Leadership
Sequoia’s key differentiator as a service provider is the quality of our people and their team approach to delivering the best possible results for our clients. Our leadership team members have proven expertise combined with warmth, positive energy, and a can-do attitude. The result is a tangible difference in our clients’ daily experience, year after year.

Greg Golub
Founder & CEO
As CEO, Greg is responsible for constituting the vision and future of the company, leading the management team, and strengthening our client-centric culture as Sequoia scales. Greg also spends much of his time studying industry trends, serving on advisory boards and figuring out what changes in our industry will serve as opportunities for our clients.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BS in Economics, Washington and Lee University
- Director, The Golub Group investment management firm
- Member, Young President’s Organization (YPO)
- Chartered Life Underwriter, CLU
- Served on many Insurance Companies’ Advisory Boards
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Fly-fishing, Skiing, and Running
- Cheering from the sidelines as my daughters compete in the sports they love
- Partnering with my wife, Kelly, to raise our three daughters
- Empowering young people by providing access to education and opportunities
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“The more you give, the more you get in return” – Mike Golub, My Father
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
Herb Kelleher, Mahatma Gandhi, Paul Newman, Jeff Bezos, Abraham Lincoln, Michael Phelps, David Packard
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Surrounding myself with a team of people who share my ethic of optimism, succeeding as a team and doing what is right and in the best interest of our clients and raising three daughters who love and support each other and are best friends.

Kathy Ross
CEO, Sequoia One
As CEO of Sequoia One, Kathy oversees all facets of our PEO, from driving growth and retaining clients to enhancing employee engagement. Her unwavering commitment ensures that our clients and their employees experience unparalleled service and value, positioning Sequoia One as the premier and most sought-after PEO in the market.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BS, Cornell University
- MBA, Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Traveling
- Reading
- Exploring new restaurants
- Pickleball
- Skiing
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” – Amelia Earhart
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL:
My Parents, Winston Churchill, Jesus, Oprah Winfrey, Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Raising two strong, confident, hard-working adult kids who are kind, with my amazing husband.

Bob Lawson
President & CFO
As President & Chief Financial Officer, Bob is responsible for all finance and accounting activities at Sequoia, in addition to overseeing all market teams. His focus is to ensure a consistent, Sequoia-level service experience for all clients.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BS in General Business, Iowa State University
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Sports of all kinds
- Cooking and wine
- Traveling with my family
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” – Abraham Lincoln
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My parents
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Raising three incredibly diverse children

Christina Sullivan
Chief Client Officer
Christina leads all client service teams at Sequoia and our Sequoia One PEO practice, which serves outsourced HR, payroll, and benefits support to our up-and-coming clients in the SMB space. With a passion for excellent customer service, she encourages collaboration so that the team members learn from each other and improve processes. She is dedicated to the success of each team member and loves nothing more than to receive praise from clients about the team.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BA in Business Administration with a concentration in Management, San Francisco State University
- Certificate in Human Resources Management, San Francisco State University
- CA Insurance License for Life, Accident and Health
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Spending time with family and friends, especially my husband and two kids
- Running on the beautiful coastal trail in Half Moon Bay, CA and in an occasional half marathon
- Trying new restaurants and foods
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Steve Jobs
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
Steve Jobs, Richard Branson
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Being successful at balancing my work family and my family at home. I’m extremely blessed to be surrounded by great people all the time.

Stephen Kim
Chief Legal & Administrative Officer
As the Chief Legal & Administrative Officer, Steve is responsible for operational excellence in the functions that both safeguard our business operations and ensure that the company has the resources necessary to support our clients and their growth. In this role, Steve works with team members in Legal, Talent, Human Resources, Security and IT, and Facilities.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BA in Philosophy and German, Johns Hopkins University
- JD from New York University School of Law, Editor of Law Review
- Member of the New York and California bars
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Serving as Chair of the Board of Trustees of his sons’ school
- Driving all over the Bay Area for music lessons, golf and tennis lessons, and tournaments for his children
- As often as possible, organizing a movie or dinner date with his wife Betty
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” – Søren Kierkegaard
“One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My parents, who carved out a life for themselves, and as a result, did so for the generations that will follow.

Michele Floriani
Principal & Chief Marketing Officer
As Chief Marketing Officer, Michele is responsible for leading the marketing and brand experience for Sequoia. He works cross functionally to grow the business and ensure the product and service quality is at or above Sequoia’s historically high standards.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BFA in Painting and Sculpture, University of Southern California
- Economics courses, Georgetown University
- Executive education course, delivered by McCombs School of Business, University of Texas
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Food and family
- Formula One
- Listening to and playing music
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” Thomas Jefferson
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
Ben Franklin, Pablo Picasso, Ferdinand Magellan, Niki Lauda
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
I am still able to go to the skate park with my son and not embarrass him.

