Management Contacts
This page is designed to provide quick access and information on Ntiva’s executive management team. If you have any technical issue requiring immediate attention please contact the Ntiva help desk at 703-891-0131 option 2 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
President - Steven Freidkin
Direct: 703-891-0131 x285
Fax: 703-752-1310
Email:
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Steven founded Ntiva, Inc. in 2004 and serves as the company’s President. Before starting Ntiva, Steven ran a highly successful IT consulting company that grew organically throughout his high school and college years. Steven’s love for technology, natural customer service skills and dollars and sense business acumen laid the key foundations to success. Add to this a constant quest to find the brightest, service-oriented team member, the company has grown simply via word of mouth by leveraging the value of service with a true understanding of client’s business needs. Today, Ntiva, Inc. has over 70 full-time engineers that share a common goal of providing bottom-line drive technical value for his clients. Steven and Ntiva are responsible for the IT strategy and support clients that range from start-ups to half a billion dollar companies. Ntiva, Inc. has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Washington DC Region for 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 with locations in Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, New York, Colorado, and California. Steven studied accounting and finance at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and resides in the DC metro area.
Chief Operating Officer - Melissa McConnell
Direct: 703-891-0131 x306
Fax: 703-891-0129
Email:
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Melissa McConnell joined Ntiva in late 2012 and serves as the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Prior to Ntiva, Melissa held a diverse set of professional services industry roles in companies across the U.S. including similar leadership positions, business development and marketing roles, and provided management consulting for start-up to mid-sized organizations. At Ntiva, her focus is on organization-wide process improvement, team development, and elevating execution against our sincere value for client relationships and support. Melissa holds an Interdepartmental Studies degree in International Business and Latin American Studies from the University of Iowa and an MBA from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University.
Chief Technology Officer - Jonathan Galentine
Direct: 703-891-0131 x304
Fax: 571-766-3932
Email:
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As Chief Technology Officer, he strives to keep Ntiva on the cutting edge while developing solutions that save clients time and money. He ensures that standards are created and maintained for all aspects of technical operations. Jonathan holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech, where he focused on parallel computation and algorithm design.
Director of Technical Operations - Damon Degner
Direct: 703-891-0131 x317
Fax: 703-891-0129
Email:
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Damon Degner is the Assistant Director of Operations at Ntiva, Inc. Damon graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a B.S. in Information Systems focusing on networking. In 1999, Damon entered the realm of Information Systems, engineering WAN solutions for the U.S. air traffic system. He has also provided enhancements to the Civil Aviation Administration of China's air traffic network in Beijing. He has provided systems engineering solutions & training to a multitude of clients around the globe. He has worked in China, South Korea, India, Mexico, Germany, & Belgium. Today, Damon focuses on his clients satisfaction & their IT infrastructures, from design to implementation to support. Damon is a very proud father of 2 daughters. He is also a PADI certified Rescue Diver & holds a Private Pilot Certificate.
Director of Help Desk - Randy Mazzi
Direct: 703-891-0131 x334
Fax: 703-891-0129
Email:
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After graduating from the University of Maryland College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Randy worked in management and social services at a variety of companies. Randy’s IT career was born and bred at Ntiva. Joining the company as a help desk technician, he developed his skills and has grown to manage the department. Out of the office, Randy plays the bass guitar and has shared stages with several nationally known acts including The Blue Oyster Cult, Jo Dee Messina, Shooter Jennings, and Scott Ambush (of Grammy nominated Spyro Gyra).
Director of Infrastructure Services - Sean Kelly
Direct: 703-891-0131 x324
Fax: 571-766-3935
Email:
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Sean Kelly is the Director of Infrastructure Services and a Systems Administrator for Ntiva and its clients. He has spent over 20 years exhibiting his love for computers and electronics through hard work and experimentation. After his education, he joined the Navy and worked on the Ohio class submarines as a navigations equipment electrician. He has also worked as an electronics technician for Linearizer Technology, Inc. At Ntiva he is able to practice his passion daily and is responsible for the success and growth of their installations team.
Director of Managed Services - Sean O'Sullivan
Direct: 703-891-0131 x322
Fax: 571-766-3936
Email:
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Sean O'Sullivan has been a part of the Ntiva, Inc. team since 2007 and is currently the Director of Managed Services. Since graduating from the University of Delaware he has held multiple positions in different divisions of the company, starting as part of the invaluable Ntiva helpdesk. His ability to troubleshoot and problem solve quickly and effectively makes him a great asset to both Ntiva, Inc. and his clients. Sean's passion for investigating the newest technologies and his commitment to finding the proper IT solutions for each individual client has inspired his upward progression in the company. His enthusiasm has helped engineer and move many of Ntiva's clients into the cloud, keeping them at the forefront of next generation computing. Sean is committed to both co-workers and clients in order to enhance the Ntiva product and help make IT as efficient and seamless as possible.
Director of Customer Care - Lauren Ruggiero
Direct: 703-891-0131 x316
Fax: 571-766-3933
Email:
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Lauren Ruggiero is the Director of Customer Care at Ntiva, Inc. She is responsible for ensuring that each experience at Ntiva is met with our signature "Wow & Delight" treatment. Lauren graduated from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and participated in the management team at Kinder Care. She has been part of the Ntiva team since 2007 when she started as a customer service representative and grew to become the individual responsible for the entire customer care team. Ntiva has proven to be the right long-term match for her passion of pleasing people. She is an avid sports fan and enjoys wedding planning.
