The Tovala Steam Oven is a countertop steam oven that pairs with Tovala Meal deliveries so you can cook fresh, healthy meals without any effort at all.

Food & Beverage

Tovala

Kevin Glennon is the Director of Oven Engineering at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Keving has over 8 years of experience in product development and mechanical engineering. Kevin has a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/org/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign).

Kevin started their career as a Lead Project Engineer at Orion Industries, Ltd. Keving was responsible for researching, designing, and managing projects for the company. Kevin was instrumental in getting 3D printing up and running at Orion. Keving also did troubleshooting on existing machines to determine the root cause of their issues.

In 2014, Kevin became the Product Development Manager at Weber-Stephen Products LLC. In this role, they managed a team of engineers and was responsible for advanced projects that were 3-10 years from launch. Kevin worked closely with other engineering teams and departments to create new and innovative products within the grilling industry. Keving created an environment of accountability, six sigma methodology, and teamwork.

In 2022, Kevin became the Director of Oven Engineering at [Tovala](/org/tovala). In this role, they are responsible for leading a team of engineers to design, develop, and test ovens for the [Tovala](/org/tovala) product line. Kevin is passionate about creating products that are innovative, efficient, and user-friendly.

Kevin Glennon has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the [Illinois Institute of Technology](/org/illinois-institute-of-technology).

They work with Seungjin Hong - Backend Engineer, Brent Wagner - UX Design Lead, and Keeley Kabala - COO. Keving Glennon reports to Bryan Wilcox, Co-founder, CTO.

Kevin Glennon

Peter Fiflis is the Senior Vice President of Technology R&D at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to this role, they served as the Director of Research and Development at [Tovala](/org/tovala) from September 2015 to April 2020. Before joining [Tovala](/org/tovala), Peter was an intern at [Argonne National Laboratory](/org/argonne-national-laboratory) from May 2010 to August 2010, where they researched remote detection of radiation in air via mmW radar as well as passive mmW imaging though blackbody radiation. Peter also interned at [Argonne National Laboratory](/org/argonne-national-laboratory) from May 2009 to August 2009, researching remote detection of radiation in air via mmW radar as well as passive mmW imaging though blackbody radiation. Peter obtained their degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where they worked on the material characterization test stand designing and building vacuum systems for researching the material properties of lithium as well as its interactions with different materials in support of liquid metal divertor concepts for magnetic confinement fusion. Peter also worked on the Tungsten Fuzz Investigation, designing and building vacuum systems for researching nanostructuring of metals by plasma impingement for catalysis as well as mitigation of nanostructure formation in fusion divertors. In addition, Peter participated in the disassembly of the WEGA stellarator in Greifswald, Germany as well as the re-assembly of the device at the Center for Plasma Material Interactions at UIUC while they were a graduate student.

Peter Fiflis has a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Peter also has a Master's Degree in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Peter's undergraduate degree is in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

They are on a team with Joan Comas Creus - Industrial Process Engineer, Keeley Kabala - COO, and Ranjan Melpal - Mechanical Engineer. Peter Fiflis reports to Bryan Wilcox, Co-founder, CTO.

Peter Fiflis

Josh Billions is the current Lead iOS Developer at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Josh has also held the position of Chief Technology Officer / Co-founder at BikeSpike from January 2012 to January 2018. Prior to that, they were with MC2 Development Team as a Systems Architect and before that they were with Black Market from May 2009 to May 2010 as the Director of Logistics / Co-founder. Their first job was with Perry Computer as a Macintosh Field Engineer from January 2005 to December 2008.

Josh Billions studied art and technology studies at the [School of the Art Institute of Chicago](/org/school-of-the-art-institute-of-chicago), where they earned their bachelor's degree. Josh then went on to study photography at the University of Montevallo, where they also earned their bachelor's degree.

They work with Neel Bhat - Software Engineering Manager, Larry Gust - Software Engineer, and Shawn May - Sr. iOS Developer. Their manager is Adam Brakhane, Director of Software Engineering.

Josh Billions

Rachel Pentecost is a senior operations manager at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Rachel previously worked as a general manager at Bristol Bakery & Cafe Wholesale LLC from July 2014 to July 2016.

They are on a team with Cen Qian - VP, Supply Chain, Ted Glasnow - Director of Business Development, and Andy Devoto - Email & CRM Manager. Their manager is Taryn Aronson, CFO.

Rachel Pentecost

Jane Makin is currently a Senior Data Engineer at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Jane has previously worked as a Data Engineer at Arrive, where they maintained and built ETL pipelines running in Apache Airflow, and also maintained and improved data infrastructure in Amazon S3 and Redshift. Jane has also worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Chicago, where they educated and mentored graduate students in Introduction to Python Programming and Bioinformatics classes. In addition, they have also worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Chicago.

