Our Team
Part of the team that helps our security ninjas be more ninja-y.
John Strand
Owner & Security AnalystJohn has both consulted and taught hundreds of organizations in the areas of security, regulatory compliance, and penetration testing. He is a coveted speaker and much loved SANS teacher. John is a contributor to the industry shaping Penetration Testing Execution Standard and 20 Critical Controls frameworks.
Melisa Wachs
DirectorMelisa has been with BHIS since its origin in 2008, thus her role within the company has evolved and shifted to fit many administrative needs throughout the years.
CJ Cox
COOCJ’s focus is on efficient and effective implementation and delivery of BHIS’s security solutions. He has over 25 years of experience in IT with 18 of those centered on security compliance, testing, and engineering. CJ is a retired Marine, father of 4, and a pathetic but happy golfer.
Bryan Strand
Manager of Business Capture
Heather Doerges
Project ManagerHeather began with BHIS in 2015. Her love for people and organization have led her to success in the PM/Scheduling role. She has a B.S. in Health Sciences from the University of Wyoming and lives in the Black Hills with her husband, 2 teenagers, 2 dogs and a bird. Her hobbies include running, cooking, gardening, chasing […]
Marita Rasche
Director of AccountingMarita graduated from Black Hills State University with a degree in Professional Accountancy. She grew up and is currently living in Minnesota while studying to become a Certified Public Accountant. She loves any outdoor activity and her Australian Shepherd.
Jennipher Creed
AccountantJennipher is originally from San Diego, CA (born and raised), and moved to South Dakota 1 1/2 years ago. Her, her husband and daughter are loving the small town of Spearfish and all it has to offer. She has her Bachelors in Accounting and 14+ years experience.
Derrick Rauch
System AdministrationDerrick was born and raised in Rapid City, SD. He started his path into IT with web development and found that was not for him and moved into being a help desk technician. He then transitioned into working as a Sys Admin. His hobbies include hiking, camping, and fishing.
Kent Ickler
Sys Admin / Security AnalystKent is a business school Masters graduate with a focus on Network Infrastructure Design and Management. He has experience in Higher Education Management, Finance, and SMB. His hobbies include woodworking, frisbee golf, and medieval architecture.
Jordan Drysdale
Sys Admin / Security AnalystJordan is one of Black Hills’ security analysts. He hails from the land of enterprise networking tech support, where stress was high and the challenges were strong. Most days, Jordan enjoys wireless research and malware sample packet data served with coffee.
Melissa Bruno
Software EngineerMelissa began her career in the information security field in 2013. Her areas of focus have included vulnerability assessment, systems automation, and security tool development.
Joe Lillo
Software EngineerJoe is a graduate of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, where he was the engineering lead on the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Team. In his free time, he works on a team that is developing a smart wheelchair for people with advanced mobility loss.
Sierra Ward
Marketing & Creative DirectorAs the Marketing & Creative Director, Sierra is a part of many things at BHIS. You may have seen her on our webcasts, interacted with her on twitter, or even seen her in person at one of the many events we attend around the country!
Bre Schumacher
Marketing ManagerBre is one of the many people working “behind the scenes” here at Black Hills Information Security. She brings her background in photography and design to the marketing team and also enjoys the educational outreach BHIS strives to provide.