About Mission Data | Digital Strategy, Engineering & Consulting

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Aidan Arnold Developer/Software Engineer

After a long journey through academia, Aidan found software development the best fit for his desire to make an impact and fuel his curious intellect. He’s dedicated to crafting elegant solutions that solve logistical problems and improve people’s lives and jobs. He enjoys pop culture, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

Jared Blakney Marketing Manager

Jared brings his curiosity about the ways technology influences society to his marketing leadership role. He earned a political science degree from Davidson College with a concentration in East Asian studies. He’s interested in robotics, AI, AR/VR, and voice interfaces, and spends his free time playing basketball, writing, and traveling.

Gabriel Branch Developer/Software Engineer

Gabriel has over 15 years of development experience since working for a large telecom in the ‘90s. He enjoys helping clients create products that will give them an edge over the competition. He’s intrigued by cryptocurrency and the next JavaScript framework. In his free time, he plays Minecraft with his kids and trains in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Todd Budnikas Creative Director

Todd has helmed Mission Data’s design team for many years. Artistic from a young age, he polished his graphic design chops at Rochester Institute of Technology. He’s inspired by making positive impacts on people’s lives. He mentors other designers as founder of Build Guild Louisville, enjoys playing guitar, and spending time with his wife and kids.

Lousanna Cai Software Engineering Intern

Lousanna is studying Computer Engineering at John Hopkins University, where she worked on a malware project as part of the ASPIRE program at APL. She prioritizes robustness and aesthetic quality when developing web and mobile apps. She’s excited about AI, and her interest in gaming includes JRPGs and TCGs. She’s also a member of Systers.

Blagovest Dachev Sr. Developer/Software Engineer

Blago takes ideas and makes them interactive. He got a taste for the tech industry in his early 20s when he digitized the phonebook of his hometown, Pleven, Bulgaria. He earned his computer science degree at UMass Amherst, and enjoys the continuous learning that comes with his work. He’s excited by the possibilities of IoT and he enjoys photography.

DV Suresh Dasari Developer/Software Engineer

DV became interested in programming while earning his degree in electrical and electronics engineering. He enjoys solving problems, finding solutions, and learning every day. He’s excited by the possibilities of ReactJS, mobile development, and cloud computing. He enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.

Darren Day Principal Engineer

Darren brings a wealth of engineering expertise to Mission Data. He’s been hooked on tech since he used his first computer – a TRS-80 Model III – in second grade. He likes exploring corner cases before they become missing features or bugs. He earned a computer science degree from Transylvania University, and enjoys reading and traveling with family.

Phillip Espinoza Associate Developer/Software Engineer

Phil graduated from Johns Hopkins University with degrees in electrical engineering, German, and computer engineering. Digital engineering satisfies his passion for language, technology, and creative expression. Outside of the office, Phil enjoys spending time with friends and family, studying linguistics, and creating music and films.

Stuart Gavurin Chief Executive Officer

Stu balances the practical with the big picture. With more than 25 years experience pioneering digital strategies for several companies, he leads Mission Data with energy and focus on business outcomes. He holds a master’s in computer science from American University, is excited by the possibilities of non-screen interfaces, and enjoys martial arts.

Weidong Han Senior Computer Systems Analyst

Weidong has a master’s degree in computer science and years of experience in software development using various languages and technologies. He’s motivated by exploring web services and cloud technologies. In his free time you can find him engaged in photography, playing video games, or all kinds of DIY hobbies.

Mark Harrod Developer/Software Engineer

Mark wears many hats at Mission Data: developer, business analyst, project manager, network infrastructure manager, and independent consultant. He has a degree in computer science and started his career in the IBM midrange arena in the late ‘80s, programming in RPG and COBOL. He likes learning every day, and he enjoys playing golf.

Rachel Jeong Sr. Associate Developer/Software Engineer

While studying biomedical engineering at George Washington University, Rachel discovered a love for software development. She enjoys helping Mission Data’s clients make their businesses more efficient and user-friendly. She likes to cook and bake, do circuit training, and she’s an alumnus of Alpha Omega Epsilon engineering sorority.

