The Brilliance Team
In business since 1998, the Milwaukee-based Brilliance Business Solutions team is united by our hard work in carrying out our mission.
Our ethos
We believe
We believe the most creative companies are those who allow people to be authentic to who they are. We value each other as whole people, and treat everyone with respect.
Lori McDonald
President & CEO
Lori McDonald
President & CEO
President & CEO
Lori McDonald
The lessons that guide Brilliance Business Solutions’ success began on a launching pad, when company founder Lori McDonald served as part of the team that put NASA’s Space Shuttle missions into orbit. McDonald leads Brilliance Business Solutions with over 20 years of computer engineering and software development experience.
While performing the technical task of managing the Shuttle’s in-flight data recorders at Mission Control in Houston, Lori also gained an invaluable personal insight from the dedicated NASA professionals working around her. It’s only natural that when McDonald transitioned from space science to web development and from Houston Texas to Milwaukee Wisconsin, a focus on creativity and reliability continued as a common thread. “Everybody loves an impressive, exciting web site,” she said, “but unless it achieves its practical business goals it’s like a rocket that never gets off the ground.”
Lori graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer-Electrical Engineering. She is a Microsoft Certified Professional. Her status as a recognized industry expert has resulted in regular speaking engagements at business conferences. Lori has been working with ACTION Business Coaching since December 2007 as she believes that improving herself, her leadership and her focus are critical for the ongoing success of Brilliance Business Solutions.
When Lori is not at work, she enjoys her family. She is married to David and has two boys. She enjoys living out her faith through service at her church, Transformation City Church, and in her community. She has a passion for making a difference in the lives of those in need and has worked with Milwaukee foster care as well as work on over 10 mission trips focused on home repair projects throughout the United States. Lori believes that those who lead best serve others first and she hopes this servant-based leadership is evident to every client of Brilliance Business Solutions.
Likes: The Muppets, singing harmony, musical theater, Star Trek, The West Wing
Dislikes: Lima beans, horror movies, surprises
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David McDonald
Director of Development
David McDonald
Director of Development
Director of Development
David McDonald
David McDonald guides the daily operations of Brilliance Business Solutions with over 25 years of software development experience with an emphasis on business intelligence, data warehousing and database management. McDonald graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Aerospace Engineering and during college he worked for NASA - Johnson Space Center as a Shuttle Operations team member on 7 shuttle flights. David left NASA to pursue a career outside of the Aerospace industry and began working for Rockwell Automation.
Dave worked for Rockwell Automation for 15 years. During this time, he worked for 3 years as a field application engineer helping Rockwell customers implement their automation systems. He then joined a group for 12 years designing, architecting, and program managing a 15 person team that built and maintained the largest custom eCommerce and marketing system and database at Rockwell.
David serves as the Development Director at Brilliance Business Solutions. He is an Episerver Certified Developer. David enjoys finding ways to create a better world by:
- Helping customers succeed through websites and software technology
- Growing the Brilliance team
- Giving back to the community
Likes: Movies, Serving Others at Transformation City Church, Hanging out with my family, Games, and Walking
Dislikes: Telling my kids to do the same thing 8 times, Peanut-butter cookies, Basketball
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Jared Hackbart
Director of Sales & Marketing
Jared Hackbart
Director of Sales & Marketing
Director of Sales & Marketing
Jared Hackbart
Before Jared started his professional career, he obtained a Bachelor's in Business Administration from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI. After quick stints in the banking and construction industries, Jared found himself employed by Canon Solutions of America (formerly Canon Business Solutions). At Canon, Jared put his love of technology to practice and focused on selling software to manage printing within large organizations. Despite his love for software, an opportunity to advance his sales career and begin selling into the mobile app/web development arena came from the Ken Cook Co. For several years, Jared worked with manufacturing companies on utilizing technology in the workforce.
When Jared is not at work he loves spending time with his wife, boys and their dog Bernard. He also loves the outdoors, boating, movies and food (especially if he’s on the grill).
