============================================================ TITLE: Meet Our Team | Tom Sawyer Software TYPE: article VERSION: 1 VERSION_ID: ac355d0a-120d-438e-81ab-0ddd73aef667 GENERATED_AT: 2026-04-09T10:00:12.868Z SUMMARY: Graph visualization is what we do. Tom Sawyer Software brings clarity to real-world business challenges through effective graph visualization and analysis. READING TIME: 11 min WORD COUNT: 2181 KEYWORDS: Tom Sawyer Software SOURCE URL: https://www.tomsawyer.com/meet-our-team ============================================================ KEY TAKEAWAYS: * Graph visualization is what we do * Our journey * Our passion may be all things graph, but these core values have fueled our longevity * Meet our team * We're lucky to live and work in these beautiful and culturally rich locations # Meet Our Team Bringing excellence in everything we do - the faces of Tom Sawyer Software. ## Graph visualization is what we do A passion for all things graph is at the core of all we do at Tom Sawyer Software. Since 1992, we've perfected our graph layout technology and gained a reputation as the leader in graph visualization and analysis technology. Our staff of global graph enthusiasts work tirelessly to support our customers' graph visualization journey, whether that's combating fraud, making sense of complex systems, or analyzing social networks. A graph of a criminal network. ## Our journey We began in a small office in Berkeley. Though the nights were long and the menu was mostly takeout burritos, we developed our first graph layout algorithms and Tom Sawyer Software was born. ### Early 1990s We introduced Hierarchical layout, Circular layout, Symmetric layout, and support for nested drawings. Plus, we launched Graph Layout Toolkit, a library of graph layout APIs. ### Late 1990s We released Graph Editor Toolkit, the groundbreaking Orthogonal layout, and the first-ever incremental layout. We also received a NIST Advanced Technology Program Award for "Component-Based Software Technology Development." ### Early 2000s We received a patent award for Labeling Graphical Features of Drawings, released the Graph Analysis Toolkit, and unified our graph rendering products as Tom Sawyer Visualization. ### Late 2000s We opened a development center in Riga, Latvia and introduced Tom Sawyer Perspectives, a low-code graph and data visualization development platform. ### Early 2010s We opened a development center in Mexico City. Perspectives advanced with support for composite node UIs and new map, timeline, and chart views. We also received Red Herring's Top 100 Global Award. ### Late 2010s We released end-user applications: Model-Based Engineering, Business Process, and Graph Database Browser. We made our AWS Marketplace debut with Graph Database Browser. We're passionate about the environment and avid recyclers so we were thrilled to go solar at our Berkeley office. We opened up a third development center in Heraklion, Greece. Graph Database Browser was made available in AWS GovCloud (US) and we introduced Bundle layout and two-dimensional swimlanes. ## Our passion may be all things graph, but these core values have fueled our longevity Tom Sawyer Software is a place where innovation meets passion, and where our commitment to quality is as unwavering as our dedication to customer satisfaction. As a dynamic and forward-thinking company, we pride ourselves on the ability to rapidly evolve into an industry-leading force. Our team of experienced professionals are not only experts in their respective fields, but also bring a unique set of skills and a common goal: excellence in everything we do, which fuels collaboration, mutual support, and a shared vision for the future. These are the faces behind the work, the stories behind the expertise, and the personalities that make our workplace vibrant and inspiring. We’re more than colleagues; we’re a family working together to make a positive impact. Welcome to the heart of Tom Sawyer Software – welcome to our exceptional team. ## Meet our team Brendan MaddenCEOAs the visionary founder of Tom Sawyer Software since 1992, Brendan has transformed the company into a global leader in high-performance graph and data visualization. With nearly forty years of experience, Brendan is one of the world's foremost experts in graph and data visualization, graph layout, and graph analysis. He is also an expert in user experience and software architecture.Read More Marilyn DrobenaireVP of FinanceMarilyn brings over 30 years of diverse experience in financial management, auditing, banking, forensic accounting, wealth management, tax preparation, and human resources. As VP of Finance and Board Member, Marilyn oversees Tom Sawyer Software's financial functions for optimal