At Ariesnet, we’re one big team. Our unique approach and the exceptional talent and experience of our team members define us. Our deep web background and business knowledge ensure you get more than a “website firm” – you get a fully operational solutions partner ready to craft exactly what your business needs. We are a group of talented, results-driven, reliable, sophisticated, energetic, intelligent, attentive, creative experts who are committed to helping your company reach its ‘Internet potential.’

Leadership

W. Cruce Saunders III – CEO
Cruce Saunders founded Ariesnet in 1996 as an early pioneering Internet consultancy operated from his university dorm. Ariesnet grew from a single person shop to a leading web technology solutions firm, consistently ranking high on the Dallas Business Journal’s Top Web Firms list. He has directed over 150 Internet application and website development projects, and has spoken before numerous industry groups. Cruce orchestrates strategy, recruiting, marketing and sales development for the company and enjoys the freedom of virtual teaming. He moved down to Austin in 2005, where he lives with his wife and four cats. In his spare time, you can find Cruce hiking, biking, traveling, reading, volunteering, and always learning. (B.B.A., B.F.A. programs, Southern Methodist University)

Linda Norman - President
After eight years as a manager and business owner in the technology arena where she delivered solutions for companies such as ACS, Neiman Marcus, Bombay Company, and Desktop Corporation, Linda came to Ariesnet as Senior Project Lead and Technical Lead in 2002. She has worked with all aspects of web presence, application, and software project development, giving her a unique knowledge of the intricacies of ensuring a project is completed to the client's satisfaction. As Ariesnet President, she is responsible for management of production efforts to ensure client satisfaction, as well as management of company and project fiscal success. When she's not on her computer for Ariesnet she typically is covered in fur from her own pets and her involvement with the Flower Mound Humane Society or hanging out with her husband. (BBA, Texas Christian University)

Noel Jerke - Vice President of Technology
Noel contributes enterprise project management, development, and consulting expertise and experience based on 14 years in the technology industry. As a workflow and process engineer helped deliver high profile solutions for clients such as Dell, U.S. Air Force, Martha Stewart, and the American Diabetes Association. Prior to joining Ariesnet in May of 2004, Noel successfully built his own profitable software consultancy business. He has authored over ten published technical manuals, numerous magazine articles, and he has presented at numerous Microsoft conferences. As VP of Technology and a partner in the company, he contributes that rare combination of vital business savvy and technical knowledge that give Ariesnet solutions extra value to clients. When he's not on his computer for Ariesnet he typically is chasing after his four little ones or watching a basketball game. (B.S., Trinity University)

Dawn Ball - Production Manager
Dawn brings incredible attention to detail and an unparalleled expertise in complex record-keeping systems and business processes to Ariesnet. As Production Manager, she is not only responsible for developing, tracking and maintaining all of the project reporting, but also coordinating and managing our people resources and fine tuning our processes. Dawn brings life to the heart of the company’s virtual teaming capabilities by structuring and managing the virtual office technology that is a large part of the company’s ability to provide world-class results to its clients. Prior to joining Ariesnet in 2002, Dawn worked extensively in highly visible project positions with Fortune 500 corporations where she developed her skills in project management, systems integration/information technology, supply chain management and a host of other areas. Dawn’s seemingly effortless organization and management skills keep the entire team on an even keel and moving smoothly through our project processes like the well-oiled machine we are. When Dawn is not managing one of her various responsibilities with Ariesnet, she enjoys a busy and full family life that always includes an animated story time with her two young sons, NASCAR and remote control car racing. (B.A., Bryant College; MBA, University of Georgia at Athens)

Cynthia Cargill - Business Manager
Cynthia came to Ariesnet in 2005 with 22 years of experience in owning and operating her own businesses throughout the DFW area. For the past 15 years she has provided full charge bookkeeping, accounting, and consulting services to a diversity of companies. Her experience has included management of operations with multi-million dollar annual sales, and 50 or more employees. As business manager, Cynthia leads the Company's finance and accounting functions and her attention to details is outstanding. She provides financial oversight, manages cash flow and day-to-day bookkeeping. In her spare time, Cynthia enjoys her family and is a reader and outdoor enthusiast - enjoying hiking, running, water & snow sports. (B.F.A. & M.F.A., Stephen F. Austin University)

