The People Behind the Pentest

A senior, U.S. based team in Atlanta, testing banks, defense contractors and Fortune 500 firms since 2011.

The Raxis Story

How a small Atlanta firm became the country’s go-to penetration testing team. Raxis was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 2011, and every engineer on our team is based in the United States.

Many penetration testing firms offshore their technical work to cut costs, often at the expense of communication, cultural alignment, and accountability. Raxis takes a different approach. Our engineers hold senior-level certifications and understand the regulatory and business landscape American organizations actually operate in, from HIPAA and PCI-DSS to the pace of U.S. boardrooms.

Atlanta has been home since the company started in 2011, and the local foundation shapes how we work with clients across the country.

The Atlanta skyline at dusk
  • Raxis Team Christmas Dinner 2024
  • Bonnie, Brad, and Mark presenting Raxis at a conference
  • Jaret Rader at an Atlanta Braves Game
  • Raxis team lunch in 2025
  • Raxis Team dinner
  • Raxis team and family outing on the boat
  • Raxis team member and family
  • Raxis team Christmas party 2024
  • Raxis team on a conference call
  • Funny poster of Raxis leaders
  • Raxis team lunch
  • Raxis team lunch
  • Jason with his friend Daniel handing out badges at OzSec 2024
  • Raxis team in Atlanta for a conference
  • Raxis Team at DefCon 32
  • Raxis team member and son
  • Raxis team member and spouse
  • Raxis team member Jaret diving
  • Raxis Team at DefCon 2025

Penetration Testing Is Our Company DNA

By 2011, Mark Puckett had spent enough years in information security to recognize a familiar pattern: most firms selling penetration testing weren’t really delivering it. What they sold was vulnerability scanning dressed up in a heavier report, or a compliance checklist with an executive summary attached. Genuine adversary simulation, where a senior engineer thinks and acts the way a real attacker would until they find a way in, was rare.

Mark knew the difference because he had spent more than thirty years on the other side of it. He had run Red Team operations at Home Depot, held senior roles at GE Energy, Nortel, and Symantec, and earned a CIS degree from Georgia State along with the CISSP, CISM, and ISSAP certifications. He founded Raxis on a single rule: penetration testing would be the only thing the company did.

That rule still holds. We don’t sell managed security, and we don’t chase whatever the industry is excited about this quarter. We hire ethical hackers who love the work and give them the time and freedom to find their way into systems before criminals do. That focus has earned the trust of banks, defense contractors, law firms, and critical infrastructure operators, organizations that cannot afford to get it wrong. Today Raxis is a fully remote, U.S.-based team headquartered in Atlanta, and penetration testing isn’t one of our service lines. It’s the whole company.

Mark Puckett, Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Mark Puckett

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Mark Puckett

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Mark grew up in Georgia and has spent more than thirty years working in information security. His career has taken him through Nortel Networks, GE Energy, and Symantec, and included leading the global Red Team at Home Depot before he founded Raxis in 2011.

He founded Raxis in 2011 to deliver penetration testing the way he believed it should be done: hands-on, manual, and led by senior engineers who can think the way attackers do. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a one-person practice into a national team that runs hundreds of engagements each year for clients across finance, defense, healthcare, and government.

Mark’s career is rooted in Atlanta, with roles at GE Energy, Nortel Networks, and Symantec. At Home Depot, he led the global Red Team, the group responsible for demonstrating how a real attacker could compromise the company. He brings that same offensive mindset to every Raxis engagement.

Mark has amassed a wealth of knowledge in the field of information security, earning multiple certifications including the prestigious CISSP, CISM, and ISSAP. He is also a proud alumnus of Georgia State University, where he obtained his BBA in Computer Information Systems in 1996. Since then, Mark has stayed heavily involved in the tech community, lending his expertise to students and non-profit organizations alike. In 2023, he served as a judge for a hacking competition at Georgia Tech hosted by HackGT, a student-led organization dedicated to exploring the latest advancements in cybersecurity and computer science.

Outside of work, Mark’s interests include photography, cars, and the occasional lap around Road Atlanta. He lives north of the city with his wife and three daughters.

Raxis Leadership Team

The team behind Raxis brings together decades of Red Team operations, enterprise security experience, and deep technical credentials.

Bonnie Smyre, Chief Operating Officer

Bonnie Smyre

Chief Operating Officer

Bonnie Smyre

Chief Operating Officer

Bonnie has worked in information technology for more than 25 years and in information security since 2004. She has served as Chief Operating Officer of Raxis for the last seven years, where she oversees the firm’s day to day operations and supports the leadership team in steering the company’s growth.

In her capacity as COO, Bonnie oversees the day-to-day operations of Raxis. The company conducts over 600 penetration tests annually, serving clients across the globe. She also manages the company’s financials, including payroll and budgeting. Since her initial days at Raxis, Bonnie has played a pivotal role in steering the company toward substantial growth.

Before joining Raxis, Bonnie spent nearly 2 years as the lead application security and development engineer at PBS North Carolina. Her focus during this time was on secure software design, hardened application coding, and protected data storage. Prior to that, she held lead roles at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, further honing her expertise.

Bonnie’s educational foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of North Carolina. Her extensive background as an information security expert has also led her to become a familiar face on Fox 5 TV in Atlanta, where she frequently shares insights on current technology news stories. With her experience in the cybersecurity industry, Bonnie has become a trusted source for up-to-date and accurate information on topics such as data breaches, network security, and the latest cybersecurity threats. She is dedicated to educating the public and raising awareness about the critical importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital age.

