Early Life and Education
Jack Dangermond was born in Loma Linda, California, on July 23, 1945. He was raised in Redlands, California, by Dutch immigrant parents who owned a plant nursery. Dangermond attended Redlands High School and graduated in 1963. His early exposure to the environment and landscape sparked a lifelong interest. He completed his undergraduate degree in landscape architecture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Dangermond furthered his education by earning a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Minnesota in 1968 and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 1969.
Rise to Success
In 1969, Jack Dangermond and his wife, Laura, founded Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) in Redlands, California. The company initially focused on land-use analysis but soon shifted to developing GIS software. Under Dangermond's leadership, Esri developed and released ARC/INFO in the early 1980s, which positioned the company as a leader in GIS software. Esri's flagship product, ArcGIS, is widely used across various industries worldwide. The company has grown to serve over 350,000 organizations worldwide. Esri has never taken outside investment, relying on bootstrapping and a focus on long-term innovation.
Key Business Strategies
Dangermond's approach to business emphasizes long-term innovation, sustainability, and ethical technology use. Esri invests a significant portion of its revenue in research and development. The company focuses on making GIS technology accessible to organizations worldwide, creating efficient, sustainable, and resilient communities. Esri has built a strong market position through a focus on its core business and has achieved a financial impact of $35 billion-plus. Dangermond has also fostered a strong company culture, sharing profits with employees.
Philanthropy
Jack and Laura Dangermond are committed to philanthropy, particularly in environmental conservation and education. In 2017, they donated $165 million to The Nature Conservancy, enabling the acquisition of a 24,000-acre parcel of land in California. This donation established the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve. They have also supported STEM education and contributed to their local community.
