Husein Sharaf’s passion for all things technical began early in life, growing up in a modest home in Fairfax, Virginia. By age seven, he was deftly dismantling—and rebuilding—everything from lawn mowers to vacuum cleaners. By middle school, he was proficient at building websites and coding; and as a young teenager, he worked part time repairing computers. At age 18, Husein shattered all expectations by landing his corporate first job at Booz Allen Hamilton—without a college degree. This would be the first of many experiences working as a federal contractor for this astute, self-taught young professional, followed by several years working as an independent consultant to both commercial and federal clients including, most notably, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Throughout his whirlwind career as a systems engineer, Husein has always brought along a true passion of finding ways to harness the power of technology to make life better. So it is certainly no surprise that when most people first heard of cloud computing and dismissed it as a Silicon Valley indulgence, Husein looked beyond the contention to see how cloud technology could free businesses from unwieldy infrastructure, spur innovation, and even change business models. Now as fearless head-nerd and CEO of his own Microsoft Solutions Partner firm Cloudforce in National Harbor, Maryland, Husein leads his eclectic team of engineers in the development of complex cloud solutions to support mission-critical systems for dozens of programs across industries and government.

In addition to all things Microsoft cloud, Husein is also passionate about giving back to his Prince George’s County community and believes it is the responsibility of every business to help develop the types of communities its members and customers want to live and do business in. Husein currently serves as the Chairman of the Prince George’s County Tech Council (PGCTC) and on the board of directors of STEMship, a local non-profit aimed at creating STEM learning opportunities for under-privileged youth. As someone who acknowledges his own opportunities to make positive impacts doing what he loves, Husein is very proactive about supporting the development of other young IT aficionados—with a special soft spot for those who love to tinker.

Other fun facts about Husein:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• When I’m not working, my favorite thing to do is travel, even if only for a few days at a time. I’ve been inspired by shows like Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” to travel to places off the beaten path, to experience different cultures, and to broaden my world view through food, music and art.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• As a child I wanted to be a vehicle designer, or to have some involvement in motor racing.

What is your favorite dessert?

• Crème brûlée – all day! I even learned to make it (the only thing I know how to bake) because I love it so much.

What would be the most surprising scientific discovery imaginable?

• Teleportation – I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of moving people or objects in non- traditional ways. Perhaps it’s my obsession with travel which drives my somewhat irrational desire to see this come to fruition!

What are you reading at this moment?

• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by James C. Collins.

Heba started her career as a financial controller working as a federal contractor in the engineering services sector. Demonstrating her keen proficiency in effective program oversight and execution, she quickly moved up into more senior roles, ultimately landing as the Deputy Project Manager on a highly visible special project with the U.S. Army.  In 2016, Heba brought her nine years of operational oversight expertise and business savvy to Cloudforce as Director of Operations, then was promoted to Vice President of Finance in 2023.

In addition to her extensive management background, Heba brought along her breadth of knowledge in data aggregation and analysis. She excels at optimizing methods and procedures to achieve process improvements and maximize efficiencies.

Outside of work, Heba enjoys the local arts, a rocking music playlist, outdoor adventures, and getting her handywoman fix in on DIY projects.

Other fun facts about Heba:

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

• Being inspired by some amazing teachers myself, I wanted to be an elementary school teacher, and initially going into college thought that was what I was going to pursue. With math being my strong suit, I had a change of heart and pivoted to a finance major mid-way. Although my path ultimately took me in another direction, I’ve found other avenues to teach and mentor in my career as well as opportunities to support youth programs through volunteerism.

What is your favorite album? 

• This is a hard one because enjoying music is my favorite pastime and there are so many amazing albums on my top picks list.  Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here is the one I always start with on my road adventures (another favorite pastime of mine).  My favorite playlist is a mix of classic and blues rock including Led Zeppelin, Freddie King, John Mayall and the Bluebreakers, and Fleetwood Mac, but I also enjoy all genres and especially appreciate the live music scene.

What season would you be? 

• Summer all the way! I love to be outdoors, especially near water or by the mountains. Exploring, hiking, picnicking, or just laying outside enjoying the sounds of summer brings me the most joy.

Jesse Kellner brings a unique breadth and depth of experience to his role as Chief Operating Officer. While serving both our illustrious team of cloud ninjas and valued client portfolio, he leverages over 25 years of professional experience in leadership, program management, and business development.

Jesse received his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Washington Bible College before serving in vocational ministry at both established and emerging communities of faith. He later transitioned into the sales and business development space, spending over a decade as a commercial real estate broker in the Annapolis, MD market. As he began to explore the next chapter of his career, Jesse turned to the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business where he earned a Master of Business Administration degree in 2016. Jesse’s next career move combined his passion for networking with his unbridled enthusiasm to promote Smith students, becoming Smith’s Assistant Director, Employer and Business Development. It was in this role, serving as a natural evangelist for Smith students, that Jesse first crossed paths with his soon-to-be colleagues at Cloudforce—they were actively recruiting some of Smith’s top talent! Today, Jesse remains proudly connected with the Maryland Smith community as a part-time Lecturer in the Management & Organization Department.

As Cloudforce Chief Operating Officer, Jesse spends his time fueling the business’s insatiable growth while deploying tech ninjas to delight customers and harness the Microsoft cloud. Jesse believes that happy technologists deliver optimal technical solutions leading to delighted customers, a formula to which he remains committed as Cloudforce grows and scales.

Outside of work, Jesse, his beloved wife, and two children have transformed their little log cabin into a forever home on nearly 50 acres just south of Annapolis. Whether hosting family or friends, clients or teammates, their goal is to create a joyous family homestead and hospitality hub. Jesse is an avid sports enthusiast, both participating in local leagues and stubbornly supporting his Washington Commanders, Orioles, Capitals, Wizards, and D.C. United.

Other fun facts about Jesse:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

I still run hard! Between coaching both of our kiddos’ soccer teams, teaching at Maryland Smith, and maintaining our property, I stay plenty busy. I love forestry work, cutting down trees, bucking logs, and splitting firewood. It’s good for the soul. Further, my son recently discovered shark teeth within the little stream in our woods, even uncovering some impressive Megalodon specimens (an extinct species of prehistoric shark, the largest sharks ever). Our family and friends spend a lot (!) of time outside at our place. We love to light the bonfire or jump in the pool, partake in some great food and drink, let the kids run amuck, and just be together.

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your phone, which 3 would you keep? 

Microsoft Teams (of course!), Photos, and Waze.

What is your favorite thing to eat?

Pepperoni Pizza (with a shoutout to Di Meo’s Pizzeria, Crofton, MD). Is this even a question?

Have you ever completed anything on your bucket list?

Baltimore Marathon, 2009. And, yes, I beat Oprah.

What are you reading at this moment?

Gospel of Luke and “Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI”

Will you ever go to Disney World again?

No.

Lee Wang is a seasoned technology entrepreneur and executive with a track record of co-founding and scaling two-billion-dollar technology companies from zero to successful exits. 

Most recently, Lee co-founded WeddingWire, Inc. in 2006, where he served as a Board Director, President, and Chief Operating Officer. In 2018, WeddingWire was acquired by Permira Funds and, in partnership with Permira, acquired XO Group (parent company of The Knot, The Bump) from the public markets. Lee led the combined entity for five years, leading the revenue integration of XO Group and overseeing the largest business unit and team at The Knot Worldwide. 

Prior to WeddingWire, Lee was Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Parature, Inc. (later acquired by Microsoft in 2014), a pioneer in SaaS customer support software. There, he led efforts to evangelize and transition commercial industries to adopt SaaS solutions. Before Parature, Lee co-founded Blackboard Inc. (formerly NASDAQ: BBBB) in 1998, a global leader in education technology. During his tenure, he held leadership roles, including Director of Global Sales and Regional Director of Asia Pacific and Latin America sales and operations. Blackboard was later taken private by Providence Equity Partners in a $1.64 billion transaction in 2011. 

Lee holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Operations Research and Finance, both from Cornell University. 

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Lee is a proud first-generation Chinese American who immigrated to the United States in 1983. He currently resides in Northern Virginia with his wife, three children, and a goldendoodle. Outside of work, Lee enjoys traveling with his family and staying active through Orange Theory, golf, table tennis, pickleball, and skiing. 

Other fun facts about Lee:

If there were no limits, which place would you want to spend the rest of your life and why? 

• I would really like to live in Rio de Janeiro.  I love the landscapes, the beaches, the music, the food, and the people.  

What is your guilty pleasure song? 

• “Call Me Maybe” – I did an exec music video to this song.  

Do you have any passion projects? If so, what is it? 

•  I’d like to play better golf… It’s a very difficult game for me. (If anyone decides to take some time off… don’t pick up golf.) 

What is the best gift you have ever received? 

• It was an exciting moment for me when I got accepted to Cornell Engineering. However, my father couldn’t afford to send me there, so I was planning to pass and attend a local California university. My uncle found out about this and decided to help pay for my education at Cornell. I’ve since returned his investment 20x .

If you had to crack a joke during some awkward silences, which joke would you crack? 

• Jokes are not my go-to for awkward silences… I usually go with a recent event to spark conversation. 

A seasoned technology entrepreneur with 30 years of experience, Richard has pioneered innovation and driven transformational change in both public and private sectors, aligning perfectly with the Cloudforce mission to harness the power of the cloud and AI to makes lives better.

Previously, Richard was Founder and Principal of Escape Velocity in Melbourne, Australia, a digital workshop dedicated to bringing people and technology together to help organizations innovate and boost business profitability. He’s also celebrated as the visionary founder behind HireRoad (NGA.NET), a revolutionary hiring management platform that champions objectivity and meritocracy in hiring, transforming both Australian and U.S. Federal Government recruitment processes.

As Chief Technology Officer at Cloudforce, Richard is responsible for the creation of a software capability to integrate with the cloud services team. He aims to create disruptive technology that will delight our customers and drive the adoption of Azure services.

Other fun facts about Richard:

What fictional family would you be a member of?

• Swiss Family Robinson

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• An airline pilot

What season would you be?

• Spring — I am an optimist, and summer is just around the corner!

Have you ever completed anything on your bucket list?

• Yes. I have visited Valbonne, the village in France from the movie French Kiss.
  

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Summer beach day with kids and dogs at Point Lonsdale, Australia

Emily Ward’s path to marketing was anything but a straight line. Long before she was building global marketing organizations, she was training as a classical ballet dancer, a pursuit that instilled in her a discipline and attention to craft that would quietly shape everything that followed. When the time came to choose a more traditional career path, she landed on marketing somewhat by chance and never looked back.

What followed was a career defined by range and genuine curiosity. Emily has worked across an eclectic mix of industries, picking up experience in sales, operations, and solution development at every turn. Over time, she found her deepest passion at the intersection of education technology and enterprise AI, where she spent years developing a sharp understanding of how complex institutions think about technology, how they evaluate it, and ultimately how they adopt it. Along the way, she built a reputation for crafting the kind of full-funnel marketing strategy that connects credibility to real, measurable pipeline.

It is that rare combination of strategic vision and operational know-how that brings Emily to Cloudforce as Vice President of Marketing. As nebulaONE® scales across higher education and other highly regulated industries, Emily’s experience leading global marketing strategy, demand generation, account-based marketing, and sales alignment makes her a timely and welcome addition to the executive team.

Outside of work, Emily is endlessly curious, whether she’s exploring a new destination, practicing yoga, or drawing on her background in mindfulness and meditation. She is a connector of ideas and people, and a firm believer that a growth mindset can take you just about anywhere.

Other fun facts about Emily:

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Thanksgiving – because family, friends, and gratitude are everything.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha

What’s the best concert or live event you’ve ever attended?

• So many great shows in my life, but if I had to narrow it down it’s probably between Andrea Bocelli and Raye, who just played The Anthem in DC – both are incredibly talented and truly inspiring artists.

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

• I used to road manage a blues band that played up and down the East Coast

What’s a small thing that always makes your day better?

• A little kindness goes a long, long way!

Danny Attias brings more than two decades of experience in digital transformation and a lifelong passion for turning technology into meaningful impact. His career began far from the cloud—manufacturing photographic paper as a chemical engineer for Kodak—before realizing his true calling lay in helping organizations evolve through technology.

Before joining Cloudforce, Danny served as Chief Digital & Information Officer at London Business School, where he led Europe’s first implementation of nebulaONE®, Cloudforce’s secure generative AI platform built on Microsoft Azure. That experience proved to be a turning point. After seeing firsthand how nebulaONE could reshape the way institutions think, work, and innovate, Danny made the rare leap from customer to team member—joining Cloudforce to help others experience that same transformation on a global scale.

Previously, Danny was Chief Digital & Information Officer at Anthony Nolan, the world’s first stem-cell register. There, his leadership in modernizing systems and donor-matching processes earned the organization the #1 spot in the 2020 CIO 100, demonstrating how technology can quite literally help save lives and strengthen purpose-driven work.

Today, as Vice President of UK & Europe, Danny draws on his proven track record in digital leadership to expand Cloudforce’s presence across the region. His work focuses on helping institutions embrace AI with confidence—building partnerships that blend innovation, security, and measurable results.

Outside of work, Danny champions diversity and inclusion in tech, mentoring women through Makers, Multiverse, and Cajigo, and hosting Sondership, a podcast featuring people making a difference in the world. When he’s not working or spending time with his family—including four Maine Coon cats—he’s likely training, cycling, or practicing yoga. A seven-time Ironman 70.3 finisher, Danny now focuses on staying fit, balanced, and injury-free.

Other fun facts about Danny:

What fictional world (comics, TV, books, etc.) or place would you like to visit?

• I’d love to immerse myself in any one of Haruki Murakami’s novels. They blur the lines between the physical, mystical, and spiritual, and always include freshly prepared Japanese food, cats, and jazz.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” – Confucius

What’s a movie or TV show you never get tired of rewatching?

• Schitt’s Creek and The Nightmare Before Christmas are old favorites, but Ted Lasso is the one I keep coming back to. It blends humor with compassion, bravado with male mental health, and features some brilliant female role models.

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

• I used to practice a blend of acrobatics, yoga, and Thai massage, co-teaching workshops around the world in places like London, Paris, Miami, and Goa. I’m also a certified massage therapist, trained in Swedish, Ayurvedic, and Thai traditions.

What’s a small thing that always makes your day better?

• My daughter. She’s the light of my life… and pretty small, at just 5ft 3in.

Daniel Ruberg has close to ten years of Network Administration and Engineering experience.  He finished his undergraduate degree in Computer Management Information Systems from Liberty University in 2008. After graduation, he returned to Liberty University and obtained his master’s degree in Youth Ministry, then held several positions in the D.C. area that have helped shape his career path to this point.

Since joining Cloudforce in 2018, Daniel has shown exponential growth in the Azure cloud and has been dubbed our very own #cloudninja. As a Cloudforce Vice President of Technology, Daniel has deployed, managed, and migrated several production workloads to Microsoft Azure utilizing the latest technologies that Microsoft cloud offers.

Daniel holds several industry-leading certifications, including: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP); AZ-300/301: Microsoft® Azure Architect Technologies; AZ-500: Microsoft® Azure Security Technologies; and Microsoft® Certified Solutions Expert: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure.

Other fun facts about Daniel:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce? 

• Faith, family, and sports. My family is big into sports and the outdoors, so we are often outside doing something together on the weekends.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

• I wanted to be in the NHL. I grew up playing hockey and it was always a pipe dream for me. Hopefully, I can live vicariously through my son when he gets older!

What is your favorite dessert? 

• Turkey Hill Choco Mint Chip ice cream… the best ice cream, hands down!

Do you have any hidden talents? 

• It is not really a talent, but I can curl my pinky toe over my ring toe without using my hands. When I show people, they are generally grossed out instead of impressed.

What is your favorite item you’ve bought this year? 

• This past year we got a Peloton. It has been an amazing addition to our home with two little kids and allows us to get a workout in without leaving the house. Hit me up if you want to cycle. My Peloton username is cl0udninja.

Before joining Cloudforce, Yayoi built a strong foundation in the healthcare industry, where she spent eight years working while also completing her college studies. Ready to step outside her comfort zone and take on a new challenge, she found that opportunity at Cloudforce – and hasn’t looked back since. Yayoi began her journey in the admin team, then grew into HR and recruitment, and now serves as Associate Director of Workforce.

In her current role, Yayoi oversees the Workforce team and leads key initiatives across employment compliance, policy development, local and global HRIS system management, benefits administration, and the many moving pieces that keep the employee experience running smoothly. She is known for her people-first approach, operational mindset, and ability to balance strategy with execution.

A native Washingtonian and proud graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Yayoi is deeply passionate about creating clear, compliant, and people-centered policies that support both employees and the business as organizations grow. She holds the SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management – Certified Professional) certification and brings a thoughtful, modern perspective to workforce management.

Outside of work, Yayoi is also a Travel Advisor who loves helping people plan unforgettable vacations. You can usually find her in group fitness classes, exploring new restaurants and bars around the city, or mapping out her next getaway!

Other fun facts about Yayoi:

What fictional world or place would you like to visit?

• HOGWARTS! Hands down. I’m a HUGE Harry Potter nerd.

Do you speak any other languages?

• I’m part Japanese and speak Japanese (semi) fluently. Reading and writing isn’t as good as it used to be (sorry, mom!).

What is your favorite album?

