Sometimes an interview just happens. I meet a person with an interesting point of view or topic to discuss and we sit down and chat about it. Other times I am more direct and send a note requesting time with an individual. And then there are the times when events happen, words are exchanged and it just comes about. My email flashed and a note came in from Mike Sanderson, CEO at 1Spatial.
“Hi Jeff, we have some exciting presentations at our upcoming conference that we think you will enjoy and find interesting – and a product announcement.” While I do get email from CEOs from time to time, I cannot say that they come in regularly. This sounded interesting and I decided to respond.
“Thanks Mike, I look forward to your conference and hope to meet you there. In fact, I would like to interview you at some point when you have time,” I wrote back. The reply came the next morning, “I would be happy to meet, I’ll look for you.” I scratched my head, thinking to myself that getting the response from him directly was intriguing, but having him search for me was quite new. You have to understand, CEOs do not exactly chase media people around, personally.
But this was a signal of the type of person Mike Sanderson is, and when he located me at the conference he suggested the time and place and the deal was done – directly and simply.
Sitting down I noticed he was smiling. Not just a lot, but quite a bit. He had reason to smile, the conference was proceeding well with over 200 in attendance. The theme ‘1 Source of Truth‘ seemed to have jelled and was evident in the focus of quality given through each presentation. 1Spatial staff were smiling too. I noted many new faces and gathered the company had been hiring and was growing.
{sidebar id=141 align=left} I began by asking Sanderson what his vision is for 1Spatial. He responded that he has a 3-part vision. Firstly, the company’s solutions should connect back to the customer’s and satisfy their needs. He was talking of past experience, having previously worked in the water distribution industry. Consequently he understands complex networks, the importance of connectedness and data integrity in their operations and the management of large-scale data handling networks.
“Secondly, it’s all about the data,” Sanderson responds. He points out that 1Spatial will work with anyone, and is not focused on one solution or partner. Indeed, I came across projects like the Northern Ireland ‘GEOHub’ which is a new spatial data infrastructure and also involves ESRI. He can point to the company’s new MapRelate software, designed to handle geospatial data within the AutoCAD environment and built on the Autodesk feature data object (FDO) capability. Land Information New Zealand uses 1Spatial products for their National Grid, and the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain verifies its National Map using 1Spatial technology as will National Mapping officials in Australia.
He describes the amount of time it has taken for people to understand that it is the data that matters most. This, he says, is typically thought of in terms of integrating geospatial datasets with other geospatial datasets and explains that he is usually direct in facing solution issues, steering a course around technology as the goal, and focusing on the data and whatever it takes to build and operate a quality based solution that adds value to an organisation’s geospatial data holdings with non-geospatial work flows. Sanderson explains that the “data quality message is getting refined over time” and that the “rules behind the data matter most.” He recognises that database sizes are growing and that “a fundamental shift toward more automation in handling the quantity of information” is taking place.
“So what is the third part of your vision?” I inquired. He thinks a moment before explaining the importance of people within the organisation and “building a company with a culture” – pointing to the need to instil a sense ownership and passion in the employee’s. “Without the people we have we could not be doing what we are doing,” he indicates. While interesting, I want to know more. Sanderson spends a good amount of time explaining how important it is that the company is in a position to always have people carry on and move it forward. He points to the fact that 1Spatial really likes to celebrate achievements. “Work hard but have fun,” as he says. But there is another element, which I uncover in moving through the conference, talking with employees. There are some very special people in the company. They seem to have that mix of strong communication skills, technical knowledge and an energy to explain solutions. As Sanderson is speaking, I am wondering who is hiring the talented individuals. Bottom line: it’s no mistake that the company is succeeding with the talent and focused message.
{sidebar id=142 align=right} I ask Sanderson what drives him and what he wishes to accomplish within three to five years or so. He outlines the growth that he believes will be possible in terms of Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standardisation and the Data Quality Working Group efforts on that front – which 1Spatial is heavily involved in. But he also suggests that the trend is towards 3D and we are going to see three-dimensional topology and applications soon, all of which will add to the need for more data quality validation and integrity control. “We are thinking in terms of data quality supply chains now,” he explains.
Clearly there is a trend towards connected networks which is evolving through Service Oriented Architectures (SOAs) and he see’s the company playing a major role as data moves through networks and is validated in real-time and consumed for use in all kinds of applications.
“With your MapRelate product coming to market and the news that 1Spatial will become a data reseller, do you plan to diversify and branch out?” I ask. He responds that these were good opportunities and support the current efforts the company is making and the direction of product development. Having said that I am left with the notion that 1Spatial is growing and that there are plans in the wings to ramp up that growth. Looking around the conference and attending some of the presentations it is obvious to me that this is the best conference that the company has put on to date. It is more focused on the message of quality and the theme is more solidified.
With Sanderson standing I mention, “feel free to send more email” and he smiles before I shake his hand and he disappears into a crowd of people to pursue conference matters.
