Rick Havel started in GIS during the early 1990s while a graduate student at Missouri State University. After graduation he took a position as a GIS contractor for the Environmental Protection Agency in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2001 Rick was hired to help implement GIS for Johnson County, Iowa. Since then, GIS has become an important part of county operations. It is used in property assessment, real estate management, E911 call mapping, emergency management, planning, conservation and more.  Rick also teaches GIS courses as an adjunct lecturer for the Urban and Regional Planning Department at the University of Iowa. He is the current chairperson of the Iowa Geographic Information Council which promotes the use of geospatial technology in Iowa. His current passion related to GIS is expanding geomentoring in K-12 programs throughout Iowa.