The Mapping Specialist

Vol XI, No. 2 - Fall 2003

Contents | In Focus | Mapmaking | Geonews | Profile

PROFILE
Manager to Manager... Projects to Marketing

Steve Davies, MSL's new Marketing Manager.

Over the last 12 years, many of our clients have had the opportunity to work with Steve Davies as their Project Manager.  On July 1, Steve was named to the MSL marketing team in the newly created position of Marketing Manager.

He is excited by the challenge this new job holds.  "My first task will be to establish myself in the relationships that we already have and expand from there.  So, don't be surprised to get a call from me in the not too distant future saying that I'll be in town and would like to drop by for a visit."  The new marketing position will allow Steve to expand MSL's existing client base, as well as seek out new markets for mapping services and products.

Steve was born in Madison, WI.  After several moves around the country as a child, his family moved back to Madison when he was 12 years old.  He graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a degree in cartography.  Experience working in the UW's Cartographic Lab during his college days led to an opportunity in 1986 to work at the then two-year-old Mapping Specialists.  He was hired as a cartographer and darkroom technician.  Two years later, he permanently moved out of the darkroom and gained further experience as a cartographer.  In 1991, he was promoted to Project Manager.  "Managing projects and working with our clients has really helped me learn a lot about working with people," Steve comments.  He has also served for many years on MSL's Building and Product Development committees.  Over the last 18 months, Steve has also managed the fledgling MSL 3-D Lake Maps® product line.

Steve lives in the rural landscape about 20 miles southwest of Madison with his two children, Amanda, 13, and Peter, 10.  He enjoys coaching the kids' sports teams, leading Peter's Cub Scout den, and even finds time to whip up an occasional batch or two of home-brewed beer.  He is also in the process of beginning a prairie restoration project.  If all that weren't enough, additions to his house and family are planned for next year.  Steve recently announced his engagement to his long-time friend, Carmen.  "There is never a dull moment in our family," Steve adds.

Locally, Steve is probably best known for his fundraising activities in the fight against cancer.  In the last three years, the teams he captains for the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin (pop. 5,860), have raised almost $50,000.  He always provides a crazy stunt at the late July event to add humor and entertainment once his teams reach their annual goal of raising $10,000 (also see Winter 2003 issue of The Mapping Specialist).  "It's a small reward for all of their hard work," he says.  The last two years, the Mt. Horeb event has raised over $100,000 and is nationally recognized as one of the leading Relay for Life events in towns of its size.  His motivation for all of this was a terminal cancer diagnosis for his wife Angie, who died in 2002.

Steve's 17 years in cartography at Mapping Specialists has given him plenty of experience to take on this new challenge.  If you are interested in hearing more about what Mapping Specialists can offer, please give Steve a call.  Although, once he gets going, there is a good chance he'll be calling you.

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