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 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.
CJ Cox
COOCJ Cox is a 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, […]
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. In […]
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 […]
Laura Seumanutafa
Logistics DirectorLaura is from American Samoa and is bilingual, speaking Samoan & English fluently. Currently, she’s attending Black Hills State University to finish up her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with specialization in Management & Marketing.
Lisa Woody
Software EngineerLisa’s interest in coding started in high school, when she taught herself C++ to compete in a state-wide programming competition. In her free time, she works on a team that is developing a smart wheelchair for people with advanced mobility loss.
Marita Rasche
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
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 began working for Black Hills Information Security as a contractor in 2017 and transitioned to a full-time systems administrator in 2018. He started his path into IT with web development then became a help desk technician before transitioning to systems administration. Derrick’s primary role at BHIS is to provide and maintain infrastructure for the company. […]
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. Kent […]
Jordan Drysdale
Sys Admin / Security AnalystJordan Drysdale has been with the Black Hills Information Security family since 2016. He is a security analyst, penetration tester, and member of the systems administration team. Jordan came to BHIS with a very strong background, including many years of work in Networking tech support and engineering. Though he has extensive experience, Jordan never stops learning […]
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 film making, owning the world’s most famous comic book store, and fostering the infosec community efforts for SANS. Now he humbly brings his particular set of skills to Black Hills.
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 […]