performance.Read More Ulrich FoessmeierVP of EngineeringUlrich is a key figure in Tom Sawyer Software's triumphs, who rejoined in 2017 as VP of Engineering. With two decades of software industry expertise, Ulrich has driven success through intricate projects and global teams, spanning roles from Orthogonal layout specialist to General Manager.Read More Kevin MaddenChief Software EngineerWith over three decades in the software industry, Kevin pioneers innovation as Chief Software Engineer and Board Member. Originally the third software engineer at Tom Sawyer Software, Kevin now shapes the company's server-based products, focused on cutting-edge technologies.Read More Caroline ScharfVP of OperationsCaroline is a strategic leader at Tom Sawyer Software, who streamlines company processes, oversees day-to-day operations, and excels in administration with a corporate services focus. As VP of Operations, Caroline has a strong background in software leadership with a passion for optimization and continuous improvement.Read More Hudson SutherlandVP of SalesHudson is a tech-savvy leader with 25+ years in Commercial and Defense programs, specializing in AI, data analytics, and agile software development. His expertise spans from military leadership to accelerating tech innovation, improving mission intelligence, and driving strategic partnerships. Read More Patrick MaddenPrincipal Solutions ArchitectAs a co-founder of Tom Sawyer Software and now Principal Solutions Architect, Patrick is a seasoned software designer with over three decades of expertise. His pivotal role in crafting the Tom Sawyer Perspectives web framework showcases his dedication to seamless integration in large-scale deployments, particularly in Enterprise environments and the cloud. Read More Ioannis G. TollisChief ScientistIoannis is a distinguished professor of computer science at the University of Crete, Greece, and former Director of the Center for ICT. Ioannis has held key roles at FORTH–ICS and Tom Sawyer Software, contributing significantly to graph visualization technology. Currently, he serves as Chief Scientist at Tom Sawyer Software since 2018.Read More Anna KhachatryanAssociate General CounselAnna is a seasoned legal professional, who spearheads the legal function at Tom Sawyer Software since 2017. Guiding the company through corporate governance, commercial transactions, strategic partnerships, and more, Anna ensures trust amid growth as Associate General Counsel.Read More Wendy FengPrincipal Technical Design ArchitectA world-renowned expert in graph visualization techniques, Wendy serves as Principal Technical Design Architect for Tom Sawyer Software, notably contributing to Tom Sawyer Perspectives. As a key figure in design and development, Wendy leads the User Experience modernization.Read More Rudolfs OpmanisSenior Solutions ArchitectSince 2007, Rudolfs, a software engineer turned Senior Solutions Architect at Tom Sawyer Software, is a visionary in data visualization and image processing, drawing from extensive customer collaboration, shaping key features in the company's products.Read More Austris KrastinsSenior Technical Design DirectorAs Senior Technical Design Director, Austris spearheads software architecture design, collaborating with architects and designers. He has contributed significantly to Tom Sawyer Perspectives' evolution. From early development to strategic expansion and recent innovations, he defines excellence.Read More Mike NewtonSenior Product Development DirectorMichael is a cornerstone at Tom Sawyer Software since 1998, starting as a Software Engineer and pioneering the design of the first graph visualization product. Now, as Senior Product Development Director, he spearheads product releases, shapes roadmaps, and enhances operational processes.Read More Corinne KoderProduct Development DirectorA former customer turned integral team member since 2018, Corinne brings over 20 years of software development expertise to Tom Sawyer Software. As Product Development Director, she guides globally distributed teams, oversees infrastructure systems, and ensures exceptional product development.Read More Janet SixSenior Product ManagerWith nearly three decades of experience in graph visualization, Janet, as a Senior Product Manager at Tom Sawyer Software, collaborates with cross-functional teams to shape product strategy, creating efficient data visualization solutions and advocating for innovation while addressing complex enterprise needs.Read More Hugo AntunesAssociate Solutions ManagerHugo began his career with Tom Sawyer Software in 2014 as a Products Software Engineer. Evolving into a Solutions Engineer, he now leads the Solutions team, orchestrating tailored applications that address clients' intricate