Mike Landman

What can be said of the man behind it all? A lot. Mike graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994, moving to Atlanta the following year. It was there that he discovered a lack of IT options for small businesses. Founding Ripple in 1997, Mike sought to put an end to the poor IT support and less than friendly service that these smaller companies had been forced to accept.

In line with his forward-thinking mentality, Mike is an active member of the Atlanta chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, serving on the board of directors as president. He’s also a fan of the little guy, having helped found the EO Accelerator program, which advises first-stage entrepreneurs on how to advance their companies.

In what spare time he has, Mike can be found in Atlanta at Octane Westside, sipping on a macchiato, or in a quiet New York bar, supervising the build of his manhattan. Stirred, for Pete’s sake.

Homer Bartlett

Homer is of the belief that the world would be a lot less confusing if everyone behaved like machines. They don’t, but thankfully Homer is as equally adept at communicating with people as he is with servers. As Ripple’s czar of all things process-related, Homer has been the yin to Mike’s unbridledly optimistic yang since 2002. So, while his feet are firmly planted on the ground, his head is fully backed up to a data cloud.

Ripple duties aside, Homer spends most of his time outside the office with his family. They’re not machines, but he loves them just the same.

Chris Moody

Chris Moody is a troubleshooter by birth. He’s been an expert problem-solver at every job he’s held. Earning his MIS degree through night courses at ITT Tech, Chris added Service Engineer to that list when he became a Rippler in 2007. His can-do attitude, bang-up customer service skills, and natural leadership qualities have made his career in IT a fruitful one. Chris continues to inspire both new and old hires alike through his knowledge and dedication, all with the humbleness of a technically-inclined Buddhist monk.

When Chris isn’t making sense of error messages, he’s at home with his newborn boy, catching up on sci-fi and reality shows with wife, Kissa, and contemplating if whether or not he has to keep so many boxes of comics. He does. Yes, there’s even more to Chris than all that, but you’ll have to wait until he finishes setting up your inbox to ask him.

Steve Du

You know Steve, right? If not, you’re missing out. Steve’s pretty much the personification of Ripple’s unofficial IT-made-easy motto. After graduating from Georgia Tech in 2003, he quickly learned the difference between helping people work with computers, and helping computers work with each other. One is way more fun. Joining Ripple that same year, Steve put both his people and computer skills to work, helping clients to develop efficient and effective IT strategies.

In the off hours, Steve can be found organizing his millions of digital photos, or working on one of the many classic cars in his garage. What’s he doing with so many pictures and vehicles? You can ask him when he’s done ordering your customized laptop.

Curt Phillips

Curt came to Ripple after a stifling job at a “large, local internet provider.” For a man with as many skills as Curt possesses, he simply wasn’t getting all he could from his career. And just when it seemed that he’d have to accept being another cog in the wheel, Curt found Ripple in October of 2007. It’s been a happy and productive union ever since. His friendly, but direct manner is a something Ripplers have learned to really appreciate. They call him “the enforcer”, but you’ll be better off with just “Curt”.

Among his many interests outside of IT, Curt lifts (really big) weights, listens to the sounds of Trinidad on hi-fi, and watches comic book movies (even the really bad ones). So, whether you’re trapped under a heavy object, wondering what Trinidadian music sounds like, or receiving error messages from your server, Curt is there to lend an authoritative and helping hand.

Watson McKeel

Watson started out in the world of digital prepress, where he first flexed his computing muscles creating and preparing documents for print. A born tinkerer, he also became the company’s uncredited IT guy. This led to a career-changing discovery: His real love was computers, not print.

In 2008, Watson made the official switch to IT when he joined the Ripple Team as a service engineer. Within two years, he moved on up to Project Specialist. That means he’s one of the really smart guys who creates the infrastructure. Workstation setup, process improvement, email migration.. that’s his bag, now. And he carries it well.

In addition to his knowledge of all things IT-related, Watson’s love of music, sci-fi, and old monster movies is unrivaled. And did we mention that he’s a family man? Yep. Watson and wife welcomed their first child, a boy, into their family on September 3rd, 2011. Go, family!