Jane Makin has a Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Biological Sciences, General from the same school. Jane is certified from [Coursera](/org/coursera) in Algorithms for DNA Sequencing, Introduction to Genomic Technologies, and Python for Genomic Data Science. Jane is also certified from Lucid in Lucidchart Essentials.

Their manager is Adam Brakhane, Director of Software Engineering. Jane Makin works with Josh Billions - Lead iOS Developer, Larry Gust - Software Engineer, and Danielle Aubry - Web Developer.

Jane Makin

Cal Zoellner is the SVP of Manufacturing Operations at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to joining [Tovala](/org/tovala), Cal was the Director of Fulfillment Center Operations at Plated, where they oversaw seven production and fulfillment centers nationwide. During their time at Plated, Cal led numerous initiatives to improve performance, communication, and culture within the organization. Cal was also instrumental in launching a new production and fulfillment center in Totowa, NJ. 

Cal's experience in overseeing large-scale operations and leading organizational change makes him an excellent fit for their current role at [Tovala](/org/tovala). In their current role, Cal is responsible for overseeing all aspects of [Tovala](/org/tovala)'s manufacturing operations, from product development and production to quality control and shipping. Under Cal's leadership, [Tovala](/org/tovala) has continued to improve its manufacturing processes and operations, resulting in higher quality products and greater customer satisfaction.

Cal Zoellner works with Erik Chizeck - Sr. Director, Culinary Ops, Lejla Sudar - GM, Marketplace, and Jill Balis - Chief Growth Officer. Their manager is David Rabie, Co-founder, CEO. Some individuals on their team include Colin Scheidenhelm - Inventory Manager, Molli Franz - Office Manager, and Monica Rodriguez - HR Administrator.

Cal Zoellner

Jeff Nogaj has over 10 years of experience in marketing, with a focus on paid search and SEM. Jeff has worked with companies of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises, and has a proven track record of success in building and scaling SEM programs. Jeff is currently the Director of Growth Marketing at [Tovala](/org/tovala), a startup that is revolutionizing the way people cook at home. Prior to joining [Tovala](/org/tovala), Jeff was the Director of Growth Marketing at [Grubhub](/org/grubhub), where they built the infrastructure to fuel a rapidly growing SEM program as GrubHub scaled from ten to hundreds of US cities. Before [Grubhub](/org/grubhub), Jeff was a Marketing Consultant at Eurocafe Imports, where they created online business strategy and led the production team to launch a new site and e-commerce platform. Jeff has also worked as an SEM Manager at SMG Search, where they managed local and national paid search campaigns across several verticals with budgets exceeding $3MM annually. Jeff is skilled in data analysis and excels at developing spreadsheets to improve workflow. Jeff is also experienced in using industry tools for research, optimization, and competitive insights.

Jeff Nogaj graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Marketing.

Jeff Nogaj reports to Lesley Butler, Chief Marketing Officer. They work with and Maggie Pluskota - Sr. Copywriter & Editor.

Jeff Nogaj

Josh Boock is the Director of Customer Support at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to their current position, they served as the Senior Manager of Customer Support at [Stats Perform](/org/stats-perform) from May 2019 to September 2020. In this role, they were responsible for creating an industry-leading support organization while leading a 24/7 global support team. Josh also provided front-line technical support for all STATS products, including monitoring, triage, documentation, and escalation management for over 700 worldwide clients.

Boock began their career in 2005 as the Manager of eCommerce Support at Grainger. In this role, they oversaw all aspects of customer support for Grainger's online store. Josh then transitioned to [Grubhub](/org/grubhub) in 2016, where they served as the Director of Workforce Management and Planning. In this role, they were responsible for overseeing all aspects of workforce management and planning for [Grubhub](/org/grubhub)'s rapidly growing customer support team. Josh then joined [Stats Perform](/org/stats-perform) in 2019, where they served as the Senior Manager of Customer Support before being promoted to their current role as Director of Customer Support at [Tovala](/org/tovala) in 2020.

Josh Boock attended [DePauw University](/org/depauw-university) where they obtained their BA in Computer Science. Josh also attended Notre Dame High School for Boys. Josh has also obtained certification from Raw Signal Group in both Raw Signal Group Management Training and A Manager's Toolkit for Supporting Change. Additionally, Josh is a Competent Leader and Communicator through Toastmasters International.

Josh Boock reports to David Rabie, Co-founder, CEO. Some of their coworkers include Annie Pecoraro - Director of Customer Insights, Jake Schneider - Culinary Manager, and Lesley Butler - Chief Marketing Officer. Some individuals on their team include Will Glynn - Customer Support Specialist, Rikita Prince - Customer Support Specialist, and Sarah Tournear - Customer Support Specialist.