• My favorite album of all time is probably Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite, but Alina Baraz’s Urban Flora and Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving are tied for second place.

What is your favorite thing to eat?

• PASTA! And ramen… and sushi… and enchiladas… ok I love all things food.

What are you reading at this moment?

• I’m currently reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Rhoddy’s love of computer technology was first revealed around age 7-8, when he deftly debugged code on a TSR-80 Color Code II from Radio Shack “because there were errors in the printed code book.” In his teens, Rhoddy began building and tweaking computers to eke out every bit of performance for gaming. It was his passion for cinema, however, that directed him into his first career in the field of media production. After spending 11 years in the industry and completing his formal education, however, Roddy saw the writing on the wall in terms of limited future growth in the industry and decided it was time for a career change. Given his strong interest in computers and technology and realizing numerous career growth options in the technology sector, he went back to school and earned a Master of Science in Information Systems degree from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School in 2017.

Rhoddy started learning Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) in 2016 out of necessity because he worked in an SCCM environment where no one knew how to use it! After learning the basics of SCCM he was hooked. He quickly realized the potential of SCCM as an indispensable tool for medium to large organizations that allowed for remote management of endpoints while freeing up staff time to pursue higher-value projects. Now as the Cloud Security SME, Unit Lead, Roddy is expanding his endpoint management expertise to include internet and cloud managed devices for today’s “work-from-anywhere” workforce.

Other fun facts about Rhoddy:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• Spend time with my wife and daughter, go hiking/camping, exercise, play video games, watch anime, and drink craft beer.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• I wanted to be a comedian because I loved making people laugh and I idolized the 90s cast of SNL (Farley, Rock, Myers, Carvey, Sweeny, Meadows, Nealon, etc.)

Do you have any hidden talents?

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muy Thai kickboxing. I have practiced martial arts for most of my adult life. I also homebrew beer.

What is your favorite item you’ve bought this year?

• PlayStation 5

Andrew grew up on a steady diet of PBS television, history documentaries, and science fiction books from an early age and has remained a passionate consumer of knowledge ever since. His love of computer gaming and tinkering began in adolescence, and he has remained an avid DIY enthusiast, creating his own home information systems, beer, and occasionally furniture. In college, Andrew’s studies concentrated on philosophy of mind, and nothing satisfies him more than aggressively chasing the boundaries of his understanding on any and every subject.

There is something, however, that comes close: sharing knowledge with others, and seeing it have a positive impact. Starting in 2012 with basic desktop support and working his way into running systems all over the enterprise IT sphere, Andrew has remained inspired by the way technology empowers us through collaboration and communication, and how this can enhance even the most mundane aspects of our personal and work lives. These twin passions (learning and sharing knowledge) have informed the two principles that have guided his journey as a successful technology professional:

• You do not know how it works until you break it.
• It is as vital to understand non-technical needs as it is to understand technical ones.

As Solutions Engineer, nebulaONE at Cloudforce, Andrew focuses first and foremost on understanding what work users need to do and how they do it. With that perspective, he has delivered technical solutions to Cloudforce clients that have brought them successfully into the cloud while keeping their data secure; minimizing impact to their critical business processes; and enhancing their ability to pursue both strategic goals and realize tangible enhancements to daily work. Knowing that the pursuit of knowledge and expertise can never slow down, Andrew has become Microsoft 365 Certified at the associate level in both Azure and Teams administration since joining Cloudforce.

Other fun facts about Andrew:

What fictional family would you be a member of?

• The Crawleys, of Downton Abbey. I can feel the English countryside calling…

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• A mad scientist

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why?

• Unlimited time and travel to share conversations with family, friends, and strangers alike.

Do you have any hidden talents?

• I have a pretty good ear for many accents.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• The endeavor to understand is the first and only basis of virtue.” -Baruch Spinoza

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Every year my wife and I celebrate our wedding anniversary on New Year’s Eve by holding a black-tie-encouraged party with cocktails, champagne, and as many friends as we can stuff into the house.

Jordan went to school thinking she would be a doctor, left thinking she would save the whales, and wound up working in government contracting. Over the last 10 years, she’s worked in business development and delivery for healthcare IT solutions for the department of Veterans’ Affairs. Her drive to do work that improves outcomes for real people by applying leading edge technologies led her to Cloudforce, where she works closely with the nebulaONE development team to create an excellent AI product.

Outside of work, Jordan loves to be outside. Whether backyard in a hammock, on the golf course, or in the mountains, she is happiest enjoying whatever weather she finds herself in. Favorite activities include basking in the sun, swimming in wild waters, and hiking for hours for a 20-minute picnic at the peak. She loves to read and is earnestly learning to play and write music. She lives in Alexandria with her husband, an opinionated corgi, and a very beautiful cat who is a little mean.

Other fun facts about Jordan:

What are three words to describe you?

• Curious, compassionate, persistent

What’s your go-to karaoke or lip-sync song?

• Dreams by Fleetwood Mac. It’s a crowd-pleaser, it’s so fun to sing, and I love to shift the mood.

What’s a creative outlet or hobby you enjoy?

• My hobby is hobbies, and I’ve accepted that I go through seasons of obsession. I’m always looking for new ways to express myself creatively and physically – for the moment, my hyper focus is on quilting and golf.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

• The best advice I’ve ever been given is to wear sunscreen and spend as much time with the people you love as you can.

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?

• I would love to be a master of knots! I keep rope in my car and my hiking backpack and am always finding uses for it.

A present-day renaissance man and self-professed nerd, Chris transitioned into IT in 2016 after spending nearly a decade in the health and fitness industry. Once his lifetime hobby, computers have now become Chris’ professional passion. Starting in the trenches of an IT support call center, Chris progressed from Help Desk Technician to Managed Services Consultant (NOC) and is now a Product Infrastructure Manager at Cloudforce. He owes his success to never being afraid of asking questions, being humble, and learning in the fires of, “Well… let’s see if anything breaks” situations.

Other fun facts about Chris:

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• A marine biologist.

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why?

• Impervious health – you can only live life up to the level of your wellness.

What is your favorite album?

• My musical tastes often shift, so it is hard for me to say that I have a singular favorite album.  An album that blew me away in the last few years, though: Veil of Imagination by Wilderun. **Edit: upon further reflection, Age of Winters by The Sword would definitely be in contention for albums most spun.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “Memento Mori.”- The Stoics

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Halloween

Edward Hakin’s path into cloud computing started in one of the most hands-on places in IT: a data center, loading tapes and learning the foundations of infrastructure from the ground up. From there, he found an opportunity to dive headfirst into cloud computing and has not looked back since, though he admits there is still a small part of him that misses hooking up crash carts.

Since then, Edward has built a strong career across systems engineering, cloud infrastructure, automation, and enterprise migration work. Before joining Cloudforce, he held engineering roles with organizations including SAS and Parexel, where he supported large-scale hybrid environments, automated infrastructure deployments, strengthened governance and compliance practices, and helped teams modernize their cloud operations. His work has spanned Azure, AWS, VMware, Terraform, PowerShell, Python, FedRAMP environments, and complex migration efforts.

Now as a Cloud Solutions Engineer at Cloudforce, Edward brings deep technical experience and a practical, solutions-first mindset to customer environments. He develops infrastructure automation for nebulaONE®, supports sales and client-facing consulting, and helps design cloud strategies that make complex systems more secure, scalable, and manageable.

Outside of work, Edward’s interests are as wide-ranging as his technical toolkit. He loves mountain biking, hiking, playing guitar, discovering new music, visiting comedy clubs, reading, wandering through bookstores, and finding unexpected gems in thrift stores.

Other fun facts about Ed:

What is your guilty pleasure song? 

• Every day is a Winding Road: Sheryl Crow…always brings me back to riding in my Mom’s car as a kid, plus the song speaks truth. 

Who would be the first celebrity guest in your very own talk show? 

• Prince without a doubt, could talk to him for hours. 

What is the most fantastic thing that has ever happened to you (thus far)? 

• Graduating college, I never thought something like that was possible for me, and I’ve been able to use that achievement as a solid cornerstone for my life hence. 

Do you have any passion projects? If so, what are you working on? 

• During COVID I got into building guitar pedals, it’s like a puzzle that you can then use! I’m probably going to work on an analog vibrato or delay next. 

If you had to crack a joke during some awkward silence, which joke would you crack? 

• Not a joke, however, I do like to bring up that a southern colloquialism for a groundhog is whistle pig, this is usually good for such scenarios.  

Arija Rahman has been a driving force at Cloudforce since joining in 2021. Starting as an Executive Assistant, she quickly earned a promotion to Chief of Staff, where she worked across every department, including marketing, to align operations and support the company’s rapid growth. Now, as Associate Director of Marketing, Arija brings her extensive expertise in event production, strategic planning, and community engagement to lead Cloudforce’s marketing initiatives full-time.

Arija has a knack for turning connections into opportunities, a skill that shines through in everything she does. At Cloudforce, she spearheaded the company’s first management retreat, hosted two unforgettable ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and launched the inaugural Future Force program to inspire students in STEM. She has also been deeply committed to Prince George’s County, Maryland, working alongside Founder Husein Sharaf to develop programs at the intersection of technology and policy. This includes leading impactful events and initiatives that promote innovation and economic growth within the region.

Arija’s career has been defined by her ability to foster collaboration and provide meaningful support to others. At Springboard Enterprises, she not only led flagship programs like Dolphin Tank® but also moderated conversations and provided valuable resources to entrepreneurs, helping them navigate challenges and build connections with industry experts. Across her career, she has orchestrated and moderated hundreds of events, creating spaces where professionals can share resources, build networks, and spark innovation.

In her new role, Arija is committed to building a bold, data-driven marketing strategy that not only showcases Cloudforce’s AI-powered workplace solutions but also amplifies its culture of innovation. She sees marketing as more than campaigns and metrics—it’s about fostering connections that matter, to clients, partners, and the broader community.

When she’s not creating impact at work, Arija loves exploring historical fiction and women’s history books and unplugging from technology to treasure the relationships that mean the most to her.

Other fun facts about Arija:

What are three words to describe you?

• Curious, resilient, resourceful

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• A writer

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “Think with the heart, not with the ego.”

What are you reading at this moment?

• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Friendsgiving because my birthday falls around Thanksgiving and I love food and quality time with loved ones.

Elliot’s innate curiosity with technology followed him throughout his childhood, but it took a high school Java programming course to ignite his interest into full-blown fascination. The experience of this one class proved pivotal in shaping Elliot’s education and career path. Elliot went on to pursue his passion with technology and graduate from Towson University with a degree in Computer Science.  Shortly after graduating, he landed an opportunity at Cloudforce as an intern where he was introduced to cloud computing and hasn’t looked back since.  Currently, as Cloud Solutions Engineer, he enjoys putting his problem-solving skills to the test and advancing his knowledge with industry-recognized certifications.

Other fun facts about Elliot:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce? 

• Stay- active!  I love to run and play tennis.  I’ve run three half marathons and numerous 5k’s.  I play tennis year-round and compete in local tournaments around Maryland.

What is your favorite dessert? 

• Honestly, anything from Coldstone…

What is your favorite album? 

•  Everything Means Nothing – Blackbear

What is your favorite thing to eat? 

• Breakfast food for sure!  Pancakes, French toast, eggs, bacon…I could eat it for every meal of the day.

What is your favorite tradition or holiday? 

• Halloween!  It gives me an excuse to eat lots of candy.

From an early age, Angela’s fascination with technology was palpable. Her curiosity led her to Bowie State University to study computer technology. Angela’s professional journey continued with an internship at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where she honed her skills as a Solutions Architect Intern. Subsequently, she became part of the Cloudforce family, initially as a Cloud Services Intern, then swiftly ascending to Cloud Services Associate, while earning multiple certifications in Microsoft Azure. 

Today, Angela thrives as a Cloud Services Manager on the Cloudforce nebulaONE® team. A proprietary cloud support offering, Cloudforce’s nebulaONE® offers “peace-of-mind as a service,” providing expert Microsoft-centered monitoring, maintenance, and support to Cloudforce clients. Angela’s innate composure and witty brilliance makes her uniquely—and awesomely—suited to this task. 

Angela’s impact extends beyond technology. She is a blackcomputeHER fellow, actively contributing to the leadership development of Black women in engineering and tech. Angela also co-founded Do Great Things, a program that introduces elementary and middle school girls to STEM through programming and electrical engineering. In 2022, she was invited to the White House  for the first-ever “EGGucation” Roll, where she led cybersecurity learning sessions as part of  First Lady Jill Biden’s education initiative. Additionally, Angela played a pivotal role in developing and leading  Cloudforce’s inaugural Future Force, a workshop series for individuals interested in cloud computing careers. 

Beyond her technical pursuits, Angela is a versatile artist. As an accomplished costume designer and seamstress, Angela’s creations have graced many stages across the DMV area. Collaborating with renowned theatrical companies like Imagination Stage, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Shakespeare in the Parks, and Arena Stage, Angela is known for seamlessly blending creativity with precision. In 2019, Angela collaborated with the award-winning Arlington Art Truck and fabric artists on the captivating installation titled TIES THAT BIND: Learn to Sew on a Button and Connect. This unique project merged art, craftsmanship, and community engagement. 

Without any doubt, Angela’s journey exemplifies resilience, creativity, and a commitment to making a lasting impact. Whether expertly supporting nebulaONE®, illuminating young minds with the power of technology, or lighting up a stage with creativity and beauty, she stands at the forefront of innovation and gracefully weaves together technology, art, mentorship, and the gift of building stronger communities. 

Other fun facts about Angela:

What fictional family would you be a member of?

• The Rose Family from Schitt’s Creek

What is your favorite dessert?

• Apple pie

What is your favorite album?

• Nation of Two by Vance Joy

What are you reading at this moment?

• Our Time is Now by Stacey Abrams

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “You have no obligation to your former self.” – Hank Green

For Michael, a passion for learning and acquiring new skills drives a multitude of non-stop professional, technical, and academic pursuits. Michael’s drive and ambition took root in his days as an Information Technology major at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where his myriad experiences led to advancement in various areas of focus. Following graduation, Michael participated in the Cloudforce internship program, and has since gone on to receive his AZ-900 certification and become a Cloud Applications Engineer. Moving forward, Michael is eager to tackle the diverse array of challenges and opportunities presented by the wide array of public and private sector clients served by Cloudforce.

Fun facts about Michael:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I like to work on personal projects. Usually, it’s something a friend is interested in or a project that will help me learn a new skill. I also like to play video games a good amount. Recently I’ve been trying to get into game development but it’s pretty time consuming.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead.” – James Baldwin, “No name in the street.
• I like to think of this quote in the context of my personal agency in making myself who I am and how my actions affect what other people see in me.

As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?

• I wanted to be a lot of things: landscaper, judge (not a lawyer), baseball player, etc.

What is your favorite dessert?

• Well-made Strawberry Shortcake!

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why?

• Good health, success, an abundance of free time or just peace and calm.

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away”

• Pablo Picasso

Kamal’s story is one of a passionate boy who wants to change the world. After moving out of his house at age 17, skipping college to work and achieve his goals… His life before Cloudforce was that of volunteering, helping others with issues that they had problems solving. After mastering this ability, he translated that problem-solving ability to groups, and eventually sales. He became successful in sales because he saw it as a way to help others. And in the process, he’s forged bonds with customers that he’ll never forget.

He takes this experience into Cloudforce as the Cloud Champion with the aim of assisting it to become the greatest tech company in the world, while also helping others achieve success through what we do in Azure and the cloud in general.

There is no greater game than helping others.

Other fun facts about Kamal:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• Socialize, Study and Slack Off

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?

• You’re never going to get anywhere looking at what you’re not, you’re going to get places by putting emphasis on what you are. The lies of who you are not are weaker than the truth of who you are.

What is your favorite album?

• Lupe Fiasco’s Tetsuo & Youth

What fictional family would you be a member of?

• The Incredible Family (From the Incredibles)

What are three words to describe you?

• Three words are not enough to describe me

Gin joined Cloudforce as a Junior Workforce Specialist immediately after graduating from University of Maryland. Since then, she has deftly applied her degree in Psychology and Sociology, along with her innate people skills, to help grow and shape our elite team into an even more richly diverse and talented force. Now as the Workforce Acquisition Manager, Gin uses her energizing personality to source, hire, and retain our amazing team. In her free time, Gin likes to go out with friends, read, and most especially, travel.

Other fun facts about Gin: 

What is your favorite dessert? 

• Mochi ice cream! 

What are you reading at this moment? 

• Currently going through the Lord of the Rings and Agatha Christie Poirot novels (I LOVE mystery/thrillers!)

What is your favorite thing to eat? 

• Any kind of soup – and sushi

What is your favorite album?

• ANTI by Rihanna or Hozier’s first album – I’m a BIG fan.

What is your favorite item you’ve bought this year?

• A big, red, velvet Papasan chair from Facebook Marketplace. I love napping in it or curling up and reading a book. Good vibes.

Lucas has been in front of a computer since he was a child — from playing games on floppy disks and CDs to his heart’s content, to his dad showing him how to download music. Over time this grew into a yearning for more knowledge. In college at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, he obtained a B.S. in Information Systems with a focus in cybersecurity and grew interest in the cloud. After graduating, he quickly found his way to Cloudforce where he was hired as an intern. He absorbed everything he could and got his hands into as much as possible and earned a full-time position on the service desk, and then a position on the engineering team as a Cloud Solutions Associate. Here he’s putting his skills to the test helping companies build and migrate into the cloud – and using infrastructure as code as a foundation for it all.

