Our Team

TJ is a coach and professional mentor who loves entrepreneurship almost as much as he loves technology. For over 20 years he’s held senior and executive leadership roles in engineering, architecture, and strategic business development. He’s been an IT executive, consultant, entrepreneur, and the head of one of the industry’s most dedicated technology operations teams.

A visionary with a down-to-earth approach, TJ is on a mission to make service providers, enterprises, and public sector organizations successful in cloud.

A grateful husband and “girl-dad”, TJ’s personal goal is to make a positive difference every day – both at work and in his personal life. When he’s not in the office or on the playground, this John C. Maxwell certified educator is helping others achieve their goals through his coaching, mentoring, and speaking engagements. TJ holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational studies and business from Arizona State University and is currently completing an MBA with emphasis in Marketing & Strategic Leadership as well as a Master of Finance from the University of Cincinnati.

“Pete” is the SVP of Sales responsible for our revenue organization, which includes our existing customer base, Field Sales, Channel Sales, Sales Engineering, and Sales Operations. His role focuses on identifying customer business pain that we can address and solve for them with OTAVA’s secure and compliant multi-cloud solutions.

Pete has a BS from Emerson College in Boston and completed an Executive Development Program at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. For over 30 years, he has led, improved, and driven sales organizations for Cable & Wireless, Wiltel, Level 3, BT, NTT, Internap, and Faction in Asia, the UK, and the US to improve customer satisfaction and grow profitable revenue.

As an executive, he has driven cross-functional influence to bring about positive change, development, and new go-to-market strategies, ultimately leading to revenue growth. Pete leads by example and is often in the field with his teams, helping customers address business issues that lead to their success. He is a coach, mentor, and lifelong learner who gains the most satisfaction from watching his teammates learn, grow, and elevate their careers.

Given the nature of sales and sales leadership, he frequently travels under the friendly skies of United. When not traveling to grow OTAVA revenue, he spends 7-8 months on a small island in Florida and the remainder of the year in Maine with his wife and their dogs.

Cyndi is a customer experience, service delivery, and operations trailblazer with a passion for creating exceptional client relationships. Her nearly 30-year career spans a wide range of industry disciplines including product, technology operations, professional services, marketing, and more, that combined, contribute to her passion for customer experience.  Cyndi excels at leading strategic business initiatives to help organizations realize their vision.

 As OTAVA’s Vice President of Customer Experience and Strategy, Cyndi is the champion for customer advocacy and upholds the company’s principle of excellence. She is a strategic visionary and her drive for enriching product and service delivery is achieved through innovation, collaboration, process improvement, and organizational development.

Cyndi has a diverse professional background with a deep affinity for building teams, business units, and strategic planning. She joined OTAVA in 2018 and has served as the head of OTAVA’s product, marketing, and business strategy and has led the company’s operations team where she was responsible for ensuring the development and implementation of efficient processes and systems for the business. 

She is a wife and mother of two teenage girls, is CCXP certified and is  currently pursuing a master’s degree in Customer Experience Management from Michigan State University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Austin is OTAVA’s Chief Financial Officer, responsible for the company’s financial reporting, annual budget, and strategic financial planning process. He is an experienced finance leader that brings more than a decade of experience with technology, cloud, and software organizations to this critical role. He is passionate about helping the company grow and achieve its mission of making cloud easy through the strategic financial planning process, including M&A analysis and support and process/team development. His previous experience includes Controller at ForeSee, where he oversaw all aspects accounting and finance. He has also held other accounting roles and was an adjunct professor at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Austin is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Associate (CMA). He holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from Concordia University and an MBA in Accounting from Liberty University. Austin is a husband and father of two and enjoys basketball and golf.

Melissa Lock is the Chief of Culture & Talent Development at OTAVA, with over 20 years of experience in human resources and a deep commitment to cultivating positive work environments. She also serves as President of the Schurz Communications Foundation Board and is a member of the Michiana SHRM Board. Melissa holds a BS in Organizational Leadership and holds several professional certifications, including SHRM-SCP, PHR, CCP, and is a Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach. Melissa’s leadership is grounded in core values of integrity, growth, compassion, and inspiration, helping both individuals and teams thrive.

Her unique combination of having a heart for people, a growth mindset, and professionalism sets her apart, especially in her ability to coach others toward realizing their potential. As a Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach, Melissa is passionate about guiding teams to use their strengths to collaborate effectively and achieve meaningful results.

And Melissa’s commitment extends beyond the workplace. Her family also honors their son’s legacy by promoting #adaytobegreat each June, demonstrating her dedication to community and servant leadership.

Did we mention she is a co-host on The Notice, a podcast from OTAVA? The Notice brings a personal touch to tech and emphasizes that professional growth is always a group project. It is also worth mentioning her second-place finish in the potato sack race in 2nd grade, demonstrating her competitive spirit and sense of fun. Melissa would be excited to connect with other professionals on her LinkedIn page, continuing her mission of growth and collaboration.

Bio Coming Soon!

Stefan Richardson, VP of Operations at OTAVA®, has a remarkable 16-year career in information technology. His areas of expertise encompass Healthcare IT, Managed Services, and Cloud Services. Stefan is a versatile asset to OTAVA, excelling in project management and technology strategy.

