Jim Geringer, the director of policy and public sector strategy of Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), was governor of Wyoming (1995-2003) and in the Wyoming Legislature (1983-1994). While governor, he focused on improving education through standards, accountability and technology. He modernized Wyoming's economic base to extensively include technology, and implementing strategic planning and information systems. Governor Geringer is a founder and current chair of the Board of Trustees for Western Governors University, a nonprofit online university founded and supported by 19 U.S. governors that certifies competency based education.
In his role with ESRI, Governor Geringer works with senior elected and corporate officials on how to use geospatial technology for place-based decisions in business and government. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University, then spent 10 years active and 12 years reserve service in the U.S. Air Force, working on unmanned space programs for both the Department of Defense and NASA. His projects included remote sensing satellites, the GPS system (NAVSTAR), Mars Viking Lander, the NASA HEAO and others.