Other fun facts about Lucas:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I love to weightlift so a lot of the time you may find me up in the gym just workin’ on my fitness. I also love to learn new things and be on the water. Gym, books, and boats.

Do you have any hidden talents?

• I can make the platypus noise from Perry the Platypus – I guess it’s not so hidden anymore.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• An astronaut – still do – still don’t think it’s going to happen. I compensate for this desire by learning about astronomy and astrophotography when I have the time because anything related to space is still fascinating to me. 

What is your favorite thing to eat?

• Really have been digging bagels recently – and glazed pecans.

What are you reading at this moment?

• A Japanese children’s book – I can barely understand a thing, but we’re getting there.

Having spent her time in college studying both English and chemistry, Sarah has always had a deep appreciation for both discovery and storytelling — she wants to figure out how something works, and then write about it. Her passion for storytelling found early roots — in grade school, Sarah spent most of her time writing about the people around her, which was often preceded by some level of interrogation (her grandfather once called her “Question Box” because she would ask him questions repeatedly until he would politely leave the room).

Sarah’s love for writing, tackling problems, and understanding how new systems, places, and people work led her to become Proposal and Contract Specialist, then Contracts Manager, now Director of Contracts. Writing — creatively and technically — has allowed her to connect to those outside of Cloudforce, as well as discover more about the tech gurus within.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grow up?

• A veterinarian — I loved science classes and grew up with five dogs.

What is your favorite thing to eat?

• Rye bread — totally plain. I could probably eat a whole loaf in one sitting if not for my own personal shame.

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I work out, walk, hike, and explore a lot, and am constantly looking for sweets.

Do you have any hidden talents?

• I memorized the first 40 digits of pi in 3^rd grade. On Pi Day in my AP Statistics class senior year of high school, I recited them and won an actual pie.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

• Life is long, and there’s time to do the things you want to do (as long as you really want to do them!).

Katie grew up in Alabama, where sweet tea flows freely and seasons are marked by their proximity to college football (Roll Tide).

After graduating from a small liberal arts college, she moved to Washington, DC and balanced her life between hospitality management, freelance cocktail consulting, and finishing her Ph.D. at American University’s Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience program.  Central to her success in each of these arenas was (a) an ability to proactively prioritize and organize complex projects with many moving parts, (b) a detail-oriented focus on keeping everything on track, and (c) a commitment to seeing each project through to completion. Katie has now brought these skills to Cloudforce as Director of Programs, where she oversees the Project Management Office and works with Enterprise clients to ensure that their needs are addressed on time, under budget, and with a result that exceeds expectations.

Other fun facts about Katie: 

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

• An astronaut 

Do you have any pets? 

• My wife and I have a 20 lb tuxedo cat named Frankie, who of course is named after the beloved literary character Frankenstein’s Monster, and a marginally less rotund tuxedo named Bees? (pronounced with a questioning head tilt).

Do you have any hidden talents? 

• As a college lacrosse goalie, I took up juggling to improve my hand-eye coordination. I also received my skydiving certification as part of my research for my undergraduate honors thesis.

What are you currently learning? 

• Away from work, I am learning American Sign Language.  I live near Gallaudet University and learning ASL has helped me better communicate with my neighbors.  

What’s your favorite dessert? 

• Apple pie 

Jonathon started his career in technology in 2013 after a friend convinced him to build his own computer. At his first IT job, he worked for a retail chain providing basic computer troubleshooting, setup, and home networking. Jonathon then transitioned to a role at a small business managed service provider — a job he enjoyed for seven years as he also pursued his bachelor’s degree in IT from Kennesaw State University. Upon graduation in early 2022, Jonathon joined Cloudforce as a Sr. Cloud Solutions Engineer.  

In just a matter of months, Jonathon was able to expand his Office 365 expertise to become more involved in the administration and migration side of the industry. He credits Cloudforce for offering the opportunity to broaden his IT horizons even further. With Cloudforce support, Jonathon took it upon himself to pass the AZ-103 Microsoft Administration certification and has already had the opportunity to leverage his newly acquired knowledge to help migrate client workloads to Azure. He now looks forward to learning from his new colleagues and becoming even more proficient in the Azure cloud. 

Other fun facts about Jonathon:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce? 

• Stay up to date with new technologies in my home lab, work out, read, and play video games. I also spend time with friends and family and try to do regularly scheduled nights for video games or D&D to stay social.  

What are you reading at this moment? 

• I recently finished The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski. Currently, I’m working through the Claymore manga, and I have The Left Hand of Darkness (Ursula K. Le Guin), The Color of Magic (Terry Pratchett), Galapagos (Kurt Vonnegut), and Red Rising (Pierce Brown) next in the queue.  

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your phone, which 3 would you keep? 

• Reddit since it’s fun to stay up to date with news and various fandoms, Discord because it’s my main way to communicate with friends, and Google Photos since all my pictures going back years are stored there.  

What is your favorite album? 

• This tends to change pretty often, but right now it’s good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar. 

What is one quote that stands out to you? 

• “I was a victim of a series of accidents, as are we all” – Kurt Vonnegut, The Sirens of Titan. 

Luke’s fascination with electronics and computers began as a child with his Snap Circuits kits and Lego Robot Inventor projects. After a detour through mechanical engineering and linguistics in college, Luke revived his interest in technology as a Cloud Services Intern at Cloudforce. He has since earned his AZ-900 certification and become a Cloud Services Engineer where he eagerly tackles new challenges in automation and data visualization. 

Other fun facts about Luke:

What are you doing when you’re not at Cloudforce?  

• Probably riding bikes, thinking about riding bikes, or watching other people ride their bikes 

What are you reading at the moment? 

• Just finished Circe by Madeline Miller, about to start Song of Achilles 

What’s your favorite dessert? 

• Tres leches cake 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? 

• Most things in life are not as good as hoped but not as bad as feared 

What are your go-to YouTube genres? 

• A lot of history and media video essays and food/cocktail videos 

Christina’s journey began in sunny South Florida before she made her way to Washington, D.C., to study at American University. She started her career in live events as a talent coordinator, curating unforgettable performances with classical and jazz artists—plus the occasional bagpiper, dancer, or even mermaid—for upscale events. Her passion for creating engaging experiences led her to an operations role at an experiential design firm, where she discovered her interest in Human Resources.

Now, as the Workforce Development Lead at Cloudforce, Christina blends her background in events, operations, and logistics to build a workplace where teams feel connected, engaged, and recognized. Christina leads Cloudforce’s professional development initiatives and oversees key programs focused on employee experience, engagement, and recognition.

Outside of work, you can find Christina exploring the outdoors, searching for the best ice cream in the tri-state area, or hitting the trails with her dog.

Other fun facts about Christina:

What fictional family would you be a member of?

• The Munsters! Cobwebs should always be a staple of cozy home décor.

What is your favorite album?

• It’s a tie between The Promise Ring’s Nothing Feels Good and 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

What is your favorite item you’ve bought this year?

• This year I bought a dehumidifier for my bathroom, and I now can’t imagine life without one.

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I love any activity that can be done outside. Hiking, camping, and kayaking are my current favorites. My perfect day would include an outdoor activity coupled with a little antique shopping and topped off with farm-fresh ice cream. When it’s too cold for an outdoor activity, I like catching up on art museum exhibits, watching movies, and going to concerts.

What fictional world (comics, TV, anything) or place would you like to visit?

• As someone whose comfort TV show is Gilmore Girls, if I could visit any fictional world, it would be Stars Hollow. I get emotional even thinking about the idea of Stars Hollow as a real place. Ugh, if only!

Matthew grew up in College Park, Maryland, just a mile from the University of Maryland. A lifelong sports and tech enthusiast, he developed a deep love for baseball, playing from the age of five all the way through college. He also speaks French, adding another dimension to his diverse skill set.

As an Cloud Services Engineer, nebulaONE Support Lead at Cloudforce, Matthew specializes in delivering solutions through SCCM and Intune, managing security policies, patching, application packaging, and more. His expertise ensures that systems remain secure, efficient, and up to date. He leverages cloud automation tools like function apps and automation accounts to develop innovative solutions, including integrating reporting via Microsoft Graph and building FinOps applications that streamline operations.

Matthew also serves as an escalation point for the nebulaONE® managed service desk, where he supports clients by managing cloud environments, handling service requests, and troubleshooting bugs and user inquiries on the nebulaONE® AI platform. His problem-solving mindset and commitment to client success make him a key asset to the team.

He holds certifications in MD-102 and AI-102, further solidifying his expertise in endpoint administration and artificial intelligence solutions.

Other fun facts about Matthew:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I love to workout, travel, and spend time with friends and family.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• A professional baseball player – I was blessed to play at the D1 college level for four years.

What is your favorite dessert?

• Red velvet cake, easily

What is your favorite thing to eat?

• Shrimp and scallop linguine

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “One who says they can and one who says they can’t are both correct.”

A homegrown Marylander, Carroll was born and raised in Annapolis. She spent 13 years in administrative healthcare – her career journey started with humble beginnings, walking into doctors’ offices to introduce herself with a printed resume in hand. Starting as a front office receptionist, Carroll progressed through various administrative roles until realizing her passion for finance and accounting. After beginning undergraduate accounting courses and progressing through several finance/accounting positions, she was elevated to the role of accounting supervisor for a well-established primary care group. Carroll now joins Cloudforce as Senior Accounting Manager and is excited to apply her financial acumen to the innovative field of technology and cloud services. She’s thrilled about the opportunity to grow in a new industry as well as give back to the community by supporting Cloudforce’s many philanthropic efforts.

Other fun facts about Carroll:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I like spending time with family and friends, riding bikes and other exercise, watching sports (especially football), boating, exploring scenic outdoor spots, visiting wineries, and baking various recipes

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• A figure skater

What is your favorite album?

• There’s definitely a top 5 but if I had to choose one, The 1975 by The 1975

What season would you be?

• The fall

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• Two things define you: your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything

A true force of nature, Jasmin thrives on bringing order and solutions to chaos and challenges. As Cloudforce Digital Marketing Lead, Jasmin has already organized efforts, resources, and assets into a steady flow of regular social media posts, and proven her graphic design skills and talent through a wide range of creative deliverables, from infographics to marketing collateral.

Before joining the Cloudforce team, Jasmin shared her talents and drive across many activities in her Virginia Tech community, prior to graduating magna cum laude in 2022 with a degree in Digital Marketing and EIT Management from Tech’s Pamplin College of Business. As events and fundraising chair of the Filipino American Students Association (FASA), she led efforts to organize and promote social events and fundraising efforts for the organization. In her free time she enjoyed working out, hiking, playing intramural flag football and volleyball, and cooking with friends.

Jasmin’s passion for communications, management, and graphic design makes her perfectly suited for her efforts at Cloudforce, as she supports her elite team’s aggressive digital media growth goals. She seeks out and welcomes challenges and her eagerness to master new skills has already been evidenced by her quick mastery of Microsoft Power BI, in less than a week. Her analytics capabilities are also providing valuable insights and learning for all of Cloudforce’s expanding digital marketing endeavors.

Other fun facts about Jasmin:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?  

• My current hobbies are working out, shopping, flag football, dance, video games, and binging my favorite TV shows.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  

• I wanted to be a teacher! I was told I would be good at it because I was very bossy and would be taller than the elementary schoolers.

What is your favorite dessert?  

• S’mores! I love the combination of crunchy, chewy, and gooey. It’s an easy treat to make and it also brings a very nostalgic feeling of sitting around a bonfire with friends and family.

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why?  

• Good health no matter what I eat because I have a big weakness for junk food. A bottomless stomach for a whole bag of chips would be great!

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?  

• My favorite holiday is Halloween. I love decorating, carving pumpkins, scary movies, haunted trails, and dressing up!

Joey Poole, Associate Director of Product Growth, is a problem solver and storyteller.

Trained as a filmmaker and with a background spanning technology, business development, operations, and product management, he often finds workable solutions drawn out of his varied experience.

Prior to joining Cloudforce, Joey started his career in software development, working in Edtech. He then took a leap into entrepreneurship along with three compatriots to found a craft beer wholesaler in Washington, DC. Over just a few years, Joey and his partners grew a cocktail napkin pipedream into a multi-million-dollar boutique distributor servicing over 150 restaurants and retailers in all eight wards of DC. At peak, their portfolio included dozens of domestic brands and nearly 100 international offerings.

Now well past his craft beer phase, Joey only enjoys beers that begin with the letter “M” – Miller, Michelob, Modelo.

From there, Joey stepped into transportation operations where his start-up experience served as a perfect springboard for establishing himself as a process improvement expert across multiple organizations, finally utilizing his cross-functional experience to transition into product management.

He first joined Cloudforce in a product-focused role, quickly rising to become the company’s first Associate Director of Product for nebulaONE®, Cloudforce’s secure GenAI platform for all. There, he helped shape the product’s foundation and early growth strategy. As nebulaONE scaled, Joey’s role naturally evolved into his current position as Associate Director of Product Growth, where he sits at the intersection of technology, delivery, service, and sales.

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Joey lives with his wife in Washington, DC. They enjoy riding barely functional vintage motorcycles and traveling to countries where neither of them speak the language.

Other fun facts about Joey:

Do you have any hidden talents?

• My days as a bartender taught me how to carry three (3) full beer glasses with one hand.

What is your favorite album?

• KISS – Hotter Than Hell

What is your favorite thing to eat?

• French fries. One of my life goals is to write and publish a pop history account of the evolution of this magical food.

What are you reading at this moment?

• Just finished Cannery Row by Steinbeck. Now onto Native Nations by Kathleen DuVal

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• I learned a Gujarati proverb recently: જબ જાગો તબ સવેરા Jaba jāgō taba savērā which roughly means, “When you wake up, it’s morning.” To me this means that there is no right timeline we must live our lives according to. As long as we are learning and growing, we’re right on time.

Aniya is a native Washingtonian with a passion for helping others in her community. Being raised with 21 first cousins, Aniya truly understands what it means to love hard and the importance of being there for others. Before joining Cloudforce as an Office Manager and now Jr. Workforce Coordinator, and after receiving her bachelor’s degree in communications, Aniya worked in several roles at a mental health practice in Capitol Hill where she was able to gain experience supporting an administrative team of 15+. Other than enjoying the work she does, she also enjoys gardening (Hello, fellow plant moms and dads!) and discovering new TikToks, as this app is her go-to when searching for new and exciting local restaurants and activities. Her words to live by: “You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.” —Michael Jordan

Other fun facts about Aniya:

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• I wanted to be a doctor! The idea of helping others, young or old, holds a place in my heart. As I get older, I began to understand that being a doctor involves blood, so my dream soon changed!

What is your favorite album?

• Loud by Rihanna — this is one album where I know all the lyrics, every beat, and could listen to it on repeat all day!

What fictional family would you be a member of?

• That’s So Raven because the Baxter family was extremely optimistic during challenging times and always knew they could rely on each other for support, love, and words of encouragement. This family reminds me of my family.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?

• Pray hard and believe even harder.

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Each year on Christmas Day my family gathers to feed the less fortunate at a local men’s shelter. This has been a family tradition for 15 years that we plan to embrace for many years to come!

With a deep passion for animals and marine life, Caitlin’s career began as a marine mammal specialist, working with a variety of species across Florida and New York for over a decade. After 11 years of hands-on experience and relationship-building in the field, she returned to her home state of Maryland and found an exciting new chapter at Cloudforce.

Now serving as Chief of Staff, Caitlin plays a pivotal role in supporting the executive team, strengthening the #EliteForce, and fostering meaningful connections with Cloudforce guests and clients. She brings a dynamic approach to leadership, blending her background in animal behavior with her commitment to operational excellence.

A proud graduate of Coastal Carolina University, Caitlin is an avid movie enthusiast who enjoys snowboarding, surfing, and spending time with friends and family (both human and animal!).

Other fun facts about Caitlin:

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Christmas is my favorite holiday! My favorite tradition is decorating the Christmas tree with family while listening to Christmas music. For me, it’s my favorite time of year and I love having all the decorations, family, and friends around.

What is your favorite dessert?

• Birthday Cake Remix from Cold Stone Creamery.

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why?

• Probably front row seats at the Oscar’s every year because I’m a huge movie nerd. That or box seats to the Capitals games.

Have you ever completed anything on your bucket list?

• Yes! I was lucky enough to visit the Galapagos Islands. I was able to cruise around the different islands, see all the species of animals, hike the beaches and lava fields, as well as deep water snorkel with the amazing fish and sea lions.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “They said she couldn’t, so she did.” -Kendra Ford

Ryland has always had a propensity for technology, despite having no background in his family. He remembers first taking apart (and putting back together) the family computer when he was around 14. He started working in enterprise IT at 16 as an intern managing an end-user support queue for around 3,000 employees at a large newspaper. He went to UCF and got his degree in IT, working as a systems administrator for one of the colleges and doing everything from answering help desk calls to managing all identity, web, database, and hypervisor infrastructure as part of a 3-person team. Also in college, he interned multiple summers and contracted during the school year with Jabil, a Fortune 100 global electronics manufacturing company. He worked on their infrastructure architecture team before being hired after college to help start their infrastructure automation center of excellence (CoE).

