ApexRMS

What is your role at the company, and how long have you been there?
I’m the President of ApexRMS, a company I founded over 15 years ago. My background is in landscape ecology — I hold a PhD in the field — and that scientific foundation plays a key role in how we've designed our software and services. Many on our team also come from ecology and data science backgrounds, which allows us to approach challenges with a unique depth of expertise.

What excites you most about being part of the organization?
Without question — it’s the people. We’ve built a passionate, high-energy, and collaborative team that truly believes in the mission of ApexRMS. That shared sense of purpose is what makes coming to work so meaningful. Everyone here is driven by the impact we can make — and that shows up in the quality of our work every day.

Can you share a project you’re particularly proud of?
One project that stands out is our collaboration with the National Park Foundation in the U.S. They fund wetland restoration activities across national parks, and they approached us to help measure the climate impact of that work. We developed a tool that lets them estimate the greenhouse gas benefits of wetland restoration across all U.S. national parks. Helping to quantify the environmental return on restoration efforts like that is a perfect example of what we set out to do at ApexRMS.

What do you think sets your company apart from others?
Two things: our people and our tools. We have some of the top talent in the country when it comes to building forecasting models that predict the impact of environmental decisions on the natural world. And the tools we’ve created — they’re not found anywhere else in the world. That combination of scientific depth and software innovation is what makes ApexRMS truly unique.

What personal qualities or skills have been most impactful in your role?
I think my greatest strength is vision. Seventeen years ago, I imagined what kind of platform would be needed to help organizations forecast ecological outcomes. That vision still guides us today — and over the years, I’ve had the privilege of building a team that’s helped bring it to life. Together, we’ve created something that’s not only technically sophisticated but also purpose-driven.

Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy that guides your work?
Yes — one concept that has shaped both my career and our company is the idea of being a trusted advisor. It comes from a book I read early on in my journey, and it really stuck with me. It’s about earning trust through expertise, reliability and integrity — and that principle is at the core of how we work with clients and with each other. Everything we do is filtered through that lens of trust.

What excites you most about being part of ApexRMS, especially during this growth phase?
When I started at ApexRMS, we were a team of five and now we’ve more than doubled. It’s been exciting to see how much we’ve grown in both size and capability. With new team members bringing in diverse expertise in ecology and software development, we’re able to tackle a broader range of projects and expand our software offerings in ways that just weren’t possible before. Watching the evolution of our platform including the addition of a cloud-based version and authentication has been incredibly rewarding. I’m excited to see what the next few years bring as we continue to grow.

Can you share a project or achievement you’re particularly proud of?
One of my proudest contributions was building our Python API when I first joined the company as an intern. Being trusted with something that foundational gave me the confidence to grow into the role I have today. More recently, I’ve been involved in our wildfire modeling work helping develop the software and deliver training workshops. We’ve had three sold-out sessions so far, and another planned for the fall. It’s been amazing to see how impactful that work has become, especially given how critical wildfire modeling is today.

What do you think sets ApexRMS apart as an employer?
The flexibility and the people. We all work remotely across different time zones, and the company really trusts us to manage our own time. That kind of autonomy creates a great work-life balance. But more than that, I’ve always felt like my voice is heard. It’s a small company, so ideas don’t get lost, and feedback is taken seriously. There’s a real sense of support here from leadership and from peers and I think that’s rare.

What qualities or skills do you bring to the team that have been most impactful?
I’d say perseverance. When there’s a tough problem, I can’t let it go until I find a solution. That mindset really fits with software development, where things don’t always work the first (or second) time. I also love problem-solving, it’s something I genuinely enjoy, and I think that energy helps the team when we’re troubleshooting or trying to find creative solutions.

Do you have a piece of advice or a motto that guides your work?
My advice to a new team member would be, never stop learning and continue to push the boundaries of what you’re comfortable with. ApexRMS is a place where you are continuously growing your skillset and being challenged in your role. Be curious, ask questions, and lean into problem-solving."

