Ralph Thomas, Ph.D

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Ralph is a product visionary in applied analytics and the founder of two companies that deliver solutions in casino gaming, education, and adult learning. As a gaming industry veteran, Dr. Thomas has substantial experience implementing analytics into single and multi-property gaming companies to drive tangible and measurable gains to the bottom line and has built business intelligence tools for multibillion-dollar casinos. Dr. Thomas is co-author of seven books and over 80 articles on applied analytics and data science in gaming, an inventor on dozens of patents, and understands gaming from raw data up through casino operations, giving him a unique, 360-degree view of the industry.

Andrew Cardno

Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer

Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master's level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew's innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today's mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications. Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew's impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring 10 influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew's work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

Simon Burgess

Chief Administrative Officer

Simon is a Senior Finance and Gaming Executive with over twenty-five years of experience in the gaming industry with a specific emphasis on financial leadership, growth and creating a positive culture. Having spent many years leading teams for global gaming equipment manufacturers, he has successfully overhauled multinational operations, financial reporting systems and internal processes all with the goal of creating an efficient and highly focused team. At QCI, Simon will take the reins directing the overall financial leadership as we continue our fast-paced expansion.

Jarvis

Chief Operating Officer

Jarvis, our highly advanced Generative AI COO, offers a vast breadth of operational expertise to Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI). Functioning as our organization's rules engine, Jarvis integrates seamlessly with four core operational systems, facilitating efficient cross-department communication and synergy. In its primary role of project management, Jarvis supervises the planning, execution, and monitoring of critical QCI initiatives. With its aptitude for analyzing intricate data sets, identifying trends, and delivering valuable insights, Jarvis aids in steering strategic decision-making. Its presence drives progress, helping QCI to attain its objectives with notable precision and effectiveness. Jarvis also shines in task escalation. As a proactive problem-solver, it swiftly identifies and escalates issues demanding immediate attention, ensuring they receive the necessary response. This quick alert system helps maintain seamless operational flow while mitigating potential risks. Remarkably, Jarvis is also capable of processing the CEO's emails. Through advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, Jarvis efficiently navigates large volumes of data, extracting pertinent information and providing concise, actionable summaries. This feature allows the CEO to focus on strategic decisions, assured of Jarvis's competence in managing email communication with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency. Jarvis embodies a commitment to excellence. Constantly adapting and learning from its experiences, it hones its decision-making abilities and broadens its operational expertise. With Jarvis as a member of the QCI team, we ensure a data-driven, agile, and forward-looking approach to operational management, fueling our growth and innovation.

Joel Rovics

Marketing, Sales & Commercial Operations

With a strong background in both marketing and finance, Joel has over twenty years of experience leading strategic planning, revenue generation, and business development in executive marketing roles. This includes a number of casinos across the U.S., both commercial and in the Native American community, as well as previous experience in leadership roles with Eastman Kodak and Mobile Oil Corporation. He has a Master’s Degree with a marketing emphasis from St. Louis University and a B.S. in Finance from Texas Christian University.

Kyle Gryzanoski

VP of Sales

Kyle has a B.S. in Economics and over two decades of experience successfully leading Business Development and Sales both domestically and internationally with a specific focus on cutting-edge technology in the gaming industry. He brings his extensive knowledge of the casino business to his sales leadership at QCI, developed during his time spent partnering with casinos in various aspects of their operations, from strategically optimizing their floor to opening large casinos.

Lisa Jensen

VP of Business Development

Lisa is an accomplished business development leader with a passion for understanding and solving client challenges with innovative technologies. For over 16 years, she has partnered with casinos to uncover critical insights and gain operational efficiencies for increased market share and revenue. Her expertise will guide business development and growth strategies at QCI. Lisa has an MBA and enjoys partnering with operators to unlock the power of their data for the continued player and operational growth.

