Mary Straka Email and Phone Number

Collaborate with a team to develop a national dataset of large-scale solar energy facilities in the US with key responsibilities including data creation, management, quality control, and database management. Utilize advanced geoprocessing techniques to complete landcover change analyses working with both raster and vector data models, conducting in-depth assessments of geospatial data to derive meaningful insights. Multitask and manage multiple projects ensuring tasks are completed in a timely manner. Develop metadata documentation and technical writing including analytics methods and explanation of results.

Courses included Physical Geography and Environmental Modeling with GIS. Collaborate closely with professor to prepare datasets and test workflows for various GIS projects, facilitating students' hands-on learning experiences. Provide timely and effective troubleshooting assistance to students encountering technical challenges during GIS projects. Develop review materials like study guides and practice exam questions and deliver engaging presentations to facilitate student success.

Guided GIS implementation across departments to strategically leverage geospatial applications within the organization. Successfully developed and managed GIS databases, webmaps, and interactive apps while working in collaboration with various teams to identify project goals and design custom industry-specific mapping solutions. Developed comprehensive documentation and user guides for staff detailing procedures for updating recurring analyses and web apps to ensure GIS resources (internal and public-facing) remain accurate and up-to-date. Evaluated GIS data organization and provided recommendations to improve efficiency of workflows and data storage across multiple teams. Delivered ad-hoc and recurring maps (static and web-based) upon request to contextualize geographic data and provide insights into status of various programs utilizing state and federal funding. Maintained efficient communication with project leads on various teams while managing multiple projects and timelines.

Served as primary point of communication with members of the public to provide information about hunting rules and regulations in CO; Managed volunteer and student database and course records; Worked with staff and course instructors to provide class materials and create Spanish-language version of tests.

Managed a team of 10+ staff members; Coordinated weekly schedule to meet staffing needs; Collaborated with chefs to provide menu training; Created training materials and led staff wine training; Piloted new philanthropy program

Collaborated with diverse team while navigating cultural and language barriers; Successfully completed numerous small-scale habitat restoration and species identification projects; Contributed digital content for social media marketing; Researched and wrote copy for website and marketing emails.

Learned about sustainability in the food industry and wrote numerous reports about restaurant’s partnerships and contributions to oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay.

Worked in small team collecting data and samples for principal investigator studying plant-insect interactions and chemical ecology of invasive plant species.Conducted field surveys, collected biomass samples, processed and organized samples in laboratory setting.