Heidi J. Hess - Office and HR Manager
Heidi has been with Ariesnet since 2003. As our administrative assistant and sales support lead, she is responsible for global back-end support of Ariesnet's staff as well as providing key support for Human Resources and recruiting functions. Treasured by the entire Ariesnet staff for her unfailing good humor and fabulous organization, Heidi's background includes extensive work with corporate organizational design and transformation, client service standards and administrative functions. In her free time Heidi enjoys quiet family time watching movies with her spouse and two cats. She's also a Classic Winnie the Pooh aficionado, enjoys crocheting and spending time with her 12 nieces and nephews. (B.S., University of Nebraska. M.A., University of Nebraska)

Core Team Members

Lori Traylor - Senior Project Lead
Lori came to Ariesnet in 2006 with 18 years of Project Management and technical experience in technologically advanced project environments, working directly with both internal and external clients. She is a certified Project Manager with the Project Management Institute, with an expertise in creating Project Management Offices and has taught several training classes on Project Management. Lori has managed and successfully met client expectations on high profile projects for global clients such as Sprint, Verizon, and IBM; a talent that contributes to the high Ariesnet client retention. When not working, Lori enjoys time with her family, her music and her animals. (BBA, Texas A&M; PMP 1995).

Andrea Worthy - Project Lead
Andrea joins the Ariesnet team in 2007 bringing with her 10 years of E-Commerce, Project Management and substantial web technology solutions experience.  Stitching together both what is required and expected from the client and business teams while acting as the vital liaison to the design and development teams is her forte’.   In addition, her skills include an exceptional understanding of web design and end user experience, writing detailed project and business requirement documentation, creating wire frames, and maintaining the essential level of communication to both internal and external clients to ensure project deliverables are met on time and in budget.  Her experience includes contributions to websites such as Match.com, Greyhound.com, Michaels.com and Roots.com, as well as web software applications from Escalate Retail and RealPage, Inc.  When not working, Andrea enjoys assistant coaching her two daughters’ soccer teams, dancing to live country music with her friends, and taking time to appreciate life and not sweat the small stuff!

Beth Weaving – Senior Synergist and Ektron Lead
Beth joined Ariesnet in 2000 when she came to America from her native England. As a lead synergist, Beth works with contributions from design, copy, and application development and information architecture to build websites, Intranets and other web interfaces. As an innovator, she brings an intelligent, problem-solving, creative approach to building sites efficiently, cleanly, and professionally. On a technical level she works with ASP.NET and .NET Architecture 2.0 including Visual Studio, ASP.NET, and VB.NET, Ektron and other CMS solution implementations and is experienced in Section 508 web accessibility standards, Web Server (IIS) management and creating XHTML and CSS-based typography layouts. In her free time Beth enjoys camping, hiking and kayaking through Texas State Parks, and during the summer exploring cities that are cooler than Dallas. She also enjoys crashing and burning cars, and shooting bad guys, all in video games of course. (B.A., Middlesex University; Ektron Partner Certified)

Elisa Miller – Architect and User Experience Lead
Elisa is one of the newest additions to the Ariesnet team, as of February 2008. Committed to fostering efficient, effective and engaging user experiences, Elisa has developed her skills as a UX strategist, a user researcher, a usability engineer, an information architect and a human computer interaction specialist. In May 2008, she’ll become the President of the local Society of Technical Communication chapter, and she is also very active in the local and national Usability Professionals Association. She’s an Editor for Boxes and Arrows (www.boxesandarrows.com), a user experience community. In her spare time, she and her husband spoil their three dogs and their nieces and nephews, watch movies, remodel their house and read voraciously. (B.A. Journalism, University of Arizona, M.A. Instructional Technology, University of Texas, A.B.D (all but dissertation) Information Science, Drexel University

Selected Extended Team Members

Andy L. – Technologist
Andy has over eight years of web development technical and project management experience. He brings the optimal balance of technical savvy, communication skills, and best-practice experience to the development process. From custom e-commerce solutions to enterprise Department of Defense financial systems, Andy has been involved at every level of the system development lifecycle in a wide range of projects. As a Web Application Developer for Ariesnet, he is responsible for the translation of customer requirements into technical specifications, and the implementation of those specifications into ideal technical solutions. When Andy isn’t staring intensely into a computer monitor, he can be heard from miles away banging on the drums or found wandering aimlessly around the great outdoors.