Likes: Family time, outdoor activities, cooking, sports
Dislikes: Losing, poor grammar (thanks Mom!), beets and reality television
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Eric Dingeldein
Director of Project and Product Management
Eric Dingeldein
Director of Project and Product Management
Director of Project and Product Management
Eric Dingeldein
With over 10 years of business analyst experience, Eric helps Brilliance clients turn their vision into a workable solution. Eric holds a Management Information Systems degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to joining Brilliance Business Solutions Eric spent 9 years with Rockwell Automation. During his time there, he ascended from data technician to program/data lead within the Global Customer Information group where he used global sales data to improve customer data management and reporting. After Rockwell Automation, Eric spent three years with Kohl’s Corporation as a program/project manager in the Technology department, where he led the 2018 returns program managing the development of several cloud based applications.
Eric is a fan of all Wisconsin sports teams, especially the Green Bay Packers. He spends his free time competing in obstacle races and mastering vintage video games.
Likes: Golfing, Camping, Concerts
Dislikes: Clowns, Long Lines, Insects
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Angela Steinkamp
People Operations Manager
Angela Steinkamp
People Operations Manager
People Operations Manager
Angela Steinkamp
Angela serves as the People Operations Manager at Brilliance Business Solution and prior to joining our team, she worked at Troubadour Bakery as a production baker and office manager. At Troubadour, she had the opportunity to develop recipes and create new products to be sold at Colectivo and other cafes around Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Before moving to Milwaukee, Angela's career included being a summer camp office manager, art student, AmeriCorps volunteer, and classroom tutor.
When she is not at Brilliance, Angela enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, baking at home, reading a book with her cat, Panza, on her lap, or making new art or craft.
Likes: Coffee, baking, biking, kayaking, crafts, reading, sleeping-in
Dislikes: Washing dishes, zombie-anything
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Amy Oczkowski
Business Anaylst
Amy Oczkowski
Business Anaylst
Business Anaylst
Amy Oczkowski
Amy joins Brilliance with more than 15 years of Ecommerce and web content experience. From Harley-Davidson to Bon-Ton Stores, she oversaw implementation of integration with Amazon and enabled product daily uploads while monitoring: customer service processes, shipment and deliveries processes, inventory levels, warehouse concerns, and promotions. She enjoys facing challenges head on and using them to learn and grow, both professionally and personally.
Likes: Running, Traveling, Chocolate
Dislikes: Thunderstorms, the Dentist, Waking up to an alarm
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George Browne
Business Systems Analyst
George Browne
Business Systems Analyst
Business Systems Analyst
George Browne
George has played many roles in the project life cycle including Systems Analyst, Systems Developer, Project manager, Strategic planner, Agile using Scrum manager, Disaster planning and recovery planner, Data analyst, and ETL and Data Mapping developer and analyst. Now he is bringing his 18+ years of experience to Brilliance as a Business Analyst helping our customers achieve their goals in e-commerce.
Likes: Family time, watching movies, cooking, puzzles/riddles, soccer, and delegating
Dislikes: Aimlessness, useless horror movies, peanut butter, noise
Jon Elslager
Business Analyst
Jon Elslager
Business Analyst
Business Analyst
Jon Elslager
Jon Elslager is a seasoned Business Analyst with over a decade of experience in the E-Commerce industry, including more than 5 years specializing in BigCommerce. He has a proven track record of managing e-commerce projects and teams, delivering solutions that meet business objectives and customer expectations. Jon is known for his creative problem-solving skills and continuous learning approach.
Jon holds a degree in Theatre from North Central College and a degree in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology.
Experience Highlights:
- Senior Manager of Digital Operations, Chamberlain Group (Aug 2021 - Feb 2024): Led cross-functional initiatives, developed strategic roadmaps, and optimized workflows.
- Senior Project Manager and BigCommerce Department Manager, Americaneagle.com (Aug 2017 - Aug 2021): Managed multidisciplinary teams, improved platform relationships, and drove project success.
Jon is dedicated to advancing e-commerce strategies and is eager to connect with others in the industry to discuss trends and innovations.
Likes: Board games, Dungeons and Dragons, geocaching, gardening, cooking, and spending time with his three kids
Dislikes: Humidity, shoveling, and cilantro
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Wayne Jimmerson
Business Solutions Consultant
Wayne Jimmerson
Business Solutions Consultant
Business Solutions Consultant
Wayne Jimmerson
Wayne S. Jimmerson MCP has more than 25 years of experience of ERP software consulting experience planning, implementing, and supporting various ERP systems with a focus on Business Process Improvement. Wayne’s expertise has provided clients with successful solutions in Project Accounting, Financials, Distribution, Reporting, Budgeting, Forecasting, Security, and a variety of business solutions. Wayne’s strong accounting background and experience makes him extremely adept at formulating technical designs as a result of performing in depth Business Process Reviews that provide a footprint that meets customers current and future business requirements.
