Ray Mcpherson Email & Phone Number

United States

Remote

Supporting the Partnership’s affordable housing data visualization and preservation projects through data analysis, spatial analysis, and automation. A key part of my role is to manage projects. I maintain and update a financing database yearly, I lead our recent Indigenous housing research initiative, and I co-manage our yearly Housing Needs Dashboard update and release. Data analysis can be a time-consuming process. I brought with me to the Partnership Python skills, which I have used to automate the analyses necessary for several of our yearly reports and to automate database updates. I enjoy teaching and have done a Python crash course with our Research Fellows every year. Additionally, the Partnership is releasing several Python training videos that I co-created with our Comms Director, which will be available on Youtube in September of 2024.

Remote

My primary role is to develop geoprocessing tools and models, primarily using Python. These tools range from the automation of repetitive tasks such as appending tabular data to a feature service in ArcGIS Online, to processing and analyzing large raster data for internal use, to creating interactive web app widgets in ArcGIS Portal that feed a user climatic information about a place anywhere in the world. Other programming accomplishments include setting up weekly reminder emails, learning VB Script to create forms in Excel, and learning to access and consume data stored in the cloud or on the web via various modules and/or REST endpoints. To achieve these successes, I collaborate closely with other members of the GIS Team as well as other groups within our organization and partnered organizations.In addition to developing, I am often called upon to troubleshoot technical issues and have a knack for solving problems. I research new data sources and organize demos, clean up and maintain data in our databases, and perform a myriad of data analyses. Occasionally, I create or update maps for stakeholders. I am a licensed drone pilot and am knowledgeable in the operation of commercial drones from flight planning to take-off. I have captured photos and videos for use in PR and orthomosaics, and have become familiar with Pix4D to create orthos, DEMs, and contour lines.

San Francisco Bay Area

After extensive training on propriety software and methodologies, I analyzed, validated, and enhanced data, and assembled new content for consumer applications. I developed and improved workflows, trained others on them, and performed QA and QC of colleagues’ work. As a team lead, I updated training and report materials, assisted with daily issues, and reported accomplishments.

Greater Denver Area

Major in AnthropologyConcentrations in Archaeology and Biological AnthropologyGraduate GIScience Certificate ProgramCompleted all requirements Dec. 2017

Greater Denver Area

Ensuring the security of the lab by monitoring the doors and computer access, maintaining computers, maintaining computer and network cables, ensure supplies are stocked, posting jobs and announcements, assisting students with printing, troubleshooting basic computer problems, cleaning whiteboards and desks, ensuring classrooms and workrooms are reset and set-up, communicating with students and staff, and writing end of shift reports.

Greater Denver Area

Performing field survey over rugged terrain in the Lone Mesa State Park, identifying geological formations and fossils in the field, collecting specimens, using a Garmin GPS unit to take data points, mapping data points and geological formations on a USGS 1:24,000 topography map, reading, interpreting, and navigating from topo maps, taking detailed field notes, interpreting aerial photography in 2D and stereoscope, using scientific work to identify specimens to the species or genus level, filling out site, fossil, and geology forms and databases, and assisting in making decisions on site sensitivity and mitigations.

Denver, Colorado

Teaching lab sections of an Introduction to Biological Anthropology course. Improve and implement lesson plans, lab assignments, quizzes, and practicum. Grade assignments, identify key areas of difficulty for students, and work with students to improve their understanding of material.

Denver, Colorado

Part time archaeology technician. Dug excavation units using shovels and hand tools. Dug shovel tests in a transect. Documented artifacts, took photographs, recorded features, screened excess sediments for artifacts. Hiked into and out of sites in all weather over rough terrain carrying necessary equipment.

Custer, South Dakota

Performed pedestrian survey; discovered and identified prehistoric and historic artifacts and structures including lithics, trash dumps, saw mills, and mines; completed site and monitoring forms; monitored eligible sites; navigated using topographic maps, compasses, and Archer and Garmin GPS units; recorded data using an Archer GPS and ArcPad or a Garmin GPS unit; recorded and edited eligible sites for NRHP using an Oracle database, and transported people and equipment to and from areas of potential effect.

Jackson, Michigan Area

Cultural Resources Management phase I archaeology work, primarily in managing various Trimble units, working with the Trimble data dictionary, and taking GPS points using a Trimble. Other work included pedestrian survey, shovel testing, working with aerial maps, processing paperwork, and transporting people and materials to and from job sites in company owned or rental vehicles.

Guernsey, Wyoming

Did CRM phase II archaeological work, including survey, excavation of test units, regularly completed shovel and auger tests, recorded UTMs with a Trimble and total station, and collected and recorded artifacts and data as part of a team. Processed paperwork and records in the field and in the lab, and entered and corrected data. Participated in the writing of site reports and the completion of Wyoming SHPO reports. In charge of transporting people, materials, and tools to and from sites using government owned vehicles.

Laramie, Wyoming

Analyzed, organized, and processed artifacts, and sorted matrix. Organized data using Microsoft Office Access, found and corrected flawed data, ran statistical analyses of data with SPSS. Wrote site reports. Transcribed meeting minutes. Manned the PiRL booth at archaeology conferences. Mentored fellow students to develop necessary lab skills. Assisted students with completing projects.

Laramie, Wyoming

Lead tours of the museum for visitors ranging from middle school students to curious adults. Created training manuals for future interns and future museum use. Managed artifact displays. Assisted in creating exhibits with a fellow student and the museum director. Learned and applied the minute details of creating and maintaining a small museum.

Croatia

Participated in excavation at three sites, including a salvage excavation at a castle and excavation of two Paleolithic sites as part of different teams. Learned to use large and small excavation tools, cleaned and processed artifacts, and mapped and measured sites using techniques such as total station mapping, theodolite scoping, pacing, and a measuring tape.

Graduate Certificate, Giscience

GIS that emphasizes analysis and critical thinking. My major areas of interest are in modeling and Python coding, especially in issues.

Master'S Degree, Anthropology, 2Nd Year

I was an Anthropology Master's student with concentrations in biological anthropology and archaeology. I was also a part of the GIScience.

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Anthropology, 3.63

Activities and Societies: Worked in the PaleoIndian Research Lab as a Lab Tech, worked in a molecular biology lab, interned.