James Arnold

We’re all pretty friendly people at Ripple, but if awards for Nicest were being handed out, James and NyEasha would probably tie for first. Even then, James would probably suggest that Ny keep it on her desk. Upon earning his degree in MIS, James left the world of corporate coffee behind him, and joined the Ripple Team in 2005. Since then, he’s been an integral part, pairing his nice guy attitude with an intimate knowledge of IT.

Outside of Ripple, James more than dabbles in guitar, reads about green technology, and tries not to dislocate his shoulder whilst wheeling around on his BMX. But chances are that he’s still at the office navigating client networks and troubleshooting email concerns, all with a calming tone that soothes even the most frantic of workers.

Bryan Gibson

Many Ripplers, in addition to being amazingly proficient IT folk, have interests that lie outside of the office. For Bryan, it’s the cello. What began as just a hobby in high school quickly developed into a true passion. And despite his late entry into the world of strings, Bryan paid his dues and then some through intense practice. And it paid off, earning him a full scholarship to the University of South Carolina’s School of Music.

Flashing forward a few years, Bryan was able to sustain a living doing what he loved. And he still does. Working as a service engineer as part of the Ripple Team, Bryan found a job that both champions his extreme dedication, and allows him the kind of freedom that creative types need to thrive. Yes, those jobs do exist, but you might have to stop by 530 Means Street to actually believe it. When you do, say “hi” to Bryan.

Alfredo Brown, Jr.

Beginning with Ripple in July of 2011, Alfredo was hired to be the man in the field. Since then, he’s become an absolutely invaluable member of the Team. As one of the Ripple employees that you’ll see in the flesh from time to time, Alfredo can be found installing new hardware, patching network cables, or simply troubleshooting a temperamental copier. No matter what the problem, Alfredo has proven time and time again that he’s a technical wiz when it comes to on-site service.

Alfredo is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, holding a Bachelor Degree of Fine Art in Computer Animation. He’s also an avid bowler, mixed martial arts practitioner, and occasional break dancer. But keep in mind, Alfredo has to check those switches before he can show you how to improve your game, perform a roundhouse kick, or do the robot.

NyEasha Kenner

It takes a lot more than just great customer service skills to manage the Ripple office. Patience, poise, and professionalism are also at the top of that list. NyEasha has all those P’s and then some. As the first contact for nearly everyone who calls in, Ny is responsible for not only directing traffic, but also for creating case files, planning events, and generally just doing what needs to be done. And she does it all with a smile that comes across even over the phone. She’s one answer to the question, “How does Ripple do what they do so well?”

When not on the phone at Ripple, NyEasha is busy with her family, trying to manage three kids and a hubby. She’s hoping to one day enjoy more free time, either by way of cloning or time machine. If that kind of forward thinking isn’t qualification enough to be Ripple’s office manager, nothing is.

Joshua Flail

At Ripple, it’s often the employee who ends up defining their role. Josh is no different. As the unofficial embedded journalist, he’s responsible for content creation, marketing strategies, and sales efforts. That’s when he’s not shooting video for social media campaigns, or pouring beautiful hearts in cappuccinos.

Coming to Ripple after years of being a nationally-competing barista and one heck of a bartender, Josh applies his intense dedication, people skills, and his degree in Advertising Art from Penn College to every blog post, email blast, and video he creates.

Outside the office, Josh can be found flipping through dusty record bins, sipping on sazeracs, and spending way too much time in front of a monitor.

Jumaan Waters.

Jumaan has been immersing himself in computers and customer service since he was old enough to point and click. Having taken his love of both to college, he graduated from Rutgers in 2007 with a BA in Communications and a minor in film studies. He then went on to tackle certifications in A+ and MCSA before applying his knowledge as a network administrator. In 2011, Jumaan joined the Ripple Team in New York as a Human Support Specialist, and has been helping people get their jobs done ever since.

When off the clock, Jumaan spends time writing for his film blog, reading up on contemporary social issues, and trying to convince his friends to go to museums. Failing that, he’s just as comfortable playing the latest video game. Jumaan’s a smart and easy-going guy. It’s no wonder why he fit right in with the other Ripplers. Go Team!