Technology

Chet Brandenburg

Chief Technology Officer

Experienced the “.com boom” first hand at an Internet marketing software startup in Silicon Valley. After graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Chet decided to remain on the beautiful Central Coast, and began working for MINDBODY, Inc.

Chet holds a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from the California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. He lives in Shell Beach and his favorite pastimes include playing/listening to music, listening to the San Francisco Giants on the radio, disc golf, magnetic darts and watching the sun (& moon) set over the pacific.

Steve Arriola

Director of Information Technology

Steve Arriola is the Director of Information Technology at MINDBODY and has been with the company since January 2002. As the Director of IT Steve has been responsible for architecting, implementing and maintaining the information systems powering MINDBODY's web presence. Steve also served a year long sting as a Senior Software Developer where he focused on designing and implementing the foundations of the MINDBODY Web Service API.

Steve's professional background involves a mixture of information technology development and information technology operations. Prior to MINDBODY, Steve was involved with developing and supporting multiple retail point-of-sale systems. Along with point-of-sale development Steve's background has focused on high availability and redundancy of software services. This prior experience and background knowledge was instrumental in designing the highly redundant information systems currently in use at MINDBODY.

Outside of MINDBODY, Steve has been involved in various software related side projects such as developing a major online video game and designing automated financial trading systems using artificial intelligence. Steve is also an avid adventure traveller and has visited such off-the-beaten locales as North Korea and the 'Stans of Central Asia.

Kevin Teague

Director of Quality Assurance

Kevin has a background in both the writing and the technology industries. After graduating with a B.A. in Psychology in 1999 from Point Loma Nazarene University, he provided customer service for a start-up mobile phone company in San Diego. He soon moved into product testing and then product management. Needing a change of scenery, he moved to Edinburgh, Scotland in 2002 and lived there for two years while completing a novel. After moving stateside in 2004, he landed a publisher for the novel, wrote over a hundred business articles that are used in the reference sections of most US university libraries, and edited scripts for television networks including Animal Planet. Kevin gratefully joined the exciting team at MINDBODY in early 2007. Outside of writing, Kevin enjoys hiking up small mountains, socializing with well behaved adults, and cherishing every free second with his incredible wife and super-smart children.

Brad Lohr

Senior Software Developer

Brad Lohr is a member of the software development team at MINDBODY. He loves working with a team that is focused on the good it can provide to all involved, and helping to drive that work forward. He is a Central Coast native who enjoys computers, philosophy, and has recently started practicing yoga in his spare time. He attended Cal Poly, SLO, majoring in Computer Science.

Blake Davis

Senior Software Developer

Blake is a recent graduate of the computer science program at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He likes to make art in his spare time, and always seems to be in the middle of several works in progress. Although a California native, he spent 8 years in Nevada, and misses how close the snow used to be. He enjoys travelling, skiing, and scuba diving.

He joined MINDBODY in 2004 as a Tech, and has since worked for the Training Department, Order Fulfillment, Marketing, and finally Development. His computer experience has focused mainly on graphics and dynamic user interaction, which he puts to good use as developer for MINDBODY.

Charlie Sibbach

Senior Software Developer

Charlie was born and raised in San Luis Obispo County, where he even went to Cal Poly State University for Computer Engineering. He has worked for the government and then filming the government, but finally turned to web development so he could rant about it on his blog. To work out his frustrations, since he doesn't actually believe in blogging, he runs a small video game studio on the side.

Charlie has been known to enjoy working on fast cars and faster boats, as well as barefoot waterskiing and beer brewing. Cute animals work like Kryptonite on Charlie. He will be married in October 2009 in Japan to his known accomplice, Mine.

Brian Gardner

Senior Software Developer

Brian Gardner came too MINDBODY Inc. with a long list of skills, and a short work history. Although he was born in South Carolina in 1981, he is practically a native to San Luis Obispo, having arrived at the age of 3 and remaining in town since. Early in life, Brian found his passion for computers and technology and left high school to pursue this passion and begin honing his skills.

His short work history consists almost solely of Experts Exchange, another San Luis Obispo-based web company, where he played a crucial role in developing the company, twice, and thrived as the head of engineering for over 11 years.

Ambitious in every way, Brian also didn’t hesitate to start his family young. At the age of 29, he already has a 6 year old daughter and 3 year old son. He interacts with his offspring (and other children) as if he was a child himself. This is one of the many ways he seems to have preserved his youthful spirit. Truly blessed, he aims to pass along his happiness and kindness to as many people as he can possibly touch, in such a short lifetime.

Although he seems to have as many hobbies as talents, his biggest by far is surfing. If you see him with a grin from ear to ear, it’s probably because he woke up early on dawn patrol and got wet that morning. Other major hobbies include snowboarding, wake-boarding, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and boating.

Brian brings a ton of contagious excitement with him wherever he goes, including his position at MINDBODY, Inc. After just his first week, Brian had made himself quite comfortable and at home with his new MINDBODY family.

Malathi Jayapalan

Software Developer

Malathi was born and raised in Chennai, India. She graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Technology (Textiles) Degree from Anna University, the top-ranked engineering college in the state of Tamil Nadu. Malathi post graduated with a Master of Business Administration (Systems & Finance) Degree from the University of Madras in 2001.

Malathi worked for a textile company for three years as a Project Officer. She was then attracted by the dotcom boom, which initiated her move to the software industry where she worked as a Developer for a few years. After she learned all about technology, she worked as a Management Consultant for one year.