Jack Kaiser UX/UI Design Intern

Jack is studying New Media Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and he enjoys the challenge of UI/UX design. Creating an interface that is both functional and aesthetically-pleasing is the ultimate puzzle for him to solve. He spends free time traveling the US and Canada, gaming, and would love to try out storm chasing photography.

Chris Koch Sr. Developer/Software Engineer

Chris works primarily in research and development for one of our enterprise clients, where software engineering mixes creativity and science. He graduated from Miami University and is interested in learning more about Python and other JVM languages that aren’t Java. In his free time, he enjoys backpacking, fishing, and working out.

Jim Layer Developer/Software Engineer

Jim brings more than 30 years of software development experience to Mission Data, and he enjoys leveraging his experience to help clients improve their bottom line. Whether he’s solving technical puzzles or understanding business systems, he’s learning every day. He spends free time with his wife and kids, preferably near a warm ocean.

Guido de Lazzari Developer/Software Engineer

Coming Soon

Rachel Lipson Recruiting Manager

Rachel has advocated for the best talent to join Mission Data since 2013. With a BA in psychology from George Washington University, she’s spent more than 15 years building teams and training professionals as a recruiter for a variety of industries. She also volunteers as an art teacher and school fundraiser.

Ann Liu Chief Financial Officer

Ann is an accomplished financial executive who brings a results-oriented approach to Mission Data, ensuring we satisfy our customers. She has an MBA from Indiana University and is excited by the possibilities of data analytics and the remote workforce. Ann enjoys attending youth soccer games, golf, reading, and travel.

Steve Lovell Developer/Software Engineer

Steve has worked in federal financial consulting in tandem with software engineering, bringing a unique skillset to the table. He earned his finance degree from University of Maryland University College, and he enjoys helping clients build value with data-driven decisions. When he’s not at coding meetups, he spends free time sailing and backpacking.

Scott Lund Sr. Developer/Software Engineer

Scott has expertise in many languages and has written software that has been used by millions of users. His genuine love for computers and coding inspires him to keep up with the latest technologies, tools, and programming languages. One trend he is particularly excited by is the collision between Big Data and machine learning.

Josh MacFarland Vice President of Marketing & Business Development

Josh helps clients achieve their digital vision in his role as leader of marketing and business development efforts at Mission Data. He earned an MBA from George Washington University and worked for a variety of technology and consulting firms for the past two decades. He enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf and tennis.

Jordan Matuschka Developer

Jordan started coding at the age of 9 and hasn’t been able to get the monkey off his back since. He was really into building LEGO robots as kid and earned his computer science degree at Indiana University Southeast. He’s driven by Dr. Frankenstein moments when all the pieces fit together and a project comes alive. He enjoys hiking and homebrewing.

Carson McDonald Vice President, Research & Development

Carson began programming for fun in the ‘80s and he still has fun doing it today. He’s a seasoned technologist and leads our engineering and research initiatives exploring emerging technologies. He holds a computer science degree from Transylvania University.

Federico Muñoz Developer

Coming Soon

Radu Negrean Senior UX Designer

Radu is an experienced UX/UI designer who helps build frictionless experiences for our clients and their users. He is interested in how new technologies will evolve user experiences. Radu studied at the Babes-Bolyai University in Romania, and enjoys spending time with his kids, traveling, and playing music.

Tom Pessler Developer/Software Engineer

Tom is a seasoned developer at Mission Data. He earned degrees in computer science and mathematics, and is inspired by the 25-plus years of change he has witnessed in the industry. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Cindi Ramm Chief Operating Officer

After working in advertising and other fields, Cindi made a u-turn and joined Mission Data as COO. She makes sure clients have the resources needed to bring their visions to life. She’s passionate about helping people to be more efficient in their work so they can enjoy life better. In her spare time, Cindi enjoys traveling and wine tasting.

Selena Ricks-Good Content Marketing Director

Selena is a highly experienced journalist exploring the intersections of technology, business, lifestyle, and drinks. Her articles have appeared in CBS New York, Village Voice, and Time Out New York, among others. She earned her political science degree from the University of Southern Maine and lives in New York with her family.