Josh Boock

Peggy Fillis is the current General Manager of West Coast Tovala. Peggy has extensive experience in operations management, having worked as an FC Operations Manager at Plated from January 2018 to March 2020. While at Plated, they were responsible for optimizing product delivery and production, which improved product quality by 48%. Peggy also consistently met order fulfillment accuracy and labor cost goals / metrics. In addition, they led Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing initiatives which increased productivity by 22% while simultaneously reducing headcount by 10%.

Peggy Fillis has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Operations and Project Management from [DePaul University](/org/depaul-university), as well as a certification from ServSafe in ServSafe Manager. Peggy also has a high school diploma from Elmwood Park High School.

Peggy Fillis reports to David Rabie, Co-founder, CEO. Peggy Fillis works with Taryn Aronson - CFO, Bryan Wilcox - Co-founder, CTO, and Lesley Butler - Chief Marketing Officer.

Peggy Fillis

Kentaro Ogawa is a Culinary Ops Specialist at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Kentaro previously worked as a Quality Assurance Analyst II at the T. Marzetti Company from June 2016 to June 2019. In this role, they worked on continuous process improvement projects targeting cost-saving and efficiency, such as weight control and revising lab practices. Kentaro also contributed quality-related ideas to the Food Safety and Quality Pillar group.

From July 2019 to February 2021, Kentaro Ogawa worked as an R&D Food Technologist at Kikkoman Marketing & Planning, Inc. In this role, they were responsible for researching and developing new food products, as well as improving existing products.

Before working in the food industry, Kentaro Ogawa was a professional League of Legends player and team founder. Kentaro was also a student cook at University Catering and Rhody Market.

Kentaro Ogawa has a Bachelor of Science in Food Business Management from [The Ohio State University](/org/the-ohio-state-university). Kentaro also has certification from T. Marzetti Company in Six Sigma Green Belt and from [The Ohio State University](/org/the-ohio-state-university) in HACCP. Lastly, they have certification from American Safety Council, Inc in Online Food Handler Program.

Kentaro Ogawa reports to Erik Chizeck, Sr. Director, Culinary Ops.

Kentaro Ogawa

Kevin Brandstatter is a backend engineer at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Kevin previously worked as an intermediate DevOps engineer at [QsrSoft](/org/qsrsoft) from August 2020 to July 2021, a software developer at CPI from May 2018 to July 2020, a platform engineer at [Ocient](/org/ocient) from May 2017 to May 2018, and a software developer at Epic from June 2015 to March 2017. Kevin also worked as a software development intern at Epic from May 2014 to August 2014 and as a developer/researcher at [Accenture](/org/accenture) from May 2012 to August 2012. Kevin has also worked as a summer research intern at the Max Planck Institute for Cellular Biology and Genetics from May 2013 to August 2013 and as a research assistant at DataSys Lab from June 2011 to May 2015.

Kevin Brandstatter attended the [Illinois Institute of Technology](/org/illinois-institute-of-technology), where they earned both their bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science.

Kevin Brandstatter reports to Bryan Wilcox, Co-founder, CTO. Some of their coworkers include Seungjin Hong - Backend Engineer, Brent Wagner - UX Design Lead, and Peter Fiflis - SVP, Technology R&D.

Kevin Brandstatter

Seungjin Hong is a backend engineer at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to that, they worked as an Appian Developer at CollabraLink Technologies, Inc. from January 2020 to August 2020. There, they implemented cloud-based automated workflows and developed DB scripts. From January 2019 to December 2019, Seungjin was a Computer Science Teaching Assistant - Mobile Development at the [University of Maryland](/org/university-of-maryland) where they led TA sessions 10 hours a week and assisted professors in teaching 140 CS students iOS and Android concepts. In 2018, they interned as a Summer Software Engineer Intern at ImmaBe. From September 2016 to June 2018, Seungjin worked as an Onsite IT Consultant & Computer Technician at Nurturing Hope, LLC.

Seungjin Hong has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the [University of Maryland](/org/university-of-maryland).

Seungjin Hong reports to Bryan Wilcox, Co-founder, CTO. They are on a team with Peter Fiflis - SVP, Technology R&D, Adam Brakhane - Director of Software Engineering, and Brian Krall - Sr. Director, Growth Engineering.

Seungjin Hong

Nicho Rivera is a backend engineer at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to that, they were a software engineer at [Berkadia](/org/berkadia) from April 2019 to October 2020. Before that, they were a graduate assistant at [Appalachian State University](/org/appalachian-state-university) from January 2017 to December 2017, where they designed graphics for pamphlets, brochures, web, and posters. Nicho was also a web developer at KNEW Health, Inc. from January 2018 to February 2019, where they worked on Wordpress, React, Express, Node.js, Webpack, API development, HTML, CSS, JS, and PostgreSQL. Prior to that, they were a guide at Green River Adventures from April 2014 to October 2014, where they guided 200 foot tall waterfall rappels and daily trips on class III - IV rivers. Nicho was also a rock climbing guide at Appalachian Mountain Institute from August 2013 to November 2013.

