Our team

A self-proclaimed map geek, Jim developed a love for maps during his youth while backpacking and exploring the Sierra Nevada Mountains with his family. At his core, Jim is a problem solver and is skilled in automating workflows, processes, and data analysis with Python and other programming tools to enhance efficiency, data quality, and spatial data visualization across both web and desktop platforms. He has shared his knowledge at national conferences, including the Geologic Society of America and the ESRI International Users Conference. A former soccer coach, Jim thrives in collaborative settings and enjoys working with diverse teams. Outside of work, he’s passionate about cycling, skiing, playing guitar, cooking, and traveling with his family.

Katie’s love of geospatial data began with the 7.5-minute quadrangles of Rocky Mountain National Park. As a camper at Cheley Colorado Camps, in Estes Park, Colorado, Katie learned orienteering and interpretation of topography “in the field.” Her appreciation of scientific information started with topographic maps, but that appreciation continues to grow with other forms of geospatial data, which she skillfully uses as a starting point for any project—both professionally and personally. Katie’s diverse background in philosophy and geology enables her to identify assumptions, clarify meaning, make connections, appreciate details, and find balance. Typically, Katie can be found reading a map while plotting or taking a trip, preferably with her husband, but she also enjoys moments of “staying put,” reading, planning, and planting in her garden.

Inspired by a curious father to read mineralogy textbooks at the age of 10, Trista has crafted a career that encompasses many of her interests: geology, ecology, history, education, maps, and art. Technical skills came with time and training, using platforms such as Adobe Creative Suite and ArcGIS Pro to bring natural science information together in intelligible and visually appealing ways. When she is not writing interpretive texts, performing geospatial analyses, making maps, or crafting graphics, Trista is usually learning languages, teaching English as a foreign language, running, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Tim’s career had humble beginnings as a high-school science teacher. He instructed classes on geology, ecology, chemistry, and physics. After leaving the teaching profession, Tim returned to college and pursued geology professionally. Throughout his geology career, he has worked on diverse problems related to impact craters, oil and gas development, and natural resource stewardship. As an avid supporter of geologic heritage, Tim has published reports and data packages related to geology and its intimate connections to society. He combines his education and geology degrees to create products that speak to different audiences. During his free time, Tim is often outside on the hiking trail or busy being a “green thumb” in his backyard. He also enjoys reading, sightseeing, and spending time with his wife and dog.