Jabil is where Ryland’s love for the cloud was realized and grew into what it is today, as previously he had been squarely focused on on-premises infrastructure management. In the 2 years that he spent on the infrastructure automation CoE, his 5-person team was able to save Jabil over 2 million dollars of direct cost in both public cloud usage and outsourced labor hours. Jabil’s culture of technological excellence and healthy inter-departmental competition drove him to obtain over 10 professional certifications within the 2 years he spent there as a full-time employee, including 8 for Azure. He then moved to Trellance where he worked as a technical product architect, helping to design their cloud-native data analytics platform for credit unions. Ryland has brought his talents and experience to support the Cloudforce team as a Cloud Infrastructure Architect.

Other fun facts about Ryland:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• Outside technology, I love traveling, hiking, and camping with my girlfriend. I also have a great time playing with my cat, going out with friends, watching sports, and making DJ mixes of my favorite electronic music.

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your phone, which 3 would you keep?

• Messages, Spotify, and YouTube. Communication, music, and education/entertainment.

What is your favorite album?

• Drink The Sea by The Glitch Mob. This album was the first that I really felt an emotional connection to and ignited my passion for music.

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why?

• Time to spend with my family and friends. My interpersonal relationships are the most important thing in my life, and I want to ensure that I always have the time to enjoy their company.

What is your favorite dessert?

• Ice cream. It provides a ton of room for creativity in flavors and presentations.

As a seasoned software engineer, Paul has spent the last seven years maintaining, upgrading, and supporting clients’ internal systems. With extensive experience in legacy systems, cloud computing, and software testing, he is excited to migrate Cloudforce clients to the Azure cloud, utilizing the latest technologies such as C#, SQL Server, and React to improve performance, scalability, and reliability.

Paul’s focus has always been on providing excellent customer service and exceeding expectations. Alongside his proficiency in quality assurance and software testing, these qualities have been crucial in ensuring that clients’ systems are of the highest quality and meet the expectations of their users. Paul is committed to delivering top-notch support and exceeding expectations, and his skills in testing methodologies allow him to identify and address potential issues before they become problems. As a Senior Cloud Applications Engineer, Paul is confident in his ability to surprise and delight Cloudforce clients with exceptional service and technical expertise, allowing them to focus on their core business while we handle the complexities of the cloud.

More fun facts about Paul: 

What are three words that describe you? 

• Dependable, trustworthy, generous

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

• Adventurer

Have you ever completed anything on your bucket list?

• I traveled to Ireland to explore my family’s roots and visit the Cliffs of Moher.

What fictional world (comics, TV, anything) or place would you like to visit? 

• Krypton. Pre-explosion, of course. Or Middle-earth.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? 

• What you do and say to others says more about you than it does about them.

Michael grew up in the vibrant town of Bowie, nestled in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Growing up, he had a passion for ice hockey, and spent countless hours on the rink. That love for the sport naturally extended to the Washington Capitals, and you can often find him cheering passionately for the team at their games. Beyond sports, Michael is an avid reader, and he’s currently engrossed in the captivating Red Rising series.

Michael’s journey in the IT world began with an entry-level position in application support at Oracle, where he got his first taste of the industry. Over the years, he’s climbed the ranks, serving as an application support supervisor at Shiji Group and later as a project engineer/system administrator at RedZone Technologies in Annapolis. These experiences have shaped his IT career, and he’s excited to bring his expertise to his current role at Cloudforce, where he continues to thrive and grow professionally as a Cloud Applications & Data Engineer. Currently, he is also dedicated to pursuing his master’s degree in software engineering at Western Governors University, with a specific focus on domain driven design.

Other fun facts about Michael:

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your phone, which 3 would you keep?

• Messages for texting, Reddit and Discord

What are you reading at this moment?

• Golden Son of the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown

What is your favorite album?

• Tough call, but for one that’s a classic and solid all the way through, I would say Meteora by Linkin Park

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• Starting goaltender for the Washington Capitals of course 😊

What is your favorite thing to eat?

• Sushi

Emily attended the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park. Emily was a business management major with a minor in real estate development, but for most of her educational career (as early as 5th grade), she had planned to go into the interior design field. Emily completed a high school internship as well as a summer internship with 2 interior design firms and thought that a business degree would be a good foundation for running her own interior design business one day. It wasn’t until working with Cloudforce Vice President of Delivery Jesse Kellner in a class called BMGT364: Managing People and Organizations that she decided to put her business degree to use and enter a more traditional business career. Emily’s introduction to the fundamentals of project management came from BMGT485: Project Management, an elective she just happened to take during the fall semester of her senior year. Little did she know at that time that she would pursue this field as a career! Emily now supports the Cloudforce team as a Project Manager, Team Lead. 

Emily grew up in Baltimore, Maryland with her parents, older brother, and older sister. She now lives in Old Town Alexandria and loves exploring the new city! 

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

• I had always wanted to be an interior designer. It was the answer I put in my 5th grade yearbook when asked the same question. A close friend even gifted me a fan deck of paint swatches for my birthday one year because I was so committed to this career path. (I still have the fan deck to this day.) 

Do you have any hidden talents? 

• I once hula hooped on a cruise ship for 45 minutes straight. I was going head-to-head against a boy named Landon and we hula hooped for way longer than the staff expected. They asked us to move to the side of the stage so they could start bingo while we continued to hula hoop. 

Have you ever completed anything on your bucket list? 

• I was moved front row at the Justin Bieber Purpose Tour concert, which had been a childhood dream ever since watching his Never Say Never movie.  
• As a big Baltimore sports fan, it has always been a dream to see my teams win. I was lucky to witness the Ravens win the Super Bowl in 2012 and attend the celebration parade in Baltimore. I am still hoping I get to witness the Orioles bring home a World Series win in my lifetime.  

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce? 

• I love to go to concerts (The Anthem at the Wharf feels like my second home) and have chill nights in with my close friends. We love to do anything from a wine & movie night to painting by numbers and book club. I also love hanging out with my sister and nephew whenever I visit Baltimore.  

What are you reading at the moment? 

• I am currently reading The Phoenix Project as part of Cloudforce’s book club. I am also currently reading Happy Place by Emily Henry for fun! I love to read on my kindle and have read 57 books in the past two years (feel free to add me on Goodreads – I love to see what my friends are reading!).

Having lived in five countries across three continents and traveled to countless more, Indervir is no stranger to traveling and experiencing everything the world has to offer; particularly in terms of his love of learning, which is why he often describes himself as a philomath. Before entering the world of IT, he pursued his passion in music by getting a bachelor’s in instrumental music education; a master’s in orchestral conducting; and performing and teaching both Western and Indian classical music all over the world either as a conductor, member of an ensemble, or soloist.

Indervir’s journey into the world of IT began at a young age watching and learning from his father, who has been in the field for over 40 years, and by taking apart (and putting together) computers. He pivoted from his music career by joining CMIT Solutions as an entry level support engineer. While there, he spent the next 7 years working with various clients in numerous industries including Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance where he spent most of his tenure. During this time, he was promoted several times because he matured the global enterprise environment, leading the technical innovation of the infrastructure and catastrophe modeling research compute departments. Indervir found his stride in automation, high performance burst compute, and Power Platform as he transformed the enterprise’s digital landscape by building, scaling, and optimizing cloud solutions. With these skills and experience, he now supports the Cloudforce and nebulaONE services teams as a Senior Cloud Solutions Engineer.

More fun facts about Indervir:

What fictional world (comics, TV, anything) or place would you like to visit? 

• Well much more than just a world, but the universe of Star Wars

What is your favorite thing to eat? 

• Pizza: endless possibilities to customize in order to get that perfect slice of heaven

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your phone, which 3 would you keep? 

• Whatsapp, YouTube, Reddit

What would be the most surprising scientific discovery imaginable? 

• We are indeed living in the matrix and this is all just a simulation

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce? 

• Love to cook, play video games, and dabble in the visual arts (drawing, painting, & origami)

Shannon grew up in Bethesda, Maryland as the older sibling of two girls. Growing up, she was inspired at the age of 10 to follow a medical career. Shannon has always had a passion for helping others and wanting to make a difference. She completed internships at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center studying brain and spinal cord traumatic injuries and assisted at a Johns Hopkins dermatology clinic with surgical cases. For college, she attended Santa Clara University in California and majored in biology with a focus in pre-med.

Once completing her degree, Shannon stayed in the Bay Area and worked as a medical scribe and medical assistant in an ophthalmology retinal clinic. Working in the medical field during the pandemic exposed her to the many hardships and realities of the medical field and shifted her focus to helping people in other ways. During this time, Shannon headed down a new career path pursuing project management, as she discovered many of the necessary skills for project management overlapped with those required for the medical field. Shannon discovered a new passion in being able to collaborate with people and see a project through from start to finish with the end goal of bettering a business. While still early on in her career, Shannon is excited for all that she has yet to learn and now joins the Cloudforce team as an Deployment Manager.

More fun facts about Shannon:

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• A doctor (orthopedic surgeon or pediatrician) – I grew up playing sports and was always fascinated with sports-related injuries. I have also always wanted to help kids.

Do you have any hidden talents?

• I can recite all the presidents in order – my 4^th grade teacher made us learn it and I haven’t forgotten it since!
• I have a blackbelt in Taekwondo – I started doing Taekwondo when I was 7 years old with my dad and we both achieved our black belts together within 3.5 years.
• I can do the Worm – please don’t ask me to do it now that I put that on here

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?

• Do not do something to make others happy, do it for yourself. In the end, it is only your life that you are living.

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I love bouldering, hiking, working out, traveling, and cooking/baking.

Have you ever completed anything on your bucket list?

• I went to Easter Island, which was the coolest place I have ever been to (the place with the big heads coming out of the ground).

What is your favorite dessert?

• Baklava! Baklava! Baklava! – my Lebanese side of the family has had me addicted!

James’s interest in tech started with his father, a seasoned IT professional of over 20 years. Watching his father constantly bring new gadgets back home sparked his curiosity in tech, which led him to pursue computer science at Drexel University and jump start his career in IT at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He transitioned back home to attend Prince George’s Community College, where he completed an associate degree in computer science as a member of the Southern Management Leadership Program. The program granted him an opportunity to study at the University of Maryland where he received his bachelor’s in information science and a minor in technology entrepreneurship and corporate innovation.

This same program granted him the opportunity to meet Cloudforce CEO Husein Sharaf as a guest speaker for his business negotiations class. Emboldened by Husein’s story and his passion for the cloud, James took a shot at applying for a role with Cloudforce. He started as a Cloud Solutions Intern and now supports the team as a Cloud Solutions Administrator. Since coming into the role, James has completed his AZ-900 and AZ-104 exams, supporting his career in the Azure cloud.

More fun facts about James:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• Playing games, reading books, meditating, and hanging out with friends and family.

What is your favorite dessert?

• Oreo Ice Cream Cake! The best of the cookie and ice cream worlds.

What is your favorite album?

• komorebi by slenderbodies!

What fictional world (comics, TV, anything) or place would you like to visit?

• The Forgotten Realms.

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Halloween!

With a multicultural background rooted in Istanbul and shaped by international education, Aylin has built a career at the intersection of business and technology. After earning her economics degree in the USA, she gained valuable project management experience in Turkey before returning to the US for a master’s in IT.

Now a GRC Operations Lead at Cloudforce, Aylin is dedicated to driving continuous improvement and excellence. When she’s not working, Aylin can be found exploring new destinations, seeking out the best coffee shops, attending concerts, or pushing her limits in an indoor cycling studio.

More fun facts about Aylin:

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your phone, which 3 would you keep?

• Spotify to feed my soul. I can’t live without my music. WhatsApp to stay connected with my international community and Storytel for my books.

Have you ever completed anything on your bucket list?

• Yes! I got to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, and it was absolutely magical.

What is your favorite dessert?

• Tiramisu! Meaning “pick me up” in Italian, it never fails to cheer me up. With my sweet tooth and love for coffee, it’s basically my dream dessert. Also, I’m completely addicted to ice cream!

What season would you be?

• Autumn! Best aesthetic and perfect weather. Plus, who doesn’t love Fall fashion?

Do you speak any other languages? 

• Yes! I’m fluent in Turkish, English, and French, and currently learning Italian. I love exploring new languages and cultures.

Zack’s passion for engineering and building started at a young age, inspired by his father, who owns and runs a painting and construction company in Reston, VA. During high school, he spent summers working as an assistant carpenter, where he discovered his love for creating things that make an impact. While he enjoyed hands-on work with tools and wood, his interests began shifting toward technology.

Zack took his first programming classes in Python and Java in high school and found the same satisfaction in coding that he had in construction. That passion led him to Virginia Tech’s engineering program, where he quickly decided to major in computer science. Immersed in the world of technology, he built expertise in Python, Java, and C, exploring how the tools and systems he used daily were designed and developed. Through electives, he also pursued interests in web and app development, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

While Zack missed working alongside his father, he found a way to merge his love for construction and technology through his internships. For two summers, he worked with HITT Contracting’s Enterprise Business Solutions team, applying his technical skills to solve business challenges.

Now a Cloud Applications Engineer II at Cloudforce, Zack plays a key role in nebulaONE® managed services, learning the infrastructure that powers cloud solutions. Though still early in his journey at Cloudforce, he has already gained valuable experience and recently earned his AZ-900 certification, with AZ-204 and AI-102 next on his list.

More fun facts about Zack:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I spend a lot of time outdoors whether it be hiking and camping or playing sports with friends. When I am not outside, I am an avid music lover and play guitar as often as I can.

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why?

• Ski tickets!! I love to ski but it can run up a check.

What fictional world (comics, TV, anything) or place would you like to visit?

• Avatar the Last Air Bender. Has been my favorite show since I was a kid.

What would be the most surprising scientific discovery imaginable?

• That we live in a simulation!

Do you have any hidden talents?

• I have a double-jointed thumb.

Before joining Cloudforce, Yasmine worked at a telecommunications company, and prior to that, she was employed at a software development firm. Yasmine have been in DC for over 12 years and during her time here, she has developed a deep affection for her weekly sunrise walks on the National Mall. Yasmine also enjoys people-watching during walks at the Wharf, engaging in beach volleyball, and indulging in salsa dancing. She now supports the Cloudforce team as a Senior Project Manager.

More fun facts about Yasmine:

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your phone, which 3 would you keep?

• Spotify, Killer Sudoku, Netflix

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• A paramedic

What is your favorite item you’ve bought this year?

• A 3-in-1 handheld fan, charger, flashlight (seriously this thing goes with me everywhere)

What are you reading at this moment?

• The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Thanksgiving or New Years with the cousins – food, family, fun.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Tessa now calls the DMV area home after proudly graduating from the University of Maryland. While studying journalism, she discovered a passion for human connection and storytelling—interests that shaped her career path. She went on to combine those passions with a commitment to service, coordinating service-learning opportunities at a girls’ boarding school and managing communication projects for a global disaster relief nonprofit.

As Senior Project Manager, Team Lead at Cloudforce, Tessa brings her expertise in optimizing systems, fostering team trust, and ensuring projects stay on track. She values clear communication and thrives on creating an environment where creativity and collaboration can flourish.

In her free time, Tessa loves to cook, read, craft, and explore DC with her partner.

Other fun facts about Tessa:

If you could pick up a new skill in an instant, what would it be?

·          Dancing! Being able to move to any beat and not look robotic. 

What is your guilty pleasure song?

·          “Beauty and a Beat” by Justin Bieber

Do you have any passion projects, if so, what is it?

·          I started documenting my cooking adventures and favorite meals on my Instagram, @allthecheeseplz. Yes, everything is cheese related! I’ve also recently gotten into junk journaling, which is kind of like scrapbooking but with stuff from your everyday life. 

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?

·          Sitting by the water somewhere (preferably a beach!) with my partner, reading a book, and enjoying a picnic in the sun. 

If you had to crack a joke during some awkward silences, which joke would you crack?

·          I don’t usually find silence awkward – I can make conversation with anyone!

Joseph’s passion for technology began at a young age, fueled by his innate curiosity and love for solving problems. After completing his first coding course in high school, he knew he had found his calling. Joseph pursued his passion at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned a degree in computer science. During his time there, he gained valuable experience through internships with industry leaders such as Microsoft and SurveyMonkey.

Upon graduation, Joseph honed his skills as a full stack engineer, working with various startups in the financial and health technology sectors. These experiences allowed him to develop a diverse skill set and a deep understanding of different technological landscapes.

Now, Joseph brings his expertise to Cloudforce as a Cloud Applications Engineer. Joseph is excited to contribute to Cloudforce’s mission and looks forward to leveraging his knowledge to drive success and innovation within the company.

More fun facts about Joseph:

If you had a time machine, would you go back or into the future? And why?

• I would definitely go into the future. Have you heard of the butterfly effect? If I went back in time, I could wear a different pair of shoes and it could cause a world war in the future! I’d much rather skip ahead to fun major points in my life.

Have you ever completed anything on your bucket list?

• I have always wanted to see Drake in concert, and last year I was able to see him twice! Once at Dreamville and again during his It’s All a Blur Tour. My next list item is to see my favorite soccer team, Chelsea FC, at their home stadium Stamford Bridge, located in London! Go Blues!

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul” -William Ernest Henley. It is the last line of the poem “Invictus” and speaks to me because it is a constant reminder that you are always in control of the narrative of your life. Make the most of it!

What is your favorite item you’ve bought this year?