visualization challenges, driving product innovation to meet evolving needs.Read More Rihards OpmanisSenior Product Development EngineerAs Senior Product Development Engineer at Tom Sawyer Software, Rihards leads the Graph Layout group in enhancing features, tackling functionality issues, and pioneering inventive algorithms for superior graph layout quality. He works on features such as routing and labeling.Read More Janis BisenieksSenior Product Development EngineerJānis Bisenieks joined Tom Sawyer Software in 2012 and has been instrumental in developing Tom Sawyer Perspectives and internal tools. He brings deep technical expertise and a strong focus on building scalable solutions that drive the company’s product innovation.Read More Thanos GiannakisSenior Product Development EngineerThanos Giannakis leads technical teams to develop robust software systems utilizing graph databases for complex data insights. He has over 9 years of experience in software development and graph-based solutions, with a specialty in web and Java applications, graph database technologies, and knowledge representation.Read More Santiago LeonSenior Product Development EngineerSantiago Leon excels in implementing product features using web technologies to meet customer needs. He has extensive experience supporting customers in aerospace, manufacturing, and systems engineering, and is passionate about making graph technologies accessible.Read More Max ChagoyaAssociate Product ManagerMax Chagoya is a certified PMP, and excels in competitive research, market analysis, and team leadership. He has extensive project management experience leading implementation projects and business technology enhancements.Read More Konstantinos KakoulisSenior Consultant Konstantinos Kakoulis is a professor of Computer Aided Design at the University of Western Macedonia, Greece, a co-patent holder in graphical feature labeling, and published author. He currently collaborates with Tom Sawyer Software on topics in information visualization and algorithm design.Read More Liana KiffSenior ConsultantLiana Kiff brings over twenty years of software innovation and development experience, focusing on graph-based information management, ontology development, and cloud-based services and APIs for enterprise software development.Read More Fabian SilvaSenior ConsultantFabian specializes in designing features and solutions for product development with a focus on quality. His background is in data analysis and he excels in coding, object-oriented programming, and creating high-level CI/CD pipelines for cloud services.Read More Peter EadesTechnical AdvisorPeter is a Research Professor at the University of Sydney, and has pioneered graph visualization since the 1980s. With over a hundred papers and acclaimed as a "Distinguished Researcher," he explores dynamic data sets, uncertainty visualization, and innovative graph drawing algorithms. He currently serves as Technical Advisor for Tom Sawyer Software.Read More Paulis KikustsTechnical AdvisorPaulis is a distinguished professor and leading researcher at the University of Latvia's Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, and pioneered graph theory and computational geometry. His notable contributions include the GRADE project and groundbreaking graph drawing algorithms. He currently serves as Technical Advisor for Tom Sawyer Software.Read More ## We're lucky to live and work in these beautiful and culturally rich locations * Berkeley, California, USA * Mexico City, Mexico * Riga, Latvia * Heraklion, Crete, Greece * Newcastle, Australia Join our team of passionate graph enthusiasts today! View Career Opportunities ### TECHNOLOGIES Graph Platform Data Integration Data Federation Graph Analysis Graph Drawings Graph Layout Graph Editing Graph Visualization Data Visualization Graph Intelligence * Graph Platform * Data Integration * Data Federation * Graph Analysis * Graph Drawings * Graph Layout * Graph Editing * Graph Visualization * Data Visualization * Graph Intelligence Data Streams Perspectives Explorations SysML v2 Viewer Model-Based Engineering Business Process * Data Streams * Perspectives * Explorations * SysML v2 Viewer * Model-Based Engineering * Business Process Proof of Concept Training Technical Assistance Application Development * Proof of Concept * Technical Assistance * Application Development Download Products Configure Licenses Documentation Release Notes Contact Support Review Open Cases * Download Products * Configure Licenses * Documentation * Release Notes * Contact Support * Review Open Cases About Us Meet Our Team Blog Careers Events News Partners Contact Us Get Started Copyright © 2026 Tom Sawyer Software. 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