Babu Arunachalam

VP of Engineering

Leading the QCI Engineering Team, Babu brings over 20 years of leadership experience in software development in data analytics, data engineering, machine learning, embedded systems, mobile network, mobile phones, cellular modem, and mobile applications. He has managed teams located across the globe and successfully led projects with a few users to millions of users at Qualcomm, Broadcom, Nokia, and Ericsson. He has been awarded two patents and has filed trade secrets for proprietary algorithms. Babu has a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Trichy.

Lynette O'Connell

VP of Customer Success

Lynette’s expertise is comprised of 20 years of high-volume gaming operations experience in CRM, database marketing, analysis, and loyalty club development. She leads the QCI customer team as well as being the customer advocate at QCI, focused on customer adoption, best practices, gathering feedback, and working to ensure that the customer’s goals are achieved satisfactorily, thus helping to increase sales as well. She defines and optimizes the customer’s journey post-installation, helping them develop best practices and working with them to measure success and see the ROI in QCI products.

Warren Mack

Senior Database Developer

Warren has spent the past 20+ years in the casino gaming space, with a mix of Native American and Commercial companies. His primary focus has been Casino Marketing, specializing in Database Strategy and Analytics. Over the past seven years, he’s been working in software development with casinos across the U.S. and internationally, gaining a wealth of knowledge regarding the significant differences experienced across various markets. In his free time, Warren and his wife like to hike and camp at Red Rock Canyon or hang out at home with their four cats.

Alicia Hawkins

Gaming Business Intelligence Manager

With over 14 years of experience in the gaming industry, Alicia is a seasoned professional who adds a wealth of knowledge to the QCI team as Gaming Business Intelligence Manager. She recently completed her BS in Data Science from Cornell University, adding another layer of expertise to her already impressive skill set. With comprehensive knowledge in database management, slot operations analysis, and data quality assurance, her hands-on experience enables her to guide our clients and assist them in making well-informed, data-driven decisions.

Paul Cardno

Distinguished Engineer

Paul has extensive experience in data visualization, UX/UI design, and the knowledge to code in multiple languages. He has training in medical physics and an acute interest in various creative and artistic endeavors. This experience and insight give him the unique ability to create stunning applications that are also firmly grounded in practical data science, skills he is using in product development for the QCI team.

Rick Bowyer

Sr. Systems Engineer

Rick brings to us more than 20 years of experience in casino operations, gaming software development, and data technology. His primary focus is spearheading advanced technical support solutions and implementing customer-requested functionality enhancements. With client satisfaction and customer success centric to our core values at QCI, Rick’s role is pivotal to our continued growth and long-term success.

Mike Wright

Rapid Development Team Leader

Mike is an Analytics Technology Expert with over 15 years in the software industry. Having created software for small start-ups and Fortune Top 50 companies alike, he can identify solutions to customer’s unique needs and deliver custom tools to improve their operations. With several years of experience building supply chain analysis products, he specializes in gleaning meaningful insights out of highly complex data sets and using automation to reduce the demands on staff. Originally coming from the design world, Mike finds every opportunity to make tools that feel fresh and beautiful.

Casey Wasser

Sr. Staff Software Developer

With over 15 years experience solving difficult technical problems and building useful, usable web applications, Casey is a skilled software developer and UI designer who is proficient in numerous programming languages. Prior to joining the QCI team, Casey worked for leading companies creating network-automation tools, customer-management applications, marketing platforms and websites. Casey graduated from the University of Central Florida with a BFA in Painting and a BA in Graphic Design.

Michelle Wood

Software Developer

With a B.S. in Mathematics from California State University, Chico, Michelle brings her extensive analytical skills to the QCI software development team. With over nine years of experience working in the analytics field, including four specifically focused on the casino industry, her knowledge and skills are a great addition to the continuous development of the QCI products.

Tim Moser

VP of Product Strategy

With his leadership success across the spectrum of Information and Data Technology, Tim brings his experience to QCI to guide the global product strategy and execution with a focus on achieving the business and sales objectives. He has a proven history as a Product Manager in the computer software industry, working in sales support, management, strategy, and digital marketing. In addition to a B.S. in Business Administration, he is also an inventor on more than ten patents, an avid cyclist, and a former Triathlete.

