Meet the RUNWITHIT Team

Myrna Bittner - Founder, CEO

Armed with her BA in English, and finishing her MBA, Myrna started her first tech company in 1992, developing a commercial internet groupware product used by NASA and US West for real-time remote communications, followed by co-founding a 3D neural net visualization research company funded by an Australian billionaire. When they told her she couldn’t, she didn’t listen. Myrna passionately lives and promotes the imperative for inclusion, diversity, and representation.

Melissa Fierro - Director, Marketing

Melissa is an international business development specialist, with over 15 years of experience representing government and SME's in international markets. She enjoys learning from different cultures, playing tennis, and exploring nature with her kids.

Brent Guidinger - Director, Strategic Accounts & Growth

Brent is a dynamic leader who thrives on building trusted partnerships rooted in meaningful impact. With deep experience across the social impact sector, he is driven to create a more inclusive, resilient world. Off the clock, Brent loves spending time and making memories with his wife, Kristy, and their kids, Casey and Jacob.

Armaghan Taghvaei - Director, Design & Visual Brand

Armaghan is a multidisciplinary creative with a passion for turning ideas into thoughtful, real-world experiences. With a background in product design, creative direction, and startup building, she loves bringing ideas to life in ways that feel smart and human. Outside of work, she’s usually out on a nature adventure, whether it’s trying to decode the inner world of seagulls, camping under the stars, or climbing trees (the not-too-tall ones, of course)!

Niloofar Manafi - Director, Solutions Architect

Niloofar holds a MSc. In Engineering Management from the University of Alberta. She is passionate about understanding the behavior of systems, people, and processes. With her combined engineering and management knowledge, Niloofar hopes to tackle real challenges in a Synthetic environment by bringing strategic planning and decision-making approach using data, research, and technology. She enjoys traveling and trying new restaurants.

Sandeep Kaur - Director, Synthetic Populations & Modeling

Dr. Sandeep Kaur shapes and leads advanced data science and modeling initiatives at RWI, drawing on a background in computational physics and deep expertise in synthetic populations and decision support for complex urban and policy challenges. She is a thoughtful leader and mentor who enjoys translating complex data into clear, actionable insights with real-world impact.

Megan Salé - Executive Assistant

Megan has an educational background in graphic communications and brings a diverse skill set from experience in customer service, administration, and accounting. Recognized for strong organizational abilities, dedication, and continuous drive to enhance her professional capabilities, she actively seeks opportunities for growth and development.

Kjell Kolstad - Strategic Accounts Executive

Kjell loves to build partnerships and has led collaborations with global industry leaders in AI, VR, GIS/geospatial, smart cities, intelligent infrastructure, telecom and transportation across the globe. M.Sc and BBA. Outside of work, ask Kjell about cross-country skiing! 

Sama Ahmed (EIT) - Technical Principal, Product Management

Sama’s experience ranges from teaching, marketing, and AI product launches. She has an MEng. Degree from the University of Alberta, and is now the Principal of Product Management at RWI. Her collaborations of note include NASA, NATO, TVA and EPRI. She enjoys photography and music composition in her free time.

Rory Bittner - Technical Associate, Project Coordination

Rory is an Alternative Energy Technologist and a graduate of NAIT’s JR Shaw School of Business in Marketing. He’s passionate about the emergence & future of renewable energy and enjoys marketing communications. In his spare time, he is an avid D&D player, jetski rider, mechanical tinkerer, and cat cuddler.

Amanda McCutcheon - Marketing & Communications Specialist

Amanda has over a decade of experience as a professional communicator, whether that’s writing, editing, speaking, or building community face-to-face. She holds degrees in Journalism and History from UBC and U of L. Pastimes include tabletop gaming, horror fiction, and making balloon animals.

Richard Vegher - Technical Principal, Software Development

Richard holds a B.A. in Computer Science from York University. He is experienced in programming, and Linux system administration. He is passionate about Synthetic concepts and software development. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, and studying philosophy.

Jessica Bator - Technical Specialist, Game Engine Development

Jessica holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of British Columbia. Jessica has a deep curiosity about how complex programs work and enjoys debugging intricate issues to identify root causes. Always eager to learn, she thrives on exploring new technologies, libraries, and systems to expand her expertise.

Ryan Willis - Technical Associate, Research, Modelling & Visualization

Ryan holds a Bachelor of Business Economics from Brock University, and a MSc in Management Analytics from Wilfrid Laurier University. He is passionate about organizing complex data into dynamic visualizations and models to identify emerging trends and insights. Outside of work, Ryan is an avid motor racing fan, and enjoys playing video games, watching TV/sports, cooking, and ice skating.

Jovana Plavsic - Technical Lead, Creative Technologist

Jovana is a creative technologist with an interdisciplinary background in digital technologies and computer graphics, working at the intersection of art, engineering, and science. She holds a Ph.D. from UBC and has experience crafting real-time 3D visualizations for diverse industries. She is passionate about technology for good, diversity, and the visual arts.

Keaton Botha - Technical Associate, Research, Modelling & Visualization

Keaton holds a B.Sc. from the University of Alberta with a double major in Mathematics and Physics. He's passionate about understanding how complicated systems work and uncovering what rules govern their behaviour and evolution. In his spare time, Keaton loves to read, play chess, watch movies, and spend time with family and friends.

Tajinder Singh - Technical Specialist, Data, Research, & Modelling

Tajinder holds a B.Tech in Computer Science and an MBA in Production & Technology Management. With over a decade of experience, he specializes in data analysis, applying Python and SQL to uncover patterns, forecast trends, and build models that support business strategy. His work emphasizes transforming raw data into meaningful insights that drive decision-making. Passionate about continuous learning, Tajinder is committed to using data as a tool for solving real-world problems and creating measurable impact.

Souren Iwazian - Technical Specialist, Data, Research, & Modelling

Souren holds a BSc in Physics and an MSc in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Calgary. His academic research focused on electricity markets, with a thesis on revenue modelling for wind farms and optimizing renewable energy expansion in Alberta. He is passionate about research and developing mathematical models that support decision-making in both the private and public sectors. Outside of work, Souren enjoys camping, hiking, cooking, watching sports, and TV shows. He is also a dedicated supporter of Chelsea FC.