After her marriage, Malathi moved to beautiful San Luis Obispo in 2003 with her husband. For almost five years following her move, Malathi was immersed in activities such as staying healthy and active, cooking a variety of foods, raising a very active son and of course roaming in and around California. Her hobbies are currently blended with her son’s growth. Malathi likes to do yoga and meditate, read, explore many things to answer her son’s questions as well as to fulfill her pious search, listen to native music, watch movies, meet with her small community, and spend the rest of the time with family.

After a long break from the working world, and with her husband’s moral support, Malathi restarted her career with MINDBODY, Inc. Malathi says “I feel like my position at MINDBODY is very similar to my first job in India, where I had to first learn the work environment. Here I also have to learn the new culture and the colloquial language. I love this job and being part of MINDBODY.”

Clint Parker

Software Developer

Straight from the Midwest, Clint was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attracted by the beauty (and weather) of California, he moved to San Luis Obispo at age 18 to attend Cal Poly State University.

He’s excited to be at MINDBODY, where innovation is encouraged and coffee is abundant.

Now a software developer for MINDBODY, Clint was formerly the Customer Service Manager for an online retailer. In his spare time, Clint enjoys sailing, working on his growing collection of bicycles, and walking his Chihuahua, Pearl.

Robert Iraheta

Software Developer

Robert joined the MINDBODY team in April 2009 as a Software Developer. Robert grew up in a small town called Soledad and came to San Luis Obispo pursuing a degree in Computer Science at Cal Poly State University. He loves to program and strives when problem solving. Robert is a quiet, easy going guy who keeps mainly to himself but knows how to work well in a team environment. In his free time he enjoys watching movies and jogging.

Paul English

Software Developer

Paul is a currently an undergraduate Computer Science student at the local Cal Poly University and loves San Luis Obispo. Favorites of his include outdoor activities and sports, learning Spanish, reading, connecting, enjoying his time living, and long walks on the beach. Even though he is looking forward to a career in computers you can often find him avoiding them in his free time.

Paul Lewolt

IT Technician

Paul Lewolt has been with the MINDBODY, Inc. since April 2009. Prior to this position, Paul worked as a Network Engineer/ Systems Administrator with various companies in Southern California. Although he is currently involved in IT, Paul is a graduate of California State University Northridge with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, and taught for the Glendale Unified School District for a few years after graduating.

Outside of MINDBODY Inc., Paul is life-long musician, having played bagpipes with the Los Angeles Police Pipe Band for 12 years. He taught at the National Guitar Summer Workshop for nine years, and was able to travel extensively as a touring musician for several recording artists when he lived in Nashville, TN from 1994 to 1999. His latest musical endeavor is playing chord melodies on one of his ukuleles, and he is anxious to check out the acoustics in MINDBODY’s in-house yoga studio. Paul currently lives in San Luis Obispo, and is very happy to be part of the MINDBODY team.

Joseph Troutman

IT Technician

Joseph Troutman was born in San Diego, and at the age of seven moved to Atascadero, California where he stayed until he completed high school. He attended Cal Poly State University for three years and Cuesta College for three more years off and on. He is currently working fulltime at MINDBODY as the "go to guy" for every IT related problem that his fellow employees come across.

In his spare time, Joseph spends time with close friends, rides the local back roads on his motorcycle, plays computer games and watches whatever is on the TV at the time. His interests include paintball, BBQing, pool, bowling, and hiking.

Kalena Jackson

Training Materials Coordinator

Originally from California’s Bay Area, Kalena came to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly University and, like so many, fell “victim” to the beautiful area and amazing weather.

She began working with MINDBODY as a Sales Associate while attending Cal Poly, and after graduation, she decided to stay on as a full time Trainer and Tech Support Representative. Now the Training Materials Coordinator for MINDBODY, Kalena creates training movies and hosts training seminars for MINDBODY clients. As she describes it, “my favorite part about my job is helping business owners. It is so fulfilling to guide someone through the software, and show them that it’s more than just a day-to-day schedule tracker, but a powerful data analysis, marketing and e-commerce tool as well.”

Kalena currently resides in Morro Bay with the 4 loves of her life (3 of which walk on four legs). If you catch her leading a seminar or moonlighting on Live Tech Support, you just might get to see pictures of her beloved pets.

Valorie Sherman

Copy Editor

Born in Connecticut and raised in sunny San Diego, Valorie is a devoted Yankee fan and enjoys everything outdoors (so long as her allergies are not disturbed). She loves hiking, Pilates, reading, traveling, and art history as well as contemporary art. Valorie graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with concentrations in Marketing and Management, specifically Business Program Development. Valorie also enjoys contributing her time to non-profit organizations of all kinds.

Valorie is very enthusiastic about the MINDBODY mission of leveraging technology to improve the health and wellness of the world and is honored to collaborate with the rest of the team! Her goals in life are many and broad, however in summation, she would like to change the world, in both little ways and large, to the best of her abilities.

Vanessa Pfafflin

Simplification Coordinator

Vanessa is a fourth year student at Cal Poly studying International Business Management. She moved to San Luis Obispo for college three years ago from Chicago, Illinois. She is passionate about the French language, as well as music, travel, running, hiking, camping, and sustainable business. She is very excited to be working for MINDBODY!

Michael Tappan

Software Test Technician

Michael Tappan was born in Los Angeles CA, but after the Northridge earthquake in 1994, moved to the beautiful San Luis Obispo County. After high school he decided that starting a career was a better fit for him and within the next few years he amassed the skills and knowledge base that have enabled him to be a valued member of the MINDBODY team.

When not in the office, Michael can be found either at the opening night of the latest cinematic adventure, riding his motorcycle, playing guitar, drawing, painting, playing video games, and watching documentaries; though not necessarily in that order. Michael thoroughly enjoys being part of such a diverse and warm family here at MINDBODY and looks forward to the years to come.