Nicho Rivera completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus in International Business from [Appalachian State University](/org/appalachian-state-university). Prior to that, they completed a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Spanish Language and Literature from the [University of North Georgia](/org/university-of-north-georgia). Nicho also holds a certification from the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI) in Wilderness First Responder.

Their manager is Bryan Wilcox, Co-founder, CTO. They are on a team with Brian Krall - Sr. Director, Growth Engineering, Ranjan Melpal - Mechanical Engineer, and Joan Comas Creus - Industrial Process Engineer.

Nicho Rivera

Ranjan Melpal is a mechanical engineer who currently works at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to working at [Tovala](/org/tovala), Melpal worked for Ford Motor Company as a product engineer for their chassis department. In this role, Melpal was responsible for managing CAD/CAE personnel and working cross-functionally with purchasing, marketing, factory, studio, quality, etc. to ensure the successful implementation of Ford's high-volume novel premium wheels and ornaments.

Before working at Ford Motor Company, Melpal worked as a design engineer for Honda R&D Americas. In this role, Melpal was responsible for the design and development of new products for Honda. Additionally, Melpal interned at [Tesla](/org/tesla) as a mechanical design engineering intern where they worked on low voltage mechanical components.

Melpal obtained their bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016. After graduation, Melpal worked as a graduate research engineer for [Procter & Gamble](/org/procter-gamble)'s baby care business unit before eventually landing their current role at [Tovala](/org/tovala).

Ranjan Melpal has a master's degree in mechanical engineering from [University of Cincinnati](/org/university-of-cincinnati) with a specialization in design and manufacturing. Ranjan also has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University. Ranjan is certified by [Tata Technologies](/org/tata-technologies-limited) in SolidWorks 2014 Surface Design and Plastic Part Design Essentials, by Siemens PLM Software in GO PLM Certification for NX 10.0, and by Lynda.com in Surfacing with SolidWorks and SolidWorks 2014. Ranjan also has a certification in Six Sigma Green Belt from [University of Cincinnati](/org/university-of-cincinnati).

Some of their coworkers include Brent Wagner - UX Design Lead, Andrew Tople - VP, Software Engineering, and Hayoung Kwon - Design Lead. Their manager is Bryan Wilcox, Co-founder, CTO.

Ranjan Melpal

Will Glynn is a customer support specialist at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Will has also worked as a server at Napa Flats and as an Austin Community College. Will's responsibilities have included overseeing processes related to the production of computer chips in a manufacturing environment, monitoring facility equipment and machinery for errors, resolving complex issues with equipment and machinery, setting dynamic controls via computer software, creating end of shift reports, and manually loading product in clean room environment when required. Will is also able to lift 50 lbs and stand on feet for 90% of shift when required.

Will Glynn earned an Associate of Science in Psychology from Austin Community College. Will then went on to study engineering at Austin Community College and Monroe Community College. Finally, they completed their general studies at [Fayetteville Technical Community College](/org/fayetteville-technical-community-college).

They are on a team with Marissa Newlee - Customer Support Specialist, Rikita Prince - Customer Support Specialist, and Sarah Tournear - Customer Support Specialist. Their manager is Josh Boock, Director of Customer Support.

Will Glynn

Molli Franz is the Office Manager at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Molli was previously the Senior Human Resources Generalist at Professional Sports Catering from February 2018 to August 2020. In their previous role, they were the regional leader for human resources operations at 30+ MiLB locations across the U.S. and a corporate regional resource for location managers on employee relations. Molli processed all team member personnel and payroll changes in the company HRIS, coordinated with hiring managers on job postings and assisted in recruitment of all full-time positions. Molli also developed and executed the mid-year and year-end performance review process for 120+ managers. Additionally, they led the introduction and integration of a new People Performance Management HRIS tool, PeopleHub, to 120+ PSC team members. Molli assisted in the creation and implementation of the "On Deck" Leadership Program for developing leaders within PSC. Molli also planned and executed a company-wide summit, coordinating all travel, lodging and events for 60 directors and regional team members across the company. Furthermore, they created consistent onboarding materials to streamline company hiring processes as well as traveled to locations across the U.S. to lead the onboarding presentation and hiring processes. Lastly, they acted as the HR liaison for best practices in the opening of six ballparks throughout the U.S. and was a member of Project Great Service- a committee that fosters engagement and inclusiveness at the Levy Home Office.

Molli Franz has a Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management from [John Cabot University](/org/john-cabot-university) and is currently pursuing a career in Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration.

