Our Team
Part of the team that helps our security ninjas be more ninja-y.
John Strand
Owner & Security AnalystJohn Strand 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.
CJ Cox
COOCJ Cox is the Chief Operating Officer for Black Hills Information Security. He joined the team in 2016 and is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and business capture of BHIS. CJ has over 25 years of experience in the IT industry as a systems administrator as well as an information system security officer, manager, […]
Heather Doerges
Project ManagerHeather began with Black Hills Information Security in October 2015. Heather has a B.S. in Health Sciences from the University of Wyoming and worked in the teaching profession prior to her time at BHIS. Her love for people and organization has led her to success in her Project Manager/Scheduling role. Heather loves working for BHIS […]
Melisa Wachs
DirectorMelisa Wachs has been with the Black Hills Information Security administrative team since the company’s origin in 2008. She serves as a Director with a variety of roles including business capture, client relations, human resources, and report editing.
Bryan Strand
Manager of Business CaptureBryan Strand began working for Black Hills Information Security in 2017 as a Manager of Business Capture and a Consultant. Prior to joining the team at BHIS, he worked in a variety of fields including psychology, sales, and aviation. Currently, Bryan is responsible for communicating with clients and guiding them toward a better security posture. […]
Laura Seumanutafa
Logistics DirectorLaura is from American Samoa and is bilingual, speaking Samoan & English fluently. She joined the BHIS team as the Logistics Director in April of 2018 after completing her bachelor’s degree at Black Hills State University. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the logistics department and her favorite part of BHIS is the people she […]
Marita Rasche
AccountingMarita began her time at BHIS as an intern in 2016 and is now the Director of Accounting. She graduated from Black Hills State University with a degree in Professional Accountancy and is now a certified CPA. Her daily work includes invoicing, paying bills, statistical analysis, bringing money in, and sending money out. She chose […]
Jennipher Creed
AccountingJennipher 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 Rauch (DRock) took on his role of Systems Administrator in early 2018. He maintains and manages infrastructure, and altogether makes sure that things are always in motion and running smoothly. Prior to Derrick’s time at Black Hills Information Security he worked at a local MPS as a Senior Systems Administrator and made the switch […]
Kent Ickler
Sys Admin / Security AnalystKent Ickler has been a penetration tester, security analyst, and systems administrator for Black Hills Information Security since 2017. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology Management and a Masters in Business Management. Kent’s education and management background allow him to be realistic and practical when aiding customers with evaluating risk on their networks. […]
Jordan Drysdale
Sys Admin / Security AnalystJordan Drysdale has been with the Black Hills Information Security family since December 2015. He is a security analyst, penetration tester, and a member of the systems administration team. Jordan came to BHIS with a strong background, including many years of work in networking tech support and engineering for HP, UNi, and Managed Services. Though […]
James Marrs
Sys AdminJames Marrs started his journey with BHIS as an intern while working on his B.S. of Computer Science at South Dakota State University. During his time as an intern, James gained experience in systems administration, penetration testing, web development, and automation. He has contributed to multiple versions of ADHD and has assisted John with several training […]
Jason Blanchard
Content & Community DirectorJason Blanchard has been happily adopted into the hacker community even though he, “works in marketing.” He’s had every dream job imaginable: teaching filmmaking, owning the world’s most famous comic book store, and fostering the infosec community efforts for SANS. Jason humbly brought his particular set of skills to Black Hills Information Security in 2019. […]
Deb Wigley
Content & Community ManagerDeb Wigley is the Content & Community Manager for Black Hills Information Security. She joined the team in 2019 after celebrating 20 years of working in customer engagement and satisfaction in the Automotive Industry. She brings her passion for helping and serving people to the work she does at Black Hills. The part of her […]
Ryan Poirier
Video Production and EditorRyan Poirier began his time at Black Hills Information Security as the Video Production and Editor in August of 2020. Ryan effectively polishes every webcast, podcast, and workshop on the BHIS, ACM, and WWHF YouTube Channels to perfection. Prior to Ryan’s time at BHIS, he worked for one of the largest public schools in the […]