Meet the Mapping Team | Part 2
News|by Gabrielle Alvear|20 August 2024
When it comes to the geospatial landscape, we know our maps! That’s why Grey Matter has a team of Mapping Experts ready to help ISVs, enterprises, and developers with their geospatial projects.
Get to know the team and their experiences in the industry. Don't forget to check out Part 1 of this series on our blog.
Next up we have Sam Avery, one of our Mapping Team Leaders, and Chris Cifelli who represents part of our wider North American mapping team from the United States.
Enjoy this next installment and stay tuned for Part 3 where we'll get to know more of the Mapping Team.
How long have you been at Grey Matter? What brought you to join the Mapping Team?
Sam: I’ve been with Grey Matter for almost 10 years. I initially joined in an admin role within the mapping team. I wanted to start a career which I could grow into and Grey Matter provided that chance. I transitioned into sales and now I am a Team Leader and Senior Account Manager on the mapping team.
Chris: I have been with Grey Matter for 1 year. Coming from Microsoft, I was able to join Grey Matter on their Bing Maps team and continue to work with Microsoft.
What are your specialist products and solutions?
Sam: My specialist area is licensing for mapping solutions but with a keen interest in the IoT and Machine Learning space.
Chris: I specialize in Bing Maps and Azure Maps. I also have M365 licensing knowledge to offer more complete solutions to CSP customers.
What certifications and accreditations do you have?
Sam: I have my Azure and Azure AI Fundamentals from Microsoft, to name a few. I've also got a Managing a Diverse Team certificate from LinkedIn and other vendor specific qualifications.
Chris: Catching up with you, Sam! I have the Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certification, with Azure Fundamentals coming up as my next goal.
How do you/Grey Matter help clients with their geospatial projects?
Sam: We help clients by simplifying licensing, being product/feature focused and giving the customers the best solution at the best price possible.
Chris: I ensure customers are getting the right licensing and tiers for their unique use cases.
Why should organisations purchase their mapping solutions from Grey Matter?
Sam: Simply put, no one knows the mapping space like Grey Matter. Licensing can be over complicated and it’s our job to make it simple by putting customers first. Adding to this, with our Azure for ISV specialism and vast knowledge across so many publishers, it makes us the first choice for our customers to reach out to for advice and expertise.
Chris: Grey Matter offers a wide range of mapping solutions and support. With the Bing Maps and Azure Maps unification, we offer CSP licensing, support with migration, as well as an array of Azure services for a complete solution.
What mapping or geospatial trends, challenges, and news should clients be aware of?
Sam: Last mile routing is becoming crucial for a lot of customers, spanning multiple sectors and over the next couple of years, it will be super exciting to see how it progresses.
Chris: The Bing Maps unification with Azure Maps. We actually have an upcoming webinar customers can sign up for to learn more about what's next for Microsoft Mapping and how we can support.
Now for some fun & personal questions!
What kinds of music do you often have playing in the background?
Sam: Cliché but I don’t have particular music choices, it depends on the task or mood of the day but anything rock works well for me!
Chris: I'm an EDM guy, with Illenium usually being played the most. I also used to go to the Vans Warped Tour, so I’m still playing Blink-182, Simple Plan, Sum 41 and all those bands.
What is one movie you’ll never get tired of watching?
Sam: John Wick – First one only. Period.
Chris: Goon!
How would you spend a million pounds?
Sam: Simple… Build a home with land and a good garage, get married and of course, buy a Porsche 911 GT3 RS!
Chris: I was going to say the same thing! I would buy a Porsche 911 GT3 RS and do A LOT of travelling to new places.
Where is your dream holiday destination? Or have you already been there!
Sam: No dream destination, I want to travel the whole world with my partner. So, everywhere!
Chris: I’ve checked a few places off my list, but my dream destination is still Switzerland. I want to go to Zermatt in the winter and Lucerne/Interlaken in the summer.
If a customer were to visit our Grey Matter office, where would you recommend, they go visit around the area?
Sam: Teans Thai in Newton Abbot. Authentic Thai that will make you think you’re there. It’s that good!
Chris: Representing the North American side of the business - the US office is right near the beach (so I guess that's another thing we have in common with our UK colleagues). Heading down to one of the beaches with a boardwalk will give you a whole day of activities. There are also trains to NYC if you want to spend the day in the big city.
Want to get in touch with our Mapping Team?
Simply fill in the Contact Form below or send us an email and one of our mapping experts will schedule a call to discuss your project needs.
In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned for the next segment of our Meet The Mapping Team series where we interview more team members, and check out our Mapping Solutions page for more information.