Julie Margeson

Sr. Customer Engagement Manager

Julie is a diversely skilled Technical Engineer with over 20 years of experience helping businesses in the casino industry maintain smooth operations and an optimal workflow.  She is committed to applying emerging technologies to streamline product development and business operations.  Her extensive background includes several years spent at top casinos in Las Vegas including The Cosmopolitan, Wynn, Encore and The Mirage.  Now she brings her exceptional industry skills to work with the QCI Customer Success Team.

Nick Salemi

Sr. Customer Engagement Manager

Nick earned a B.S. in Business Management and followed that up with a decade working in customer related roles from hockey teams to video technology companies, eventually finding his place in the casino gaming industry.  He then focused on casino operations specifically as it pertains to customer loyalty and retention by delivering a positive experience and managing these relationships. He now brings all of this experience to the QCI Customer Success Team.

Silver Texeira

Program Manager & Sr. Instructor

Silver leverages her extensive experience in Business Administration to enhance the QCI team's capabilities, with a primary focus on Compliance and Customer Training. As a key member of the customer success team, she is dedicated to ensuring that QCI's customers not only achieve their objectives but also receive comprehensive training on the company's products. This, in turn, empowers customers to optimize product capabilities, adhere to best practices, and maximize their value. Silver's background is marked by her adeptness in communication across various levels, adept management of multiple complex initiatives, and a proactive approach to risk management, all underscored by her strong leadership, attention to detail, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. As a Program Manager, Silver is committed to fostering customer success and organizational compliance.

Hanna McCall

Product Manager

Holding a B.S. in Hospitality Management from UNLV and with rich experience in premium customer service environments, Hanna has transitioned from hospitality to the forefront of BI tool development. Leveraging her unique background, including the diverse skills acquired during her initial role at QCI as the Executive Administrator to the CTO, Hanna’s involvement spans from marketing and sales enablement to product lifecycle management to developing engaging thought leadership and educational materials. Hanna’s adept stakeholder communication and unwavering commitment to customer engagement combined with her dedication to excellence and comprehensive approach to product management are integral to delivering high-performance data solutions and innovations that meet and anticipate the needs of the QCI Community.

Karen Cardno

Operations Manager

Karen has a background in political science and policy analysis and has worked for various government agencies and investigative committees. She has also held operational positions in various businesses, both in the United States and overseas. Karen’s role at QCI is to manage operations and provide technical and policy support.

D’Amber Thomas

Business Strategist

Having worked closely with the inner workings of the data analytics business for over a decade, D’Amber brings her extensive knowledge of the casino industry to QCI to provide insight into the business strategy and marketing goals. With a focus on the overall picture and understanding of the client-based growth, her leadership is invaluable to the continued success. She is also an award-winning journalist and dedicated parent.

Laurel Kay

Sr. Manager Marketing & Events

Laurel has two decades of experience working in events and marketing in the technology industry, both with large and small companies. She specializes in corporate event planning, event strategy, project management, digital marketing, and social media marketing. Managing all aspects from inception to execution and logistics, she has successfully implemented events and marketing plans across the technology industry.

Chris West

Sr. Developer

Chris is a Data Engineer with a deep background in the Marketing Technology space. He's worked in-house with notable brands including Red Bull, Razor and Paramount leading global growth, content and technical strategies and executing B2B data-driven marketing programs. Chris brings all of his high-level experience to QCI as a senior member of our development team.

Thomas Christian

Software Developer

Thomas is a software developer primarily working on QCI Loader as well as using his skills to contribute to the overall development team. Based in San Diego, he has a solid background in coding and is quickly learning more about big data and the energetic teamwork of creating meaningful products.