Molli Franz reports to Cal Zoellner, SVP, Manufacturing Operations. They work with Nick Lotz - FP&A Manager, Colin Scheidenhelm - Inventory Manager, and Monica Rodriguez - HR Administrator.

Molli Franz

Mike Mason is a recruiter at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Mike has worked as a recruiter for [Infinity Consulting Solutions](/org/infinity-consulting-solutions) from June 2015 to February 2021 and for [TransUnion](/org/transunion) from January 2014 to December 2015. Mike was an intern for Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity from May 2012 to August 2012.

Mike Mason has a degree in Communication Studies from the [University of Iowa](/org/university-of-iowa). Mike also attended Saint Bede Academy.

Their manager is Monica Rodriguez, HR Administrator.

Mike Mason

Carolyn Kriss is currently the VP of Strategy at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to this, they served as the General Manager of Caviar Chicago for [DoorDash](/org/doordash) and Square. Carolyn also worked as a Business Development Manager at [Civis Analytics](/org/civis-analytics). 

Carolyn Kriss has a proven track record of success in leading and growing teams and businesses. As the General Manager of Caviar Chicago, they accelerated the market to become the fastest-growing market at Caviar. In just 15 months, they grew the user base 3x as the first GM hire at Capsule. Carolyn also pioneered Capsule's employer-facing Covid vaccine offering via partnership with the [Chicago Transit Authority](/org/chicago-transit-authority), resulting in vaccinating over 3,000 essential employees.

Some of their coworkers include Jake Schneider - Culinary Manager, Taryn Aronson - CFO, and Annie Pecoraro - Director of Customer Insights. Carolyn Kriss reports to David Rabie, Co-founder, CEO.

Carolyn Kriss

Jill Balis is the Chief Growth Officer at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to [Tovala](/org/tovala), they were the Chief Marketing Officer at [Groupon](/org/groupon) from January 2021 to March 2022. In this role, Jill oversaw all global consumer marketing including brand, performance marketing, customer growth, and merchandising.

Before [Groupon](/org/groupon), Jill was the Chief Marketing Officer at The Grommet from January 2016 to December 2019. The Grommet is a product discovery platform for new-to-market consumer products from small businesses, entrepreneurs, and inventors. Jill was responsible for all marketing activities including brand, customer acquisition, CRM, PR, and content development, as well as customer support.

Prior to The Grommet, Jill was the SVP Marketing at PillPack from January 2015 to December 2015. Before PillPack, Jill was the SVP, Marketing at RetailMeNot, Inc. from January 2011 to December 2015. In this role, Jill was responsible for all marketing activities for the company, including brand management, customer acquisition, CRM, PR, and content development.

Before RetailMeNot, Inc., Jill was the EVP/Managing Director - SMG Search at Starcom MediaVest Group from January 2008 to December 2011. In this role, Jill oversaw all search engine marketing for the company.

Jill Balis graduated from the [University of Pennsylvania](/org/university-of-pennsylvania) with a bachelor's degree in political science. Jill then went on to get their MBA from [Northwestern University](/org/northwestern-university)'s Kellogg School of Management, with a focus in marketing, strategy, and technology.

They are on a team with Bryan Wilcox - Co-founder, CTO, Peggy Fillis - General Manager, West Coast, and Natalie Coleman - Chief People Officer. Jill Balis reports to David Rabie, Co-founder, CEO.

Jill Balis

Thad Duprey is currently the Senior Director of Product Innovation at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to this, they were the Chief Product Officer at Blanket from September 2021 to May 2022. There, they developed and refined the business concept, planned and executed the launch of the company, and grew the business from the idea stage to operational. Thad led the operations, customer experience, and product teams to develop, launch, and improve the company's core product. Thad was also responsible for company strategy and KPI development and execution as a member of the executive team.

At Blanket, Thad developed and launched 9 restaurant concepts, including market research, brand development, menu development, recipe testing, SOP and training creation, launch, and continuous improvement. Thad also led and managed operations teams at four locations, responsible for Operational P&L, including labor, COGS, and inventory. In addition, they led the creation, growth, hiring, and improvement of customer experience team, driving a "Hospitality, Delivered." experience. Thad also developed and implemented training process for all new operations employees. Under their leadership, monthly revenue doubled while marketing spend was reduced by 50%. Thad also improved variable margin to positive and created, tracked and improved Operations and Customer Satisfaction metrics. Lastly, they hired 10 people who had worked with him in previous roles.

Thad Duprey reports to Brian Brower, Chief Product Officer.

Thad Duprey

Annie Pecoraro is the Director of Customer Insights at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Annie was previously the Director at [The Sound](/org/the-sound), a consumer exploration, brand strategy and product innovation agency. Annie has also held the position of Vice President at Kantar Millward Brown, where they led teams in executing full-scale custom market research studies for book of business across industries. Annie has also served as the Director, Client Management and Senior Business Analyst at Kantar Millward Brown. Annie has a wealth of experience in crafting stories which deliver insights tied to client business objectives and in establishing and maintaining deep relationships both internally and externally to deliver value and impact. Annie is a mentor and trainer, having positioned staff for success throughout their career.

