About Us

History

Established in 2006, Eclipse Geomatics is a small company located in Smithers, BC that provides spatial solutions and information management services to the natural resource sector. Our team at Eclipse Geomatics explores how open-source tools can be used to develop creative solutions to spatial problems and provide information management solutions. We specialize in projects focused on sustainable development including conservation, land use planning & monitoring, data governance, and data management.

 

Our valued clients include First Nations organizations throughout the Skeena watershed, Natural Resources Canada, SkeenaWild Conservation Trust, the BC Ministry of Energy and Mines, the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Highland Forestry, the Bulkley Valley Research Centre, and the Skeena Knowledge Trust.

Our Mission

Why We Exist

To support community and environmental sustainability by transforming and visualizing data. We achieve our mission by providing geographic Information systems (GIS) analysis, data visualization, data hub development, and information management services.

Our Vision

What We Want to Be 

To progressively evolve Eclipse Geomatics into an informatics company that is open to new technologies and new possibilities.

Our Values

What We Believe In

Creative Intelligence – We strive to find creative solutions for clients and like to overthink the problem.

Depth of Service – We deliver quality services that have enduring value beyond the client’s expectations.

Thoughtful Collaboration – We bring together diverse perspectives and challenge the status quo.

Connection – We make time to connect with each other, foster our relationships, and celebrate our successes.

Independent and Resourceful – We think strategically, respond quickly, and make impactful decisions.

Commitment – We see the big picture, trust in our external relationships, and focus on long-term success.

Our Team

Johanna Pfalz
President

Johanna has worked as a consultant for the past 15 years, providing GIS services across British Columbia, Alberta, and nationally. Her work has focused on ecological land classification, land use planning, land use monitoring, environmental impact assessment, as well as documenting traditional knowledge for First Nations. Prior to consulting, Johanna worked with the Provincial Government in Information Management for 10 years including Section Head of the regional Smithers GIS section. She is the President of Eclipse Geomatics Ltd. and is excited to be working with such a great team of information specialists. In recent years, Johanna has become an advocate for open source tools as well as open data. Recent projects such as the Skeena Knowledge Trust showcase these practices and demonstrate their utility. When she’s not working on her computer, Johanna likes to spend time in her canoe (the Mad River Eclipse), go jogging with her Bouvier named Toby, garden, fish, ski and hang out at the lake with her partner and daughter. Life is good.

Manuela Zindler
Project Manager

Manuela works as a Project Coordinator for Eclipse Geomatics, focusing on projects related to the Skeena Knowledge Trust. Born and raised in southern Germany and driven by her love for the environment, she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Geography at LMU Munich, with an exchange year at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, followed by an international Master’s degree in Global Change Ecology at the University of Bayreuth. As a passionate environmental scientist, she has engaged in various projects, conferences, and science schools related to climate change and environmental stewardship, including her own research publications. Manuela moved to Terrace, BC, in April 2022. She loves spending time outdoors in the beautiful, calming nature of northern BC, and pursues her passion for hiking, biking, skiing, and running. On a quiet day, she enjoys listening to music, baking, cooking, or reading a good novel.

Lizzy Hoffman
Technical Solutions Architect

Lizzy Hoffman works with Eclipse Geomatics as a Technical Solutions Architect, focusing on the Skeena Knowledge Trust project. Lizzy grew up in Victoria, British Columbia and completed a B.Sc. in Biology at the University of Victoria, followed by an M.Sc. in Land Reclamation and Remediation at the University of Alberta. There she studied the development of vegetation communities at reclaimed surface mine sites and became interested in using open source tools for data analysis and management. Following her master’s, Lizzy moved to Williams Lake where she taught at Thompson Rivers University, the College of New Caledonia and other institutions. In 2018, Lizzy moved to Smithers and joined Eclipse Geomatics. Lizzy enjoys skiing, hiking and mountain biking with her partner and dog in her spare time.

Reine Vizcarra 
Technical Architect

Reine Vizcarra is a Technical Architect at Eclipse Geomatics. With a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology focused on developing Web Applications, Reine brings extensive experience in web development, data visualization, and geographic information systems (GIS). Originally from the Philippines, Reine moved to Smithers in 2017. Her technical proficiency spans a broad range of programming languages and frameworks, and she is passionate about using her experience to contribute to innovative technical solutions. In her spare time, Reine enjoys photography and reading books.

Akhil imageAkhil Sai Thekkeveedu
Financial Administrator

Akhil Sai Thekkeveedu is originally from Kerala, India where he completed his Masters in Finance in 2019. After working for 2 years as a Manager of LPG Cylinder Agency (India) he moved to Smithers to complete a post graduate diploma in Business at Coast Mountain College. Akhil applies his extensive financial knowledge and experience in his role with Eclipse Geomatics as our Financial Administrator. He really likes to play football (soccer) in the summer. 

Monica Oliva

Administrative and Finance Coordinator

Monica Oliva is the Administrative & Finance Coordinator at Eclipse Geomatics. In the past three years, she has worked as the Bookkeeper and Business Administrator for two different organizations in Smithers. Monica is responsible for recording revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities and equity for all projects Eclipse Geomatics undertake. Furthermore, provide general administrative support for the company; the company couldn’t do it without her. Originally from Peru, Monica had lived in Alberta for 2 years while attending college. After graduation, she moved to Smithers in 2014 to be closer to her family and enjoy the various outdoor activities the Bulkley Valley has to offer. Monica, her 3-year-old son Ryan and their puppy Leo love playing and creating memories outside!

Ali Sehpar Shikoh
Data Visualization Specialist

Ali holds a PhD from Qatar University and a Master’s Degree from Loughborough University. In addition, he also has a diploma in Data Science from BrainStation, Canada. His skill set includes data analysis, programming, and collaboration, with a solid capability in using visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, and Python to develop informative dashboards and interpret complex datasets. He has an extensive background in data-driven research and has authored/co-authored over 30 research publications, gathering around 400 citations. Apart from academic research, his professional background features contributions to government and non-government-funded projects, focusing on topics like immigration, healthcare, and indigenous business development. At Eclipse, his responsibilities include data analysis, dashboard implementation, reporting, and project management. Outside of work, Ali enjoys swimming, watching movies, and spending time with his family.

Lindsay Gammon
2024 Intern

Lindsay is a student at University of Victoria where she is currently pursuing a B.Sc. in Geography and Computer Science. Born and raised on Vancouver Island, her time volunteering with nonprofits there fostered her passion for environmental restoration. In her free time she enjoys hiking, biking, printmaking and painting.

Andrew Nguyen animated imageAndrew Nguyen 
Technical Architect

Andrew Nguyen’s undergrad background is in Finance. After his undergrad, he furthered his education with a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Programming while working as a Web Developer. He also completed a Master’s degree in Data Science from The University of British Columbia. Before working for Eclipse Geomatics, he was working as a Data Scientist for Statistics Canada. Andrew loves working with database systems and data analysis/ data science projects. Andrew enjoys outdoor activities, coffee, travel, and working on side projects in his spare time.

Former Team Members

Enid Au Former Information Technician

Ingrid Farnell Former Information Technician

Emily Hobley Mccosker Former Watershed Educator

ZACH POBA-NZAOU Former Web Developer

Jason Louie Former - Sandbox Exhibit Facilitator & Web Developer

MONICA OLIVA Former Admin and Finance Coordinator

CLAIRE THORNTON Former Financial Administrator

EKATERINA DAVIEL Former Data Visualization Specialist