His commitment to process enhancement has been pivotal to OTAVA’s growth. Stefan’s adept problem-solving abilities have streamlined operations and cementing the company’s status as a leader in the IT industry.

Beyond his professional achievements, Stefan finds tranquility in nature. As an enthusiastic outdoorsman, he enjoys hunting and fishing, relishing nature’s challenges and rewards. Nonetheless, his greatest source of happiness is spending quality time with his family, creating cherished memories, and strengthening their bonds.

Steve has been in the Information Technology business for over 24 years. He started his IT career staffing the help desk, working for a small regional Citrix reseller, and moved up to the Director of Engineering. Later, he served as the Chief Technology Officer for a mid-size accounting software service provider in Seattle, Washington.

For the last four years, Steve has contributed to OTAVA®, leading different teams, including the Manager of Service Integrity, Director of Network Operations and Security, and he now serves OTAVA as the Chief Information Security Officer.

When he is away from work, Steve is a full-time traveler living with his wife, Jackie, in a forty-foot RV. Over the last three years, “on the road,” they have circled the country and plan to start the next loop in 2024. Steve likes to say, “Home is wherever I park it for the night.”

As he travels, Steve enjoys fly fishing, and while he graduated from Portland State University in Oregon, he remains a loyal Oregon Ducks fan.

Ben isn’t new to the technology game. Since 1996 he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of the industry: Sales, Support, Engineering, Consulting. You name it, and Ben’s probably done it. But his real passion for growing businesses stemmed from starting and selling one of his own, and has inspired him to lead other organizations to their revenue objectives. His track-record in tech includes building sales teams, channel programs, doubling and tripling revenue streams using effective strategies, and creating a culture of success.

As Director of Enterprise Sales at OTAVA, Ben uses this wealth of experience to insightfully navigate our sales strategy toward its goals. Leading by example, Ben puts in the work and walks-the-walk every day, never missing an opportunity to share his knowledge with his colleagues. A coach, mentor, and all-around team player, Ben is the engine behind OTAVA’s accelerating growth and an invaluable asset to the team.  

While scarce, in his free time Ben enjoys restoring old boats, cars, and trucks in his garage. His most recent project is restoring his Hummer H1. If he’s not tinkering around, Ben can likely be found on Austin’s Lake Travis fishing, waterskiing, or otherwise enjoying the water with his family. Ben lives in Austin, TX with his wife, two sons, and two dogs, Archie and Brownie.

Bio Coming Soon!

Jason Pohlman specializes in architecting end to end cloud solutions to address unique business challenges. With over 25 years of IT experience ranging from operations to sales, tailoring comprehensive solutions providing visibility, flexibility, transparency, and improving time to value for our customers has been the staple of his efforts and success. He has been with OTAVA for over five years and holds a CPT degree from Purdue University.

Bio Coming Soon!

Meet Andy, our Director of Support Operations. Andy has a healthcare IT background, data center infrastructure experience, and a genuine passion for customer service; he brings a unique blend of skills to the OTAVA® team.

At the core, Andy’s professional drive is a passion for leadership and a commitment to our company’s success and growth. He takes great satisfaction in assisting others in reaching their full potential, whether in leadership positions or through personal and professional development. Andy’s leadership focuses on empowering his team to succeed by highlighting technical skills and compassionate guidance as essential elements for achieving collective goals.

Outside of work, Andy is a devoted husband and father of three, cherishing his family above all else. Beyond his professional life, he finds comfort and creative inspiration through playing music and thoroughly enjoying time in the woods and on the water.

Ioana is very passionate about psychology, and comfortable in building human relations and providing professional mentoring and guidance to people around her. Inspired by human relationships, she believes continuous development and learning always drive personal and professional success. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology,  from Cluj – Napoca – Romania and has an international Train the Trainers certificate.

Over the past 15 years of her professional experience, she has acted in a few different strategic Human Resources roles, providing leadership guidance. Ioana helps drive business growth at OTAVA in the international and US markets through her Human Resources strategies and recruitment processes.

Ioana is always looking to add a valuable impact in the people and culture at OTAVA. She is passionate about exploring new cultures and diverse human approaches to life, hence her extensive traveling around the globe. She is dedicated to her family and always looking to enjoy good time with friends – especially at live music events!

Chaz Motter is a highly dedicated professional in the technology industry, holding a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of Michigan. He has 12 years of experience in various technology roles, making him a valuable asset to his current position. As a Product Management Certification holder from AIPMM, Chaz is committed to professional growth and staying at the forefront of his field.

As a natural leader, Chaz has a proven track record of guiding teams and driving results. He believes in leading by example and values collaboration, recognizing that diverse perspectives often lead to the best solutions. His open-minded approach to problem-solving allows him to push boundaries and consider multiple viewpoints. Chaz’s genuine passion for problem-solving has been a driving force throughout his journey, as he relishes the opportunity to leverage technology to solve complex business challenges.

In his professional interactions, Chaz is guided by integrity and accountability. He believes in delivering on commitments and being transparent about limitations. Learning from mistakes is a value he upholds, fostering an environment of trust and growth.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Chaz is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, and exploring nature. Together with his wife, Kayla, they are dedicated to living a sustainable lifestyle and are currently building their own homestead. As a recent father and husband, Chaz strives to set a positive example for his daughter and provide the best possible life for his family.