Early Life
Paul Jacob Dangermond, known as Jack, was born on July 23, 1945, in Loma Linda, California, to Dutch immigrants. His parents owned a plant nursery in Redlands, California, where he grew up. He attended Redlands High School and later pursued higher education in landscape architecture.
Rise to Success
Dangermond co-founded the Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) in 1969 with his wife, Laura, with an initial investment of $1,100. Initially, Esri focused on land-use analysis but soon transitioned to developing GIS software. Under Dangermond's leadership, Esri introduced ARC/INFO in the early 1980s, which established the company's dominance in the field. Esri's flagship product, ArcGIS, traces its heritage to Dangermond's initial efforts in developing ARC/INFO.
Key Business Strategies
Esri's success is attributed to Dangermond's vision of using computer mapping and analysis to address geographic problems. The company has maintained its private status, with no outside investors, allowing it to focus on long-term innovation and customer needs. Esri invests significantly in research and development to maintain its technological lead. Dangermond also prioritized employee satisfaction, implementing policies like no sales commissions to ensure customer satisfaction.
Philanthropy
Jack and Laura Dangermond are known for their significant philanthropic contributions, particularly in environmental conservation. In 2017, they donated $165 million to The Nature Conservancy to establish the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve on the Pacific coast. They have also signed The Giving Pledge.