Meet Kyle Pote, GIS Analyst

Your Journey So Far

What path led you here, and what first sparked your interest in this field?

I started my career in environmental consulting, mainly performing wetland delineations for permitting projects, where I was introduced to GIS professionally. As the years went on, I started to fall in love with the GIS side of the work I was doing more than the permitting side. This interest pushed me to turn my focus to a GIS career. One thing led to another, and now I’m at MFA!

The Why Behind the Work

What drives you in your role at MFA, and what makes it fulfilling?

The work we do is very interesting, and I’m constantly learning new tricks which I can apply to my role. It’s fulfilling to be able to build web products for municipalities all over the country while learning a little bit about these cities and towns I never knew existed. 

Making an Impact

Why does your work matter — for your team, your clients, or your community?

Without the proper usage and management of spatial data, we wouldn’t be able to see where the data exists in the real world. GIS is crucial for analysis, planning, and decision-making across many fields.

Words That Stuck with You

What’s the best piece of advice a colleague has shared with you?

Never assume things will happen without an issue.

Projects That Shaped You

What are a few memorable projects, whether for the joy, the challenge, or both?

I had a both challenging and enjoyable project once where I built an application for a very old cemetery in the small town of Windham, Connecticut. The web application allowed back-end data management by the town with a front-end public interface to provide information on those buried in each plot. I had never built one before! My work was serving a purpose and helping people find their loved ones.

Who Inspires You

Is there someone who motivates or influences the way you work or live?

Someone who motivates and influences my life would probably be my dad. He was always financially organized and calculated. Now he’s comfortably retired, travelling the world. I hope to achieve that lifestyle someday.

If Not This, Then What?

If you weren’t in this career, what would you love doing instead?  

I always imagined I would enjoy being a landscape architect. It would be either that or return to environmental consulting. 

Big Dreams and Bucket Lists

What’s something exciting you hope to cross off your list someday?

I would love to take a road trip across the country someday and live out of an RV.

Hidden Talents and Hobbies

What’s a side of you most people don’t get to see?

I love to fish whenever I can get out of the house as well as ski in the winter.

Your Superpower

What’s that special skill or trait you bring to the table that makes a difference?

I have a diverse background across multiple sectors in GIS, and I feel this gives me an advantage when being included in new work. It allows me to incorporate a mix of ideas into my projects.

Learn More About Kyle