Benny Eric McCarty joined IRAPP as Technical Support Consultant & GIS Computer Lab Manager as of May 28th 2002. A 2001 graduate of Berea College with a degree in Agri-Business, McCarty also graduated from Morehead State University’s Vocational Education Technology Master’s program with an emphasis in Agriculture in May of 2004.

Eric has software experience with the ESRI suite, versions of AutoCAD, Microsoft Office Suite, Windows operating system environments, virus scan utilities, Adobe suite, and has some networking experience. Eric also works maintaining/running the hardware for the department.  This includes PC desktops, laptops, large format printers and scanners, handheld units and GPS units. He is currently maintaining the GPS base stations that have been established in Campbellsville, Cumberland, Morehead, and Somerset, Kentucky. These stations were certified in the Spring of 2006. 

His current research interest is working with GPS/GIS technology in agricultural related issues and alternative crops for Kentucky Tobacco Farmers.  He is also working on a number of technical and economic issues facing local Agricultural Producers in the region.