Annie Pecoraro graduated from the [University of Dayton](/org/university-of-dayton) with a BA in Communication/Marketing. Annie then went on to get certification from [Coursera](/org/coursera) in Python for Everybody Specialization, Using Databases with Python, Using Python to Access Web Data, Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python), and Python Data Structures.

They are on a team with Sabrina Zhu - Director, Oven Procurement, Jake Schneider - Culinary Manager, and Bryan Wilcox - Co-founder, CTO. Their manager is David Rabie, Co-founder, CEO.

Annie Pecoraro

Sabrina Zhu is a Director of Purchasing who has worked for notable companies such as [Tovala](/org/tovala), [Cottage Door Press](/org/cottage-door-press), and [Newell Brands](/org/newell-brands). Sabrina has over 20 years of experience in the industry and has been responsible for overseeing the procurement of ovens at [Tovala](/org/tovala) since 2018. Prior to their current position, they served as the Director of Global Purchasing at [Newell Brands](/org/newell-brands) for four years and the Director of Purchasing at Publications International for ten years. Sabrina began their career as an R&D Engineer for Beloit Corporation in 1998 before being promoted to Director CIMS at Creata in 2000.

Sabrina Zhu has a Master of Science from [Purdue University](/org/purdue-university) in Mechanical Engineering, a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) from the [Institute for Supply Management](/org/ism-st-louis-inc-institute-for-supply-management), and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Science and Technology of China in Thermal Science and Energy Engineering/ Economics Management. Sabrina is also certified by Raw Signal Group in Raw Signal Group Management Training, [Newell Brands](/org/newell-brands) & Howard Business Publishing in Leading Big: Building a Winning Team Development Program, and ISM in CPSM.

Some of their coworkers include Erik Chizeck - Sr. Director, Culinary Ops, Jill Balis - Chief Growth Officer, and Lesley Butler - Chief Marketing Officer. Sabrina Zhu reports to David Rabie, Co-founder, CEO.

Sabrina Zhu

Brooke Carpenter

Brian Brower is the current Chief Product Officer at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Brian was previously the Vice President of Innovation at [Aspen Dental](/org/aspen-dental), where they led the company's digital transformation to better diagnose and treat patients. Brian also created a 3D scan, design, and print platform to create differentiated products and services. Prior to [Aspen Dental](/org/aspen-dental), Brower served as the Chief Product Officer at [Owlet Baby Care](/org/owlet-baby-care), where they developed and launched Owlet's Cam, DreamLab Sleep Service, Band, and SmartSock3. Brian also spearheaded growth by developing Owlet strategy and growing portfolio to a multiple product and service offering. Brower has also held the title of Vice President of Product Management at [Vivint](/org/vivint-inc) and Director, Nike+ Digital at Nike.

and Thad Duprey - Senior Director, Product Innovation reports to Brian Brower. Brian Brower reports to David Rabie, Co-founder, CEO. Brian Brower works with Erik Chizeck - Sr. Director, Culinary Ops, Annie Pecoraro - Director of Customer Insights, and Jason Punches - VP, Creative.

Brian Brower

Natalie Coleman

David Barrent is the Sr. Director, Operations Strategy & Engineering at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to their current role, David served as Senior Consultant at Gibson Consulting, where they were responsible for global product development and refrigeration. In this role, David introduced an industry-leading water dispensing system into production in June 2016, and led a change management effort for production transition influencing Mfg, Eng, & Procurement. Additionally, David conducted a workshop between Design and Adv. Eng. to develop an ice-making roadmap, and developed experiments and Matlab script for ice-making rate performance; assessed cycle-to-cycle variation and interactions with compartment cycling to propose and implement solutions.

In October 2017, David became the Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Howe Corporation. In this role, David was responsible for leading the engineering and operations teams to support the company’s growth objectives. Additionally, David oversaw all product development activities, as well as manufacturing and supply chain operations.

David has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from [Michigan State University](/org/michigan-state-university).

David Barrent reports to Keeley Kabala, COO.

David Barrent

Andrew Tople is currently the VP of Software Engineering at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to this, they were the Director of Software Engineering at [Echo Global Logistics](/org/echo-global-logistics) from January 2019 to August 2021. There, they led the design and implementation of a service-based software platform that powered all aspects of the business’ day-to-day operations, partner integration, and customer enablement. Andrew also established a scaled, Agile software engineering organization that delivered an innovative enterprise-grade software product for a Fortune 1000 logistics company on-time and within budget. In addition, they created a data science engineering team that was responsible for delivering AI-driven analytics services that powered core business capabilities. Finally, they introduced modern software engineering practices such as CI/CD, test automation, SAFe/Scrum, and DevOps to enable consistent value delivery through predictable, iterative releases.