Rebecca Port
Chief Human Resources Officer
As CHRO, Becks leads the people strategy at Sequoia aligning talent, culture, and leadership development to power growth. She brings a deep belief that people are a company’s greatest advantage. In her work she helps Sequoia scale with purpose, build exceptional teams, and create a culture where people thrive.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BSc Psychology, University of Liverpool
- MSc Occupational Psychology, University of Nottingham
- PhD Occupational Psychology, University of Sheffield
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Tennis & Running
- Traveling with my family
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“A champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.” Serena Williams
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My grandma
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Marrying my best friend and building a wonderful family together.

W. Bryan Smith
Chief Data Officer
As Chief Data Officer, Bryan is responsible for managing Sequoia’s data and AI strategy, ensuring the integrity and availability of information, ultimately deriving value from these assets through analytics, machine learning, and applied AI. Bryan’s team oversees the entire data lifecycle, including collection, integration, storage, and utilization, to support business growth and drive innovation.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- PhD, Neuroscience, Caltech
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Trail Running
- Surfing
- Photography
- Motorcycle Riding
- Cooking
- Spending time with the kids
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself ¬– and you are the easiest person to fool.” Richard Feynman
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
Norman Davidson
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Raising three boys.

Jose Gonzalez
Principal & VP, Mid-Size Practice
As the mid-market team leader, Jose Gonzalez is responsible for business development and the overall design and delivery of our mid-size client experience. He oversees the orchestration of scalable client solutions delivering reduced costs, positive employee experiences, and reduced administration. Jose enjoys working closely with our client service, marketing, and support teams to continue finding innovative ways of meeting the evolving needs of our clients.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- California licensed Life, Accident and Health
- BS in Business Administration cum laude, University of Southern California
- USC Lloyd Grief Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Spending time with my wife, daughter and son
- Music, Swimming, Water Polo, Soccer
- Spending time with family & friends
- Watching USC Trojan Football
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.” Tommy Lasorda
“Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding.” Jim Valvano
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Working with exceptional colleagues to make a positive impact in the lives of our clients, while earning and maintaining their trust.

Lesley Grady
VP, Enterprise Practice
As the enterprise team leader, Lesley is responsible for business development and the overall design and delivery of our enterprise client experience. Her focus is to ensure a consistent, Sequoia-level service experience for all enterprise clients.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BA in Communication, Villanova University
- NY Insurance License for Life, Accident and Health
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Living in and biking around New York City
- Chasing my young kids around
- I’m surprisingly crafty!
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom.” -Jim Rohn
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My husband, he always protects and unconditionally supports me. My sister, she is super smart.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
My twins- They were given a poor prognosis before birth. I am humbled and inspired every day by their strength and perseverance to be amazing healthy little human beings.

David Cook
Chief Information Security Officer
As the Chief Information Security Officer, David is responsible for security and IT for Sequoia. David’s goal is to build a technology-rich security program that will protect Sequoia and be a company differentiator.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BA Computer Science, University of California, Santa Cruz
- MS Information Assurance, Norwich University
- CISSP
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Family
- Scuba Diving
- Food and wine
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
Jimmy Carter, Bill Hewlett, Dave Packard
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Building a house from the planning stage (drawing plans) to the actual construction.

Vivek Rajanna
Principal & GM, Solutions
An engineer at heart, Vivek’s passion for building products of impact led him down the path of product strategy and management. Having built products that are used by millions, Vivek is responsible for building and enhancing Sequoia’s digital products to create a lasting positive impact on our clients.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- Masters in Computer Science, Manipal-India
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Motorbiking, hiking, yoga
- Watching documentaries and reading biographies
- Long walks with my wife
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Finding happiness beyond material wealth.

Karthik Murugesan
Chief Technology Officer
As the Chief Technology Officer, Karthik is responsible for building Sequoia’s People Platform.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BE in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, College of Engineering, Guindy
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Love the time I spend with my two daughters
- Reading anything that interests me
- Random, long adventurous road trips
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Ideas are cheap, execution is everything.” — Chris Sacca
“Everything in the world can be exhausted, and only one resource can live endlessly, that is culture.” — Ren Zhengfei
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My Father, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Building multiple incredible teams with smart people and enriching my knowledge while working with them. On the personal front, raising two wonderful daughters who care for each other.

