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IQ-Inc

IQ-Inc

Engineering Custom Software Solutions

  • What We Do
    • Services
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      • Software Engineering
      • Software Testing
      • Software Quality Assurance
  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Our Team
  • News & Blog
  • Work With Us
    • Clients
    • Candidates
    • Testimonials
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  • Contact Us

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Our Team

Barbara VanKirk

Barbara VanKrik

President and Founder

Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence
Katz Graduate School of Business, Pittsburgh, PA
BS Computer Science
Point Park College, Pittsburgh, PA

 

Barbara VanKirk’s success has not gone by unrecognized. She was selected as one of “Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business” by the governor in 2003 and in 2008, an Enterprising Women of the Year Award winner. In 2007, Barbara received the Monroeville Chamber of Commerce ROC’s (Recognizing Organizations and Companies that Shine in our Community) Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Barbara was awarded Point Park University’s Distinguished Alumni Professional Achievement for 2010, Seton Hill University’s 2009 E-Magnify ATHENA® Award, and 2009 Friend of the Family by the Parental Stress Center of Pittsburgh.

IQ Inc. was named the 2009 Pittsburgh Business Ethics Award (small business category) by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and the David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership at the University of Pittsburgh. IQ was honored as The Western Pennsylvania Woman-Owned Business of the Year in 2011.

Barbara served on the executive committee of the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce and the Murrysville Personnel Board. She is a member of Point Park University Dean’s Advisory Council for the School of Business, the Forbes Health Foundation Board of Directors of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital Forbes Regional Campus, and is a founding member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council (Westmoreland County). She is an active member of the Women’s Presidents’ Organization, Pittsburgh Technology Council, and the Society of Women Engineers. Barbara has most recently been appointed to the Westmoreland County Forum for Workforce Development as a Chair on the Internships, Externships and Apprenticeships Task Force.

Amy Peterson

Amy Peterson

 

Chief Operating Officer

BS Computer Science and Mathematics
Clarion University, Clarion, PA

 

 

Amy serves as a member of the senior management team, responsible for defining strategic direction and instituting systems and processes that provide effective management to obtain IQ’s strategic direction and goals. Her focus is on driving service excellence, customer and employee satisfaction, organizational effectiveness, and overall continuous improvement.

Amy received her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from Clarion University in 1988 and has been an active leader in the Pittsburgh software development community for the last 28 years. She has worked for large and small businesses in the fields of software development, project management, engineering management, business development, and process improvement, and has held various senior management positions. Her software experience resides over all aspects and types of software engineering including embedded systems, PC systems, web applications, and mobile applications.

Amy has focused much of her career on implementing software engineering best practices and processes in highly regulated industries, developing leaders within her organizations, growing and developing great teams, and bettering our technical communities by supporting co-op and internship programs from various educational institutions.

Most recently, Amy co-founded and coordinates the Pittsburgh Technology Leaders Group (PTLG). The group’s mission is to provide opportunities for local technical leaders to grow in knowledge and skills though collaboration, education, and encouragement. She is also a member of the Pittsburgh Agile Executive Forum, the Pittsburgh chapter of Women in Bio, the AdvaMed Women’s Executive Network, and the Pittsburgh Technology Council.

Jean Pucek

Jean Pucek

 

Director of Operations

B.A. in Business Administration
Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota

 

 

Jean is a results-oriented leader tasked with the important job of keeping IQ awesome – while at the same time growing our company and people. She has a passion for technology, people, and finding the unique opportunities where they can come together.

Since 2011 Jean has helped grow the people, culture, and business of IQ through her role in recruiting, HR, and operations. She is a naturally empathetic person who instinctively cares, and is passionate about finding, engaging, and developing the people of IQ.

Jean is also the reigning ping pong champion of the IQ “Southwest Division”.

Norbert Balko

Norbert Balko

 

Software Engineering Manager

BS Electrical Engineering
MS Software Development and Management
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

 

Customer focused manager with over 25 years of experience developing electrical and software products across a wide spectrum of industries. Superb project management, problem solving, judgement and decision making skills. Extensive knowledge of all design stages from inception to final product delivery.

