John joined Wilkens Weather Technologies in 1982 as a senior meteorologist. Today, he is vice president and leads a team of more than 15 meteorologists who forecast the weather around the world, 24 hours a day. As a child, John loved astronomy and meteorology and followed that interest throughout his schooling, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from San Jose State University.

His first job led him to Ocean Routes, a company in Palo Alto, Calif., which forecasted the weather along a ship’s route and kept the captain apprised of ensuing storms. ASARCO in Hayden, Ariz., was his next employer. There, John observed weather conditions and monitored how the weather affected air quality for their plant. While working at ASARCO, he heard about Wilkens Weather and soon found himself moving to Houston, Texas.

"Observing changing weather patterns and watching how that affects our clients is the best part of my job," John explains. His challenge is the day-to-day management and marketing of the company, but when the meteorology team completes a hurricane season and the clients are pleased, it makes it all worthwhile.