Team Biographies

Ashley: Ashley has a very unique hobby. She breeds reptiles, as a matter of fact. Yes, she takes care of animals that many people fear, but she loves what she does, and that is all that matters. Ironically, she is terrified of spiders and jumps at the sight of even the smallest little arachnoid. When she’s not taking care of her numerous pets (or avoiding spiders), she’s hiking or playing poker—but no online games for this girl, she only plays the real thing. One of Ashley’s talents that can be heard ‘round the office is her ability to randomly burst into song. How she has such an extensive repertoire in her head is beyond us.

Darren: Darren may just be the best-dressed male in the office. Those stylish button-down shirts are just so nice. When he isn’t in the office showing off his suave style, you might find him cheering on his 7-year-old son, Heath, at a BMX race. When he’s in Las Vegas for tradeshows, he likes to go check out the BMX course they have there, or eat dinner at the famous (and delicious) Battista’s Hole in the Wall restaurant that serves up a hearty Italian meal. Darren is also a fan of scrumptious dessert crepes. The most fun Darren ever had in New Orleans was not during Mardi Gras, but when he helped clear lots after Katrina as a part of the HCEA tradeshow.

Elisa: Elisa enjoys a variety of activities, such as going to car races and the movies with her husband, or having a delicious Tommy’s burger, which she prefers to In-N-Out. She is a big fan of playing on the Wii, and her claim to fame is the Wii bowling game and sword fighting (look out!). Elisa also loves Disneyland, and Tinkerbell is her favorite character. She also enjoys taking pictures. When she isn’t hanging out with her husband or friends, she just might be making some delicious enchiladas or baking her famous and delectable tater tot casserole. Hopefully the office will have a potluck sometime just so we can get a bite of this famous dish.

Felicia: Felicia is a lively and joyful soul. Her laugh can be heard around the office and she enjoys cracking jokes. She likes to sport a new hairdo every few months, from braids to bobs. Playing ball with her adorable corgi-chihuahua dog, Gracie, is one of her favorite pastimes. Her other outdoor adventures include hiking and biking. She has also recently joined a Pilates and yoga class, and she’s feelin’ the burn. Well, it’s like they say, “no pain, no gain”. However, she doesn’t mind making her body bend in ways it shouldn’t, because she says that it makes her feel refreshed and energized. Famous for her spicy artichoke dip, Felicia becomes a local celebrity when she arrives at dinner parties or potlucks. Give me a pita chip and I’m there!

James: James likes to keep himself occupied with a variety of activities, from running to hiking, to playing cards. He likes to live life spontaneously. Maybe it’s because he’s a ginger. Interestingly, James has a fear of clothes hangers (sorry, there’s no cool medical term), and absolutely abhors them. He hates waking up in the morning with hangers on the bed because they seem to attack him—he has the battle scars (scratches) to prove it. When it comes to food, James is a big fan of noodles. He loves making Ramen and pasta with alfredo sauce is his favorite. Even though James does not have any pets of his own, he basically adopted his sister-in-law’s dog, and often takes him to the beach.

John: John is the founder and entrepeneur behind NewLeads.  He’s usually one of the first people to find humor in just about anything, but he is the only one who whistles all the way to the kitchen, while in the kitchen, and on the way back to his office. He likes his morning coffee—well, more like loves his coffee. He even has his own variation for his daily cup(s) of joe: an extra strong espresso shot, latte this and chocciato that; all done with the commercial grade espresso machine that he acquired for the office. Outside of work, John works out nearly every morning in preparation for a weekly ritual of mountain biking (and falling) with friends. He can be found working on landscaping projects around the house, spending time with his family, studying German, and cooking up some oh so delicious variation of chili or a scrumptious omelet in the morning. He is also a deacon at his church and plays guitar in the band. Technology, invention and innovation are his passions at work, all of which are ignored once he’s home with his family.

J.P.: First of all, many wonder what J.P.’s full name is, so we’ll start with that. Juan Paulo is funny and he often makes people laugh. It was soon realized that this interview, conducted during lunch, was a bad idea: J.P. is is one of the slowest eaters you will ever meet. He takes grandmother’s proverbial saying about chewing food “27 times” quite literally. Perhaps this is his secret to staying so fit, or maybe it’s because he plays several sports; from golf and tennis to soccer, where he also coaches kids. To call him ‘athletic’ is almost an understatement—he can leg press nearly 700 pounds.