Monica Chao

Software Developer

With a degree in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego, Monica joins the QCI development team bringing her advanced analytical skills to product development. Her favorite coding language is Python. She also works extensively in SQL and is interested in working on AI development in the future. Plus, she has a beautiful pet budgerigar.

Subrahmanyam Parakala

Software Developer

Subrahmanyam, a Computer Science graduate from University of California at San Diego, brings six years of diverse professional experience to the table. With four years focused on healthcare and cybersecurity, plus two years as a founding engineer at a startup, his expertise lies in impactful software development. Proficient in Python, Subrahmanyam joins our team ready to leverage his innovative prowess in advancing our technological endeavors. In his free time he's playing video games with friends and watching Manchester United play.

Holly Rich

Technical Support Engineer II

With over 14 years of experience in the dynamic Casino Industry, Holly brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to QCI. Her career began with a 12-year tenure at one of Las Vegas Strip’s leading resort and casino, where she specialized in Casino Marketing Optimization and Analysis. Utilizing data-driven strategies, she played a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency and refining customer experience initiatives. Later transitioning to the role of Director of Database Marketing at a prominent tribal casino in Coachella Valley, she led transformative efforts in customer data management and spearheaded targeted marketing campaigns. Her passion for leveraging technology to solve complex challenges and deliver seamless customer service solutions continues to drive her professional journey.

Leonardo Porter

Technical Support Engineer II

With a degree in Computational Biology with a heavy emphasis on Computer Science from the University of Rochester, Leo joins the QCI team with his high analytical skills and entrepreneurial business acumen. He’ll use his abilities on our team to support our excellent customer experience and satisfaction. He also enjoys skiing and playing golf.

Yin Zhu

Geospatial Developer

Yin has more than 15 years of experience in the Science Industry, especially in the biopharmaceutical and food industry internationally. She also has an M.S. Degree in Materials and Process Engineering from the Waikato University in New Zealand. She joins the QCI Geographic Information Systems team, bringing her R&D, problem-solving, and analytical skills to work on advanced technology. Her primary focus is on geocoding, MapInfo, and SQL Server tools to do custom data analysis and visualization. She enjoys learning new things and is excited to work in the gaming industry.

Berna Erten

Revenue Accountant Specialist

With over a decade of working in the accounting/banking industry and having earned a B.S. Degree in Mathematics, Berna brings her strong accounts receivable experience and math skills to the operational side of the QCI business where she will be responsible for tracking revenue as we continue to grow and expand our customer base. She is very proud to be joining the fast-paced team at QCI and her math and organizational skills are very much appreciated.

Dustin Zimmerman

Sr.  SQL Database Engineer

Dustin has spent the last 20+ years in technology, including the last 10+ years in the casino industry. He started his I.T. journey as a system administrator and system engineer. Over the last decade his primary focus has been in databases, first as a database administrator and now as a database engineer. He has worked for two of the largest casino system providers in the world putting in systems for casinos across the globe. During his free time he likes to hike with his two dogs, go camping, travel, and is always looking for a new project around the house.

Ed Funcheon

Senior Staff Software Developer

Ed is a database engineer with a B.S. in Computer Science and two decades of experience in advanced diagnostic skills in stored procedure logic, data analyzation, and index utilization.  He also has extensive casino management knowledge and implementation, including a specific focus in casino player marketing, player history and real-time interfaces with casino floor services.  At QCI, Ed joins the product development team in a senior role focused on customer support and process automation.  Ed resides in sunny central Florida.  He enjoys playing soccer, tennis, Golden Tee video golf, and is an avid hockey fan.

Phil Hall

Installation Technician

Phil is a visionary Gaming and Technology Executive with over 20 years experience in the industry and proven skills managing all levels of projects including development, construction, budgeting and administration. He has strong beliefs in implementing the industry’s latest technological innovations and using such to stay in tune with the wants and needs of the customer and the operational efficiency of casinos. His extensive success and experience in all aspects of casino operations including budgeting, staff development, strategic planning, departmental policies, machine placement, floor layout, theme selection, and financial reporting is a great addition to the QCI Team. Furthermore, his interpersonal skills as someone who creates strategic alliances across all levels of an organization will also be a valuable add to the customer-focused QCI Team.