Before their time at [Echo Global Logistics](/org/echo-global-logistics), Andrew Tople was the Sr. Manager of Software Engineering at GE Transportation from September 2016 to January 2019.

They work with Adam Brakhane - Director of Software Engineering, Brian Krall - Sr. Director, Growth Engineering, and Nicho Rivera - Backend Engineer. Andrew Tople reports to Bryan Wilcox, Co-founder, CTO.

Andrew Tople

Lejla Sudar

Jake is one of our R&D Chefs. After studying Economics at [Union College](/org/union-college), he returned to Chicago to focus on food. He’s spent the last six years cooking at some of the city's top restaurants including L2O, RPM Italian, Wood, Perennial Virant, and Daisies. He’s a great eater. His favorite ingredient is chicken.

Jake Schneider

Erik is our Sr. Director of Culinary Operations. He’s a Jack-of-all-trades in the kitchen who graduated from Western Culinary Institute in Portland. He honed his skills further at Homaro Cantu’s Moto, Sepia, and Chicago’s Barrelhouse Flat. Erik has a profound respect for his ingredients, especially his favorite, chili peppers

Erik Chizeck

Shawn is one of our Mobile Developers. He earned his BFA in photography at the Art Institute of Atlanta. He worked for Apple for 6 years, moving from retail into mobile engineering. His software development skills are all self-taught, while he was in between shifts at the Apple store. His favorite ingredient is an ice cream sandwich.

Shawn May

Bryan is our co-founder and CTO. He was raised on a farm, and grew his own fruits and vegetables. Maybe that's why his favorite ingredient is Jonathan apples. Bryan worked on appliances at GE and [Whirlpool](/org/whirlpool) before earning his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois. After his PhD, Bryan launched his own product development firm – The Product Manufactory.

Bryan Wilcox

Marian is part of our Customer Support team. She recently earned her Associate’s degree in Business Administration and currently attends [DePaul University](/org/depaul-university) in pursuit of her Bachelor’s degree. When she’s not being a CS all-star, you can find her singing, playing guitar, or spending time with her adorable pup, Heisenberg. Her favorite ingredient is mayo.

Marian Zorrilla

Pau Dal

Colin Scheidenhelm

Monica Rodriguez

Nick Lotz is currently the FP&A Manager at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Prior to this, they worked as a Senior Business Analyst for [PPG Industries](/org/ppg-industries) from June 2018 to July 2021. Before that, they were an MDP Intern for [PPG Industries](/org/ppg-industries) from May 2017 to August 2017. Prior to that, they worked as a Ratings Analyst for S&P Global Ratings from February 2012 to July 2016, where they focused on Metals & Mining and Master Limited Partnerships. Before that, they served in the US Navy from March 2009 to July 2011.

Nick Lotz has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame - Mendoza College of Business and a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University Bloomington. Nick specializes in corporate finance and investments.

They are on a team with Colin Scheidenhelm - Inventory Manager, Molli Franz - Office Manager, and Monica Rodriguez - HR Administrator. Nick Lotz reports to Cal Zoellner, SVP, Manufacturing Operations.

Nick Lotz

Derrick Williams

Wilson Siew

Mark Glowacki

Marissa Newlee

Jason Punches is the VP of Creative at [Tovala](/org/tovala). Jason has over fifteen years of experience in the design industry, having worked as a designer at [FutureBrand](/org/futurebrand), Yard, and Redscout before becoming a founding partner at Tag Collective. Jason has been recognized for their work by various design publications, and they specialize in working with brands in the food and beverage industry.

Jason Punches earned a BFA in Graphic Design from [Western Michigan University](/org/western-michigan-university).

They work with Jake Schneider - Culinary Manager, Cal Zoellner - SVP, Manufacturing Operations, and Josh Boock - Director of Customer Support. Their manager is David Rabie, Co-founder, CEO. Some individuals on their team include Wilson Siew - Production Manager, Mark Glowacki - Production Manager, and Derrick Williams - Production Manager.

Jason Punches

Brian is our Sr. Director of Growth Engineering. Since graduating from the University of Iowa 9 years ago, he has launched websites and web apps for everything from communities to digital media, enterprise and startups. His favorite ingredient is feta cheese.

Brian Krall

Taryn is our Chief Operating Officer. She holds a BS from Wharton and an MBA from Kellogg. She’s an innovation master who started her career at The Blackstone Group, helped create Hulu at NBC Universal and worked on operational efficiency at [Redbox](/org/redbox). She’s married with 3 super cute kids and can’t wait to use the Tovala to balance her busy life. Her favorite ingredient is pineapple.

