Employee Spotlight – Jay Karlson

This month’s Employee Spotlight features Jay Karlson from our Product department.

Read the Q and A below to learn more about him!

Q: What is your name and position?

A: Stephen “Jay” Karlson. Senior Product Manager.

Q: How long have you been with Geoforce?

A: I have been 5’ 6” throughout my 2 years and 4 months at Geoforce.

Q: Can you explain your job at Geoforce?

A: As one of our Senior Product Managers, I provide lifecycle management for our cellular-based product line. This primarily revolves around our fleet vehicle management applications, which utilize our Track and Trace and other software applications, along with GPS tracking devices like our SVT Cellular Vehicle Tracker and GO7 Advanced Vehicle Tracker. While other departments come and go during different stages of a product’s “life”, I’m there at every stage:

• Ideation (I create the product roadmap and develop specific product requirements)
• Development (I track progress and approve that the final product meets requirements)
• Launch (I work with Marketing and Sales for proper timing and message)
• Monitoring (I work with Accounting and Finance on Pricing/Performance)
• End of Life Termination (not mine, the product’s)

This product management process helps ensure that the products we deliver meet our customers’ unique requirements. As such, we can provide tremendous value in helping make their field operations less chaotic.

Q: What do your hobbies include?

A: Now that I have a son going to Baylor, one of my hobbies includes paying tuition. Correction: my only hobby IS paying tuition.

I also collected vintage fountain pens before that scene got too violent.

Q: If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?

A: Wolverine’s healing factor. I just broke my ankle on vacation. These days, you’ll see me wheeling around the office on my knee scooter– it’s the one with the “Born to Rehab” sticker and Dubs.

Q: What is my favorite thing about Geoforce?

A: I can work with everyone in the company and learn how all the internal processes work to make the product succeed. Knowing other departments’ priorities teaches you empathy. Once you can fake that, it’s straight to the top!