  • Position: Engineering Manager, Project Manager, Sr. Software Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Test Engineer
  • Industries: Medical Device, Electric Utility, Process Control, Automotive, Consumer Appliance
  • Competencies: Project Management, Software Development, System Integration, Manufacturing, Subcontractor Management, Process Improvement, Risk Management, Formal Test

Ryan Ernst

 

Software Engineering Manager

B.S. in Computer Science Engineering
B.S. in Electrical Engineering
University of Toledo, Toledo, OH

 

Ryan is a Software Engineering Manager who brings to his role a deep curiosity, love of learning, and an aversion to inefficiency. With a B.S. in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Engineering, he spent three years as a Software Engineer at IQ before becoming an Engineering Manager.

He is a process-nerd who questions “the way things have always been” and looks for new ways to think about old problems. Ryan’s main focus is on growing the culture and people of IQ to ensure we are constantly improving, cultivating innovation, and most importantly: always exceeding our customer’s expectations.

He is also the primary curator of the IQ inc. board game collection and addicted to Foosball.

Tom Whittaker

 

Engineering Director

B.S. in Physics
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

 

Tom is a self-professed lover of Agile processes who truly enjoys helping IQ teams perform at their very best. His B.S. in Physics gives him a mindset for data analytics, but his true passion is for the growth and development of the people of IQ. Prior to becoming an Engineering Manager at IQ, Tom worked extensively with C++ and C# and considers himself to be somewhat of a guru in managing complex database designs for efficiency and performance.

Tom is also quite interested in board gaming, and he takes great pleasure when he is able to best his coworkers at a game played during the lunch hour.

People of IQ

April Rak

April Rak

QA Test Engineer

Fun Fact:
I am terrified of heights, but love parasailing
Scott VanKirk

Scott VanKirk

QA Test Engineer

Favorite Vacation Spot:
Johns Island, SC
Zachary Walbrecher

Zachary Walbrecher

Software Engineer

I am a certified PA West Soccer Referee
Anthony de Almeida

Anthony de Almeida

Software Engineer

Favorite Movie:
Grose Pointe Blank
John Davies

John Davies

Software Architect

Favorite Movie:
Monsoon Wedding
Douglas Hall

Douglas Hull

QA Test Engineer

Fun Fact:
I live on and fish through the ice for a week every winter
Eric Frick

Eric Frick

Software Engineer

Fun Fact:
I once competed in bodybuilding
Roger Xue

Roger Xue

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I've visited almost 500 colleges.
Scott Plummer

Scott Plummer

QA Test Engineer

Fun Fact:
I have a tattoo of a Celtic cross on my left arm
Ryan McAndrew

Ryan McAndrew

Software Test Technician

Fun fact:
I am often given the role of a princess when I'm playing dolls with my four year old daughter.
Nancy Comisak

Nancy Comisak

Administrative Assistant

Fun Fact:
I make dollhouse and miniature items
Kevin Ross

Kevin Ross

Software Engineer

Fun Fact:
I have been a professional photographer and an amateur musician.
Jessica Egler

Jessica Egler

Software Engineer

Fun Fact:
I took voice lessons for 8 years and love to sing.
Chris Allwein

Chris Allwein

Software Engineer

Fun Fact:
I own a 2 foot tall bust of Kevin Bacon made out of bacon bits
Vijeta Bharat

Vijeta Bharat

Software Tester

Fun Fact:
A Fashion Designer by education; love to bake; henna is my new passion.
Alyn Parry

Alyn Parry

Software Technician

Fun fact:
I enjoy doing home improvement projects in my spare time.
Christopher Niessl

Christopher Niessl

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I play chess competitively, but am nowhere near Master level.
Zach Skorupka

Zach Skorupka

Project Coordinator

Fun fact:
Lover of long-form journalism and Cape Cod
Jeremy Zacharia

Jeremy Zacharia

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I love playing the drums and jamming out with friends
Chui Ong

Chui Ong

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I once worked as a housekeeper in Yellowstone National Park.
Steve Hayashi

Steve Hayashi

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I've designed and built my own guitar amplifier
Zach Hull

Zach Hull

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I can identify over 40 species of PA birds by song and feather
Tyler Sechler

Tyler Sechler

Talent Management Coordinator

Fun fact:
I like to mountain bike, hike, and fish
Kevin Davis

Kevin Davis

Test Technician

Fun fact:
I enjoy running and disc golf.
Mike Shields

Mike Shields

Software Engineer

Chris Smith

Chris Smith

Talent Management Coordinator

Fun fact:
I have tried out for "Deal or no Deal", "Survivor", & "Family Feud".....unsuccessfully.
Karisa Fernandez

