Member Spotlight: Kimberly Christman
We've brought back the Member Spotlight series so we can all get to know each other better. Do you know a WLIA colleague that you think people should know? Let us know at communications@wlia.org and send us their contact information. We may not get to everyone, but we'll try!
The Wisconsin Land Information Association (WLIA) is fortunate to have Kim Christman as an engaged member and, as of this year, she is also serving as the Association’s President-Elect. Currently, she is both the Real Property Lister and GIS Manager for Racine County, where she has dedicated 23 years, transitioning from Cartographer to her current roles. Kim is a humble and inspiring leader, and I am personally excited for her 2025 annual conference, where she aims to share the benefits of this organization and make the WLIA's activities more inclusive and accessible. She is the kind of person who volunteers often and leaves things a bit better than when she found them. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Kim and let you get to know her a bit better.
How did you come to your current profession or job?
I found my interest in Geography in a cultural geography class at UW-Green Bay. I had never thought about the people aspect before. I found that very interesting and continued to seek that out when I moved to UW-Milwaukee. The practical side of GIS was a draw for me. I knew I liked the academic side of human geography, but I also knew I needed something equitable for the workforce. So, GIS was the best way I saw to join my geography studies with the job prospects. I interned in Ozaukee County for Damon Anderson and that professional connection paved the way for my early professional career. Turns out Damon Anderson was very well known, and his good opinion spoke volumes. He really helped me get my foot in the door early on and I will always be in his debt.
What made you decide to run for president of the WLIA? Also, what do you value most in our organization?
I decided to run for WLIA president because it felt like the natural progression. I was just finishing up my 4th year on the board and for those years, I was chair and vice chair for the education committee. I had the experience of planning the regional events so the idea of planning the annual conference didn’t seem so daunting (insert foreboding sound effect here). Hopefully that doesn’t jinx me.
I really like our organization and how it encompasses so many different industries. I like that WLIA represents the voice of many perspectives with an overall commonality for the value of information. Our organization allows for a platform to showcase innovations, challenges, partnerships, and educational opportunities. My goal is to continue our push for open dialogues and push for furthering our outreach beyond our current membership.
What do you like to do for fun? (Hobbies, volunteer work, etc)
I like to attempt to fish. We have a pontoon that is set up for fishing and we try to fish on the Petenwell Flowage. I am always after panfish and of course walleye. I am terrible at it, but I would spend all day on the water (if there was a bathroom close by).
I like to treasure hunt at estate sales, rummage sales, barn sales, craft fairs, etc. I like to fill my house with interesting tidbits that seem odd by themselves but really create a quirky conversation when put on display in a home much to the chagrin of my family. Someday in the near future, I should have my own rummage sale to pass my tidbits on to the next treasure hunter.
If you do a rummage sale, please let me know! Are there any things you keep an eye out for when you’re thrifting, or anything that you collect? Also, is there any favorite thing that you’ve found?
No, I don’t’ have a specific theme or item I look for then hunting. I like to find something that could be used again (possibly in a different way) or would be cool to sit on display. I don’t have a favorite thing, but a couple cool items were some slightly fractured hummel figurines. I found them at a rummage sale and because they were slightly broken, they held little value to the seller. I found them to be quite lovely. My grandmother used to collect hummels and all the grandkids used to dream of playing with them but we never did.
What’s something most people wouldn’t guess about you?
I hate public speaking. I will do it but it’s always a very stressful thing for me. I have irrational fears of “what ifs” going on in my head all the time.
Same here – that was one of the reasons I really enjoyed Xan Fredericks talk at the annual this year. Are there any things you do to prepare or keep in mind when you have to speak publicly?
No, not exactly. I try to have a script or main bullet points written out so that I don’t forget to hit on them during the presentation. I know that I have experienced amnesia when standing in front of a room full of people before, so I like to have something written down to jumpstart my memory. Another thing that helps is finding someone in the room you know, that you can make eye contact with and that helps to humanize the crowd. Being in a room full of people, and not recognizing anyone, has a weird effect on making me feel alone. If I can see someone I know, it helps to ground my thoughts.
Where would you most like to travel to and why?
Europe. I have gotten as far as the UK and I would really love to see as much of Europe as possible. I would also love to see Iceland. I watch “Somebody Feed Phil” on Netflix, and he went to Iceland on the show. I really want to go and try the food, see the landscape and explore all the things.
That’s right! I heard you just got back from a trip to England. Were there any highlights from the trip? Any things you would recommend to check out?
Wow, so many things to see!
We spent a large part of our trip in Cornwall. It was magnificent. Specifically, we stayed in a small seaside village called Mevagissey. We traveled all over Cornwall and saw a few things I would recommend others visit. First up is Lands End, it is the most south-westerly point of the mainland. It has shops, food, and great views. Next up is the Minack Theatre. This is an open-air theatre carved into the cliff. We visited it just for a tour, but I imagine a show there would be breathtaking. I would definitely try to return for a performance. Penzance is a wonderful place to stop and visit as well. We didn’t get to Port Issac because our transportation would have had issues with the narrow roads. That is definitely an issue when traveling with a 9-passenger van in the UK. We also did the visit to Stonehenge and it’s a must see. Warwick castle was really fun experience as well. We could have spent more than a day there for sure.
Overall, I’m probably forgetting tons of things to say about my trip. Everywhere we went, we were met with friendly people and had lots of new experiences. Getting to travel with my family and friends is such a privilege. So many laughs, irritations, great photo ops, and stories to share for years to come.
