Auburn University

Department of Geosciences

Advisory Board

We are the Auburn University Department of Geosciences Advisory Board… an advocacy group to further the goals of the Department by creating a close‑working relationship between professional and management leaders in government and business and the faculty and students of the Department.  Our goal is to provide advice and financial assistance, aid in recruitment of exceptional students, grow and enhance the reputation of the Department, and maximize the employment opportunities for department graduates.

Goodney Hulsey Zapp	Chair
	Company: Cognizant Tech. Solutions Bio: Goodney Zapp is a proud graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. in Geology, 1980. Goodney began her career with a decade in field geology layered with mine modeling and mapping and statistical analysis with Rio Tinto Group and Chevron’s mining division. The programming experience led her to a career transition to IT starting with Microsoft. Currently, Goodney is an IT strategy and program delivery consultant with Cognizant Technology Solutions, leading large and complex technology integrations and implementations for organizational growth and operational efficiencies. Goodney is keen to support initiatives in Women in STEM (Science Technology Engineering, Mathematics), WIT (Women in Technology) initiatives and participates when possible in Auburn COSAM SWSM (Society of Women in Science and Math).
Herb Martin	Vice Chair
	Company: Retired from Devon Energy Bio: Born in Pottsville, PA and as part of a very mobile family lived in 3 towns in Alabama and one in Illinois growing up. Graduated from Ft Payne AL HS in 1975, BS from AU in 1979, MS from LSU in 1985. Thirty-five years in the oil and gas biz. Retired in 2017. Over 17 years as prospector, working principally U.S. Gulf Coast onshore (largely South Texas), with five (+) years in International (primarily Far East basins) projects. Since 1999, in management roles for Devon, in Western, Gulf Coast and Southern Divisions and Corporate Teams. Beyond finding oil & gas, professional interests include economic and strategic evaluation of exploration opportunities, innovative application of technology for resource delineation and expansion, and cross-disciplinary integration applied to solving the unique challenges in “Unconventional Resource” plays. Outside of professional interests include hiking and outdoors (hunting, fishing, camping), golf, travel, reading, our family (really loving on our grands) and ‘working around the yard’ (including gardening). Lots of time spent on non-profits and volunteer work. Wife Marynm and I have been together a good while (a long time, she would say).
Anne Hall	Secretary
	Company: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Bio: Anne Hall is currently a District Appropriations Hydrologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. She is responsible for review and analysis of water appropriation permit applications for the northern 16 counties in the MN DNR’s Region 4 (southwest Minnesota). Job duties include ensuring that appropriation from high capacity wells is sustainable and will not harm the source aquifer. Additionally, she ensures that the appropriation will not impact domestic or municipal water supplies, trout streams, and rare natural features such as calcareous fens. Anne’s interests include groundwater/surface water interaction, wetlands hydrology, and glacial geology. A favorite aspect of her job is conducting field inspections of calcareous fens, which are peat-accumulating wetlands dependent on cold, calcium-rich, nutrient-poor groundwater. Anne, her husband Bruce, and their furry child, Jax, live on Clear Lake, just south of Watkins, MN. They spend their time X-country skiing and shoveling snow in the winter, restoring their lake shoreline and fishing in the spring and summer, and in the fall they hand harvest wild rice.
Jochen Floesser	Treasurer
	Company: Houston-Galveston Area Council Bio: Jochen is the Director of Data Analytics and Research for the Houston-Galveston Area Council, a voluntary association of local governments and elected officials from the 13-county Gulf Coast planning region surrounding the Houston metropolitan area, and covering an area of 12,500 square miles with more than 7 million people. Jochen’s department focuses on developing robust data models and forecasts for economic development, transportation planning, air quality, population growth, housing, jobs, land use, natural resources, and resiliency. Jochen graduated from AU in 1996 with an M.S. in Geology; he also holds an M.S. in Geography from Mannheim University in his home country of Germany. Having worked nearly 25 years in the geospatial industry in capacities of program and operations management, Jochen is experienced in data and analytics in multiple sectors to include environmental, natural resources, energy/infrastructure, geographic information systems, and remote sensing. Jochen is married to Anne Cisneros who is a flight attendant with Delta Airlines. Together they have four adult sons, Donovan, Fabrice, Philipp, and Maximilian.