devopsdays Kansas City - Contact

If you’d like to contact us by email: [email protected]

Our local team

Aaron Blythe

Organizer

Aaron Blythe
NAIC

father, husband, hacker, software architect, genuinely interested in understanding things and making them better.

    

Dan Barker

Organizer

Dan Barker
RSA Archer

Dan spent 12 years in the military as a mechanic on fighter jets, like the F-16, before transitioning to a career in technology as a Software Engineer, then a DevOps Engineer, a Software Development Manager, and now a Chief Architect. He’s leading the technical and cultural transformation for the RSA Archer, a non-profit focused on consumer protection in the insurance industry. Dan is also an organizer of the DevOps KC Meetup and the DevOpsDays KC conference.

    

CJ Obermaier

Organizer

CJ Obermaier
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

CJ, his wife, two dogs and a cat, have lived in Kansas City, Missouri for four years. When he is not traveling the world with his wife, he works as a DevOps Engineer for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.  In addition to his work on software automation and infrastructure as code, he is considered an advocate for developing the DevOps culture throughout the Bank.  He is also actively involved in the Kansas City eSports scene as a co-owner of Good Game Kansas City.

 

Ryan McNair

Organizer

Ryan McNair
RSA

Ryan McNair is currently helping improve access to Digital Risk Management services at RSA Security, a Dell Technologies company. Previously, Ryan held multiple engineering and leadership positions at Cerner Corp, a provider of Electronic Health Record software and services to hospitals, and SMRxT, a Medication Adherence company focused on software and IoT devices to monitor when patients do and don’t take their medicine. Ryan is focused on successful technology implementations and sees DevOps as a powerful tool in the business value stream for all SaaS products. Outside the office, you’ll find Ryan tearing up the local mountain bike trails and making sawdust in his basement workshop.

 

Tom Martin

Organizer

Tom Martin
27global

Father, Husband, Cat Herder, Generally just gets shit done.

   

Chris Stein

Organizer

Chris Stein
C2FO

Chris has spent most of his career focusing on infrastructure automation. He’s interested in using new technologies and processes for continual improvement.

   

Chase Pettet

Organizer

Chase Pettet
Wikimedia Foundation

Chase has spent the last 15 years working on network and systems infrastructure with an emphasis on Linux. He currently works for the Wikimedia Foundation solving problems.

 

Bert Weidt

Organizer

Bert Weidt
VML

Systems Architect and Security guy, but involved in many aspects of Technology for clients of all sizes. DevOps has changed the world for how solutions are implemented both internally and delivered to clients globally. Looking forward to what’s next, other than self-driving cars. DevOpsDays is a great forum for sharing what’s working, and talking about that thing that everyone wants most - innovation.

 

Rebecca Sowers

Organizer

Rebecca Sowers
Cerner Corporation

Rebecca is currently a Service Portfolio Manager focusing on tools that monitor, automate, configure, and discover all layers of infrastructure. In her free time, she loves to do home renovation projects in her old 1903 “money pit”.

 

Dustin Holub

Organizer

Dustin Holub
Technology Group Solutions

Dustin is an outgoing individual who believes that work and fun can be one in the same. After spending many years of his career in infrastructure silos, he was drawn to DevOps culture and emphasis on learning and solving problems together. Dustin spends his free time with his wife chasing their two small children, playing indoor soccer, or wondering when technology will completely free him from housework.

   

Jeff Stephens

Organizer

Jeff Stephens
C2FO

Jeff has worked as a Linux Systems Administrator for the last 13 years. His current focus is cloud application platforms. Beyond work, he is an avid baseball fan, and spends his free time as a musician and photographer.

   

Chris Fisher

Organizer

Chris Fisher
NAIC

Chris started her career as a high school history teacher. After transitioning to software training (where she was never required to call anyone’s parents!) she found her career path in technology. Currently managing a team of Business Analysts and Software Quality Engineers at the NAIC, she is passionate about ensuring that functional teams are just as much a part of the DevOps journey as the technical teams. Outside of work Chris enjoys spending time with her family and planning their next travel adventures.

 

Kayla Crowder

Organizer

Kayla Crowder
Pinsight

Kayla is a technology polymath and server whisperer who has spent her career focusing on making things better for all players involved in producing and consuming technology. She is a firm believer in security as a process and practice makes perfect. Kayla, her partner, and their five kids live on a small farm surrounded by forest and hiking trails. In her free time she can be found ignoring all things tech in favor of spending time in nature with her family and dogs.

 

DaShaun Carter

Organizer

DaShaun Carter
Pivotal

DaShaun Carter is a Platform Architect for Pivotal. Before working at Pivotal, DaShaun worked for several startups, marketing/advertising agencies, an information security company and Garmin. DaShaun likes to do CrossFit and enjoys marathons, triathlons and the other endurance events in between. DaShaun and his wife were both professional cheerleaders, and they continue to work on the perfect cheer with their 4 children.

 

The core devopsdays organizer group

The global core organizers support local teams.