Geology graduate with 5+ years of applied GIS and spatial data analysis experience supporting engineering and environmental projects. Strong background in geospatial data management, field data collection, model building, and technical documentation.
2016 - 2020
B.S. Geology - The University of Texas at Austin
Honors Thesis: “Cementation of Solution-Collapse Breccias in the Lower Ordovician Upper Knox Group, Central Tennessee.”
Advisor: Professor J. Richard Kyle
Minor: Business Administration
2023
Publication
Kyle, J.R., Quintero, T.R., Ukar, E., Miller, N.R., Elliott, S.J., Colbert, M., 2023, Dolomite cement microstratigraphy: A record of brine evolution and ore precipitation mechanisms, upper Knox Group, Tennessee and Kentucky, USA: Geology, v. 51, p. 392–396. doi.org/10.1130/G50689.1
2019 - 2020
Undergraduate Research Assistant - Ore Minerals Lab
Advisor: Professor J. Richard Kyle
Conducted petrographic analysis on 30+ thin sections using reflected light petrography.
Calibrated and collected cathodoluminescence (Optical CL) images of thin sections.
Performed statistical analysis (ANOVA, Boxplots, linear regressions) of LA-ICPMS data.
Communicated results through technical writing and video.
Designed a poster and presented findings at college research symposium.
2018
Study Abroad International Research Experience for Students
Advisor: Professor Elizabeth J. Catlos, Professor J. Richard Kyle Slovakia
Collected field samples and recorded detailed outcrop field notes.
Explored the active Rozalia Gold Mine in central Slovakia.
Sampled ore and scanned with High Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography.
Presented a poster on cockade textures at a departmental conference.
2023 - Present
GIS Analyst - Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Coordinated multi-disciplinary field teams collecting, validating, and QA/QC’ing spatial and tabular datasets for 62 engineered assets using ArcGIS Field Maps. Integrated into a centralized database.
Developed interactive data visualizations and produced technical map products to communicate spatial analysis results to internal and external stakeholders for Regional Flood Planning.
Maintained spatial datasets with documented workflows and metadata for FEMA Region 5.
Built and executed geoprocessing and spatial analysis workflows using ModelBuilder to identify high-risk flood exposure areas and determine future phases of project evaluation for GLO RBFS.
2021 - 2023
Project Manager / GIS Technician - Public Management, Inc.
Managed over $80 million in federal grant funds for cities like Pasadena, Dayton, and Palmer.
Performed QA/QC and validation of field-collected spatial datasets prior to grant submission..
Coordinated map creation in competitive federally funded grants for over 30 communities.
2020 - 2021
GIS Analyst Intern - City of Detroit Planning Dept.
Developed a custom geoprocessing model with Model Builder for tree planting sites in Detroit
Presented to the Detroit Reforestation Initiative in a cooperation with the University of Michigan Urban Informatics team to build a Suitability Model prioritizing tree planting
2020
GIS Analyst Intern - NASA DEVELOP
Created regression maps of land surface temperature; increased 8 ̊F in 10 years
Extracted and analyzed ISS GEDI LiDAR data in ArcGIS Pro utilizing a custom R script
Presented final methods and conclusions to city partners and an international ARSET training
Geologic Methods
Petrography
Cathodoluminescence imaging
Mineral texture and paragenetic analysis
Field sampling and stratigraphic description
Geospatial and Quantitative
ArcGIS Pro
ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS Field Maps
ModelBuilder
Experience Builder
ChatGPT Prompting
Scientific Communication
Scientific poster design
Technical writing
Cartographic visualization
Coordinated a crew of 10 workers collecting information on 63 hydraulic structures (bridges, culverts) across the Central region with Field Maps and Leica GPS units.
A web application to assist the Water Resources Planning group visualize key spatial datasets for client communication and project planning.
Detailed geospatial analysis designed to quantify flood exposure across the Central region. Our approach was unique among other regions because of its repeatability and objectivity.
Compiled multiple flood modeling sources (Base Level Engineering, Effective FEMA, MAAPnext, Fathom) to create Existing and Future Flood Hazard. Evaluated flood exposure with new layer.
Led a task evaluating where to recommend new Flood Early Warning Systems, traditional rain gages, and forecasting gages in the Central region.
Consistently reconciling and posting updated spatial data in the Spatial Data Engines for the GLO and RFP projects. Managing access to connections via ArcGIS Server Map Services.
As part of the Texas General Land Office Regional Basin Flood study, I have created over 28 custom layouts and mapbooks for the Technical Action Plan report detailing key project deliverables since 2020.
A web application to assist in inspecting and identifying dams at risk for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
A Story Map highlighting the Regional Flood Plan deliverables for the Sabine Region. Many interactive web maps and dashboards are placed throughout this public deliverable.
Volunteering with the City of Detroit's Planning and Development Department, I designed a custom geoprocessing model and suitability map in collaboration with the Detroit Reforestation Initiative and University of Michigan Urban Informatics team.
As part of NASA's DEVELOP program, my team and I partnered with the City of Huntsville, AL to quantify the extent of their urban canopy loss and urban heat island effect. We presented our findings to a municipal committee consisting of long range and short range city planners, GIS analysts, and engineers. We also presented our methods in a NASA ARSET training on urban heat islands.
For my senior honors thesis, I studied zinc-hosting core from the central and eastern Tennessee regions under economic geologist Dr. J. Richard Kyle. Our primary objective was to develop a paragenetic sequence of cementation in the ore to determine how the rock breccias developed over time.
This deliverable was part of a proposal to create a city plan for Wharton, TX which would have involved a comprehensive inventory of their roadways, structure conditions, and utilities.
A map for population migration within the City of Detroit between 2 census generations.
These exhibits were produced in a mapbook for various communities throughout Texas for use in their American Rescue Plan application
This web application was designed to identify which clients are likely to entertain a different grant administrator to penetrate a market area.
This application was designed to evaluate compliance with federal labor standards. Block groups totaling up to at least 5,000 persons were required for the grant application.
TxDOT hosts raster data of Potential Archeological Liability Maps (PALM) inside of county folders on their website. In order to alleviate administrative burden on project managers, I designed this application to quickly print out PALM maps.
January 2025
August 2020
December 2020
Presidential Scholar 2016 - 2020: The University of Texas Scholarship. Maintained all 4 years of GPA requirement
Opportunity Scholar 2016 - 2020: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship. Maintained all 4 years of GPA requirement
Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar 2017 - 2018: Recieved merit based scholarship. Served as mentor in 2018.
GeoFORCE 2012 - 2018: High school geology academy. Received scholarship in 2016. Served as 12th grade counselor in 2018
Eagle Scout August 2015: Installed a city permitted handrail at the corner of my neighborhood church