Ben is a leader, entrepreneur, engineer, introvert, designer, optimist and analyst to name but a few. Fascinated by what makes things fly and soaring on his own piloting experience Ben studied and qualified in Aerospace Engineering with first class Honors from the University of Hertfordshire in Great Britain. He has turned his hand to numerous roles throughout his career motivated by a desire to continually learn. Founding Freya in 2009 and learning how to lead has created a deep passion for Ben and a driving force that helps him get out of bed each morning. Ben’s role is to create an environment at Freya to help others learn, grow and enjoy their work.
Ben believes that if we live outside of our comfort zone, learn and grow together we can build a richer world for everyone as well as having more than a little fun on the way. Ben is inspired and sometimes influenced by great thinkers such as Simon Sinek, Brene Brown, Edward Tuft, Mark Manson, Richard Branson, Neil Gaimen and Seth Gordin. Ask Ben for a book recommendation and he’s bound to share two or three.
Outside of his role and time in Freya Ben loves to stay fit and active: trail running, cycling, hiking and salsa dancing. Ben can occasionally get a tune from a guitar, always has a good book on hand and indulges in the odd video and board game. Ben also volunteers to help those in need maintain their home and is always looking for other opportunities to donate a little of his time.
Chris MacNeel is the lead Data Scientist at Freya Systems. He loves working with all things data and has a knack for problem-solving. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from West Chester University and is currently working on a Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics from Penn State University. When he’s not working he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, and watching the Flyers and Eagles.
As a developer, Ben Wood specializes in application back-end functionality in Java. He has been fascinated with computers and programming since coding in COMAL at school or on his Commodore 64 at home (yes he is that old). Ben enjoys the flexibility of working for a smaller company and the sense of togetherness and support fostered within the Freya Team. Ben has a cat who does not understand that all the socks and pens in his house do not belong to him.
Katherine Anderson is a data scientist because she knows statistics better than most software developers and has better programming skills than most statisticians. She holds a B.S. in Mathematical Sciences and Materials Science Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from University of Southern California. She loves figuring out how to manipulate data in R and Python to help develop and represent mathematical algorithms. Freya Systems gives her the freedom to work in “puzzle-solving” mode and the guidance to contribute to overall business needs. As a graduate of the Zip Code Wilmington coding bootcamp, she also enjoys Freya’s similar approach to work in that we all take our work seriously while maintaining a fun work environment. Outside of work, Katherine sings in two a cappella groups, plays board games, competes in Quizzo nights in Media, and enjoys spending time with her husband and two cats.
Vlad Belyanvskiy is a Full Stack Developer at Freya Systems. He enjoys problem-solving and learning something new every day. He prefers to use the latest technologies and coming up with creative solutions. Vlad loves the smaller company feel at Freya. Because it is smaller he gets to design, develop and test the projects himself. When he’s not working he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, and watching the Flyers and Eagles.
Lauren Green is a Data Science Manager at Freya Systems with a background as a math educator as well as a B.A. in Economics from Emory University. Lauren has always enjoyed using data to answer questions. After a three-month intensive Java boot camp, she is excited to combine her coding knowledge to analyze data using R and Python. Freya provided the perfect opportunity to continue learning while tackling challenging problems in a supportive and fun work environment.
Lauren is an avid puzzle-lover with a large Rubik’s cube collection. Additionally, she has done over twenty escape rooms with her husband, friends, and family loving the challenge and teamwork they provide.
Trying new things has always been one of Lauren’s passions including glass blowing classes, traveling to different parts of the world (45 countries and counting), cooking new cuisines, or renovating her 100-year-old South Philadelphia row home with her husband.
Deana Stuart is a Data Engineer and leads the culture committee at Freya Systems with an interest in using data and technology to solve problems. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and a M.S. in Information Science from SUNY Albany. In her free time, Deana enjoys traveling, cooking, playing board games, and singing a cappella.
Nate Latshaw is a data scientist at Freya Systems who enjoys uncovering previously undiscovered insights from data. He loves the unique opportunities provided by working at a growing small business on a variety of data science projects. Nate holds a B.S in Economics and Mathematics from Dickinson College and an M.S. in Statistics from Carnegie Mellon University. Outside of work, he enjoys passionately following his favorite sports teams and attending live comedy shows and concerts.
Michelle Caler is a Data Scientist at Freya Systems and a former Instructor in the Department of Physics and Engineering at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She holds a B.A. in Astronomy-Physics from Colgate University and a PhD in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Pennsylvania. She has always enjoyed using data to answer questions and tell a story; she also enjoys using data to make predictions about the future. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys knitting, video gaming, reading, and cooking. She is also a lapsed runner trying to get back into the habit.
Joshua Neidich is a full-stack developer specializing in customizing solutions to meet a customer’s needs. With years of business management experience and a degree in marketing, Josh is able to help translate business requirements to technical specs.
Working remotely from Florida, Josh enjoys being outdoors, going to the movies, and trying all the restaurants with friends.
Sheng Huang is a Data Engineer at Freya Systems working primarily in Python and SQL. With a passion for technology in mind, Sheng attended the Pennsylvania State University pursuing a degree in Information Science Technology. Wanting a more thorough focus on data manipulation, he decided to enroll in a three-month intensive boot camp focused on data engineering.
Riyadhul Taher is a Full Stack Developer at Freya Systems where he works primarily in Java and React, among other languages and frameworks. Riyadhul likes the problem-solving aspect of programming and enjoys learning how the pieces of the puzzle fit together in regards to a functional application. Outside of work, he is an avid powerlifter, video gamer, and traveler. In 2018, Riyadhul wanted to learn one skill outside of his comfort zone a year. He began with learning how to play guitar, then followed up with riding motorcycles, video production, and investing in subsequent years. Lockpicking and snowboarding are potential ideas he has for the future.
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