Kristen Peed
Chief Risk Officer
As Chief Risk Officer, Kristen is responsible for the risk management strategy at Sequoia and collaborating closely with legal, IT, finance and other functional groups to ensure the company, our clients, and team members are properly protected.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BA, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- RIMS-CRMP, ACI, RPLU, CPCU, ARM-E, AIC
- Board of Directors, Vice-President, RIMS (the Risk and Insurance Management Society)
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Training for ½ marathons and bringing my dog along for shorter runs
- Golfing with my husband
- Traveling to the beaches of South Carolina
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“If you feel safe in the area you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.”– David Bowie
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My Parents
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Running my first ½ marathon in Cleveland, OH in 2023

Matt Roberts
VP, Growth
Matt leads our overall strategic growth at Sequoia while collaborating closely with sales, marketing, product, service, operations and talent. Striving to continually refine our go-to-market strategy, he optimzies efficiencies around our sales process, building upon our complelling client offering and growing our world-class consulting team across all market segements and geographies.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- California licensed Life, Accident and Health
- BA in Business Administration, California State University Fullerton
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Spending time with friends and family
- Watching sports
- Playing golf when possible
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it” -Charles Swindoll
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” -Phil Jackson
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL:
My Mother, who has always modeled resiliency, compassion, work ethic, selflessness and an unwavering love for family. I owe a ton to her!
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
My family. I’m so proud of my incredible wife, our three kids and the life we’ve built together.

Sean Martin
In loving memory, always a Sequoia leader
As Principal & VP of Sales for Sequoia One, Sean was responsible for the revenue, profit, and overall client satisfaction of the PEO division of Sequoia.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BS in Management, San Jose State University
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- NBA fanatic
- Fitness enthusiast
- All about family, food, and fun!
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good and go for the great.” Steve Prefontaine
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” Michael Jordan
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
Michael Jordan, My wife – If only I could be half the person she is…
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Family – Successful marriage of 17 years, and the birth of our 3 beautiful daughters.

Mark Berkowitz
VP, Business Consulting, Sequoia One
As VP of Business Consulting for Sequoia One, Mark leads the NY market team, responsible for the overall market revenue and client retention in the region. Mark oversees the NY Business Consultant team along with directly managing a book of clients he has worked with since establishing the NY market for Sequoia One in 2016.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BA, University of Rochester
- MA in Organizational Psychology, Columbia University
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Friends and family first
- All things pizza
- Golf – I will figure this game out some day
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“The definition of ‘insanity’ is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My wife and daughter for their personal accomplishments, collective zest for life, and love of their friends and family.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Being surrounded by people I love and trust – my wife and daughter (and our dog), extended family, close friends, and colleagues I have worked with over the course of my career that have become close friends.

Kyle Holm
VP, Compensation Advisory
As the VP, Compensation Advisory, Kyle is responsible for leading our teams of Compensation professionals who ensure Sequoia clients have compensation programs that attract, motivate, and retain their employees.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BS in Finance, Santa Clara University
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Teenage daughter and a golden retriever
- Passionately rooting for the Niners
- Playing golf for fun, scenery, in tournaments, for cash…no wrong way to play golf
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” — Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL:
Earl Conrad (Grandfather), Theodore Roosevelt, Steph Curry, Hunter S. Thompson, Muhammad Ali
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
A daughter who is thoughtful, brave, and kind who calls me Dad and a Dad who raised a willful, challenging boy and calls him Son.

Molly Knapp
Principal & VP, Financial Services
As Principal & VP, Financial Servies, Molly is responsible for leading the 401(k) team – both in adding new clients and continuing to enhance our client’s experience. She is also involved cross functionally to grow our business and evolved our offering through innovation.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BS in Economics and Psychology, Allegheny College
- FINRA licensed- series 6, 7 and 65
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Spending time with my husband and 2 sons
- Running and hiking with my 2 dogs
- Tennis, golf, reading, knitting
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Limits, like fear, is often an illusion.” Michael Jordan
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King Jr., Walt Disney, Richard Branson
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Raising 2 caring, smart and funny teenage boys

Francis Coleman
VP, Global Services
As the global team leader, Francis is responsible for the delivery of global services and solutions to our multinational clients. His team helps clients through all stages of their global journey from initial country expansion to the complexities of operating as a mature multinational organization. This includes advising on global strategy combined with providing local expertise from the 130+ countries of the Sequoia Global Network.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BSc in Resources Science, Kingston University, UK
- CA licensed Life, Accident, Health
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- International travel – visiting new places and cultures
- All those strange UK sports – Rugby, Cricket and even Soccer (football)
- Hiking and biking
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming.” -David Bowie”
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jane Goodall, Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Helping raise twins who are far cooler than me, but still want to hang out with me.

