Cotopaxi grew up off the grid in Northern Michigan. While most of her childhood was spent in the forests and orchards surrounding her house, she spent her evenings and rainy days on their old school iMac with its slow and not so steady dial up internet. Since first using the internet for research and escape as a kid, Cotopaxi has been fascinated with what computers and technology can bring to people. Her first job was working for a web design firm, when such a thing was new and relatively unheard of in Northern Michigan. After spending her college years diving down a rabbit hole of anthropology and human development, she spent her next seven years working with children and families. As fate would have it, Cotopaxi fell back into tech working for a startup in Boston. While working for innovator type CEOs, Cotopaxi learned the importance of execution and actionable steps. In 2024, after spending the previous 9 months re-evaluating what she wanted work to look like, she started LyonQA with a commitment to centering quality and humanity. Cotopaxi balances work with mountain biking, skiing, sailing, and paddling. When trapped inside due to injuries, she bakes and makes ice cream and sorbets. Most recently Cotopaxi has tackled the oh so weird world of taxidermy, and now spends rainy days taxidermying small rodents.

Yana grew up in northern Michigan, shaped by the juxtaposition of nature and city. After studying Materials Engineering at the University of Michigan, she moved to California, then Nashville where she lives now. After a couple of standard engineering jobs, she decided to switch gears and be somewhere that encouraged growth, fast past learning, and new ideas. She learned the ropes as a QA engineer and transitioned into the business development side of things to be more front facing. She enjoys her role at Lyon because her primary drive in life, and therefore work, is to create relationships and connect with other people, helping them achieve their goals. In her spare time she makes music, hangs out outside, and searches for experiences that inspire.

Jes hails from a small town in Western North Carolina. After pursuing degrees in Business Administration and Chemistry, she realized that her plan to attend grad school wasn't the path she wanted to follow. When her husband found a position that relocated them to Michigan's Upper Peninsula during his graduate studies, Jes saw it as an opportunity to embrace the novelty and challenges of the area. Depending on the day (and the weather), this can involve activities like ice fishing, pushing her limits at CrossFit, tending to her garden in an old mining town, or starting another DIY renovation project in her 1800s era home. Throughout it all, she thrives on the excitement of exploration, creation, and attention to detail - qualities that have naturally led her to the meticulous world of QA. For Jes, QA isn't just about finding flaws; it's about being part of the process that transforms good into great. This perspective drives her to approach every challenge with curiosity and open-mindedness, always seeking to understand and improve.

Ethan, originally from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, embarked on a journey that took him to places like Chicago, Milwaukee, and Petoskey. He has a deep passion for helping people reach their full potential and pushing them to excel. Following a 15-year competitive hockey career, Ethan discovered a love for coaching and fitness, where he coached hockey for one year and was a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) for two.

His lifelong interest in technology led him to recently complete a bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity from Northern Michigan University. Now at Lyon, Ethan is thrilled to merge his technical skills with his passion for personal development and helping people. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, weightlifting, and spending time outdoors.