What excites you most about being part of ApexRMS, especially during this growth phase?
When I first joined ApexRMS in 2012, we were a team of just three. Since then, we've grown significantly, now a team of 12 and this growth has brought a lot of energy and new ideas into the company. What excites me most today is the team itself. Despite being a remote company, we’re closely connected by a shared passion for environmental stewardship. The people here are not only talented but genuinely committed to making a positive impact, and that makes collaborating with them very rewarding.

Can you share a project or achievement you’re particularly proud of?
Much of my work has focused on wildfire management, which is an area I find both important and personally meaningful. We help identify areas of high wildfire risk and assess the potential impacts. Some of our tools are now used internationally. For example, the U.S. federal government uses products we’ve developed as part of their LANDFIRE program to produce updated national fuel condition maps. We’ve also helped develop BurnP3+, a wildfire modeling platform used in Canada. Seeing our work being applied in real-world settings is always gratifying.

What do you think sets ApexRMS apart as an employer or company to work for?
ApexRMS is unique in how it brings together ecology and software development. We're not just solving environmental problems we're building tools that help others solve them too. Our SyncroSim platform is a good example; it supports geospatial ecological modeling and has been picked up by users around the world. As an ecologist here, you collaborate directly with developers, which creates a really dynamic and interdisciplinary work environment. It’s also rewarding to see tools we’ve built being used by others sometimes even cited in academic papers by people we’ve never met.

What skills or qualities do you bring to the team that have been most impactful?
With over 20 years of experience in the field, I bring a big-picture perspective to problem solving. I might not be the fastest coder on the team, but I’m good at thinking conceptually about a project, what the real problem is, what steps we need to take to solve it and how best to use the strengths of our team to get there. My role often involves working directly with clients, understanding their needs, and guiding the overall approach to help deliver the most effective solution.

Do you have a piece of advice or a guiding idea that shapes your work?
We work with data and models to make forecasts but it’s important not to take those forecasts at face value. One thing I often remind myself and others is to always be skeptical of your own models. Before delivering results that might influence a real-world decision, take the time to question them, check the assumptions, and make sure everything holds up. It’s that attention to detail and skepticism that ensures our work truly adds value.

What excites you most about being part of ApexRMS, especially during this growth phase?
There’s something really motivating about being in a company that’s evolving and expanding. When I joined, we were a tight team of just a handful of people, and now we’ve nearly doubled. That growth brings new ideas, new energy, and more opportunities to collaborate across different disciplines. For me, the most exciting part is the work itself—it’s science with impact. Whether we’re helping manage species, reduce wildfire risk, or support climate adaptation, it’s easy to stay engaged when the outcomes matter.

Can you share a project or achievement you’re particularly proud of?
Recently, I’ve been working on an AI-based image classification tool that’s designed specifically for ecological applications. It’s already being used in some really interesting ways: helping Indigenous communities monitor invasive tree species, identifying urban agriculture in city landscapes, even detecting beaver presence in northern Alberta. What’s exciting is how quickly it’s been picked up—new partners are reaching out regularly. Seeing something you’ve helped build gain that kind of traction is incredibly rewarding.

What do you think sets ApexRMS apart as an employer or company to work for?
One of the biggest differences here is the freedom to focus on meaningful science, working on projects that we believe in, with partners who are aligned with our mission. The remote flexibility is also a huge plus, but what really makes it work is the people. It’s a team of smart individuals who are genuinely invested in what we do. From a management perspective, it’s a dream, everyone takes ownership, and that creates a supportive, productive environment.

What skills or qualities do you bring to the team that have been most impactful?
My path into data science wasn’t linear. I was classically trained as a plant ecologist starting out conducting field work in deserts and alpine regions and had to pivot when a major drought derailed my research plans. That led me into modeling and coding, and eventually to a career that combines both ecology and software. Because my background is a bit different from others on the team, I tend to approach problems from a different angle. I think that perspective has helped us branch into new projects.

Do you have a piece of advice or a guiding idea that shapes your work?
Always be open to changing your approach. Some of the most interesting breakthroughs happen when you're forced to adapt whether by choice or circumstance. Embrace the pivot it might lead you somewhere better than you expected. “We’re applied science in action, developing solutions for people and the planet.”