Joe LaSorte
VP, Global Consulting
As VP of Global Consulting, Joe is responsible for business development for our global benefits practice, as well as the development of the global consulting services that we bring to Sequoia’s clients. He works with those clients to build and implement employee benefit strategies that attract, motivate, and retain the best employees to support the business mission, wherever the clients operate globally.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BS in Business Administration, University of Delaware
- Graduate work in Economics, University of Delaware
- Member Omicron Delta Epsilon (International Honor society for economics)
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Writing, playing, recording, and listening to music
- Travelling with my equally busy wife (when we can find the time!)
- Fitness, gardening, and politics
- Collecting antique maps and vintage guitars
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” Abraham Lincoln
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
Ansel Adams, Winston Churchill, Miles Davis, Nelson Mandela, Jackie Robinson, Frank Lloyd Wright
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Climbing Mt. Kenya, hearing my music on the radio, being quoted in the Wall Street Journal, helping our clients improve the lives of their employees.

Jed Cloern
Principal & VP Business Consulting
As Consultant Team Leader, Jed Cloern is responsible for business development and overall satisfaction of clients. Jed works closely with the Client Service and Marketing & Support teams to ensure clients receive the best value for premiums, efficient administration, positive employee experiences, and all with flexible and scalable programs.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- California licensed Life, Accident and Health
- BA in Business Economics, UC Santa Barbara
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Helping my wife raise 2 toddlers and a teenager
- Enjoying my wife’s cooking
- Enjoying the company of great friends
- Rooting for bay area sports teams
- Jogging (or feeling bad about not jogging)
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” Babe Ruth
“Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” Vince Lombardi
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Being a valued partner to people I respect in a complex and important aspect for great businesses.

Joanna Castillo
VP, Compliance
As the VP of Compliance, Joanna leads Sequoia’s team of employee benefits (ERISA) attorneys across all markets, including the Sequoia One PEO. Joanna and her team focus on simplifying the ever-changing benefit plan regulatory landscape for our clients and internal teams, while also providing compliance solutions via Sequoia’s technology platform.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- Juris Doctor, William Mitchell College of Law
- BA in Communication Studies & Minor in Dance, University of Iowa
- Member of the Colorado Bar
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Supporting & enjoying the arts (dance, music, film)
- International travel
- Hiking & exploring Northern California
- Yoga
- Iowa Hawkeye sports
- Time spent with my husband and our pets
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul” – William Ernest Henley
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Simone Biles
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Creating a diverse & fulfilling career – whether it was dancing with a contemporary dance theatre, running a law firm, or navigating out of private practice to develop our client compliance program at Sequoia; I am proud of the journey and the wonderful relationships made along the way.

Tony Rizzo
VP, Platform Success
As VP Platform Success, Tony is responsible for the adoption strategy and product analytics that will accelerate growth of the Sequoia People Platform. Tony will be working closely with sales, product, marketing, and customer success to leverage data insights and the voice of the customer to further unlock the power of our platform technology.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BS in Finance & Accounting, Western Connecticut State University
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Spending time outdoors with my family, typically hiking and snowboarding
- Weightlifting
- Classic car lover
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Motivation comes from working on things we care about. It also comes from working with people we care about.”Sheryl Sandberg
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My parents, who instilled in me an incredible work ethic, resiliency, and dedication to family. Also, my children, who show me every day that life is full of joy.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Building an incredibly fun and adventurous life with my wife Linda, son Liam, and daughter Sierra.

Marisabel Agosto
VP, Strategic Partnerships
As the VP of Strategic Partnerships, Marisabel is responsible for leading relationships with key partners who are committed to driving exceptional value to our clients through embedded product experiences, best-in-class solution stacks, and a powerful ecosystem of people-centered thought leadership.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business
- BA, Brown University
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Spending time with my husband, our daughter, and our pup
- Traveling to new places, near and far
- Competitive game nights with friends
- Attending live music shows
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas A. Edison
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My parents and grandmother – the hardest working people I know who are also the most humble, loving, kind, and resilient. I aspire to be more like them every day.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Making my parents proud and being a mom to the happiest little girl.