Director of Software Development - Shaun Thomas Frisbee
Direct: 703-891-0131 x320
Fax: 571-766-3931
Email:
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Shaun Frisbee has extensive experience in creating custom designed software for organizations utilizing Microsoft .NET technologies and Microsoft SQL Database engines. Shaun Frisbee is a veteran of the US Armed Forces and has spent time overseas where he provided support for government initiatives. He is experienced with project planning tools and is responsible for managing projects and ensuring efficient and effective progress and outcomes. He holds his bachelor of science degree in computer information systems and his masters degree in information systems management. Shaun enjoys spending his free time with his daughters, Evelynn and Delilah.
Director of Project Management - Eric Kim
Direct: 703-891-0131 x364
Fax: 571-766-3937
Email:
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Eric Kim began his IT career at Best Buy as a member of the Geek Squad. During his tenure, he was able to help develop many processes and procedures that are still used today. Looking for a change of pace from a retail environment, Eric joined Siemens Business Services to expand his knowledge within the IT industry. Through Siemens, Eric gained valuable insight into enterprise level IT services by working with major corporations and governmental organizations such as Verizon, Bearing Point, Washington Mutual, and the Dept. of Defense. After his tenure at Siemens, Eric entered into IT consulting through several small, local IT firms. There he held various positions including Help Desk, Systems Engineer, and finally an Engineering Manager for a nationwide Small to Medium business consulting firm. Eric joined Ntiva in 2011 to continue his passion for IT and to continue the growth and success of its Project Management Department.
Controller - Robert Hoff
Direct: 703-891-0131 x326
Fax: 703-891-0129
Email:
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Bob Hoff joined Ntiva in 2008. As Controller, he leads and directs Ntiva's financial operations, including external and internal financial reporting, accounting operations, and budget management functions. Mr. Hoff has more than 20 years in Accounting/Finance and Administration management arena. Prior to joining Ntiva, Hoff was Vice President and Controller of the USO, a private, nonprofit international organization, with more than 135 centers worldwide whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services to our men and women in uniform. During his tenure with the USO Hoff is credited with centralizing the financial and budgeting operations as well as streamlining the annual audit process and tax return preparation. Hoff holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Salisbury and a Masters in Business Administration from Marymount University.
Vice President of West Coast Operations - Bryan Berman
Direct: 310-499-9560 x214
Fax: 310-499-9561
Email:
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Bryan has more than 12 years experience in the Information Technology field and executive management. He currently serves as Vice President of Ntiva’s West Coast Operations but maintains a hands-on involvement while leading a variety of projects. Prior to joining Ntiva Inc. Bryan was the founding partner and CEO of MBA Computer Consultants a California based end- to end- IT solutions provider. Bryan oversaw the successful merger between Ntiva Inc. and MBA Computer Consultants. After joining Ntiva he leveraged his vast experience in the Information Technology field across multiple disciplines and has brought a depth of, technical skills and management capabilities to the organization.
Director of Central Operations - Steve Schmalz
Direct: 719-282-2897 x601
Fax: 719-213-2163
Email:
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Steve Schmalz joined the technology industry with an Electrical Engineering degree during the mid-1980s in Silicon Valley where he worked for one of the largest and most successful semiconductor equipment manufactures in the world, KLA-Tencor. Traveling the globe, Schmalz solved equipment and production issues for leading semiconductor manufacturers such as Intel, AMD, IBM, and HP. Deciding Silicon Valley was not the place for a growing family, Schmalz moved to Colorado Springs in the late-1990s. Continuing his work with KLA-Tencor, Schmalz built a strong foundation understanding how technology and automation can be used to improve business processes and productivity, significantly increasing profitability while creating competitive advantages.
Looking for a change from the corporate world, Schmalz founded, IT Ability in January 2005, a small technology consulting firm in Colorado Springs that focused on providing information technology (IT) services for small and medium sized businesses. Utilizing his experiences, Schmalz saw an opportunity to change the inefficient and sometimes ineffective way IT service and support was being delivered to local businesses. Combining the latest support technologies with quality response he was able to provide unprecedented levels of IT support that had a direct impact to his client’s operations and bottom line.
In early 2011, IT Ability began working with Ntiva providing local IT support for a large defense contractor with multiple offices in the US with three offices in Colorado Springs. In May 2011 Steven Freidkin and Steve Schmalz finalized an agreement to combine forces. “The depth of support and services we now offer is another first for Colorado Springs” says Steve Schmalz. “There is not another IT provider in Colorado Springs that has the capabilities, the staff, or the services to match what we offer. I am proud that we continually provide innovative services and support to businesses. Partnering with Ntiva sets the bar to a new high.”
Human Resources Manager - Jonathan Peyer
Direct: 703-891-0131 x290
Email:
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Jonathan Peyer is the Human Resources Manager at Ntiva. Jon is responsible for all Human Resources functionalities, from talent recruitment and the hiring process to benefits management and employee development. Jon graduated from the University of Maryland College Park in 2001 holding a degree in Family Sciences.