Meet Our Tribe
We’re more than a team. We’re a chosen family, rooted in shared values and built for impact.
Grounded in wisdom from our roots and forged through decades of public service, we bring together indigenous professionals, veterans, LGBTQ technologists, and allies who believe that diverse voices create stronger platforms, smarter solutions, and better outcomes for the people we serve.
We’re builders, problem-solvers, and change agents who carry our values into every line of code and every client conversation. Because when you build with intention and inclusion, the products endure and so do the opportunities it creates in our communities.
Below, you’ll meet the people who bring that mission to life every day. From experienced technologists to rising stars, each member of our team contributes not just skills, but insight, creativity, and lived experience—helping us deliver with excellence while expanding what’s possible in public interest technology.
Rusty Pickens
Founder
Rusty D. Pickens is the Founder and Principal of 580 Strategies and a former Senior Advisor for Digital Platforms at the U.S. Department of State and the White House. With over 20 years of experience in federal tech strategy, he led teams behind Whitehouse.gov, We The People, and other major platforms during the Obama Administration. Rusty now advises organizations on cloud computing and agile delivery to enhance digital engagement and citizen experience. He splits his time between Washington, DC, Oklahoma, and West Virginia.
Rusty Pickens
Founder & Principal | Federal Cloud Expert
John Esteves
Product Manager and Scrum Master
John Esteves is a Product Manager and Scrum Master with a strong background in project, product, and change management. Over the years, he’s led work at Comcast, Universal Parks & Resorts, and Freewheel, and also spent three years running his own small business. John is certified as a Scrum Master, PMP, and in ADKAR Change Management. In his current role, he focuses on keeping teams running smoothly, leading agile ceremonies, building solid relationships with clients and partners, and finding better ways to get things done. He holds a B.S. in Information Sciences & Technology with a minor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from Penn State. John believes that strong relationships and clear goals are the foundation of any successful project.
John Esteves
Product Manager & Scrum Master
Isaiah Joo
Product Manager
Isaiah is an experienced government technologist with a strong track record of leading cross-functional teams and delivering high-impact projects. Skilled in Agile, data science, machine learning, and public diplomacy, he has led initiatives from enterprise data platforms to global CRM deployments. Formerly Chief Analyst and Project Manager at the U.S. Department of State, Isaiah excels at aligning tech strategy with mission goals.
Isaiah Joo
Product Manager
Jett McDowell
Software Developer
Jett is an Air Force veteran and recent Computer Science graduate with a strong background in electrical engineering and avionics. During his senior year, he completed a product management internship at 580 Strategies, gaining experience with Salesforce, AWS, agile methods, and QA testing. Now working full time with the company, Jett supports clients across sectors while continuing to build expertise and earn certifications in Salesforce.
Jett McDowell
Software Developer
Sergio Jimenez
Front-End Developer / Designer
Sergio Jimenez-Garcia is a Front-End Developer and Graphic Designer with 15+ years of experience creating engaging, user-focused digital experiences. He specializes in UI/UX design, responsive web development, and branding, blending technical skill with strong visual creativity.
Currently at 580 Strategies, Sergio builds responsive interfaces, designs brand-consistent visuals, and supports Salesforce QA within Agile teams. His background includes roles in web design, e-learning development, and IT, along with freelance work for organizations like ASQ and the Cisco Learning Institute.
He holds a B.S. in Cartography & Geography with a minor in Computer Science, plus certifications from Salesforce, Google, and CICE Madrid. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Sergio brings an international perspective and a passion for storytelling through design.
Sergio Jimenez
Web Designer & Front-End Developer
Conner Smith
QA Tester and Software Developer
Conner Smith is a QA Tester and Software Developer at 580 Strategies, where he’s currently focused on testing, development, and solving DevOps challenges. He started his career in data analytics at a large company before moving into software and cloud architecture work. Before that, he took a swing at entrepreneurship, building and designing his own board games. Conner brings a mix of technical depth and practical thinking to every project, with experience in DevOps, cloud architecture, web development, and design. He approaches work with a straightforward mindset: do good work, be reliable, and don’t get caught up in the noise. Known for being detail-oriented with a strong grasp of the big picture, Conner is quick to spot when things veer off course and helps guide them back on track.He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from East Central University and also spent time studying at the University of Oklahoma.
Conner Smith
QA Specialist & Software Developer
Bhavya (Kiran) Valiveti
Salesforce Engineer
Bhavya (Kiran) is a multi-certified Salesforce professional with over 10 years of experience across Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, and the Force.com platform. He brings deep expertise in end-to-end enterprise application development, including analysis, design, development, testing, and deployment.
Bhavya (Kiran) Valiveti
Salesforce Engineer
Experts and Advisors
Satya Malla
Salesforce Architect (Advisory Partner)
Satya is a seasoned Salesforce architect with over 20 years of experience in software development and platform engineering. He specializes in designing cloud solutions for federal and state governments, with a strong focus on regulatory compliance and security. Satya serves as an advisory partner to 580 Strategies.
Satya Malla
Salesforce Architect
Dave Colangelo
DevOps Engineer (Advisory Partner)
Dave is the technical team lead for engineering subcontract teams at 580 Strategies and a Managing Partner at P&D Technology Solutions. With a background in development and project management across the private sector, he now brings agile, cloud-native, and DevOps best practices to government. He has led large-scale projects in data processing, PCI-compliant payments, and software security, with a focus on architecting scalable solutions on AWS. Dave serves as an advisory partner to 580 Strategies.
Dave Colangelo
DevSecOps & Cloud Engineer
Carl Sieber
Human Centered Designer (Advisory Partner)
Carl Sieber is a multidisciplinary, user-centered designer at 580 Strategies with experience in design systems, apps, websites, and interactive platforms. He applies a process-driven approach across client engagements—covering research, workshops, usability testing, and agile methodologies. Carl is pioneering human-centered design in government digital services, focusing on putting citizens, veterans, and constituents at the center of every application. Carl serves as an advisory partner to 580 Strategies.
Carl Sieber
Human Centered Designer