Petros Rotsidis
VP, Global Security
As VP of Global Security, Petros is responsible for overseeing the Security Program at Sequoia and supervising the IT function. He works collaboratively across the organization to protect Sequoia’s systems and data, as well as our clients’ data and to support the company’s growth.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- MSc in Information Security, University of London
- BSc in Management Information Systems, SJSU
- CISSP, CIPT, CCSK
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Hiking, tennis, running, snowboarding
- Music and film
- Travelling and experiencing new cultures and landscapes
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Παν μετρον αριστον” translates to “Everything in moderation”
“Ta panta rhei” – Heraclitus
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My father and mother
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Living and adapting to life in three different countries and leading a full, healthy and happy life with my family and friends!

Laura Hill
VP, Operations Sequoia One
As VP of Operations at Sequoia One, Laura plays a critical role in empowering team members to deliver exceptional service to clients. Her strategic focus on technology, process optimization, and people operations enhances both the client experience and the overall satisfaction of their employees.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BA, University of Utah
- MBA, University of Phoenix
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Traveling
- Reading
- Musicals
- Disney
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts” – Winston Churchill
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing” – Walt Disney
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
Walt Disney
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Being a wife of 30 years and a mother to two amazing individuals that are kind, independent, strong and fun to be around!

Tim Laffey
VP, Growth
As the VP of Growth, Tim leads strategic growth for the NYC office and Private Equity and Alternative Asset coverage nationally at Sequoia. In this role, he dedicates his efforts to modernizing the way scaling companies manage their total people investment.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BA, Government, The Catholic University of America
- Volunteer Special Olympics of New Jersey
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Watching College football
- Anything outdoors
- Spending time with family
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been” – Wayne Gretsky
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My parents
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Helping raise four incredible and funny children.

Chris Vanderwolk
VP, Client Service Success
As VP of Client Service Success, Chris leads a number of teams collectively charged with enabling Sequoia’s delivery of best-in-class service results. His focus is uncovering and anticipating client and team member needs and delivering solutions that will help them excel.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- Licensed Life and Health Producer, NJ
- Licensed attorney, NJ
- Juris Doctor, Seton Hall Law
- BA, Thomas Edison State University
- Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)
- Group Benefits Associate (GBA)
- Compensation Management Specialist (CMS)
- Group Benefits Disability Specialist (GBDS)
- Certified in Flexible Compensation (CFC)
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Family time at the beach, boating, hiking, or traveling
- Playing guitar
- Racing cars
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” – Pablo Picasso
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My Dad, for always doing the best he could.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
The love and life my wife and I built with and for our kids.

Cody Ward
VP, Demand Generation
As VP of Demand Generation, Cody is responsible for leading the strategy and operations on the Sequoia marketing team. He works collaboratively with sales, client service and the support team to produce value-adding marketing campaigns for clients and future clients. Cody enjoys finding innovative ways to share Sequoia’s clients’ stories with the growing community of people-driven companies.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BA in Advertising, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Coaching youth soccer
- Hockey player and Blackhawks fan
- Photography enthusiast
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” – Zig Ziglar
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My late Grandfather, who taught me about servant leadership.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
My family, lovely wife, and three daughters.

Jeff Sorrell
VP, Payroll Tax
As VP of Payroll Tax, Jeff is responsible for leading all aspects of Payroll Tax from setup to filing. He works cross functionally to make sure payroll tax compliance is current and accurate.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BS, Mount Saint Mary College
- MBA, University of La Verne
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Family
- Sports
- Warm weather
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”– Tim Notke
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My Parents (Jim and Lorraine), Uncle (Ralph Canape) and Aunt (Charlene Giannetti)
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Watching my 2 children grow up

David Hildebrand
VP, Product Design
As VP of Product Design, David is responsible for overseeing the Product Designers in the U.S. and India who shape and ship new features and products across the Sequoia OS. His passion is finding novel ways to bring new technologies to our customers in a user-friendly, visually-appealing way that makes their work across our platforms more seamless and delightful.
CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION & RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:
- BS, Cinema-Television, University of Southern California
HOBBIES, INTERESTS & FAMILY:
- Lifting, Swimming
- Exploring the outdoors throughout California
- Traveling with friends & family all over the world
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”– Maya Angelou
MOST INSPIRING ROLE MODEL(S):
My Dad – for the journey he’s made in his life and career
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Helping my designers grow and being a trusted part of their lives
Advisory Board

Abhay Parasnis
Technology & AI

Ken Goulet
Healthcare & Insurance

Talbott Roche
Operations & Financial

Kenn Kurtz
Technology & Security

Than Healy
Impact & Education