• Not gonna lie, my grill has become my go-to! Especially when the weather is nice, I love to get a nice drink, hop on the grill, and make some food for friends.

What would be the most surprising scientific discovery imaginable?

• That humans are aliens and not native to earth!

What is your favorite tradition or holiday? 

• Thanksgiving because I love to create the entire meal from main course to side dishes and it leads up to the festive holiday season.

Jorge is a systems engineer and he’s always been interested in everything related to computers. His career started in education as a teacher. He was so dedicated to education that he decided to pursue a master’s degree in informatics for education. As time passed, Jorge wanted to delve more deeply into the technical side of things. He started doing work related to the cloud and infrastructure, and he loved it. He ended up in the DevOps world, and he took the opportunity to work with big companies around the world, including governments, financial institutions, and supply chains.

At Cloudforce, he enjoys working as a Sr. Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, Deployment Lead, providing awesome solutions to clients!

Other fun facts about Jorge:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I have always enjoyed outdoor activities, but it wasn’t until a couple of months ago that I started to get into them. I love trails, walking next to a river, visiting a lake, and even climbing some (not too elevated) mountains. I think they offer a way to connect with the environment and be grateful for the beauty of our planet.

What is your favorite thing to eat?

• There are many actually! But the top ones are BBQ ribs, pasta, and … beans! I have a special recipe for beans that I can share if you want!

What fictional world (comics, TV, anything) or place would you like to visit?

• I would really like to visit Snow Hill Island in Antarctica and see my favorite animal in the world … emperor penguins.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

• Stay humble but be proud of your achievements; don’t detract from them! And, at the same time, if you have the possibility, always be willing to help others achieve their goals.

What are you reading at this moment?

• I’m not the kind of person who reads books a lot, unfortunately, but listening to good stories and podcasts is something I enjoy the most. I’m currently listening to The Moth, a podcast that talks about the stories and experiences of people in different circumstances. They can be happy, funny, or sad, but always interesting. Highly recommend!

Edward Krosel is a native of Prince George’s County, born and raised in the College Park and Beltsville areas. Growing up, he was an avid sports enthusiast, participating in soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and wrestling. His passion for sports led him to compete in a couple of amateur MMA fights and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments during college. Recently, Edward became a father to a wonderful little boy named Kai. When he’s not chasing after a toddler, you’ll find him in the kitchen experimenting with different styles of cooking. In the summer, he loves firing up the grill and smoking various meats from the local butcher shop.

Edward’s IT career officially began in application support at Oracle. Later, he transitioned to a Tier II help desk role at the Food and Drug Administration where he supported researchers and scientists during the early days of the pandemic. Subsequently, he took on a Systems Administrator role at RedZone Technologies, focusing on security engineering and on-premises infrastructure, and he ended up leading a team of 6 talented engineers. His curiosity led him to explore security in cloud technologies. Constantly focusing on different facets of security such as web applications, identity, networking and cloud infrastructure led him to obtaining his CISSP certification. As a Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Edward designed and implemented solutions for small and mid-level businesses. Whether securing O365, architecting cloud environments, or optimizing workloads, he found immense satisfaction in solving complex challenges. Edward now brings his expertise as a Product Security Lead at Cloudforce.

Other fun facts about Edward:

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• I always wanted to grow up to be a hacker.

Do you have any hidden talents?

• I am above average at Tetris.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?

• Don’t worry about others, take pride in your work and let it speak for you.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “You cannot believe everything you read on the internet.” – Abraham Lincoln

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• My favorites are Thanksgiving/Christmas. Having the whole family together and in one place – it’s an irreplaceable feeling.

Tarek’s fascination with technology began with an i386 computer at home, equipped with a turbo button that made game characters move faster. He vividly remembers playing FIFA 98 by EA with a friend across town over a dial-up modem. Despite constant communication issues and lag, the idea of connecting over such distances was amazing and sparked his interest in networking.

With close to 20 years of experience in Microsoft technologies, networking, Azure, and Microsoft 365, Tarek is not just navigating the digital landscape; he’s reshaping it. His toolkit includes a keen eye for detail and a relentless pursuit of understanding every layer of technology.

Tarek’s professional journey began with an entry-level support role, but his dedication and expertise quickly propelled him into senior positions. Throughout his career, he has been a firm believer in the power of standardization, ensuring every piece of documentation meets the gold standard. Security is woven into every project he touches.

From a fascination with the interconnectedness of the world through networking, to now leading initiatives in cloud solutions and security enhancements, Tarek’s journey has been all about growth and adaptability. Whether it’s managing network solutions with Microsoft technologies or guiding seamless migrations to Microsoft 365, Tarek ensures every move is secure, efficient, and forward-thinking.

Having grown up in a foreign country, Tarek brings a unique global perspective to his work. His early experiences as a Microsoft system administrator and his days as a junior IT administrator have provided him with a solid foundation and deep understanding of Microsoft technologies.

At the heart of it all, Tarek is a troubleshooter, designer, and teacher, always ready to tackle the next challenge with a strategic approach, ensuring the solutions crafted today stand strong in the face of tomorrow’s challenges. Tarek holds both CCIE and Azure Solutions Architect Expert certifications, and he brings his expertise as a Cloud Architect at Cloudforce.

Other fun facts about Tarek:

What are three words to describe you?

• According to my wife – patient, inquisitive, ambitious.

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your phone, which 3 would you keep?

• Reddit, YouTube, and my password manager (I’m not sharing which one with you all 😊)

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• A pilot – the first Topgun movie was an inspiration at the time.

What is your favorite dessert?

• Cheesecake was the first thing I looked for in a dessert menu for the longest time, but now Kunafah has taken the top spot. If you are not familiar, it’s a Middle Eastern dessert–spun pastry and cheese, soaked in syrup.

What would be the most surprising scientific discovery imaginable?

• I asked my daughter this one. If matter could travel faster than the speed of light and humanity figures out how to move objects that fast. Warp 9 here we come!

David’s journey in technology began early, sparked by an old PC left behind by his older brother. Initially planning to pursue an electrical engineering degree at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, NZ, David’s interests quickly shifted to computer science and human-computer interaction. Seeking new opportunities and the chance to explore more of the world, he moved to Melbourne, Australia, where he earned a degree in Computer Science at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, laying the foundation for his career in software development.

David is now a Cloud Application Architect at Cloudforce with 15 years of experience in software architecture, application development, and product management. Prior to Cloudforce, David spent 15 years at HireRoad (formerly Acendre Inc., NGA.net), developing SaaS-integrated talent management systems for government and commercial clients. His expertise spans various cloud platforms and development practices, and he is certified as both a Scrum Product Owner and Scrum Master, bringing agile expertise to his approach. At Cloudforce, David focuses on developing tools to leverage generative AI functionality within the Microsoft Cloud ecosystem.

Other fun facts about David:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I play a lot of pool in my basement, I love cooking and baking, and I like to ride my mountain bike (preferably down mountainsides).

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• A fighter jet pilot… Too bad I grew up in NZ and RNZAF’s air combat force was disbanded just before I finished high school.

What is your favorite dessert?

• Elizabeth David’s chocolate almond cake

What are you reading at this moment?

• Snow Crash by Neal Stephenso

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Matariki – which is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster. Its first rising in deep winter, around late June or early July, marks the beginning of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar. Matariki was added as an official holiday in New Zealand in 2022 but has been observed for centuries. Matariki is traditionally an occasion to mourn the deceased, celebrate the present, and prepare the ground for the coming year. Celebrations include feasting, music, dance, and storytelling – emphasizing the themes of renewal, growth, and community.

Yessica is a recent business management graduate and a proud first-generation professional from El Salvador. A passion for growth and accepting new challenges has shaped her journey, especially when she boldly moved to Texas for three years. That experience was invaluable in helping her grow personally and professionally. Now back home with her family, she is excited to pivot into the tech industry and apply her skills as a Senior Executive Assistant at Cloudforce.

Outside of work, Yessica is a dedicated dance coach. Dance is not only a creative outlet but also a source of inspiration, because it allows her to empower others and help them grow their confidence through expression and movement. Whether perfecting choreography or creating unique music mashups, Yessica strives to bring joy and positivity into every aspect of her life.

Other fun facts about Yessica:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• When I’m not at Cloudforce, I’m often in my element as a dance coach. Dance is more than just a passion for me—it’s something that truly brings me life. There’s nothing quite like watching someone grow and find their confidence during practices and performances. Beyond dance, I enjoy spending quality time with friends and family, hitting the gym to stay active, and occasionally indulging in some much-needed rest.

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why?

• If I could be guaranteed one thing, it would be the ability to give my parents the world. They’ve sacrificed so much to give me opportunities that they never had, and their love and unwavering support have shaped who I am today. Being able to repay them, not just financially but by honoring all they’ve done for me, would be my greatest achievement. It’s my deepest wish to give back to them in a way that reflects the immense gratitude I carry in my heart.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “Walk by faith and not by sight.” This quote reminds me to trust the journey, even when the path isn’t clear.

Do you have any hidden talents?

• One of my favorite hidden talents is mixing and mashing up songs. I can easily get lost in the process, spending hours blending tracks from different genres. There’s something so satisfying about taking an instrumental from one style of music and layering it with the vocals from another—it brings a whole new energy to the song. Lately, I’ve been loving the challenge of creating R&B and Bachata mashups, finding unique ways to merge their rhythms and emotions into something fresh and unexpected.

What season would you be?

• I’d definitely be summer. Summer embodies everything I love—fun, living life to the fullest, and the joy that comes with sunshine. There’s an undeniable warmth and energy that the season brings, and it reminds me to embrace happiness and positivity in everything I do. The sun’s vibrant glow is a perfect reflection of how I strive to approach life—with brightness, optimism, and a sense of adventure.

James brings more than a decade of expertise in client relations to Cloudforce, along with a rare blend of academic, technical, and creative experience that enriches every project he supports. A proud Maryland native, James earned his Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and recently completed his MBA at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. Before joining Cloudforce, James built a meaningful career in higher education as both a faculty instructor and technical director—roles that strengthened his passion for mentorship, collaboration, and helping institutions thrive. Now, he’s excited to channel that experience into supporting campuses and clients worldwide through nebulaONE, reconnecting with the education ecosystem that first shaped his professional journey. 

Before higher education, James spent years as a technical specialist lead in the entertainment and events industry. That experience ignited his passion for technology, production, and crafting meaningful experiences—skills he now channels as an Account Manager. His work blends technical problem‑solving with a genuine dedication to human connection, ensuring every client feels supported and understood. 

Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, traveling, biking, watching movies, playing board games, and hosting spooky movie nights with his partner at their home in Washington, DC.

Other fun facts about James:

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be? And why?

• Learning languages. It makes it easier to connect to people I would never have been able to before. 

What season would you be?

• Fall! I love scary movies and chill weather. 

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why?

• Fun. 

What fictional world (comics, TV, anything) or place would you like to visit?

• Halloweentown! 

What is your favorite item you’ve bought this year?

• An electric bike with an extra seat! 

Mariana Taitano’s story begins in the heart of the DC metro area, where a childhood spent immersed in the vibrant DMV theater scene sparked a lifelong fascination with storytelling, movement, and the power of community. That early passion led her to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she earned her B.F.A. in Performing Arts with a focus on Classical Theater and Stage Combat—an ideal blend for someone equally drawn to history, athletics, and the art of human expression. 

After graduating, Mariana spent three years in Los Angeles, where a leap into the fitness world sparked a new chapter. She began as a trainer before helping lead and grow a boutique Strength and Conditioning gym in Santa Monica. There, she discovered her talent for building community, empowering others, and shaping environments where people feel confident and supported. As a Technical Trainer at Cloudforce, Mariana brings her hallmark blend of creativity, energy, and people-centered purpose.  

Outside of work, Mariana has an eclectic mix of hobbies. Whether on a field, in the ocean, behind a sewing machine, or making music, she thrives in spaces that are active, expressive, and deeply human. On the rare occasions she remembers to rest; she likes to read a good book.  

Other fun facts about Mariana:

What fictional family would you be a member of?  

• The Robinsons from Meet the Robinsons 

What are you reading at this moment?  

• Things I’ve Been Silent About by Afsar Nafizi 

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your phone, which 3 would you keep?  

• Facetime, Reddit, Maps 

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why? 

• That I will laugh hard – like belly aching hard – every day. 

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  

• A teenager (clearly I am living a life beyond my wildest 4 year old dreams).

Other fun facts about Garrett:

• Steamed blue crabs with buckets of Old Bay.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “I really can’t do a good job, any job, of explaining magnetic force in terms of something else you’re more familiar with, because I don’t understand it in terms of anything else you’re more familiar with.”- Richard Feynman.
• As a teacher and coach, this quote always made me look at explaining ideas in terms that the audience may be more familiar with, rather than how I understand them. It’s allowed me to be more successful as a coach, teacher, and mentor in multiple disciplines.

What is your favorite dessert?

• Banana pudding for sure, with extra cookies and mini marshmallows instead of meringue.

Tan is a complete tech enthusiast and a proud graduate of George Mason University! His journey kicked off with tinkering and troubleshooting as an IT support technician at GMU, and now he’s diving headfirst into the exciting realm of Cloudforce. If you need a PC wizard, well, that’s him! Tan has a natural knack for putting together rigs and untangling technical hiccups–his friends and family always turn to him.  

Tan’s tech voyage began back at NOVA, but it was at George Mason University where he truly hit his stride assisting with tech support and gaining some pretty nifty skills along the way. His journey took him from being a tech rep at GMU–where he helped staff and faculty troubleshoot hardware and software–to discovering his passion for networking and the cloud. As a Helpdesk Technician II at Cloudforce, he is all about feeding his IT fervor by supporting internal processes and handling cloud-related tasks. There’s so much room for growth and learning in his IT career, and he’s excited to grab every opportunity here with both hands. 

Tan isn’t just all about tech. He is also a sports fanatic–soccer, especially cheering for Liverpool, gives him a serious adrenaline rush. Don’t think for a second that he’s not handy on the basketball court. Oh, and a relaxing swim? Count him in! Speaking of awesome things, Tan also absolutely cherishes spending quality time with his amazing family and friends.

Other fun facts about Tan: 

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why? 

• Health for sure, because it helps me enjoy everything I do. 

What season would you be? 

• I would be summer for its energy and physical activities and sports. 

What is one quote that stands out to you? 

• “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” 

Do you have any hidden talents? 

• I have visualized memory. Sometimes I can recall what I saw in an event from a few months ago. 

What is your favorite tradition or holiday? 

• Lunar New Year and Christmas, because I can meet and spend time with my family and friends. 

With a decade of experience across the IT landscape, William Casas has built a career on translating complex business needs into technical solutions that actually make sense and make an impact. He’s spent the last 10 years turning business jargon into actionable technical plans, then executing on them to help organizations save time, reduce costs, and innovate with confidence.

Before joining Cloudforce, William studied Applied Mathematics at the University of Maryland, College Park, building a strong analytical foundation that continues to shape his technical approach today. He also founded and operated WorkingLate, a company focused on building prototype web applications, developing early‑stage products, and providing hands‑on technical consulting for clients looking to bring new ideas to life.

William describes himself as “not an expert at anything, pretty good at many things, and great at being interested in everything” — a mindset that fuels his curiosity and versatility across emerging technologies. Whether it’s diving into DeFi whitepapers, experimenting with micro‑apps powered by AI, unpacking mathematical proofs, or swapping insights on the latest podcast, he brings a genuine enthusiasm for learning and problem‑solving to every conversation.

At Cloudforce, William brings together his breadth of technical experience, entrepreneurial mindset, and passion for continuous learning as a Technical Product Manager to help organizations adopt secure, people‑first AI solutions that drive meaningful results.

Other fun facts about William:

How would your best friend describe you? 

• Good at listening and sarcastic often. Likes to think about how pretty much everything can fit in a business model or be automated. 

According to you, which TV show is the funniest? 

• I love watching random episodes of Impractical Jokers.
  

What’s your guilty pleasure song? 

• I have many, right now probably “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder or “Big Jet Plane” by Angus and Julia Stone 

Do you have any passion projects? If so, what are you working on? 

• Very involved with crypto in my free time. Very heavy trader of anything from majors, meme coins, NFTs, you name it. I also help build websites/apps for smaller crypto projects. 

If you had to crack a joke during awkward silences, what’s your go-to joke? 

• Do you know why skeletons don’t fight each other? Because they don’t have the guts. 

From a young age, growing up in Nebraska, Dylan found himself drawn to the intricate world of computers. He tinkered with everything digital, from building websites in middle school to exploring the then-emerging world of cloud computing, which he recognized early on as a transformative force in technology. While he pursued computer science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, financial circumstances led him to take a different path, accepting a full-time position at Digitech Systems. This leap of faith proved pivotal, launching a journey where he rapidly progressed from software support to a skilled software engineer, building expertise in TypeScript, C#, and cloud technologies like AWS. He further honed his leadership and collaboration skills at the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, leading teams, mentoring junior developers, and navigating the complexities of government projects. This diverse experience laid the groundwork for his current role as a Senior Cloud Applications Engineer at Cloudforce. Now, he’s contributing his expertise to nebulaONE®, a cutting-edge generative AI platform designed to empower everyone with the secure and controlled deployment of AI within their own Azure environments.

