Employee Spotlight: Troy Lanes

Ever wondered what it’s like working at Geoforce? We periodically like to interview and spotlight our employees. Why? Well, we think they’re the best and we want everyone else to know that as well. So, go ahead and be jealous—it’s allowed. We promise not to tell your current employer you secretly vie to work at Geoforce.  

This month’s employee spotlight is on our Director of Hardware Development, Troy Lanes. You can see him pictured above along with his daughter, Aika, and his dog, Ole. It looks like he’s also sporting his awesome Geoforce hat too.

Hi, Troy. My name is Kendall Hazleton and I’m a marketing intern here at Geoforce. I was selected to interview you for our employee spotlight. I’ll start off with a couple softball questions and then ask a few others that are a bit more about yourself. Ready?

Kendall: How long have you been working with Geoforce?

Troy:  I’ve been with Geoforce for about 5 1/2 years and the business of asset tracking for 14 years.

Kendall: What do you do at Geoforce?

Troy: It really does depend on the day. My primary role at Geoforce consists of designing, developing, testing, building, supporting, and sustaining Geoforce’s world class asset tracking devices. There are so many important steps that go into creating our rugged and durable tracking devices. The main devices I have helped develop include our GT1 Global Asset Tracker, GT0 Compact Asset Tracker, and our newly released Geoforce Gateway device. Recently, I have also been closely involved with testing the AT3, AT2, and AT1 third party devices for integration into the Geoforce lineup. Our devices are tested thoroughly to work in a variety of different environments and designed to make a positive impact on our customers’ field operations experience. My job is to ensure that our products are reliable, dependable, and consistent. There’s a lot to be said for working in a company where you feel you contribute to making people’s work easier to manage.

Kendall: What are your hobbies outside of work?

Troy: I’m always trying to take advantage of the ever-changing seasons in my home state of Montana. I love to get outside, be active, and experience the great outdoors around me. On a typical day off, you could find me running, hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, skiing, or snowshoeing. I’m also an avid amateur radio enthusiast – callsign: AF7HG.  Whenever I find some free time, I marry my love of the outdoors and radio by making GPS tracks via APRS or participating in SOTA (summits on the air).

Kendall: If you had to choose your last meal on Earth, what would you eat?

Troy: I would definitely go to a Japanese Izakaya (pub) and order the lot. Gyoza, Tonsoku, Sashimi, Ramen, Yakisoba, Agedashi tofu, and Takoyaki. Of course, I would also get a few pints of Namabiiru. My philosophy is to eat first and ask what it is later. Had I known that Tonsoku was pigs’ feet, I would have never discovered my favorite fair.

Kendall: What is your favorite attribute of Geoforce and why?

Troy: At Geoforce, we never compromise on quality or doing the right thing – “DO RIGHT.” As it says in our Core Values – Even when it is hard, we act with honesty and integrity. Our decisions, as a company, are always made with empathy and fairness.

Kendall: What have you gained from working at Geoforce?

Troy: During my time with Geoforce, I have gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of great leadership. At Geoforce, we have an incredible leadership team of people who individually bring something impressive to the company. I am always very impressed and humbled to see our forces brought together into cohesive, fluid teams. It’s been an honor to work alongside so many smart people.

Kendall: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Troy: As I mentioned before, being outside and physically active is definitely my forte. I would probably go to Iceland because I’ve always been so fascinated by it. I would love to hike glaciers, soak in the hot springs, see the northern lights, and kayak in the fjords. Maybe I’d even get to meet Björk!

We had a lot of fun getting to know more about Troy this month. He has played a huge part in Geoforce’s success the past five years. We appreciate his hard work and dedication to developing unique and durable products for our customers. We also appreciate his love for the outdoors and authentic Japanese food! Stay tuned in the coming weeks for another great Employee Spotlight blog.