Karl: Karl grew up in Germany, and because of his accent, he occasionally finds himself as the brunt of playful jokes. At least he knows that his country has the better food. His favorites are dishes with spätzle (delicious “pasta” noodles that taste like dumplings) venison, and German cheesecake, which is apparently much lighter and tastier than the American version because it is made with curd. Is your mouth watering yet? Karl definitely misses good German food in general, but who can blame him? He loves spending time with his family, playing soccer, and he even participates in pick-up games with friends twice per week. He is very involved in his church, and he helped start the men’s ministry from his own home when it was still in its early stages.

Kurt: Kurt is a NewLeads original. He has been with the company since it began 15 years ago. It’s sort of like Survivor—he’s still on the island and going strong. When he’s not creating some really cool iPad app for the leads system or inventing some new technology (no big deal), he enjoys cycling around town and hanging out with his daughters. Kurt also likes to cook, with chicken tortilla soup being his favorite thing to create. Interestingly, he loves seafood, but cannot stand sushi! He also has a cat and dog, but he may not be their biggest fan.

Laura: Laura has a colorful background, from English riding competitions when she was a teen, to living in Germany for three years when she served in the military. Nowadays, she likes having a good laugh with her best friend, who she has known since the 6th grade (wow!), and she often helps her friend with her horses, as Laura has an extensive background with them. Laura absolutely loves comedy. In fact, she does an excellent impression of MTV personality, Miss Swan that will make you buckle with laughter. Tending to her rose garden and preparing dishes such as her famous pasta salad, with artichoke hearts of course, are some of her hobbies. She also loves playing with her beautiful English golden retriever, Scout.

Shayna: Shayna has a very enthusiastic attitude with everything that she does. She collects instruments and enjoys playing with them, even though she doesn’t know how to properly play them. From maracas to drums, she has quite a few instruments. She likes to experiment and make up her own guitar chords, for instance. She does play the harmonica, though, as well as the djembe (an African drum). When she isn’t hosting jam sessions in her home, she’s probably hiking around Matilija canyon and exploring the river and waterholes. A salad connoisseur, Shayna loves crafting a delicious mix of local greens with feta, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and roasted pecans. She is passionate about “Laundry Love”, an organization that does laundry for people who do not have the resources to do so. She has been volunteering for the past 5 years.

Terri: Terri uses her professional event planning skills to organize fun family reunions. Several years ago, she booked a camping site and went whitewater rafting! She enjoys reading, especially biographies and mystery stories, one of her favorites being The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series. She loves her cat, Keisha, who she got from a rescue center over 10 years ago. Cooking and baking are also Terri’s favorite pastimes, and she finds that her Italian roots come in handy when she makes her delicious homemade lasagna. Hopefully the mere mention of her delectable dish will inspire an office potluck. In addition, she likes to experiment with different ways of baking biscotti, especially with pistachios.

Tony: Before launching himself into the computer tech world, Tony owned and operated an Italian restaurant, Armando’s, for 24 years. His father also had an Italian restaurant called Little Tony’s, so you could say that it’s all in the family. Tony’s favorite dish is fried spaghetti with all of the cheese and sauce mixed together, which becomes quite the palate pleaser. Nowadays, Tony enjoys working on computers, and spending time with his three kids and family. A supportive dad, he also likes to cheer his daughter on at basketball games.

Vicki: Vicki, like her daughter, also breeds reptiles, and has been doing it for years. She rescued her beloved pit bull, Jewel, when she was just a puppy. Vicki calls Jewel her “cow-dog” because of her black and white pattern that makes her look like she should be mooing rather than barking. An avid motorcycle rider, Vicki loves taking her Harley out on back country roads where she can enjoy the landscape and serenity of the open road. Vicki also likes to ride her quad at Pismo beach and on off roads. Her favorite food to make is a special dish called “restaurant reservation”—she isn’t a fan of cooking. You might find her at Sushi Fresh eating her favorite food—you guessed it, sushi.