As a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Wayne worked for several regional and national CPA firms before forming his own consulting firm in 2009. Wayne graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Likes: Motorcycles, Music, Spending time with family and grandchildren
Dislikes: Herring, long lines
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Brendan Pettit
Sr. Project Manager
Brendan Pettit
Sr. Project Manager
Sr. Project Manager
Brendan Pettit
Instigator for change. Digital Marketing and Project Management executive with extensive experience in directing site builds, rebrands and online initiatives. Enthusiastic leader and skilled liaison between development, technology, agency and marketing.
Likes: Trivia, Dad jokes, pizza, beer gardens, clean laundry, Moana
Dislikes: Commercials, being late, mayonnaise
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Kim Ross
Project Coordinator
Kim Ross
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator
Kim Ross
Kim graduated from Lewis University with a degree in Marketing. She is a skilled marketing professional, passionately focused on exceeding goals and maintaining quality customer service. She has years of experience as a customer service coordinator in eCommerce, performing UAT for site changes, supporting IT in JIRA testing and new site implementations, and managing eCommerce customer support.
When Kim is not at work, she enjoys cooking new recipes and spending time outdoors whether it be exploring new places or relaxing with family and friends on a patio. She also enjoys watching the Milwaukee Bucks!
Likes: Kayaking, Wine, Cooking
Dislikes: Breakfast Sausage and Cold days without snow
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Kayleigh Tick
UI/UX Designer
Kayleigh Tick
UI/UX Designer
UI/UX Designer
Kayleigh Tick
Kayleigh graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Digital Studio Practice. She has over seven years of experience in design and front-end development with a focus on user experience and marketing. Kayleigh is passionate about creating work that both looks great and is user friendly.
When Kayleigh isn't at work she enjoys spending time with her husband, reading, painting and hanging out with her cat and dog.
Likes: Coffee, pastries, good books, thunderstorms
Dislikes: Running, being late, sunburn
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Drew Douglas
Lead Developer/Developer Manager
Drew Douglas
Lead Developer/Developer Manager
Lead Developer/Developer Manager
Drew Douglas
Drew graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Master of Science degree in Computer Science with a focus on programming languages and compiler technology. During his career, his development work has utilized many technologies, including ASP.NET Forms and MVC, NServiceBus and REACT.
He specializes in B2B eCommerce development with ERP integration and is a Episerver Certified Developer, as well as a Microsoft Certified Professional (Microsoft HTML5 with JavaScript & CSS3 Certification). As a Lead Developer at Brilliance, Drew serves as a technical lead and architect on Episerver projects.
Drew lives in Milwaukee with his wife, boys and their terrier/beagle/whippet, Lucy.
Likes: Swimming, Theater, Biking
Dislikes: Icy Roads, ATM Fees, Water in the Basement
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Mike Clausing
Lead Developer/Developer Manager
Mike Clausing
Lead Developer/Developer Manager
Lead Developer/Developer Manager
Mike Clausing
Mike graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in Computer Science and specializes in B2B eCommerce development at Brilliance. Before joining the Brilliance team, he worked at Direct Supply in IT Support and moved on to Entech as a PHP Programmer.
He is an Episerver Certified Developer with experience in CMS and FIND, as well as a Microsoft Certified Professional (Microsoft HTML5 with JavaScript & CSS3).
When not at work, Mike enjoys spending time with his fiancé and friends.
Likes: Volleyball, Working on Cars, New Programming Languages
Dislikes: Reality TV, alarm clocks
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Clay Griffith
Lead Developer
Clay Griffith
Lead Developer
Lead Developer
Clay Griffith
Clay graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a BBA in Management Information Systems. Prior to joining the Brilliance team, Clay worked at Advicent Solutions as a Quality/Automation Developer on Financial Advising software and more recently worked on IoT Monitoring applications at Generac Power Systems.
