About Us

Until March 2025, I worked in the international and humanitarian sector. But with recent shifts in global development funding, I found myself with something I hadn’t had in years — time.

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As an avid woodworker with a Master’s in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), I’d long dreamed of combining my love of geography and craftsmanship. Compass Map Company is the result — a merging of passion, skill, and story.

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I also brought one more love into this journey: my wife. We met in Kabul in 2004 and have spent the years since traveling across the U.S. and around the world together. Many of the first maps I carved were of places that hold deep meaning for us — places like:

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• Acadia National Park, where we watched the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain with our kids

• Oahu, where we spent 2½ unforgettable years while our oldest was in nursery school

• Lake Michigan, where family vacations turned into lifelong memories

 

Compass Map Company was born from a desire to honor the places that shape who we are — and to help others do the same. Every map I carve is a tribute: to memory, to adventure, to home.

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Whether you choose from our collection of stock maps or work with me on a custom design, my goal is to create a piece that captures the place you’ll never forget.

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Let’s carve your story in wood.

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Sincerely,

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Dave Hinkle