Brian B. – Synergist
Brian joined Ariesnet in February of 2006, and provides Synergy (interface programming) and development assistance to several of the project leads. Outside of Ariesnet, Brian is a professional French horn player, and is very active in the Dallas freelance music community. (Bachelor of Music, University of North Texas)

Jodi C. – Information Architect and Creationist
Jodi joined Ariesnet in 2007, bringing with her extensive experience in flow diagrams, interactive wireframes, specification documentation, personae, rapid prototyping, web design and production as well as key organizational skills that allow her work on multiple projects at the same time.  She helps Ariesnet clients develop the most effective possible web presences using user-centered architecture and design.  Previously, Jodi was the Vice President & Senior Web Designer for Citigroup Asset Management.  Since 2004, she has focused on the emerging field of Information Architecture, and actively participates as a member of the Information Architecture Institute.  Jodi also has more than 25 years as a freelance audio engineer for venues such as The Blue Note in NYC’s Greenwich Village and as Assistant Sound Designer for the Broadway production of RENT. In her free time, Jodi enjoys spending time with her two best friends: her mother and her Yorkie.  (Webmaster Certification – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth)

Robert S. – Technologist
Robert joined the Ariesnet team in 2005 bringing over 6 years of systems development experience, and has devoted the past 7 years to the development of Web-based content management systems and information portals. His industry experience has included managing small- and large-scale IT and engineering projects and he is well versed with programming and scripting in Microsoft's ASP.NET, C# / Visual Basic.NET, Tcl, StoryServer (Vignette), Active Server Pages (ASP), VBScript, JavaScript, and HTML. In his spare time, Robert enjoys spending time with his teenage daughters, fishing, cooking, and restoring old muscle cars. (M.S. & B.S., Texas A&M University).

Terry W. - Project Lead
With a 20 year technology context spanning the rise of personal computing, the rise of the Internet and now the emergence of Social Networks, Terry brings well-rounded software development experience and knowledge management skills to Ariesnet in the role of Project Lead.  Terry has experienced a variety of roles as software developer, architect, entrepreneur, team leader and project manager in industries as diverse as transportation, healthcare, finance and hi-tech.  Holistic business vision brings Ariesnet clients the opportunity to implement projects that not only perform today but evolve in harmony with the changes of tomorrow.  To complement time spent with technology, Terry can also be found gardening or studying metaphysics and the principles of maximizing human interrelationships.  (BSEET, DeVry Institute of Technology)

Advisors

Don Cottingame – Advisor
Don has spent nearly 40 years making certain that his consulting clients - from single entrepreneurs to multi-billion dollar companies -- become and remain successful. He has developed a process to create effective organizational behavior called Dynamic Coherence. As part of Ariesnet's group of advisors, he provides a level of business experience and expertise not usually found in smaller companies. (MBA, Harvard Business School)

Ed Ducayet – Advisor
Ed is a former CFO of large and small public and private technology companies, including Mostek and Intellect Communications. As part of Ariesnet's group of advisors, he helps us achieve an unusually high level of fiscal responsibility and ensures that our legal and financial communications are impeccable. (MBA, Harvard Business School)

Cynthia Giles – Advisor
Cynthia has been delivering strategic and tactical marketing services to clients such as PepsiCo, The Associates, ACS, First American, Southwest Airlines, and La Quinta for over a decade. She has a broad background in corporate communications, as well as a specialized practice in product development for information technology companies. (Ph.D., University of Texas at Dallas)