Meet the Mapping Team | Part 3
News|by Gabrielle Alvear|4 October 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 and Part 2 of this series on our blog.
As you can imagine, it takes a great deal to manage various mapping accounts and their unique use cases.
Our mapping team is not just made up of sales experts. We couldn't do what we do without our renewals, sales opps, and inside sales team. It's members like Tasha Woods, Paul Clarkson, and Emily Kent who help keep this ship steered in the right direction.
They have a wealth of mapping knowledge and expertise which you can read all about below.
Enjoy this next installment of Meet the Mapping Team!
How long have you been at Grey Matter? What brought you to join the Mapping Team?
Tasha: I’ve been at Grey Matter since September 2022, however I used to work here between 2009-2012, and was part of the original mapping team when it was getting off the ground! I chose to leave to attend university and life lead me in all different directions. I saw a job come up in the Mapping Team at Grey Matter, and decided that I wanted a new (old?) challenge!
Paul: I’ve been with Grey Matter for just over a year, I joined after being with HERE Technologies for over 15 years where I helped maintain their market leading location solutions.
Emily: 6 years! I joined after graduating from university.
What are your specialist products and solutions?
Tasha: My job is renewals based, so I mostly focus on the Mapping renewals within the team. Although, I tend to do a lot of bits and bobs within the team as well, helping out where I can.
Paul: I’m more involved in the facilitating of customers so that they can access the location services they need and assist with customer queries if they arise.
Emily: For most of my time here, this has been Bing Maps licensing. Now I help customers with both Bing Maps and Azure Maps.
How do you/Grey Matter help clients with their geospatial projects?
Tasha: Personally, I try to make renewals as smooth and painless as possible for our clients. I pride myself on fast response times and a high level of accuracy with everything I do.
Paul: Finding the ideal solution for their mapping requirements and backing that up with knowledge and support.
Emily: I specialise in licensing and work with other teams to get the information and support the customer needs.
Why should organisations purchase their mapping solutions from Grey Matter?
Tasha: We are Mapping Specialists, having been the Global Distributor for Microsoft Bing Maps for many years now. We work very closely with a number of mapping providers, and have incredible knowledge and expertise throughout the team. We are also a great team of people who put our clients first.
Paul: By leveraging the needs of the customer and matching their requirements to the many options we can recommend the perfect fit for their needs.
Emily: The team have a lot of knowledge and care about helping customers get the most from their mapping solutions.
What mapping or geospatial trends, challenges, and news should clients be aware of?
Tasha: The biggest one at the moment is for our Bing Maps clients, and the unification with Azure Maps. It’s definitely something all of our clients using Bing Maps should be thinking about, and speaking to us if they have any questions or concerns.
Paul: Of course AI, but the constant evolution of GIS and it becoming cloud based with the ability to analyse real-time date streams. For example, the use of mobile applications and drones for the collection and processing of data. I think one change is privacy and balancing the use of what could be sensitive location data. Some regions could be left behind due to the lack of the required high-speed internet needs.
Emily: The Unification of Bing and Azure Maps and migration, which our team can help with 😊
Now for some fun & personal questions!
What kinds of music do you often have playing in the background?
Tasha: I’m very eclectic, and if you were to look at my Spotify, you’d think it was for 5 different people. But my main genre is rock/metal, and I’ve been at Download Festival this summer which was awesome.
Paul: Fairly varied to be honest. I enjoy finding new music such as Sunday (1994). My tastes range from Pearl Jam, ONUKA, a Ukrainian band, Underworld through to the Pet Shop Boys. They were the first album, on cassette, that I purchased 😊
Emily: No particular preference really!
What is one movie you’ll never get tired of watching?
Tasha: I honestly have too many! Moana, Forrest Gump, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Devil Wears Prada…I could go on.
Paul: Back to the Future and an honorable mention to Back to the Future II
Emily: Funny enough, I don’t have a favourite film! (Yet?)
How would you spend a million pounds?
Tasha: I’d probably buy myself a patch of woodland and build a little stone cottage amongst the trees.
Paul: Taking the family for a global holiday adventure, then hopefully making use of part of the money to contribute something positive for the environment.
Emily: Travel the world!
Where is your dream holiday destination? Or have you already been there!
Tasha: I had the privilege of visiting the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador, which was absolutely spectacular, but there are so many places I still want to visit!
Paul: Anywhere that allows me to be active, so perhaps cycling in the morning to explore the area, having a good lunch then to the beach to snorkel and paddleboard. If there is a waterpark nearby then perfect! Then some more food. Sorted!
Emily: I would love to go to Japan!
If a customer were to visit our Grey Matter office, where would you recommend, they go visit around the area?
Tasha: Definitely head up onto Dartmoor National Park. One of my favourite places is Wistman’s Wood, a stunning 400-500 year old ancient woodland that looks like something out of Lord of the Rings. Just please be respectful as it is a protected site and you’re not permitted to walk through it due to the number of endangered species that live there!
Paul: Most definitely Dartmoor, and if they like cycling, exploring it on two wheels.
Emily: Dartmoor of course!
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.