When Clay isn't at work, he enjoys tinkering with new programming languages, playing games, and spending time with friends.
Likes: Tennis, Board Game Nights, Seafood
Dislikes: Dancing, Unfinished work
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Caleb Tracy
Developer
Caleb Tracy
Developer
Developer
Caleb Tracy
Caleb graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a B.S. in Game Design and Development focused in Computer Science. Before joining Brilliance, he worked for the Marshfield Clinic Health System creating their new EHR software and maintaining various affiliated websites.
Likes: Games, Ultimate Frisbee, Discovering new music
Dislikes: Bad luck, Spring allergies, Square cut pizza
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Sam Kitzrow
Developer
Sam Kitzrow
Developer
Developer
Sam Kitzrow
Graduated from UW - La Crosse and started working as a software developer in 2014 at a financial software company. Before coming to Brilliance, Sam worked at National Business Furniture developing full stack features for their ecommerce site.
Likes: Live music, Basketball, Gardening, Skiing
Dislikes: Carnival Rides, Bad traffic
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Petr Matocha
Developer
Petr Matocha
Developer
Developer
Petr Matocha
Petr graduated from the Brno University of Technology with a Master of Science degree in Bioinformatics and Biocomputing. He specializes in B2B eCommerce development, mostly working on Episerver projects as an Episerver Certified Developer. Before focusing on eCommerce development he worked on logistics softwares and also automated warehouses for an Austrian company.
Petr currently lives in small village near Brno in Czech Republic.
Likes: Sport, football - soccer, board games, hiking, traveling, books, movies, tv series, theater, music, friends, sleeping, food
Dislikes: Coffee, waking up, arrogance
Ian Stuart
Developer
Ian Stuart
Developer
Developer
Ian Stuart
Ian graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He has 5 years of web and software development experience that includes experience with C#, .Net Framework, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Likes: Biking, Kayaking, Nintendo
Dislikes: Extreme temperatures, Koalas
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Will Boyer
Developer
Will Boyer
Developer
Developer
Will Boyer
Will knew he wanted to be a developer ever since he was a kid. At the age of 10 years old, he tinkered around in the Scratch programming language and batch scripts. When he got a CNC Programming job at The Prestwick Group in high school, he created macros in VBA for Excel to increase efficiency resulting in saved time and money for the company. Will obtained an Associate’s in Computer Science from Waukesha County Technical College in Waukesha, WI. He remained at The Prestwick Group for the following 4 years in the IT department gaining extensive knowledge in the manufacturing industry, Salesforce, KBMax, and implementing NetSuite ERP.
Likes: video games, comedy, hanging out with friends
Dislikes: Mondays, tomatoes, spending money
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Jacob Maurer
Developer
Jacob Maurer
Developer
Developer
Jacob Maurer
Jacob is Software Developer at Brilliance with over 10 years of software development experience. Jacob graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BS in Computer Science and Computer Engineering and a minor in Business. He is passionate about software engineering and agile principles. Prior to joining Brilliance, he worked at QuadMed as a Full Stack Software Engineer in the healthcare industry. Jacob is a current world traveler who has visited over 43 countries and counting.
Likes: Travel, Food, Volleyball and Tennis, Concerts
Dislikes: Mayo, Country Music
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Cristian Sánchez Vázquez
Developer
Cristian Sánchez Vázquez
Developer
Developer
Cristian Sánchez Vázquez
Enjoys designing and developing web applications, RESTful API, databases, and Azure. Also works on the development of the front-end or client side of the application using Angular and React.
Likes: StarCraft, travelling, playing board games with friends, reading fantasy novels.
Dislikes: The tropical heat where I live (if there is no air conditioning).
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Juan Toro
Developer
Juan Toro
Developer
Developer
Juan Toro
Software developer from Puerto Rico that enjoys transforming design into code with a growing interest for UI/UX design and API development. Over 3 years of front-end web development experience using latest client side technologies such as Angular and React.
Aside from the technical aspect, I enjoy cooking vegan meals, riding bike, playing video games, and spending time with my family and my cat Milo.
Likes: Cats, matcha, decaf coffee, beer, humor, stand-up comedy, working out
Dislikes: Dirty kitchen, heat, power outages, thunderstorms, spiders
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