Outside the demands of his professional life, Dylan actively seeks opportunities for personal growth and exploration. A strong believer in continuous learning, he dedicates time to expanding his technical skillset, often delving into new programming languages and frameworks. He also finds solace and inspiration in nature, frequently embarking on hiking and camping adventures, and enjoys immersing himself in the world of video games and live music.

Other fun facts about Dylan:

If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your phone, which 3 would you keep?

• Email, Web Browser, and YouTube

What is your favorite dessert?

• Tiramisu

What season would you be?

• Spring

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?

• “All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What are you reading at this moment?

• The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder

Ioannis is an IT professional with nearly a decade of experience in the field. His expertise spans M365, Azure services, and Windows Servers. With an educational background in mathematics and computer science, Ioannis tackles technical challenges with the calm demeanor of Clint Eastwood and the deductive skills of Sherlock Holmes. He has an extensive background working for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and is adept in both break/fix and consulting/architecting mindsets. 

In his free time, Ioannis is often found at his local Orthodox church, where he runs Adult Catechism classes, supports IT operations, or reads biographies of Orthodox figures. He also enjoys rock climbing at his local gym and hopes to start exploring the outdoor climbing scene soon. A deep thinker, Ioannis spends time pondering life’s essential questions, such as: If two mailboxes are set to forward emails to each other and someone emails one of them, how long before that person receives a visit from the Spanish Inquisition? After all, nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition… 

What is your favorite tradition or holiday? 

• Pascha (Easter) 

If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why? 

• Benjamin Franklin. He came from nothing and trailblazed a wonder of a life through the humble practice of consistently applying himself. 

What’s a movie or TV show you never get tired of rewatching? 

• Season 1 of The Newsroom. The dialogue is exquisite, the characters are fantastic, the actors are perfectly cast, and the overall message is hopeful and uplifting. It’s also a ton of fun. 

What’s the best concert or live event you’ve ever attended? 

• The women’s rock climbing finals in the 2024 Olympics. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric. My favorite female climber, Janja Garnbret, had won the gold medal in the previous Olympics, and she was the last one to enter the stage in the 2024 finals. The athletes prior to her had had great performances, and so she would need to have a top-tier performance in order to get another gold. Watching her climb in person, witnessing her strength, her skill, her instincts kicking into gear as she steadily climbed and thinking about the countless hours of effort she must have dedicated to this moment, it was awe-inspiring. The entire stadium was roaring as she neared the top holds and eventually overtook them. Everybody erupted into cheers, including her competitors. Janja herself burst into tears of joy as she was lowered to the floor, and realization flooded her. It was extremely moving and inspiring to witness. 

If you could live in any time period, past or future, when would it be? 

• I’d have to go with the first century. To be in the physical presence of Jesus, to hear the words coming directly from his mouth, to hear his voice. I doubt I’d be able to wrap my mind around it. 

Originally from Annapolis and raised in Upstate New York, William’s interest in technology started early and never stopped growing. His path to engineering included a few meaningful detours: after beginning college as an Economics major, he took time away to work and travel, spending more than seven months backpacking and hitchhiking across South America. He returned with a stronger perspective, fluency in Spanish, and a clear sense of direction that led him to switch his major to Computer Science.

Other fun facts about William:

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why?

• Health!

What’s a movie or TV show you never get tired of re-watching?

• The Sopranos

What would be the most surprising scientific discovery imaginable?

• Non-human intelligence rivaling or surpassing our own (if aliens discover US, that still counts as a scientific discovery, right?)

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Almost all of them, but I think New Years Eve is super underrated

What’s the best concert or live event you’ve ever attended?

• My own band’s concerts! 😉 But actually, it would be a live salsa show I saw in San Juan, Puerto Rico, finding the venue by chance on a walk one night.

A Perth Amboy, New Jersey native and near-20-year resident of Bozeman, Montana, Ray brings a wide range of professional and life experiences to our elite force. Ray’s unique path—from studying music technology to diving into computer science and transitioning from the airline industry to IT roles at The Montana Racial Equity Project—also adds a distinctive perspective to his approach.

With skills in IT and cybersecurity, Ray’s passion for protecting digital assets and empowering end-user experiences through exceptional technical support is integral to our impeccable service levels for both clients and staff. As Cloudforce Technical Support Specialist, Ray is responsible for troubleshooting and resolving technical issues and for also enhancing overall user satisfaction and ensuring smooth operations across the board. Ray excels in these essential tasks with a keen attention to operational details and a commitment to providing prompt, equitable service to all.

Outside of work, Ray is an avid enthusiast of analog synthesizers and guitar gear; and enjoys playing music, reading, and immersing himself in movies and anime. He also loves staying active through snowboarding and cycling.

Other fun facts about Ray:

What fictional world would or place would you like to visit?

• Middle-earth or Night City. Wildly different places, and probably not the most pleasant places to be an ordinary person in, but my inner child would be in awe.

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I really like to get outdoors and do a lot of cycling during the summer and some snowboarding during the winter, as well as spend time playing guitar or messing around with analog synthesizers.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• An astronaut

What is your favorite thing to eat?

• Arroz con gandules y pastelillos – traditional Puerto Rican rice & beans and empanada that I grew up eating.

What season would you be?

• Definitely summer. It’s my favorite time of the year, hands down.

Cloudforce Associate Director of Cloud Solutions, Ryan Wessling, brings a wealth of experience and expertise in IT Consulting and Microsoft solutions, particularly Azure and Microsoft 365. Born and raised in Maryland, Ryan was first exposed to computers in the early 80s, right in his father’s home office which was equipped with an IBM Model 5150 PC (a very rare thing for a kid in those days). This early exposure ignited a lifelong passion for technology.

After graduating from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Wheaton, MD, Ryan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served four years as an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Specialist. Following his military service, Ryan embarked on a career in technology, starting with a local systems integrator and distributor. Here, he built, serviced, and installed network-attached storage systems, network video recording appliances, and optical storage libraries from manufacturers such as JVC, NSM, and Plasmon; and his work took him to notable locations like New York City’s Rikers Island facility, The Pentagon, NSA, and the National Ground Intelligence Center.

Transitioning to the IT consulting world, Ryan joined a managed service provider (MSP) in the DMV area, where he advanced from tier-2 service and support to Cloud Services Manager. During his tenure, he became proficient in networking, storage, virtualization, the Microsoft 365 suite, and Microsoft Azure. Ryan played a pivotal role in assessing Azure’s viability as a replacement for private cloud services and successfully migrated all their hosted infrastructure to Azure, leading to significant cost savings and capabilities. He joined Cloudforce in fall 2022. 
 
Outside of his professional life, Ryan is a dedicated family man, married to his wife Becky for nearly 25 years and father to three daughters, Madison, Meghan, and Molly. A lifelong resident of the DMV, he is an avid fan of the Washington Commanders, Washington Capitals, and Baltimore Orioles. In his free time, Ryan enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending concerts, cycling and mountain biking, snowboarding, and relaxing at the beach. 

What season would you be?

• Summer, without question. Give me sun, warm weather, flip flops, good music, and I’m a happy camper!

What is your favorite album?

• This is a tough one for me and depends on how my mood strikes me. It could be Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti, U2’s Achtung Baby, The Beatles’ White Album, but most often I find myself putting on The Doors’ LA Woman, it’s the ultimate garage band style album, timeless, and brilliant in my opinion. 

Do you have any hidden talents?

• I wouldn’t exactly consider it hidden because I’m very on the sleeve with it, but I’ve been known to do voice impersonations. Ask me to do Shaggy from Scooby-Doo (or Scooby himself), Arnold Schwarzenegger, or “The Movie Guy” voice to name a few. 

If you had a time machine, would you go back or into the future? And why?

• I’ve always thought it would be interesting to travel back in time to see what the area I grew up in was like before the sprawl took hold. I find myself drawn to old pictures of my hometown and surrounding area in the decades before I arrived on the planet and would love to be able to explore beyond what the pictures hold. 

What is your favorite dessert?

• My Grandma June’s pineapple upside down cake. Call me old fashioned 😊 

As a Growth Specialist at Cloudforce, Mattisen enthusiastically brings boundless creativity and strong organizational skills to every aspect of the Growth Team, from marketing and event management to sales and business development. Her career journey has taken her through a wide range of industries and experiences, including strategizing workforce initiatives at MGM, crafting signature cocktails at the Ritz Carlton, and even adding some Disney magic along the way.

Mattisen enjoys blending organization with creativity and is driven by her passion to flawlessly coordinate efforts across teams and promote process improvements that boost productivity and foster genuine camaraderie. Outside of work, you may find her playing volleyball or roller-skating; and as a self-described “creative soul,” she also enjoys sewing, painting, and exploring new music. Coming from a military family from the beautiful island of St. Kitts, Mattisen also has a deep love for travel and is working toward mastering multiple languages.

Other fun facts about Mattisen:

What is your favorite dessert?

• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts 

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• Alicia Keys 

Have you ever completed anything on your bucket list?

• Yes! I went to Coachella, oops, I mean Beychella 🐝 

What fictional world (comics, TV, anything) or place would you like to visit?

• Gotham City, just to people watch. 

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “You can’t look at a glass half full or empty if it’s overflowing.” 

With a passion for all things M365 and Azure, Sam actually began his career in the wide, wild world of sports broadcasting. After graduating from the University of North Texas in 2014, Sam spent seven years on the air in Texas broadcasting games for a variety of colleges—until the pandemic changed his path.

Then, after nearly three years working in the Managed Service Provider (MSP) world, two moves, and several certifications later, Sam is now applying his skills at Cloudforce as a Cloud Solutions Engineer. 

Always looking for areas to learn more, Sam has already worked closely on M365 and Azure migrations, assisted with Fabric and OpenAI solutions, and even worked on everyone’s favorite piece of technology: printers. With more learning on his horizon, Sam is excited to continue honing his knowledge and proficiency in bringing top-notch solutions to Cloudforce clients.

Other fun facts about Sam:

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• I wanted to be a touring car driver, amongst about 400 other things. I have always loved speed, and the technicality associated with racing on a course. Finding the improvements to shave off a few hundredths of a second is surprisingly satisfying. 

What season would you be?

• Winter. All day, every day. I adore snow, and not much beats the placidity of a frozen lake, a pair of ice skates, and the views of freshly fallen snow. If you could bottle the emotion that brings, my bank account would be in TROUBLE! 

Have you ever completed anything on your bucket list?

• How about “working to completion”? I am currently training for a half-marathon in the hopes of one day, in the relatively near future, completing a full marathon. If that wasn’t crazy enough, in the coming years, I would love to attempt an Ultra Marathon, to test my absolute limits. 

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• Wait, you guys leave the office?! This is awkward … but in all seriousness, I will never pass on the chance to spend time on a hike, getting off the beaten path, and traveling to a place I’ve never been before. Ironically, after being surround by technology so consistently, it’s nice to occasionally have time just living the old-school life. 

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
  I took the one less traveled by,
  And that has made all the difference.
  – Robert Frost”This has always been one quote, or mantra, that has always stuck with me. Not so much for the perceived option of taking the choice that, perhaps, isn’t often taken; but rather, for the fact that we only have one chance to make certain decisions, and regardless of the choice we make, we should live that decision to its very fullest.

Originally from Northern Virginia, Jake earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona and spent several years living in Hollywood, California, before returning to the DC-Metro area to join Cloudforce as Account Executive, Microsoft Cloud and AI. He is deeply passionate about connecting with people and working with emerging technologies, and he is particularly interested in exploring how technology can enhance the lives of individuals in our communities. Every day, he embraces learning and growth opportunities to become the best version of himself. As a Business Development Manager, Jake’s mission is to deliver cutting-edge technologies and services to all people and sectors across the board, enhancing function and performance in all business units.

Outside of work, Jake is passionate about health and wellness. Physical fitness has been a critical component of his life, and he has been a certified fitness coach for nearly 10 years. Jake is also deeply committed to fatherhood and absolutely loves spending time with his wife and son.

Other fun facts about Jake:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• I exercise, spend time with my son and wife, clean, and read.

What are three words to describe you?

Ijeoma’s greatest ambition has always been to do something that changes someone else’s life for the better. She once thought she’d be a doctor, but after a summer job in healthcare and one biology course, she opted instead to go the path of computers and study Electrical and Computer Engineering.  

Ijeoma began her tech career as an IT Consultant in the retail ecommerce space, moved on to NPR, and then spent some time in the startup space before beginning her cloud journey at Cloudforce as a member of the nebulaONE® AI team. Now as a Cloud Applications Test Engineer, Ijeoma works to figure out how and what works and could work better in the rapidly evolving field of Generative AI.  

Outside of work, Ijeoma’s interests include reading and traveling; and she also enjoys watching tv shows from her own culture and many others. Korean dramas are high on her watch list, as well as Nigerian movies, Bollywood films, and Turkish tv series. Coming from a big family with five siblings, Ijeoma always welcomes spending quality time with family and friends whenever she can. 

Other fun facts about Ijeoma: 

What is your favorite dessert?  

• Carrot Cake 

What season would you be?  

• Fall. I like the colors! 

What is one quote that stands out to you?  

• “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” – Marianne Williamson 

 What fictional world (comics, TV, anything) or place would you like to visit?  

• Hogwarts. It would be magical. 

 Do you have any hidden talents?  

• Hip hop dancing. I used to take classes for fun and even taught my friends a few moves in college. 

From an early age, Zubda thought she’d grow up to be someone who would help people at a job where she’d wear a suit to work every day. After completing her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and gaining some work experience, however, her interests began to shift. 

Then, like countless other lives worldwide, Zubda’s plans were abruptly halted by Covid-19. While her plans may have hit pause, Zubda’s dreams powered forward as she married the love of her life. As the Covid Era began to subside, Zubda decided she wanted to get into the Human Resources side of things which motivated her to pursue an MBA from NUST, one of the most prestigious universities in Pakistan.  

While she worked tirelessly to build practical skills, Zubda and her husband welcomed their precious daughter and moved back to the U.S. in 2024. Now a Workforce Acquisition Specialist at Cloudforce, Zubda is finding an incredibly challenging and fulfilling way to serve others—business suit optional! She is thrilled to work in and help promote the Cloudforce ethos that values personal growth and success as well as a healthy work/life balance. 

Outside of work, Zubda’s interests include being a foodie; do-it-yourself projects; baking; self-care; and dressing up her adorable daughter—the true light of her life. Last but not least, Zubda also proudly commemorates and celebrates her culture that has shaped her values, her drive to serve others, and her love of life.

Other fun facts about Zubda: 

What season would you be?

• I’m a fall girl through and through. The gorgeous natural colors, amazing sunsets and of course, pumpkin spice!  

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?

• Tough times come and go, you can either dwell on them or learn from them, and once they’re past, you’ll be proud of yourself to have made it through. 

 What is your favorite item you’ve bought this year?

• I bought my first car and I’m so glad I did! 

 What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• My favorite holiday is Eid. I love it when the family comes together for fun, food and laughter! 

 What is your favorite thing to eat?

• Pasta! So many different possibilities.

Born and raised in Rockville, MD, Stuart’s passion for technology was ignited by his dad, a computer scientist disruptor and self-affirmed Trekkie. Guided by the mantra “to boldly go where no man has gone before,” Stuart followed in his father’s footsteps. Eventually Stuart’s love of computers, combined with his love for logic puzzles, led Stuart to pursue and earn a B.S. in computer science at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Stuart’s cloud journey began working for a government contractor in the Baltimore area, as an IT Specialist and he quickly climbed the ranks to Cloud System Administrator supporting Azure projects. He now brings his experience to the Cloudforce team as a Cloud Solutions Engineer.

Other fun facts about Stuart:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• When I am not at Cloudforce I like to read fantasy novels, play complicated strategy games, and stay active participating in all kinds of social sports.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “Life breaks us. Then we fill the cracks with something stronger.” – Brandon Sanderson (The Stormlight Archive)

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• When I was a child, I wanted to be a paleontologist, I was a dinosaur kid.

What is your favorite dessert?

• My favorite dessert is cheesecake, there is always room for more cheesecake.

What fictional world (comics, TV, anything) or place would you like to visit?

• I really want to visit the Shire from Middle Earth, which explains why I also really want to visit New Zealand to see the Hobbiton movie set.

Brandi is a seasoned educator and change management consultant, known for her innovative approach to integrating mindfulness practices, emotional intelligence, and resilience-building into professional environments. She holds a master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University, having initially embarked on her career as a poetry coach and high school English teacher. Brandi’s transition into change management consultancy has been marked by her adeptness at designing programs that facilitate user adoption, leveraging her extensive experience in curriculum design and delivery. As a Technical Trainer at Cloudforce, she is excited about embracing the future of AI to continue to support efforts in user adoption.

In her spare time, Brandi enjoys hiking (and all things outdoors, really), live music, dancing, and pretending she’s not too sleepy to indulge in a good book or comedy special. She is an alumna of Temple University, where she met her husband, and they now reside in his childhood home with their two daughters and grandmother.

Other fun facts about Brandi:

What are three words to describe you?

• Audacious, Believer, Creative

What’s your go-to karaoke or lip-sync song?

• “Whatta Man” by Salt-N-Pepa, but I’ll shamelessly grab the mic if anyone is slaughtering a Janet Jackson song, too!

What fictional world (comics, TV, anything) or place would you like to visit?

• The worlds created in the Children of Blood and Bone book series. #IYKYK

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “The only man who behaved sensibly was my tailor: he took my measure anew every time he saw me, whilst all the rest went on with their old measurements and expected them to fit me.”
  ― George Bernard Shaw

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be? And why?