Karisa Fernandez

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I have hiked up 4750 meters in the Columbian Andes.
Russ Heeschen

Russ Heeschen

QA Test Engineer

Fun fact:
LI have a copy of "Gödel, Escher, Bach" signed by Frank Zappa
Denise Jablonski

Denise Jablonski

Operations Support Specialist

Fun fact:
I once did a sprint triathlon.
Aaron Rosier

Aaron Rosier

QA Test Engineer

Fun fact:
I hitchhiked, backpacked, and took public transit around Europe for 105 days
Matt Henry

Matt Henry

QA Engineer

Reggie Lynch

Reggie Lynch

QA Test Engineer

Fun fact:I love fishing, playing with my labs, and antique bottle collecting.
Sarah Nelson

Sarah Nelson

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
My favorite meal is spaghetti and garlic bread.
Tim Ruppen

Tim Ruppen

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I'm working on skiing every major ski resort in the U.S and Canada.
Nick Cecchetti

Nick Cecchetti

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I am a member of the Monroeville and the Achievers Toastmasters club.
Jared Wolff

Jared Wolff

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I lived in the Chicago area for almost 14 years.
Brian Peters

Brian Peters

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I like to write and record music.
Ramadevi Banda

Ramadevi Banda

QA Test Engineer

Fun fact:
I enjoy exploring new places and spending time with friends and family.
Jason-Byrnes

Jason Byrnes

QA Test Engineer

Fun fact:
I drive a manual transmission vehicle and I like drag racing.
Omar Salha

Omar Salha

Software Engineering Co-op

Fun fact:
I can speak a different language (Arabic)
Sharri Thomas

Sharri Thomas

QA Test Engineer

Fun fact:
I play guitar, but can read music better than I can play.
Sreegowri Krishna

Sreegowri Krishna

Test Technician

Fun fact:
I enjoy reading, cooking and music.
Ozoda Aripova

Ozoda Aripova

Software QA Test Engineer

Fun fact:
I tried flying a plane for fun and was offered to get a flying license!
Sebastian Thiem

Sebastian Thiem

Software Engineer

Fun fact:
I love to cook. Someday I hope to have lovely dinner parties.
Daniel Stoffregen

Daniel Stoffregen

Configuration Engineer

Fun Fact:
I've gone skydiving, and highly recommend it.
Debra Klinefelter

Debra Klinefelter

QA Test Engineer

Fun Fact:
I am a ski patroller at Hidden Valley resort.
Tim Braslavsky

Tim Braslavsky

Software Developer

Fun Fact:
I have a 1st-degree black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do.
Marjorie Horner

Marjorie Horner

Software QA Test Engineer

Fun Fact:
I am an Emmy winner who likes to take cruises.
Ottania Rosario

Ottania Rosario

Software Engineer

Fun Fact:
My first Tiktok went viral.
Jesse Starr

Jesse Starr

Software Engineer

Fun Fact:
I've been to 27 countries and counting.
Roy Zhang

Roy Zhang

Software Engineer

Fun Fact:
I used to sing bass in the choir.
Kenny Wu

Kenny Wu

Software Engineer

Fun Fact:
I’ve been to 18 countries and counting.
Evan McEllhenney

Evan McEllhenney

Test Technician

Fun Fact:
I played on an Ultimate Frisbee Team for 4 years.
Ryan Bost

Ryan Bost

Test Technician

Fun Fact:
My father and I are fixing up an old sailboat we found along the road.
Mike Kosior

Mike Kosior

Software Architect

Fun Fact:
I love NASCAR
Shreyank Ranganath

Shreyank Ranganath

Software Engineer

Fun Fact:
I enjoy soup and appetizers a lot more than the main course.

Want to be a part of this work-hard, play-hard team?

View Current Openings
2790 Mosside Blvd. #305
Monroeville, PA 15146
IQ inc logo

724.327.3441 | info@iq-inc.com


  • What We Do
    • Services
    • Industries Served
    • Projects
  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Our Team
  • News & Blog
  • Work With Us
    • Clients
    • Candidates
    • Testimonials
    • Job Openings
  • Contact Us
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