30 Minutes with Mike Sanderson: A Vision of Quality
Written by Jeff Thurston
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.