• Beatboxing! As a poet, I’m a confident performer, but in my head… I can also rap. And being able to beatbox would really seal the deal!

Other fun facts about Manahil:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• You can find me running on Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park or getting a sweet treat from anywhere nearby. I also like to spend my downtime going on hikes, FaceTiming my family, and building Legos.

What’s a movie or TV show you never get tired of rewatching?

•  There are a few contenders for this one. At the top of the list is Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries (only through season 5).

What’s a small thing that always makes your day better?

• Catching a glimpse of my neighbor’s cats that like to sit by the window and soak up the sun.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” – Rumi or “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” -E.E. Cummings

What is your go-to Karaoke song?

• Being tone deaf does not stop me from singing. Go to karaoke song is “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan, obviously.

Anna Harding is a dynamic, driven individual who thrives at the intersection of data, education, and human connection. A proud graduate of Anne Arundel County Public Schools, she went on to become a Terp at the University of Maryland, where she double majored in Mathematics and Education, laying the groundwork for a career centered on analytical thinking and purposeful teaching. She later earned her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College and is currently completing her dissertation in a doctoral program at Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Anna’s professional journey began as a high school math teacher, where she combined clarity and care to help students succeed. She then advanced to roles as an assistant principal and a district-level data administrator, where she led with both vision and precision. With a deep love for technology and all things efficiency, she brings clarity and structure to even the most complex problems. Whether she’s streamlining workflows or uncovering insights through data, Anna is fueled by a strong work ethic and an unshakable commitment to integrity. She’s as passionate about people as she is about process, building meaningful relationships and fostering collaboration wherever she goes.

Outside the office, Anna lives for the outdoors, whether snowboarding fresh powder, hiking rugged trails, surfing whenever she gets the chance, and tending to her garden. Her adventurous spirit is grounded by a deep devotion to her family and faith, both of which guide her with purpose and perspective. With equal parts analytical sharpness and heartfelt energy, Anna brings purpose, precision, and warmth to everything she does.

Other fun facts about Anna:

What is one quote that stands out to you? 

• “Strong backs, soft fronts, wild hearts!” – Brene Brown 

What’s a movie or TV show you never get tired of rewatching? 

• Peaky Blinders 

If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be? 

• Another language! Multilingual people’s brains amaze me! 

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce? 

• Garden, Hike, Surf, Snowboard, Clean, Travel, Play Games 

What’s the best concert or live event you’ve ever attended? 

• It was an accident. We traveled to England, went to sleep to work out some jetlag, and I was awoken to a bar playing Coldplay extremely loud. Turns out it was actually Coldplay playing at Kensington Palace, right outside our Airbnb. 

If you could live in any time period, past or future, when would it be? 

• Future. I can’t wait to see what technology does next! 

Janna grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland, and has always loved the vibrant energy of the area. She earned her B.S. in Human Capital Management and Leadership, with a co-major in Entrepreneurship, from Miami University (OH). During her time there, she was actively involved as a campus tour guide, president of the Asian American Association, and a frequent visitor to the local farmers market with friends. 

After returning to the DMV, Janna began her career as a staffing recruiter. However, she soon discovered her true passion lay in project management and process improvement. Inspired by her experience juggling logistics in the staffing world and leading student organizations in college, she transitioned into the project management space. She earned her CAPM and PSM I certifications before joining Cloudforce. 

Outside of work, Janna loves expressing her creativity through art, cooking, and learning new songs on the ukulele. She also enjoys pilates, spending time with friends, and attending cultural festivals. When she’s not engaged in these activities, she’s likely playing with her two energetic Shetland Sheepdogs and teaching them new tricks, albeit with mixed results. Janna is looking forward to her move to Northern Virginia and is excited to explore all the area has to offer! 

Other fun facts about Janna:

If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?

• I would definitely master singing! I used to do singing lessons when I was younger, but it dwindled as I got to college. It requires so much training, and it’s easy to injure your voice. I’m hoping to get back into it soon!

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

• When I was younger, I was terrified of learning to ride a bike, so I learned when I was 14! Better late than never in that case!

What season would you be and why?

• Fall! I love it when the leaves change color, you can wear sweatshirts without sweating through them, and all the cinnamon and warm teas come out. Plus, hayrides and farmers’ markets are great during the season.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

• If I’m trying to sing well, then “Sports” by Beach Bunny or “City of Stars” from La La Land. If it’s going all out and for fun, then “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?

• The best piece of advice I’ve given was to not “should” yourself. Personal accountability is one of the most important things, and the act of “should”-ing can make it hard to engage in that. Rather than asking if you should do something, have that question be “how” or “what” can I do, and then go from there.

Bruce earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Design for Learning from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. He began his career as a Business Development Analyst at Lazurite, a surgical equipment startup, where he worked directly with the CEO and President. In this role, he supported various business functions, including project management, investor relations, business analysis, and executive reporting.  He later returned to Carnegie Mellon to complete a Master’s in Educational Technology and Applied Learning Science. During his graduate studies, he served as the Vice President of Finance for the Graduate Student Assembly and led a team of graduate students on a client project for Scholastic Publishing. After graduation, he continued at CMU as a Research Associate, coordinating an NSF-funded “future of work” project that leveraged CMU’s EdTech to improve job prospects for community college students in IT and cybersecurity fields. 

 Following his time in academia, Bruce joined Game Genius, a game-based learning non-profit, as an Educational Research Consultant. There, he worked on designing, testing, researching, and deploying educational games focused on government and civics at the high school level. Currently, he lives in Rockville, Maryland, with his wife, a fellow New Jersey native. Outside of work, Bruce enjoys playing soccer and hosting Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) sessions on a near-weekly basis. He also occasionally writes fiction for his wife. 

Other fun facts about Bruce:

What would be the most surprising scientific discovery imaginable?

• I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of discovering life on other planets. It would be especially surprising if we found life that wasn’t carbon-based. Since all forms of life we have currently discovered is carbon-based, any non-carbon biology would be truly alien to us. Bonus points if they aren’t silicon-based either.

What fictional world (comics, TV, books, etc.) or place would you like to visit?

• I would love to visit Middle-earth from The Lord of the Rings. Listening to elves sing while reading a book in Rivendell or Lothlórien sounds like a dream, and I’d love to watch a sunset from the Grey Havens or snap a photo of the Argonath near the falls of Rauros as a tourist! This might explain why I’ve always wanted to go hiking in New Zealand.

If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?

• There are so many to choose from, but I’d have to go with Alexander Hamilton. Aside from seeing his reaction to the Hamilton musical and how he’s remembered today, I imagine it would be an incredibly insightful dinner conversation about politics, economics, and the importance of hard work. I would love to pick his brain about our country’s current debt crisis, though I’m a little worried about how he’d answer.

If you had a time machine, would you go back or into the future? And why?

• If I had a working time machine, the first thing I’d want to do is test causality. I’d travel just a few days into the future to observe various things in my everyday life. Afterward, I’d go back to the present to see if I could change the outcomes that I saw. If I could change them, that might be evidence for a slew of multiverse theories, but if I couldn’t, I would be very worried about the nature of free will. I wouldn’t be gone for long, though. I know my wife would not be happy if I made a habit of disappearing in time.

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

• I have a soft spot for romantic musicals. I always cry at the ending of La La Land.

Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Michelle has always had a passion for problem-solving, initially envisioning a career in scientific research. While completing both a B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry, Michelle interned with the Department of Defense, working in the environmental quality division on the treatment of ballast and wastewater, and researching synthesis pathways to bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications.

After graduating, Michelle transitioned from the lab to a role in research administrative coordination at a drug discovery center in Atlanta. It was there that she discovered a love for keeping projects organized, which ultimately led her to join Cloudforce.

As a Project Manager at Cloudforce, Michelle leverages her exceptional organizational abilities to keep fast-paced projects on track and streamline processes. A self-professed lifelong learner, she loves to learn and share new information!

Other fun facts about Michelle:

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

• “‘It’s okay to not have an opinion on everything.” My family used to play this game where they tried to find something I didn’t have a strong opinion on. As I’ve grown up, I’ve tried to consciously let go of opinions that just really don’t matter.

What’s your favorite way to celebrate a win (big or small)?

• Recording it! I started bullet journaling at the beginning of the pandemic, and I love being able to go back and see happy memories that I’ve written about or saved mementos of.

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why?

• All my loved ones are living near each other. Family is really important to me – my older brother is my best friend – and I’d love to always have them nearby.

Do you have any hidden talents?

• Having played volleyball as a setter for 16 years, I got used to chasing after bad passes and I feel comfortable diving onto almost any surface.

What’s a creative outlet or hobby you enjoy?

• I have so many hobbies! Catch me knitting or crocheting any time my hands are free, reading, playing board games or video games, playing volleyball, petting my cats, and learning all I can about linguistics.

Ylang is a results-driven change leader with a passion for helping organizations navigate transformation with purpose and precision. She began her career in federal financial consulting, where she developed a reputation for untangling complex challenges and delivering strategic insights that drive impact. Backed by Big 4 experience, her work has spanned large-scale systems implementation, stakeholder alignment, and operational performance. Now, as Head of Change Management at Cloudforce, Ylang brings a people-first approach to designing and executing transformation strategies.

Ylang’s leadership is characterized by her ability to inspire and empower teams to achieve their highest potential. Her innovative approaches have not only driven measurable improvements in organizational performance but also fostered a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. By leveraging her deep expertise in change management and her commitment to inclusive practices, Ylang has successfully navigated complex transformations that align business objectives with human needs. Her work exemplifies the intersection of strategic vision and compassionate leadership, making her a formidable force in the realm of tech consulting. She specializes in creating inclusive, sustainable change by blending data-driven thinking with a deep understanding of human behavior. Whether guiding executives through ambiguity or helping employees feel seen in the midst of transition, Ylang leads with clarity, empathy, and intention. Her mission is simple: make change meaningful—for the business and for the people behind it.

When she’s not working, she’s exploring a new country, embracing her inner foodie, or putting her curatorial skills to work in the art space.

Other fun facts about Ylang:

What season would you be?

• I would be summer, my favorite place on earth is the ocean – it is my happy place! If we’re on a boat, you can count on me to be the 1st to jump off. The sun makes me feel alive; it’s like a natural recharge for me. Not to mention I’m a summer baby, July!

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

• Teleportation! No more sitting in traffic, no more paying for plane tickets, & I’d always be on time.

What do you do when you’re not a Cloudforce?

• I’m a creative at heart. I curate art shows, artist talks, and consult for creatives across different industries. When I’m not curating, I’m checking out new and old galleries in whichever city I’m in. I also love live music, from jazz in the park to blues alley, to an arena concert, you can usually count on me to know about all the shows in the area. Last but not least, I love American football (GO GIANTS!)

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

• Tony Braxton “Unbreak My Heart” or Teena Marie “Portuguese in Love”

What’s a movie or TV show you never get tired of watching?

• When it comes to movies… Bridesmaids !! This is guaranteed to make me laugh every time.. A TV show that I rewatch just about every year is The Wire, hands down the best series of all time.

Emmanuel’s path into technology began early. Growing up in Southern Maryland as the youngest of four, he was constantly exploring—whether creating digital art, gaming, or tinkering with anything that sparked his curiosity. That early creative energy naturally evolved into a deeper fascination with technology.

Prior to his role as a Senior Data Engineer at Cloudforce, Taras has explored various roles, including Java backend developer for Amazon, jQuery frontend developer for the National Weather Service, cloud engineer, DevOps, SRE, and conducting database research at OU. Most recently, Taras is an (over)certified Azure subject matter expert. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering and a Master’s degree in Computer Science and has also attempted a Ph.D. (ABD). 

Outside of work, Taras is an urbanite and a digital nomad who enjoys long walks from coffee shop to coffee shop while listening to audiobooks and music. He loves spending quality time with family in Oklahoma and Florida, as well as catching up with friends all over the globe via video calls. For R&R, Taras enjoys playing board games, video games, and watching soccer and basketball games.

Other fun facts about Taras:

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “Angels can fly because they can take themselves lightly.“ – G.K. Chesterton

If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?

• Winston Churchill — immense in character, sharp in wit, rich in stories, with flashes of moral clarity and no shortage of teachable failures.

If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?

• Anything artistic – playing an instrument, drawing. I’ve never had an inclination for it, but I would love to know how it feels. Although getting it for free, without walking the path to mastery, might detract from the enjoyment.

What’s a small thing that always makes your day better?

• Rain. It puts me in a more serene, reflective mood — especially night rain, or a warm summer shower with a rainbow afterward.

What is your favorite tradition or holiday?

• Easter. Back in Ukraine, we would walk to church early in the morning with a traditional goodie basket to be sprinkled with holy water. Those walks were filled with family conversations I still cherish — and they taught me to love cities in the early morning, which I still think is the best time of day.

Driven by a passion for people, Reece thrives on fostering relationships and building community through creative and personable campaigns. As a self-proclaimed B2B marketing nerd, Reece believes in a human-centered approach that helps organizations unlock their full potential by first understanding their needs. From hosting educational events to creating impactful collateral to forming strategic partnerships, her upbeat and energetic personality makes her a natural connector in any environment she enters. Her marketing philosophy is that any long-term meaningful strategy needs to begin with a conversation.

During her time as a Political Science major at Temple University, Reece placed a focus on education and technology accessibility, which has followed her throughout her career. In addition to her years of experience in technology marketing, Reece previously worked for several nonprofits as a teacher in North Philadelphia. Serving in under-resourced schools fueled her dedication to community outreach and technology literacy, which is why she is so excited about the education-focused initiatives Cloudforce is launching with nebulaOne. Her favorite aspect of marketing in the technology space is that it allows her to flex both technical and creative muscles. She looks forward to leveraging cutting-edge marketing solutions in her role as marketing coordinator to help Cloudforce break barriers and bring innovative technology solutions to the mainstream.

Outside of work, you can find Reece bouldering/running/strength training, spending too much time reading Substack articles, or listening to history podcasts. She loves cooking for friends, exploring nature, and writing creative fiction in cozy cafes.

Other fun facts about Reece:

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce?

• My idea of stress release is hitting some of my favorite running trails in DC (especially in the few months of the year it isn’t unbearably humid)! I’m currently training for my second half-marathon. During long runs, I like to listen to albums from start to finish. Lately I’ve been cycling through Dijon’s new album — it’s perfect for a sunset run. Other than working out, I love film photography, writing, rock climbing, and hiking. I like to spend as much time outdoors as possible! 

If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?

• I’d definitely pick singing. Musical theater is my guilty pleasure — if I had even the slightest hint of rhythm, I’d be booking it to Broadway. Unfortunately, my musical abilities are better suited for long car rides blasting The Wicked soundtrack with the windows up. 

What is your favorite tradition or holiday? 

• I absolutely love Halloween. I usually have my costume picked out by July. It combines two of life’s simple pleasures: playing pretend and eating too much chocolate. 

What is your dream travel location?

• My twin brother and I are currently planning a backpacking trip through the Alps, so that would have to be #1 for me right now. I also have a goal of seeing every national park in the country at some point, and I’ve never been to Joshua Tree. Doing a sunrise hike there would be awesome.  

What’s a movie or TV show you never get tired of rewatching?

• The Lizzie McGuire movie. I’ve probably seen it over a dozen times. You can’t beat a movie that has an animated sidekick, iconic outfit selections, and a montage scene through Italy. 10/10 all around.

For Celine Chiong, connection has always been at the heart of everything she does. A lifelong Prince George’s County resident, she has spent her academic and professional life finding ways to bridge people, information, and impact — a throughline that makes her a natural fit as Cloudforce’s newest Office Manager. 

Celine earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. During her time in school, she threw herself into campus life as a social media and events coordinator for several organizations, developing a sharp instinct for communication and community building along the way. Never one to stop learning, she is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Health Information Management and Technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus, deepening her expertise at the intersection of healthcare and technology. 

Backed by several years of customer service experience, Celine brings a genuine enthusiasm for people to every interaction. She doesn’t just help clients, she takes the time to understand them, a quality that elevates every team she’s part of and one that will serve Cloudforce well as she helps keep the office running smoothly. 

When she’s not studying or solving problems, Celine is living life to the fullest. Last year alone she attended 10 concerts, and she recently completed a road trip weaving through North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia, collecting stamps in her National Parks Stamp book along the way. She also has a passion for reading and baking, though she’d probably say the hardest part of baking is not eating everything before it cools. 

Other fun facts about Celine:

What’s the best concert or live event you’ve ever attended? 

• Wallows in 2024 at Merriweather Post Pavilion! I’ve listened to them since high school, so it was absolutely amazing to see them live! 

What do you do when you’re not at Cloudforce? 

• I feel like I have so many hobbies, but I’m either playing video games (I’m in the middle of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake right now!), reading (Currently reading If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio), or crocheting sweaters & plushies! 

What’s a movie or TV show you never get tired of rewatching? 

• The Office or Arrested Development – both are my favorite shows to put on when I don’t know what to watch! 

What is your favorite tradition or holiday? 

• Christmas for sure! Growing up, it was always such a big deal in my house. I also love gift giving and everything about it: from picking out the gift to wrapping it to giving it to them and seeing their reaction! 

What season would you be and why? 

• Definitely Fall. I love being cozy and the weather during the fall (plus apple cider is one of my favorite drinks ever). 

