Mike Case W8MSC is one of the key figures behind Parks on the Air, helping transform a one-year, ARRL-sponsored park activation event into a lasting global program. Mike’s path into ham radio started later than most. Licensed in 2014 after a chance encounter reignited his technical curiosity, he brought a background in IT and a love for the outdoors. Field Day was the spark, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted more than a once-a-year experience. That search led him to National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) in 2016, and when that program sunset, Mike did not step away. Alongside Jason Johnston W3AAX, Thom Martin W8TAM, and others, he helped shape what came next. From a small Michigan-based effort to a national, and now international, platform, he was there building the backend, refining the rules, and testing ideas in real time. What began as a scrappy operation running on a server in a basement, built with a “maybe we’ll get 1,000 users” mindset, quickly took off. Mike and the team had to evolve fast, moving from a simple LAMP stack to a cloud-based microservices architecture. Along the way came unexpected challenges, from broken log formats to scaling pains and the complexity of global expansion. There is also a human side to it, with activators sharing tips, a small Facebook group turning into a worldwide community, and a program that has become a gateway into the hobby for thousands. Now POTA is entering its next chapter. With the formation of a formal board, Mike is focused on transferring institutional knowledge and helping set a durable foundation for the future. A new IT system is on the horizon, with faster awards processing and a shift to global ISO standards to better support international growth. This conversation is part of a larger series featuring all seven board members, with two interviews already live on YouTube, offering a closer look at the people guiding POTA forward. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting operators across every corner of the hobby, from Parks on the Air activators to contesters and DXers pushing their stations to the limit. Their continued backing helps keep the spirit of operating alive worldwide.