Marian Pulford is a strategic leader with a track record of scaling organizations, securing multimillion-dollar funding, and driving technology adoption across industries. She specializes in operational strategy, AI implementation, and fundraising, with a focus on transforming complex challenges into high-growth opportunities.

Before co-founding Kestrel Labs Marian led operations at two strategic consultancies, managing large-scale projects that optimized business workflows through AI-driven solutions. She also spearheaded a $5M capital campaign for RiNo Art District, securing major state grants and orchestrating cross-sector partnerships among government agencies, private donors, and corporate sponsors to bring a transformative community project to life.

Beyond Kestrel Labs, Marian is deeply involved in philanthropy and community leadership and serves on multiple nonprofit boards.

With a background in scaling organizations, raising capital, and implementing technology-driven solutions, Marian is leading Kestrel Labs’ mission to revolutionize compliance and risk management in architecture and construction.

Austin Pulford is a licensed architect with over 15 years of experience leading the design and management of large-scale commercial and mixed-use projects, totaling more than 2 million square feet and $1B million in value. As a Senior Architect at Davis Partnership Architects, he specialized in high-rise residential towers, expansive commercial developments, and urban master planning, expertly navigating complex regulatory frameworks.

A recognized expert in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Revit, Austin has pioneered advanced digital workflows that optimize project efficiency, reduce compliance risks, and enhance interdisciplinary collaboration.

At Kestrel Labs, he is leading the development of an AI-powered compliance engine that seamlessly integrates into architects' workflows, eliminating inefficiencies and streamlining regulatory analysis.

Austin’s deep industry expertise ensures Kestrel delivers real-world value, transforming architectural practice through AI-driven automation and positioning the company at the forefront of innovation in architecture and construction technology.

Brian Krzeminski is a veteran technology executive who builds and scales engineering organizations that turn complexity into competitive advantage. Over the past two decades, he has led technical transformations across AI, eCommerce, and fintech, combining deep architectural expertise with a sharp instinct for aligning technology with business growth.

As VP of Engineering at ezCater, Brian oversaw a seventy-person engineering organization, rearchitecting the company’s platform to improve efficiency, resilience, and scalability. At PoweredByMRP, he designed and executed the multi-year technology roadmap that secured the company’s Series A investment, while deploying AI-driven systems that cut operating costs by double digits and accelerated sales velocity.

A founder at heart, Brian previously built Excelsior Solutions, where his team developed transaction platforms later adopted by Amazon, Coinstar, and Coinme—technologies featured in TechCrunch and USA Today for pioneering real-world digital payments, including cash-to-Bitcoin kiosks.
At Kestrel Labs, Brian leads the development of the company’s AI architecture, ensuring its systems scale with the precision, reliability, and speed required to redefine how code compliance is understood across the built environment.

Joe Vopelak is a software architect who builds systems where accuracy and reliability are absolute requirements. With over two decades architecting transaction processing platforms across financial services, healthcare, and flight simulation, he specializes in designing distributed systems that maintain precision and security at scale—the exact discipline required to automate building code compliance.

As Domain Architect at ezCater and owner of Nimgu Solutions, Joe designed cloud-based transaction platforms processing millions of daily transactions. At Coinstar, he architected several pioneering financial products featured in TechCrunch and USA Today—cash-to-Bitcoin kiosks and instant payment services—building not just the transactional logic but the compliance infrastructure and anti-money laundering mechanisms that made these products viable. His work required translating complex regulatory requirements into machine-executable logic, the same challenge Kestrel faces in translating building codes.

At Kestrel Labs, Joe architects the AI systems that interpret building codes and translate regulatory language into machine-readable logic, ensuring the platform delivers the accuracy and reliability that architects depend on.

Ken Glickstein is a finance executive with over 30 years of experience in capital formation, financial modeling, and transaction structuring across private equity, corporate strategy, and operational leadership. As Principal at Three Bridges Advisors, he provides fractional CFO services to high-growth companies navigating fundraising and financial strategy.

As a Managing Director at Braddock Holdings and former Chief Compliance Officer at Braddock Financial, Ken has led investment analysis and business plan development for complex transactions. Earlier in his career, he held senior finance and strategy roles at Corporate Express, Sappi Fine Paper, Booz Allen Hamilton, Ernst & Young, and Salomon Brothers—building deep expertise in financial planning, due diligence, and operational execution.

Ken holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from Northwestern University, along with an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a Master's in Engineering Management from the McCormick School of Engineering, both awarded with distinction.

At Kestrel Labs, Ken oversees financial strategy, investor relations, and capital planning as the company scales.

Ryan DePauw is a technology operator, investor, and advisor with experience building high-performing teams and scaling go-to-market organizations across vertical SaaS. He is known for building elite teams—hiring, developing, and retaining top talent—and for a curiosity-driven approach to leadership and problem-solving.

Ryan has over 12 years of experience helping companies grow from early stage through IPO. At Procore, he built the Sales Engineering organization from 0 to 30 team members and was part of the revenue leadership team as the company scaled from approximately $10M to over $100M in four years. He also contributed to Procore’s transition to a multi-product platform, supported international expansion, and helped launch initiatives including the App Marketplace and Groundbreak.

Ryan is an active angel investor and limited partner across multiple VC funds, a partner in a multifamily real estate investment group focused on value-add opportunities, an STR owner-operator, and an advisor to select ConTech and PropTech companies.

At Kestrel Labs, Ryan supports GTM strategy, hiring best practices, and partner relationships. 

Dave Tarasi is a senior software engineer and former attorney with deep expertise in AI infrastructure, backend systems, and regulatory technology. He has taken three startups from concept to production and brings a rare blend of technical depth and legal fluency. Dave has led backend and data engineering at venture-backed companies where he architected scalable platforms for complex, high-stakes domains.

Before entering tech, Dave spent five years as a corporate attorney focused on private equity and venture fund formation. He holds a JD from the University of Colorado and a Master’s in Computational Data Analytics from Georgia Tech. His experience spans backend development, data architecture, ML prototyping, and legal tech, positioning him as a critical advisor as Kestrel builds out its rule-based AI compliance engine.

Bob Messegee is a seasoned software engineer and systems architect with 20+ years of experience leading both enterprise-scale and startup product teams. His expertise spans full-stack development, technical architecture, and engineering leadership across highly regulated industries. Bob brings a rare blend of hands-on software engineering depth and domain-level strategic thinking, honed through years of driving complex product delivery in environments where precision and scalability are non-negotiable.

In parallel with his software career, Bob co-founded and served as the Principal Builder at Bruder Design House, a high-end residential design-build firm operating across four states. As Principal Builder, he led every phase of delivery, bringing a technologist’s precision to the physical act of building. That dual-track experience gives him an uncommon edge: fluency in both digital systems and the real-world constraints of construction.

Sean Gatzen is a practicing architect and architectural lecturer with a strategic lens on real estate development, planning, and the economics of the built environment. His work bridges forward-thinking design with operational execution, drawing on a career that spans both architectural practice and commercial finance. Sean’s current focus is on development-driven architecture that pushes for spatial innovation while remaining grounded in real-world constraints.

Before architecture, Sean spent over 17 years in commercial banking, where he financed more than $140 million in real estate projects and managed loan portfolios exceeding $150 million.

At Kestrel Labs, Sean advises on architecture strategy, market fit, and financial readiness. His rare combination of design expertise, academic leadership, and financial rigor ensures the company stays aligned with the needs of both practitioners and capital partners—while building toward long-term industry transformation.