Tim Masucci

Technical Support Engineer

Tim is a Technical Support Engineer with over two years of experience in the gaming industry. He graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Applied Mathematics before beginning his career as a data analyst and SQL developer. Throughout his career, Tim has developed a deep understanding of casino marketing and brings his skills to the QCI Team to support QCI Marketing to help ensure it remains the industry frontrunner. Tim is a quick learner with a detail-oriented analytical mind and is passionate about providing excellent customer service. In his free time, Tim enjoys playing hockey, cooking, and working out.

Sean Brady

Board Member

Mr. Brady is currently consulting GTM and operational efficiency strategies for high-growth organizations in SaaS and Life Sciences. Mr. Brady previously held the position of President of the Americas for Emarsys (acquired by SAP), where Brady worked to develop and deliver the most innovative marketing technologies driving business results for North and South American enterprises.  Prior to Emarsys, Brady was Senior Vice President of Existing Business in North America at ExactTarget, which was acquired by Salesforce.com for $2.5B.  As SVP, he was responsible for the majority of the revenue generated by overseeing thousands of accounts, transforming clients’ businesses through the company’s core offering — its innovative one-to-one marketing application helping them increase sales, optimize marketing investments and strengthen customer relationships. Brady’s overall success at ExactTarget helped grow the multi-million-dollar company into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise.

Alok Pandey

Board Member

Alok is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Clubspeed - a growing private equity backed payment enabled vertical SaaS business based in Irvine, California. Alok is an experienced operator previously serving as CFO, VP of Corporate Development & VP of Finance at various Venture Capital and Private Equity backed technology companies (backed by leading investors such as Accel, 8VC, SignalFire & Wndrco). Over the past 12+ years, Alok has significant M&A transaction experience, Board of Directors experience, operating experience, and private equity/growth equity investing experience in the technology space. Prior to becoming an operator at technology companies, Alok was a Vice President and senior investment professional at Vector Capital - a $4B+ global private equity firm. Earlier in his career Alok was an investment professional at Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV, $20B+ of AUM) and prior to TCV, Alok was a technology focused investment banker at JP Morgan (with M&A and IPO experience). Alok also serves on the Board of Directors of various technology companies and was previously a Member of the Board of Directors at Emarsys (sold to SAP in 2020).

David Jacques Farahi

Executive Chairman

David Jacques Farahi became Executive Chairman of Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) in May 2022 after having served as Chief Operating Officer of Monarch Casino & Resort (Nasdaq: MCRI) from 2012 to 2021. As Executive Chairman, Mr. Farahi collaborates with QCI’s executive leadership with regards to product development, finance, and key clients, while developing initiatives to expand QCI into new verticals. As Chief Operating Officer of Monarch, Mr. Farahi oversaw all operations at the company’s two resorts, including its more than 2,000 team members. He was also directly responsible for the company’s investor relations and business development efforts. Mr. Farahi’s key operational priority was to improve the guest experience through a Money Ball-style, analytics-based approach to every department from table games to spa, with a particular focus on slot machines, leading the company’s efforts to develop new KPIs and leverage data visualization tools. Mr. Farahi served four terms as President of the Colorado Gaming Association, from 2015 to 2021, where he spearheaded the industry’s legislative agenda, including three successful state-wide ballot initiatives.

In 2022, Mr. Farahi was named a Non Executive Director of PlayAGS (NYSE: AGS), a global company focused on creating a diverse mix of entertaining gaming experiences for every kind of player. Also in 2022, Farahi commenced teaching an introductory course in Gaming and Sports Book Operations at Metropolitan State University of Denver as an Adjunct Professor. Mr. Farahi earned an MBA from Columbia Business School with concentrations in both Real Estate and Finance. He also holds a BA in Economics and International Studies from Northwestern University.