Taryn Aronson

Keeley is our Senior Vice President of Hardware & Operations. He earned his BS at the University of Illinois and MS from Purdue, both in mechanical engineering. He’s spent most of the last decade working on high volume appliance design and manufacturing at Whirlpool and Fellowes. He is passionate about innovation and has 8 granted patents. His favorite ingredient is sesame seeds.

Keeley Kabala

Brent is our UX Design Lead. He studied design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He’s since honed his skills at ad agencies, a product development firm, a B2C IoT startup, a Fortune 500 company, and now… [Tovala](/org/tovala)! When he’s not fighting the good fight he’s doing long rides on his bike or hanging out with his wife and cat. Mustard is his favorite ingredient.

Brent Wagner

Neel is one of our Back-End Developers. He earned his BS in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and spent the last 6 years at various Chicago-based startups. When he’s not coding, he’s cooking, eating, climbing, hiking, or hammocking. His favorite ingredient is homemade, long-fermented, sourdough bread (baked in the Tovala, of course!).

Neel Bhat

Maggie is our Copywriter & Editor. She graduated from the University of Illinois, where she studied English and Economics and worked as an editor at The Daily Illini. She’s a word nerd and loves copywriting, a skill she honed at the university’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Her favorite ingredient is green onion.

Maggie Pluskota

Cen is our Senior Operations Manager. The descendant of a long line of chefs, farmers, and shellfish enthusiasts, Cen loves cooking and lives for good food. Before Tovala, she developed her business acumen at Goldman Sachs Asset Management and earned an MBA from Chicago Booth. Her favorite ingredient is shrimp.

Cen Qian

David is our co-founder and CEO. He's a self-professed food nut with an MBA from Chicago Booth. Before starting [Tovala](/org/tovala), he worked for the co-founder and CEO of Veggie Grill and ran Groovy Spoon – a bi-coastal chain of frozen yogurt stores. He also spent time working at Google and [Foundation Capital](/org/foundation-capital). His favorite ingredient is avocado.

David Rabie

Lesley is our Chief Marketing Officer. A proud Canadian, she holds a BComm from Queen’s University and an MBA from Harvard. She’s spent 15 years in consumer marketing, innovation, and strategy roles at Pepsico, Bain, and Kraft. Most recently at Pepsico, she co-led marketing for the Quaker brand and oversaw innovation, launching over 30 products generating $200MM in revenue. Tovala has become a dinnertime savior in her busy life with two young boys. Her favorite ingredient is basil.

Lesley Butler

Hayoung is our Design Lead. She studied design at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was Whittl's Design Lead and now has her eyes on all things visual at [Tovala](/org/tovala) thanks to her experience in interaction design, graphic design, and even visual exhibitions. Her favorite ingredient is eggs.

Hayoung Kwon

Ted is our Director of Business Development. He spends his day, you know, developing business. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame, where he studied The Great Books and Political Science. Before Tovala, he spun up a sales team at Motorola Solutions and lead Pressbox’s national expansion. He’s also competed as a professional decathlete and worked at a few wineries, which is why wine is his favorite ingredient.

Ted Glasnow

Matt is our VP of Finance. Before Tovala, he carried out acquisitions at [Accenture](/org/accenture), where he also held various finance positions, and earned his MBA from Chicago Booth. Siracha is his favorite must add ingredient to just about every meal.

Matt Taube

Deborah is our Visual Designer. She studied Visual Communication Design at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is the founder of the school’s first ever UI/UX student organization. Before joining [Tovala](/org/tovala), she widened her design and marketing skills at Wix.com. Her favorite ingredient is coffee.

Deborah Song

Andy keeps folks in the loop with what we're cooking up. He's our Email and CRM Manager. He studied Marketing and Economics at [Notre Dame](/org/notre-dame). Prior to Tovala, he ran CRM at [Vivid Seats](/org/vivid-seats). On weekends, if he's not sailing or rooting on the Fighting Irish, you'll find him in the backyard tending ribs on the smoker—his favorite ingredient is smoke.

Andy Devoto

Adam Brakhane

Bart Brylak

Danielle is one of our Web Developers. She studied Information Technology at [Oakland University](/org/oakland-university). A job with Northwestern University’s information technology team brought her to Chicago. Now she’s excited to be involved with building all things on the web for Tovala. Her favorite ingredient is cinnamon.

Danielle Aubry

Larry Gust

Rikita Prince

Sarah Tournear

Joan Comas Creus

Aliyah is our Production Designer. She studies Advertising and Web Development at Columbia College Chicago, with the hopes of one day becoming an Art Director at an agency. She also likes to paint and hang out with her disgruntled cat. Her favorite ingredient is cayenne pepper.

Tovala

Org chart

Teams

Leadership Team

CEO and Executive Team

Founding Team

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