Jennifer Hacket, Owner, Manastash Mapping

Name: Jennifer Hacket Profession: owner, Manastash Mapping

How did you get started in your business/profession?

After a 16 year career with the Defense Department, mostly stationed overseas, my family moved to Ellensburg in 2002. I worked as a consultant for a few years and then, when my son started kindergarten, I decided it was time to find a new focus. I did Resource Management MS at CWU, and discovered GIS (computer mapping). After I finished my program, I decided that I wanted to focus on mapping and that I wanted to try to work for myself.

What steps led you to your current position?

I started Manastash Mapping, a GIS consulting company, as I was finishing up my resource management program. I initially focused on projects for local non-profits but eventually decided to expand the scope. I named the new project Washington Hometown and developed a dataset of all recreation opportunities in the state that I use for web maps, apps and analysis.

What have you learned from working in your position?

Recreation is complicated, working for yourself is more satisfying but a lot more stressful than having a conventional job, and flexilibity and a willinngess to adapt is critical for success.

What challenges did you have to overcome?

I am much more interested in the technical side of the business rather than the business side and spend too much time working “in the business” instead of “on the business.” I have had to work to learn the business end of things and still have a lot of work to do in that direction. I have been very fortunate that there is lots of support for people starting small businesses, and have taken a number of free or low-cost courses that have helped me learn how to run a business.

What advice would you give other women interesting in pursuing this career?

Be realistic about how much of a risk you can take - if you need your income to pay the rent, then start slow and don’t give up your primary job until you have the income actually coming in. Ask questions and find resources that can help. No one has all the answers. Don’t be afraid to dream.

How do you balance family/personal demands with work responsibilities?

It is always a challenge to balance personal/family and work. Working from home and in my business gives me the flexibility to adjust my hours around the needs of the family, whether that was picking the kids up when they were young, or driving out

2021 WOMEN IN BUSINESS

for my daughter’s college graduation in Minnesota this June and then getting my son settled in college in Colorado in August. Now that the kids are older and out of the house, I no longer have the in-person tasks, but still try to be there for them if they want to talk or need help during the day. I often take a few hours off during the day to deal with personal/family obligations, but then work some more in the evening after dinner. Sometimes the hardest thing is to find time for myself -z but the consequence of not taking care of myself is that I become cranky, tired and do not do my best work.

What was your first job?

I worked at the Boulder Public Library when I was 14. My first adult job was an analyst with the Defense Deparment.

What did you learn from your first job?

I enjoyed the work but also found that I disliked being overscheduled, trying to juggle school and the job. From my DOD job, I learned the importance of asking the right questions, finding creative ways to answer the questions with available data, and always keeping in mind the limitations of your information so you don’t make assumptions that cannot be supported.

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