The Perspective of a Veteran
After 30 years in GIS, I have seen the industry evolve from command-line tools to the modern web frameworks we use today. While the last five years of my career have been dedicated to leadership and strategic management at King County, I never lost the desire to understand the mechanics behind the tools we build. MapSimple is my return to the workbench.
The Mission – Architecting with AI
In this new era, I believe AI acts as a high-speed pen, but it still requires a human Architect to provide direction. I am building in public to scout the path ahead by identifying shortcuts and navigating dead ends so my team and organization can move forward with better information.
Current Project – QuerySimple
Problem
Standard GIS query tools are often too complex for non-GIS users.
The Work
I am currently architecting QuerySimple, which is a custom widget for ArcGIS Experience Builder. This involves deep work with TypeScript and the jimu-core libraries to create a tool that is as powerful as it is intuitive.
Mentorship and Innovation
This exploration is an extension of my commitment to leadership. Recently, I presented a solo paper to WAGISA on team building from a manager’s perspective. MapSimple is the next step in that journey as I lead by example and show that innovation is a continuous process of growth and service.
Beyond the Maps
My work is ultimately driven by my Roman Catholic faith and a commitment to the truth. Whether I am managing a team or writing code, my goal is to lead with integrity and build tools that genuinely serve the community.