure information.

Working with parish and municipal governments, Gus collected and consolidated utility data, even digitizing paper maps himself, to create a comprehensive regional resource within GURU.

His efforts have made the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance the region's only source for comprehensive, publicly accessible water and sewer infrastructure information. The initiative has strengthened collaboration among local governments, encouraged rural communities to modernize their data, and given site selectors and project planners a valuable new resource.

Gus's work demonstrates how GIS technology can turn fragmented information into actionable intelligence that benefits an entire region.

Ian Murray, Consultant, Economic Development Technical Services, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

Using GIS intelligence to uncover industrial development opportunities

Ian Murray combines advanced GIS analysis with extensive site selection expertise to identify promising industrial development opportunities throughout TVA's 80,000-square-mile service area.

His comprehensive approach evaluates everything from utilities and transportation access to workforce availability, environmental constraints, and future expansion potential. One standout achievement was identifying a 140-acre property in Robertson County, Tennessee, that became Union Springs Business Park, where more than $15 million has been spent or committed toward acquisition and development.

Ian's analytical expertise, investigative skills, and commitment to continuous improvement have made him an invaluable resource for communities seeking to attract new investment.

Jennifer Branch, Senior Economic Development Manager, City of Waco, Texas

Turning property intelligence into a targeted business recruitment strategy

As Senior Economic Development Manager for the City of Waco, Jennifer Branch has utilized GURU to move beyond a traditional property database into a proactive business development and recruitment platform.

By combining visitor analytics with GIS data, Waco identified its true retail trade area and developed customized tools to market specific investment opportunities. Priority development zones, specialized property layers, automated marketing materials, targeted links, and interactive ArcGIS StoryMaps help deliver relevant information directly to prospective businesses, brokers, and site selectors.

One innovative application includes specialized GIS layers highlighting aeronautical, non-aeronautical, and Foreign Trade Zone opportunities at Waco Regional Airport. Jennifer's approach demonstrates how location intelligence can support more strategic, personalized business recruitment by helping tell Waco's story and connect the right opportunities with the right investors.

Matt Adkins, Vice President/Chief Economic Development Officer, Taney County Partnership, Missouri

Expanding GIS technology beyond traditional economic development

Matt Adkins, Vice President and Chief Economic Development Officer, has helped Taney County Partnership make GIS technology an integral part of business development, tourism, workforce planning, community engagement, and strategic decision-making. The Partnership does this by standardizing on Esri-based GIS technology, including GURU.

The Partnership uses ArcGIS StoryMaps to create customized experiences for developers and site selectors, ArcGIS Dashboards to make complex economic data accessible, and Survey123 to gather input that informs workforce initiatives and community priorities. A comprehensive GIS and Data Resources page also provides valuable market intelligence to businesses and investors.

These efforts are delivering measurable results, including supporting a local company's $2 million expansion and helping another business identify a site for future growth through GURU.

The Partnership's innovative approach also earned a 2026 IEDC Bronze Award and contributed to its successful Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) accreditation.

Jennifer Tufts, COO, and Richelle Brown Redden, Senior Economic Development Officer, Valley Regional Enterprise Network, Nova Scotia

Connecting communities through shared regional intelligence

Jennifer Tufts, Chief Operating Officer, and Richelle Brown Redden, Senior Economic Development Officer, helped lead Valley Regional Enterprise Network (Valley REN) in creating a centralized GIS-powered platform that brings together commercial property listings, zoning, infrastructure, workforce, demographics, and 3D visualization tools across Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley.

Valley REN established a shared resource serving six municipalities and Glooscap First Nation, representing approximately 7,710 businesses.

The initiative has improved regional collaboration, reduced duplication of effort, and made investment information more accessible. Its impact also extends into community planning through partnerships with the Nova Scotia Community College's Centre of Geographic Sciences, including a Food Security and Food Sovereignty initiative that mapped 217 food-related businesses, as well as research into regional fire station locations.

In addition to the GIS WebTech Technology Leadership Award, Valley REN's leadership in technology has also received national recognition through an Economic Developers Association of Canada award for Digital Transformation & Technology Adoption.

Valley REN's leadership in digital transformation has also received national recognition through an Economic Developers Association of Canada award for Digital Transformation & Technology Adoption.

Celebrating Innovation in Economic Development

Now in its eighth year, the GIS WebTech Technology Leadership Award recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate creativity, leadership, and measurable impact through the innovative use of GIS technology.

This year's recipients represent a diverse range of communities, challenges, and applications, but they share a common commitment to using technology to solve problems, uncover opportunities, and advance economic development.

Congratulations to all of our 2026 Technology Leadership Award winners! We are proud to recognize their accomplishments and the important contributions they are making to the economic development profession.

Learn more about the GIS WebTech Technology Leadership Awards and past recipients.