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TJ is a coach and professional mentor who loves entrepreneurship almost as much as he loves technology. For over 25 years he’s held senior and executive leadership roles in technology 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 the 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 an MBA with emphasis in Finance & Strategic Leadership as well as a graduate degree in Marketing and Business Development from the University of Cincinnati.
Austin is a seasoned finance executive with over a decade of experience as Chief Financial Officer at OTAVA and Shurz Communications. Since joining OTAVA in 2019, Austin has been responsible for the company’s strategic financial operations, including accounting, financial planning and analysis, procurement, and legal operations. His strategic leadership has helped drive the company’s growth and operational efficiency.
Before Otava, Austin served as the Corporate Controller at ForeSee, a SaaS provider, where he led the accounting and finance teams. He holds an MBA from Liberty University and a BA in Accounting from Concordia University Ann Arbor and is also a Certified Public Accountant.
When Austin isn’t staring at Excel spreadsheets, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids. He also serves on the board of directors for his children’s school, lending a helping hand to serve the community.
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.
Brian Hoekelman is the kind of leader who makes complex technology feel like a clear path forward. As Vice President of Product & Business Development at OTAVA®, he brings over two decades of experience driving innovation across Cloud, AI/ML, Security, and Networking—with the results to prove it.
Known for his sharp strategic thinking and approachable leadership style, Brian has led high-performing teams across product management, corporate development, data analytics, operations, and marketing. He’s helped companies exceed revenue targets, differentiate their offerings, and deliver stronger customer experiences by aligning smart technology with real business value.
Brian doesn’t just follow industry trends—he turns them into action. From agile product development and customer journey redesigns to digital transformations powered by AI and machine learning, he’s built a career on turning vision into execution. He thrives in environments where curiosity and collaboration fuel innovation, and his ability to connect the dots across departments has made him a trusted advisor and go-to problem solver.
What sets Brian apart is his unique blend of tech fluency and business instinct. He can hold his own in a technical deep dive, then walk into a boardroom and translate it into a strategy that drives results. And he does it all with the kind of calm confidence and good humor that makes people want to follow his lead.
Brian holds a strong belief in leading with integrity, empathy, and a forward-thinking mindset. He’s passionate about helping teams grow, mentoring future leaders, and pushing the boundaries of what technology can do for customers and communities alike.
You can connect with Brian—and follow his take on leadership and innovation—on LinkedIn.
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 VP of 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.
Alan Conboy has been in the tech game long enough to know what works, what doesn’t, and what’s coming next. As Field CTO for Edge and Data Protection at OTAVA®, he blends deep technical expertise with a no-nonsense approach to solving real business problems.
Alan’s done just about everything in IT—designing new tech, running support, leading sales conversations, building alliances, launching products into the channel—you name it. He’s not just a tech leader; he’s the kind of guy who rolls up his sleeves and makes things happen from blueprint to deployment.
Over the years, he’s become a go-to expert in storage, SAN, virtualization, VDI, Linux, Windows, and edge computing. He was one of the earliest movers in the x86/x64 HCI space (and has the credentials to back it up), and one of the first 30 people ever certified by SNIA. In other words: Alan’s been helping companies get ahead of the curve since before “the curve” had a name.
But what really sets him apart is how he connects all that knowledge to what businesses actually need—especially in the SMB and mid-market space. Whether he’s sketching a solution on a whiteboard or talking through a proof of concept, Alan brings clarity, calm, and a solid sense of humor.
At the end of the day, he’s all about helping teams do more with less, move faster, and protect what matters—without the fluff. He’s a straight shooter who believes technology should work for people, not the other way around.
Want to talk shop—or just geek out over edge and backup tech? Connect with Alan on LinkedIn.
Bio Coming Soon!
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!
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!