Introduction:
Hello, Local Guides, and welcome back for our eighth epic installment in the “Top 100 Local Guides Spotlight” series! This month, we’re swapping the quiet life of an insurance accountant for the high-octane world of a mapping master!
Joining us from the sunny streets of Scottsdale, Arizona, please give a huge virtual welcome to the one and only Just Jake! Jake is a 10-year Local Guide veteran, a proud father of three, a dedicated member of #TeamPixel, and—fun fact—a former punk/metal drummer! He brings that same energy to mapping, where he finds his zen by drawing new roads over his morning coffee. Jake is the community’s anonymous fixer, the road warrior, and the epitome of “I am who I am.”
So, let’s step away from the spreadsheets and dive into the world of the Local Guide who keeps it simple, keeps it fun, and proves that sometimes, being a mapping superstar is just what happens when you’re… well, @JustJake!
The Interview:
1 - Where on Earth do you call home?
“I’m soaking up the sun in the United States, specifically in Scottsdale, Arizona! It’s the perfect base for my mapping adventures.”
2. What do you do when you’re not rocking the Local Guides world?
“In the real world, I’m a mild-mannered financial accountant in the insurance industry. Don’t worry, I make sure to save the excitement for my Local Guide hobbies! Most importantly, I’m the proud, busy father of three young kids, ages 6, 4, and 1. Life outside of mapping is pretty much a happy, beautiful, controlled chaos.”
Caption: JustJake getting the royal treatment on his birthday with a cake made by his 3 kids
Caption: @JustJake being Just Jake in a bathtub.
3. How and when did you dive into the Local Guides adventure?
“I’m officially hitting my 10-year mark as a Local Guide in 2025! It all started with my love for photography and travel. My wife and I used to cram so many experiences into every trip, and I found that Maps was the perfect place to track my location and share a visitor’s-eye view. This naturally evolved into reviews, badge hunting, finding Local Guides Connect, and eventually discovering the fun challenge (definitely not a competition!) that the Leaderboards offer. Once I found the Connect community, this hobby went from fits and starts to full-blown passion.”
4. What gets you fired up about being a Local Guide?
“I contribute to literally every category available on Maps, but the biggest thrill is being the anonymous fixer. Just the other day, a friend was frustrated because the bait shop he needed was showing up as ‘permanently closed.’ I was able to jump in, confirm the closure, and remove the misleading listing. There is something deeply satisfying about swooping in like a silent superhero and leaving the map better than I found it!”
5. Is there any special meaning about or behind how or why you chose your Connect username?
“Absolutely! The name Just Jake stems from a long-running joke at my company. When a Director (in an office where 90% of the staff are women) heard a man’s voice, she came out looking for the source and said, ‘Oh, I thought so-and-so was here, but it’s just Jake.’ From then on, I was JJ. I adopted it as my moniker because it perfectly reflects how I feel: I’m not anyone more important or recognizable than anyone else. I’m lowkey, and any success I’ve found in the Connect community comes from the support I’ve received here. I’m not special or more deserving than any other active Local Guide. I’m just Jake 
.”
6. What epic message would you love to share with your fellow Local Guides?
“Make sure you are having a good time! There are so many ways to make a positive impact—photos, reviews, edits, roads—so don’t get burned out by hyper-focusing on just one. Spend time exploring and experimenting. Also, please take the title and badge of Local Guide seriously. Use the amazing resources available on Connect to learn how to create the absolute best contributions. Learn from this community, and you will become a great Local Guide.”
7. What’s your absolute favorite type of contribution and why does it rock?
“I love drawing and editing roads! I get a massive kick out of the entire process, from finding an unmapped area to connecting it to the main network and watching for that final approval. In fact, adding roads has become my morning meditation. I sit for about 20 minutes each morning with a cup of coffee and work on Road Mapper or the Live Map. It’s incredibly calming!”
