Luke McDonald

Luke McDonald has been an integral part of the team since November 2021. Originally starting his career in retail, Luke was looking for a change of pace and decided to pursue a new line of work – that’s when a longtime friend suggested he investigate geospatial.

All the signs were there; Luke was fond of mapmaking as a kid, and his grandfather had worked with the NGA. He decided to transition and returned to school to study Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Luke soon became interested in the geospatial governmental sector and applied for an analyst position with T-Kartor. He was immediately drawn to the company's culture, finding a welcoming family environment in a smaller company.

His transition from school to his role at T-Kartor involved learning the ins and outs of ArcMap and following the guidance of working on government contracts. The transition from retail to his current role has been fulfilling, allowing him to work remotely and enjoy weekends and holidays off.

One of Luke's favorite parts about working as an analyst is looking at imagery; he describes it as akin to traveling, needing to understand the area and how to navigate it. He's working on a project for the London busing systems and is confident he could find his way around should he suddenly go there.

Looking ahead, Luke is optimistic about the future of the geospatial industry. He believes it will continue to grow, driven by its inherent nature of constant expansion. He sees many other fields that can begin to utilize geospatial data in their operations, paving the way for exciting new opportunities.

New to the industry? Luke advises you to jump in, and he thoroughly recommends T-Kartor. He feels that it's a great company to work for with friendly people. He also appreciates how our U. S. CEO, Simon Bailey, keeps everything upfront and always looks to innovate.

When Luke isn't at work, he's staying active: working out, hiking, playing basketball, and spending time with his family. He coached his son's first-grade basketball team this year and plans on returning next season.

Luke also enjoys reading historical nonfiction books and loves the ones that include maps.

This summer, he plans to visit the Smokey Mountains with his family (and a visit to Dollywood's waterpark may be in store for the kids).