Lori Ruzicka Administrative Support Specialist

Lori brought her jack of all trades background to Mission Data and has steered our front office for many years. She enjoys building relationships with clients and helping to manage Mission Data’s people and day-to-day activities, which may include playing with the latest gadgets. She enjoys spending time with her family, her dogs, and cooking.

Chris Smith Principal Engineer

Coming soon

Evan Smith Developer/Software Engineer

While double majoring in computer science and audio technology at American University, Evan interned in web development at The Washington Post and NonprofitCMS, forging a path in software development. A perpetual problem solver, he’s excited about APIs and streaming technologies. You can find him snowboarding and rock climbing in his downtime.

Matthew Smith Quality Assurance Analyst

Since earning his degree in computer science, Matthew has focused his career on Quality Assurance. He brings a thorough attention to detail to every project, explores automation frameworks for testing, and enjoys a good challenge. When he’s not sweating the small stuff for Mission Data you can find him gaming, gardening, or working on cars.

Nathan Smith Associate Developer

While at Hopkins, Nathan wore every hat he could, working on AR/VR, machine learning, and mobile projects. He's passionate about the ways technology can help tell stories, share experiences, and improve lives around the globe. Nathan enjoys making music, videos, and games, and putting them all together.

Sean Smith Director of IT

Sean’s passion for tech first appeared at the age of 9 when he wrote his first program in Qbasic to keep track of ping pong scores. He has a degree in telecommunications from the University of Kentucky, and describes his system administration role as a digital janitor, support firefighter, server puppetmaster, and security nerd. He spends free time with his young kids, watching baseball, and tasting bourbon, beer, and coffee.

Todd Spurlock Sr. Developer/Software Engineer

Todd has been exceeding expectations since writing his first program at age 12. He earned his computer science degree from the University of Dayton and has devotedhis career to engineering and developing software. He’s intrigued by augmented reality and enjoys exploring parks with his family.

Melville Stanley Developer/Software Engineer

Melville brings a depth of engineering experience to the table. With a computer science degree from West Virginia University, he started out as a network and systems administrator for a dial-up ISP in the ‘90s before moving into mobile app development. He’s excited about virtual and augmented reality and enjoys playing the drums and riding his bike.

Henok Tadesse Developer/Software Engineer

Henok started working as a software developer right after earning his degree in electrical and computer engineering. He’s motivated by solving problems and staying up to date with the latest trends and technologies. When he’s not at Mission Data, Henok enjoys working out, traveling, and reading.

Justin Toon Senior Designer/Front-End Developer

After earning a degree in communication arts and design and working as a print designer, Justin taught himself front-end development to meet the industry’s demand for digital skills. He enjoys working within the constraints of a project while learning new skills and capabilities. He’s intrigued by the evolution of JavaScript and developments in AI.

Bryan Volz Designer/Front-End Developer

Bryan made websites for his bands in high school and earned his graphic design degree at Indiana University. He ran some small magazines before aligning with digital. He enjoys photography, music, and co-sponsors Build Guild Louisville with Todd. None of his coworkers are surprised that there’s a hot dog costume in his car at all times.

Jermaine Watkins Developer

Coming soon.

Steven Yelton Chief Technology Officer

A founding partner of Mission Data, Steven earned his computer science degree from Transylvania University before interning with IBM and earning an M.S. from the University of Kentucky. He enjoys working with companies from a wide variety of industries. In his free time, you can catch Steven running, tasting bourbon, and rooting for UK sports teams.

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Our Culture

Spend some time with the team at Mission Data, and you’ll quickly learn we’re passionate people who highly value the work that we do. We’re a group of more than 40 individuals who enjoy designing and developing sophisticated market-leading digital solutions for businesses with big ideas. We’ve been around since 1996, and consider ourselves experts in systems engineering and web and mobile UX/UI design.

Our teams are based in Washington, DC, just steps from the Capitol Building; Louisville, KY; and also on-site with our clients nationwide.