8. Which is your favourite all time contribution and why do you like it?
“While I can’t pick a single favorite, the one I interact with the most is my photo at Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. It’s my official Star Photo, and I’ve been tracking its view count every single month for almost three years now—it’s become a fun personal ritual!”
9. Spill the beans! What gear do you use to create your amazing media contributions?
“I’m #TeamPixel all the way! I’m currently armed with the Pixel 10 Pro XL. It’s the perfect tool for capturing those anonymous fixer moments.”
10. What do you like most about the Local Guides Community, Connect?
“It’s incredible to have such a large community that genuinely shares this passion for Maps. It’s hard for people outside the hobby to understand what I’m doing and why, so finding a dedicated community on Connect that celebrates and supports one another’s contributions is invaluable. The best part is finding the niche groups within the larger community—I’ve formed bonds with people from all over the world. Meeting so many of them at Connect Live in New York was an absolute treat; it felt so natural to finally meet in person!”
Caption: @JordanBurleson, @AZ_2021, @Mikeinthefalls and @JustJake posing at ConnectLIVE: NYC
Caption: @JustJake, @Mikeinthefalls and @MelTG hanging out in the Chelsea Market Google Store in New York City
11. Which particular Top 100 Local Guides Leaderboard do you like most and why?
“I’m a huge fan of the Movers & Shakers Board. While the boards are meant for encouragement, not competition, I still enjoy seeing everyone’s monthly progress. And yes, it’s always fun to aim for the top! Especially during the TRAC season, when our team effort absolutely dominates the Points board on Movers and Shakers—that’s a great feeling.”
12. Are there any new Leaderboards or features that you’d like to see?
“Honestly, the natural evolution of the Leaderboards has been perfect. The Connect community finds ways to generate a buzz around a new idea, and then @AdamGT just magically makes it happen! I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
13. What is your favorite holiday destination and what do you like about it?
“My wife and I are completely enamored with the Netherlands. Before we had kids, we made it a tradition to travel to Europe yearly, and we always based ourselves in Amsterdam to explore the country. Our favorite spot is Haarlem, a beautiful town just outside the city. It’s the perfect place to escape the bustle, but close enough for a quick train ride into the city. Plus, it’s near the beach, parks, and my absolute favorite wine shop, Melger’s, where I can always find a few bottles of the world’s greatest Trappist Beer, Westvleteren.”
13. What destination in the world would you just love to one day visit?
“I would love to take a trip to Australia. It’s on my mother’s bucket list, and I would love to make that dream come true for her. Plus, if I ask nicely, I know a guy 
who might be willing to show us around Melbourne.”
15. What’s a super fun fact about you that might surprise us?
“I am a failed musician! I played drums in Punk and Metal bands for almost 30 years and, sadly, never made a career out of it. While I call it ‘failed’ because I never found success in music, doing what I love with my best friends was truly worth more than anything. I can always make money reading numbers in a boardroom, but nothing matches the excitement of being on a stage!”
Wrapping up:
What an exciting look into the world of @JustJake! From finding his morning zen in Road Mapper and dedicating his time to being the Map’s anonymous fixer, to his dream to visit you know who in Melbourne, and his secret life as a punk drummer, Jake truly brings a fantastic energy to the Local Guides community. His message is clear: have fun, focus on quality, and remember that we are all part of this incredible family.
And with that, we’re wrapping up another unforgettable “Spotlight on Local Guide” feature! As we continue to celebrate the diverse talents and incredible backstories of our community members, we’re already buzzing with excitement about who we’ll feature next. Which amazing Top 100 Local Guide will step into the limelight and share their unique journey in our next edition? You’ll just have to keep your eyes peeled for our next post to find out! Until then, keep exploring, keep contributing, and keep being the amazing Local Guides you are!
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but I think I’ve learned a thing or two along the way. Plus, I don’t think I’d have this self-depricating sense of humor if not for 100s of nights playing loud music to vacant clubs and disinterested bar crowds. That’s a humbling experience that I always loved.