Querida Escalera’s path to Cloudforce is anything but conventional, and that’s exactly what makes her story worth telling. Born into a military family, Querida spent her formative years on the move, learning early on how to adapt, connect, and thrive in new environments. It was a childhood that instilled in her a rare combination of grit and grace that would quietly shape everything that followed.

Her professional journey began where passion meets purpose: cannabis advocacy. At a time when the industry was still finding its footing, Querida was already in the thick of it, working at the ground level to advance a cause she believed in. Over the course of a decade, she steadily worked her way up to a role with the state cannabis administration, where she became a driving force behind the creation of the Cannabis Workforce Development program. There, she took the reins on educational content and programming, helping to build a framework designed to bring real opportunity to real people. Now, as an Associate Project Manager at Cloudforce, Querida channels that same energy into helping teams deliver complex solutions with clarity and purpose.

Outside of work, she is a devoted mother to her son Richard and a loving granddaughter who shares her home with her grandmother. The three of them share a love of movies and video games, and Querida finds her own quiet joy in cooking, reading, and tending to her garden, nurturing growth in every corner of her life.

Other fun facts about Querida:

What’s a small thing that always makes your day better?  

• Great drinks and great food! 

What is your favorite tradition or holiday? 

• My favorite holiday is Halloween!  

If you had a time machine, would you go back or into the future? And why? 

• I would go back in time and buy Bitcoin.  

What are three words that describe you? 

• Energetic, Happy, and Cheesy. 

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why? 

• My son’s happiness. He matters the most to me. 

Vandana Verma has always had a knack for understanding what makes people tick and turning that understanding into meaningful connection. Originally from Texas, Vandana made her way to New York University, where she earned a double major in Psychology and Economics, a pairing that neatly reflects the way she approaches the world: part human insight, part strategic thinking. After five years in New York City, she traded one fast-paced city for another and moved to Washington, D.C., where she has now called home for nearly six years.

Her career in sales has followed that same people-first thread. Over the past seven years, Vandana has built experience across both B2C and B2B sales, with the majority of her work focused on helping businesses identify the right solutions for their needs. Most recently, she worked in advertising sales at Clutch.co, supporting small and mid-sized companies across the U.S. and international markets. Along the way, she developed a deep appreciation for consultative sales — the kind rooted less in pitching and more in listening, problem-solving, and building trust. It’s that thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach that makes her such a natural fit as an Account Executive.

For Vandana, the best part of sales is the opportunity to act as a true partner to her clients. She loves digging into the challenges businesses are facing, understanding what success looks like for them, and helping connect the dots between where they are and where they want to go. Equal parts curious, strategic, and relationship-driven, Vandana brings warmth and intention to every conversation.

Outside of work, Vandana’s passions are refreshingly well-rounded: movement, food, and seeing as much of the world as possible. She loves staying active through Pilates and local hikes with her dog, experimenting in the kitchen with a new recipe each week, and exploring D.C.’s ever-growing restaurant scene. A self-proclaimed foodie, she is always up for a great meal (especially when travel is involved).

Other fun facts about Vandana:

What’s a movie or TV show you never get tired of rewatching? 

• I always rewatch Avatar: The Last Airbender. It’s a perfect show and I love the nostalgic feeling I have when I watch it. 

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? 

• My fun fact is that I am a twin! I have a twin brother and he is almost 10 inches taller than me. 

If you were a superhero, what would your power be? 

• My superpower would be to teleport- I could quickly travel to people who need my help and hopefully get them to safety. 

What is your favorite tradition or holiday? 

• On Christmas eve we always open one present from family. As a kid, it was fun to be able to play with a toy early. As an adult, it’s great to have family around to spend time with and cherish. 

What season would you be and why? 

• I would be Summer. I love everything about the summer, yes even the heat. And I think my personality matches most with what you think about when you think summer (outgoing, fun, relaxing, adventurous). 

Cassidy Koch’s career has always centered on one essential skill: helping people feel understood, supported, and ready for what comes next. Originally from Denver, Cassidy studied English Education at Colorado State University before beginning her career in the classroom, where she taught both 6th and 8th grade. Those years spent guiding students through big ideas, everyday challenges, and plenty of middle school unpredictability helped shape the clear, empathetic, and adaptable communication style she brings to every role.

From there, Cassidy moved into higher education as the Enrollment Coordinator for the Department of Education at Columbia College in South Carolina, supporting future educators as they took meaningful steps toward their own careers. Most recently, she served as the New Patient Team Manager for a large mental health practice in Texas, where she helped grow the team and supported efforts to expand access to care. Across education, enrollment, and healthcare, Cassidy has built a career around making complex or overwhelming processes feel more approachable, a natural fit for her role as a Customer Success Associate at Cloudforce.

Cassidy brings curiosity, patience, and a service-minded perspective to her work. She is especially excited to continue growing at Cloudforce while helping customers feel confident, informed, and supported. Whether she is answering questions, solving problems, or building relationships, Cassidy approaches customer success with the same thoughtful steadiness that has carried her through classrooms, campuses, and care teams alike.

Outside of work, Cassidy loves running, reading, working out, going to concerts, and exploring new places with her fiancé. Originally from Denver, she has lived across the country in recent years and brings that same adventurous spirit to life outside the office, whether she is searching for great pho, rewatching The Sopranos, or climbing one of the more than 20 fourteeners she has already conquered.

Other fun facts about Cassidy:

If you could live in any time period, past or future, when would it be? 

• I would go back in time to the 60’s. Not only is that my favorite musical era, but I’m also just a hippie at heart. Also, really just any time period where I could be in my 20s without a cell phone would be cool to experience. 

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why? 

• I feel like I should have a more altruistic answer to this question; but my gut reaction is to guarantee that my dog will live as long as I do. She’s my soul mate <3 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given? 

• This advice has come from multiple people over the years in more or less words: don’t stress about what you can’t control. Although I tend to fall into this loop frequently, I believe that the more you’re able to master this, the happier you’ll be in life. 

What’s your go-to karaoke song? 

• For the record: I would do a lot before I had to do karaoke. But if I did fo karaoke, I would choose “Sunspot Baby” by Bob Seger. 

What’s a small thing that always makes your day better? 

• Acting like I know what my dog is thinking and talking in “her voice”. 

Quinn Hayden has always been drawn to the place where ideas become action. Originally from Frederick, Maryland, Quinn made his way to Virginia Tech, where he focused his studies on management, consulting, analytics, and entrepreneurship, a fitting mix for someone who enjoys both strategic thinking and building something tangible from the ground up.

During his time at Virginia Tech, Quinn brought that entrepreneurial mindset beyond the classroom through the Virginia Tech Startup Incubator, where he explored turning ideas into small business ventures. He also stayed actively involved in his co-ed professional business fraternity, building relationships, sharpening his business perspective, and developing the collaborative approach he brings to his work today. With a background rooted in problem-solving, analysis, and people-centered business strategy, Quinn is a natural fit for his role as a Customer Success Associate at Cloudforce.

Quinn brings curiosity, energy, and a team-oriented mindset to customer success. He enjoys understanding how people work, what they need, and how the right support can help them move forward with confidence. Whether helping customers navigate a challenge or contributing to internal collaboration, Quinn approaches his role with a balance of analytical thinking and genuine enthusiasm.

Outside of work, Quinn stays active through fitness, skiing, and spending time outdoors whenever he can. He tries to take one big ski trip out west or up north each winter, enjoys competitive PC gaming with friends, and loves spending time with family and his puppy, Frank.

Other fun facts about Quinn:

What is one quote that stands out to you?  

• “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is today.” 

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?  

• I’m a competitive deep sea fisherman and I’ve fished against Michael Jordan! 

What’s a small thing that always makes your day better?  

• Seeing my puppy dog Frankie always with a big smile on her. 

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

 I’d want the power of teleportation, so I could travel the world. 

What fictional world (comics, TV, books, etc.) or place would you like to visit?  

• I’d want to visit Star Wars to explore the different planets and crazy technology. 

A graduate of the University of Maryland, Daud Ibrahim earned his degree in Information Science with a minor in Neuroscience, an academic combination that reflects both his curiosity about people and his interest in technology. For much of college, Daud was on a pre-health track with plans to become a physical therapist, drawn to the idea of helping people in a meaningful, hands-on way. But as he got deeper into the field, he realized he wanted a career with more variety, creative problem-solving, and opportunities to work with constantly evolving technology. That realization led him to make a bold pivot into tech.

Daud first connected with Cloudforce through our Cloudforce for Good initiative, Future Force, when he attended the AI Agent Boot Camp. There, his innovative AI agent idea and presentation earned him a $5,000 scholarship, an achievement that helped inspire his path to joining the team. Now as a Product Support Associate, Daud brings a passion for problem-solving, technology, and creative solutions, along with a unique perspective on how thoughtful support can make complex systems feel more accessible.

Before joining Cloudforce, Daud explored several roles that shaped his solutions-oriented approach. In market research for consumer electronics, he saw how data can influence real-world decisions and product strategy. As a Teaching Assistant for INST346, he strengthened his communication skills and discovered how much he enjoys making complex ideas feel clear and approachable. Later, as a Solution Engineer at Lumen Technologies, Daud found a natural fit at the intersection of technical insight and customer needs, building solutions that helped lay the foundation for his transition into cloud technologies.

Outside of work, Daud is fueled by exploration and creativity. He loves traveling, immersing himself in different cultures, and picking up new hobbies along the way. Whether he is writing songs or poetry, capturing moments through photography, experimenting with videography, snowboarding, or motorcycling, Daud feels most inspired when he is learning, creating, and pushing just beyond his comfort zone.

Other fun facts about Daud:

 If you had a time machine, would you go back or into the future? And why? 

• I’d easily choose to go back in time. I’d want to trace my family history as far back as possible. I’d want to meet the people I came from, hear their stories, and finally answer all the questions we never get clear answers to. Just getting to witness that would be amazing.

If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be? 

• Mastering every world language so I could connect with anyone, anywhere.

What would be the most surprising scientific discovery imaginable? 

If I had one wish from a genie, I’d use it to uncover exactly how the Egyptian pyramids were built. It might not be the biggest revelation for the entire world, but to me, finally knowing every detail of how they pulled it off would be the ultimate mystery solved.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given? 

• “Nothing in nature blossoms all year round, and you don’t have to either.” It’s a reminder that rest is natural, growth happens in seasons, and you don’t need to be at your peak 24/7 to be progressing.

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be and why? 

• Good health influences EVERYTHING — your happiness, your energy, your ability to show up for the people and passions you care about. 

Raul Prudencio joins Cloudforce with the kind of energy that comes from years spent thriving in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. After 12 years in the restaurant industry, Raul knows what it means to think on his feet, connect with people quickly, and handle whatever comes his way with focus and composure. It is a background built on adaptability, communication, and resilience, all qualities that translate naturally into the world of product support.

For Raul, the move into tech is both a new chapter and a long-standing interest finally coming into focus. He has always been drawn to technology, problem-solving, and the process of leveling up, whether that means learning something new, taking on a challenge, or finding a better way forward. Now as a Product Support Associate at Cloudforce, Raul is excited to apply his people-first instincts and quick-thinking mindset in a field that continues to evolve.

Raul brings enthusiasm, grit, and a genuine readiness to make an impact. He was drawn to Cloudforce’s mission and energy, and he approaches this next step with the same all-in attitude that has shaped his career so far. Whether he is supporting customers, learning new systems, or collaborating with teammates, Raul is motivated by the opportunity to grow while helping others succeed.

Outside of work, Raul keeps that same momentum going. He is a huge fan of all D.C. sports teams and loves staying active through soccer, football, basketball, running, and anything else that keeps him moving. His family is from El Salvador, an important part of his identity and motivation, and he also enjoys following crypto and keeping an eye on what is next in the tech world.

Other fun facts about Raul:

What season would you be and why? 

• If I had to choose a season, I’d be spring. I like spring because it feels like a fresh start! Everything starts waking up again, the energy changes, and it feels like the perfect time to reinvent yourself. Honestly, it almost feels like the new year should be in the spring. 

What is one quote that stands out to you? 

• One quote that really stands out to me is: “The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing.” by Socrates. I love it because it’s humility disguised as strength! It reminds me that real confidence comes from staying open to learning. It also checks your ego in the best way. The moment you think you know everything is the moment you stop growing, and this quote always brings me back to staying curious and grounded. 

What would be the most surprising scientific discovery imaginable?

• I think the most surprising scientific discovery would be finding an alien species from another planet that’s more advanced than us. Imagine seeing a civilization that has solved challenges we’re still struggling with and built things we can’t even dream of. It would completely change how we see ourselves and our place in the universe. 

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

• I’d be an Avatar because being able to bend fire, water, earth, and air would be insane. It’s basically four powers in one! You can defend yourself, travel, build, protect people, and adapt to any situation. It’s the perfect balance of power, creativity, and freedom. It’s like having the whole world at your fingertips. 

If you had a time machine, would you go back or into the future? And why?

• If I had a time machine, I’d definitely go back to when I was a kid. Being a kid was priceless for me. I had a great childhood, I was always outside, and every day felt like an episode of Phineas and Ferb! It was just pure fun, adventure, imagination, and zero stress. I’d go back in a heartbeat just to relive that feeling again. 

Emily Coston has always had a deep appreciation for language, especially the satisfying moment when the right words fall into exactly the right place. Originally from the delightfully sunny city of Clearwater, Florida, Emily graduated from Florida State University with a double major in French and editing, writing, and media, an academic path that made plenty of room for both creativity and precision.

Emily first discovered her love of technical writing while serving as the communications team lead for a social-innovation nonprofit, where she developed communication channel strategies and created a wide range of media materials. From there, she explored the entertainment space as a media assistant at Blondie Comics, gaining experience with different kinds of content and audiences. Across each role, one thing has remained consistent: Emily loves the craft of making information clear, intentional, and thoughtfully composed.

Now as a Junior Contracts Specialist at Cloudforce, Emily is excited to bring that same care for language into the world of contract composition. For her, communications is not just about writing, but about finding the most precise way to communicate meaning, a skill that translates naturally to contracts, where clarity and detail matter.

Outside of work, Emily’s love of language shows up in word games, language study, editing, songwriting, poetry, and even daydreams about grammar. Her curiosity reaches well beyond words, too, from tropical plants and music-making to kayaking, hiking, cool birds, ghost stories, Survivor, Jeopardy, and a good card game.

Other fun facts about Emily:

If you had a time machine, would you go back or into the future? And why? 

• I’d go back about 200 million years ago to the Jurassic period, because I wish so badly that I could see dinosaurs in person, and because I want to experience what the earth was like before humans existed. I would love to just hide in a bush and watch the dinosaurs interact, provided a return trip back to the present day is guaranteed.

If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be? 

• I’d trade in my amateur guitar skills for guitar mastery.

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? 

• I was a photo double and stand-in for one of the main characters in the movie Dolphin Tale 2. I was also a background extra for a few scenes.

If you were a superhero, what would your power be? 

• The ability to speak any language I encounter in real time.

What’s a small thing that always makes your day better? 

• Finding any new leaves or growth on my plants, especially on the tiny seedlings or saplings. 

Tess Frazier’s mastery of contracts and compliance didn’t begin in a boardroom. It began with an early curiosity about how things work, why systems exist, and how smart structure can empower people rather than restrict them. Growing up overseas sparked in Tess a lifelong fascination with navigating new environments and making sense of complex rules. That instinct, part explorer and part problem solver, would eventually become the backbone of her career. 

Tess was among the early arrivals at Blackboard (now Anthology), joining long before it became one of the most influential companies in EdTech. Over her 17 years there, she helped build the legal and contracting foundation that allowed the company to grow at remarkable speed without losing sight of its integrity. She learned firsthand how to craft agreements that protect organizations while still encouraging innovation, a balance that would become her signature strength. 

Throughout her career, Tess has guided numerous EdTech companies from scrappy startup to successful exit, navigating shifting regulatory landscapes with calm and pragmatic confidence. She has led high stakes negotiations, untangled complex compliance challenges, and helped leadership teams move forward with clarity when the path ahead seemed anything but simple. Her steady, mission focused approach ensures organizations stay ahead of change instead of being overwhelmed by it. 

Beyond her professional expertise, Tess is driven by a deep belief in the power of human expression and creativity. She proudly serves on the board of the Children’s Art Guild, an organization dedicated to helping young people discover confidence and authenticity through the arts. These values resonate deeply with her own journey. 

Exploration remains a defining thread in Tess’s life. Whether she is biking, kayaking, boating, or planning her next travel adventure, she brings the same curiosity and joy she had growing up overseas. At home, Tess loves to cook and entertain, creating spaces where people can come together over great food, good conversation, and genuine connection. 

She shares her life with her son Michael, a rising senior at the University of Delaware studying economics and politics, and her Labrador retriever Dante, an enthusiastic companion always ready for the next outdoor pursuit. 

Other fun facts about Tess:

What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? 

• I’m certified for Accelerated Freefall skydiving, and I used to be the lead singer in a punk band. Seriously.

What is one quote that stands out to you?

• “Work is love made visible.  And if you can’t work with love, but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at  
  the gate of the temple and take alms of the people who work with joy.” – Khalil Gibran

What’s a movie or TV show you never get tired of rewatching? 

• The Big Lebowski.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  

• A fashion designer.

What’s a small thing that always makes your day better? 

• Daily jokes shared with my son!