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Hoosier National Forest Hires New Mapping Specialist

Last updated on Friday, February 26, 2016

(BEDFORD) - Jennifer Chowning is the new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyst on the Hoosier National Forest. Chowning comes to the Hoosier from Washington where she supported the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests.

Chowning's main responsibilities will include creating project maps and providing geospatial technical support for various projects and programs, and coordinating the GIS resources on the Forest. The Forest has two GIS specialists on staff.

Chowning is originally from Louisville, KY and is happy to be back in the Midwest. She received her Bachelors degree in Geography with a concentration in Environmental Analysis from the University of Louisville. Her federal career in GIS started at the US Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District in the Hydraulic and Hydrologic Engineering Design Branch.

After nine years with the Corps working with floodplain mapping and dam failure plans she began looking for work that included more variety. She had only been to the western United States once, but had loved it so applied for a job out west with the US Forest Service. Chowning spent the last 4.5 years working with a different specialists and programs and thoroughly enjoys the Forest Service. "But I missed home and family," she said, "so I was looking for an opportunity to come back."

Although Chowning grew up in Louisville she had no idea southcentral Indiana had such varied topography and beautiful natural resources for people to enjoy. She and her two children are looking forward to exploring the area and learning more about the Forest.

Chowning will be working primarily out of the Bedford office but will provide support Forest-wide.

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