Meet the Team
Stephanie Aguirre
I currently work at a law firm, and I have a passion for both law and technology. With a bachelor's degree in political science from Georgia Southern University and currently pursuing a master's in Information Technology at Kennesaw State University, I am able to incorporate a blend of legal and technological knowledge. While most of my background and knowledge is in law, I have been able to extend my technological skillset and class experience into coding for a case management software. I welcome challenges as opportunities for growth and I thrive under pressure. I am committed to continuous improvement and learning by staying up-to-date of the latest developments in both legal and tech fields.
Chris Dunbar
I graduated from KSU in 1996 with a degree in Finance. Fortunately, I immediately fell into a career in IT, which I love. Along the way I have held a number of IT roles, and I earned a number of certifications including: MCSE, ACSA, and CWNE #184. For the past 13 years I have been a Senior Systems Engineer at Apple Inc., working with higher education customers across Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. In addition, my wife and I still own the small IT consulting firm we founded in 1998. Although the day job consumes most of my time, I am able to stay involved with our business behind the scenes. We have a rack full of equipment in a datacenter near Atlanta, and I manage our internal systems as well as any servers or VMs our customers may host with us. I enrolled in the MSIT program mostly to explore areas of IT I was less familiar with. This is my final semester and I will graduate with certificates in IT Foundations and IT Security. I hope to use my Masters degree to teach part-time as I love helping others get started in the field that has been so good to me.
Scott Gilstrap
Born and raised in Rome, GA, joined the Navy right out of high school. Graduated Naval Nuclear Power School and served as a Nuclear Reactor Operator for 6 years aboard nuclear ballistic missile submarines. Honorably discharged and settled in Baton Rouge, LA (Geaux Tigers) working at Riverbend Nuclear Plant as a reactor operator for 6 more years. Moved back home to Rome, GA, entering the IT field as a telephone technical support agent and ascending through multiple roles such as Server Engineer, Network Engineer, Storage Engineer, Network Services Supervisor, IT Manager, and Global IT Service Delivery Manager. Shortly after moving back to Rome joined the Navy Reservers as an Information Technologist and still serving today. Picked up multiple certifications and degrees along the way. CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+, CISSP, CCNA, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, ITIL 4, AWS Certified Practitioner, Azure Fundamentals, Agile Scrum Master, Associates of Applied Technology from Georgia Highlands College, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Shorter University and a Master of Science in Information Technology with Graduate Certificates in Information Security and IT Enterprise Management from Kennesaw State University (May 2024).
Ryan LeBlanc
I am a dedicated professional with a strong background in cybersecurity, system administration, and infrastructure management. With a Bachelor's degree in IT from Kennesaw State University, I have honed my skills in analyzing and safeguarding digital systems against potential threats. My experience extends to serving in the United States Navy, where I developed a disciplined approach to problem-solving and a keen understanding of security protocols. Throughout my career, I have demonstrated proficiency in implementing robust security measures, optimizing system performance, and ensuring seamless operation of complex networks.
Justin Place
Experienced and innovative IT professional with a passion for leveraging technology to drive business growth and optimize operations. With a solid background in deploying systems, system administration and cybersecurity. I thrive in dynamic environments where I can apply my technical skills and strategic mindset to solve complex challenges and make sure systems are compliant with DCSA standards. I received hands-on experience through a part-time job at Kennesaw State University's Housing IT department; a Co-Op opportunity with GTRI; as well courses taken. I have since started working at GTRI full-time gaining more experience with security related operations. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology from Kennesaw State University, where I developed a strong foundation in the field of Information Technology with a focus on security. My coursework covered a variety of topics including policy, application development/design and programming, providing me with a well-rounded understanding of IT principles and practices.