Beyond her professional achievements, Bonnie enjoys life in Marietta, GA, a stone’s throw away from bustling Atlanta. Her journey exemplifies dedication, expertise, and a commitment to advancing the field of information security.

Brian Tant, Chief Technology Officer

Brian Tant

Chief Technology Officer

Brian Tant

Chief Technology Officer

Brian brings nearly three decades of security experience to Raxis, including 15 years of hands-on work in ethical hacking and system exploitation. As Chief Technology Officer, he leads all penetration testing and Red Team operations and shapes the technical direction of the firm.

As Raxis’ Chief Technology Officer, Brian oversees all hacking operations while contributing significantly to the company’s growth and reputation. His efforts extend to addressing the rising demand for cybersecurity by equipping businesses and individuals with tools to defend against emerging threats. Prior to Raxis, Brian gained extensive experience in IT infrastructure, including managing one of the largest Citrix farms globally, before transitioning into security roles that allowed him to focus on exploitation frameworks and adversarial tactics.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Brian enjoys technology, agriculture, and beekeeping. When not advising Fortune 100 companies on cybersecurity risks, he manages a small farm near Atlanta with his wife and daughter. His dedication to advancing cybersecurity and his passion for innovation continue to drive his impactful career.

Brad Herring, VP, Business Development

Brad Herring

VP, Business Development

Brad Herring

VP, Business Development

Brad leads business development at Raxis. Since joining the company in 2016, he has built out the sales organization, opened new client verticals, and helped grow revenue several times over.

Since joining the company in 2016, Brad has significantly expanded Raxis’ revenues, enabling the hiring of additional engineers and sales professionals. He also shares his expertise in the cybersecurity industry by speaking at conferences, helping companies better understand and mitigate their security risks. With Brad at the helm of business development, Raxis continues to thrive and provide top-notch services to its clients.

In his spare time, Brad enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and being outdoors. On a nice day you’ll likely see him on his vintage tractor doing various projects around the house. Brad resides on the north side of the greater Atlanta area with his wife and two children.

Adam Fernandez, Director, Software Technology

Adam Fernandez

Director, Software Technology

Adam Fernandez

Director, Software Technology

Adam Fernandez has been with Raxis since 2017 and currently holds multiple important roles within the company. As the Technical Director, Adam oversees the software development team for Raxis One, a powerful platform that streamlines and enhances the penetration testing process. Alongside these responsibilities, Adam also manages internal IT operations, ensuring that Raxis’ infrastructure and systems are secure and efficient.

With more than 13 years of experience in various development roles, Adam brings a unique skill set to the team at Raxis. His expertise spans a broad range of areas, from web applications and mobile applications to API’s and databases. This extensive background enables him to approach penetration testing with a strategic advantage, allowing him to write custom code and scripts during assessments. Adam has conducted numerous assessments on web applications, code bases, and network configurations for clients in the financial, healthcare, and security industries. His contributions have played a critical role in the rapid growth that Raxis has experienced, making him a valuable asset to the company.

In his spare time, Adam can be found writing code, working on specialized exploits, dissecting security systems, and studying network vulnerabilities. When you can pry him away from a computer, he enjoys watching science-fiction films and television shows, as well as hiking and camping with his wife. Adam resides in the Atlanta area.

Caroline Kelly, Account Manager

Caroline Kelly

Account Manager

Caroline Kelly

Account Manager

Caroline Kelly brings nearly two decades of technology sales experience to her role as Account Manager at Raxis. She began her career in the non-profit sector, managing operations and development for a Shakespeare company in Memphis before a friend introduced her to VoIP systems and she never looked back. That path took her through networking and routing, a managed security service provider, and enterprise technology sales, building deep fluency in how businesses think about their infrastructure and the risks they face.

At Raxis, Caroline focuses on connecting clients with the right testing solutions to strengthen their security posture. She draws on a broad understanding of cybersecurity products and services to guide companies through decisions that match their actual needs and goals.

Outside of work, Caroline enjoys expanding her butterfly garden each year at her Memphis home, watching anime with her son, good backyard fire pit nights, and regional travel with her family.

Chris Krautheim, Software Developer

Chris Krautheim

Software Developer

Chris Krautheim

Software Developer

Chris joined Raxis as a Software Developer in 2025 and is the newest member of the Development Team. Working closely with Software Director Adam Fernandez, he focuses on implementing and maintaining new features for Raxis One, the web portal that powers Raxis Attack (PTaaS) and Raxis Strike (traditional penetration testing). His work translates ideas into functional software, from tools that help users identify vulnerabilities to features enabling real-time collaboration between clients and penetration testers.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he graduated with Highest Honors. During his time at Tech, he was a member of the Lightning from the Edge of Space research team, using Python and PostgreSQL to develop software for an atmospheric research balloon that transmitted data across distances of over 130 miles. He also completed an internship at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, where he designed interfaces used to support day-to-day maintenance operations.

Outside of work, Chris is a lifelong drummer who spent three years performing with the Georgia Tech marching band. He is a self-prescribed college football addict and is always cheering for his beloved Yellow Jackets! He now resides in Kennesaw, GA, where he enjoys passing time with a good video game, playing some casual pickleball, and attending trivia nights with friends and family.

Tim Semchenko, Senior Manager Operations

Tim Semchenko

Senior Manager Operations

Tim Semchenko

Senior Manager Operations

Tim Semchenko has been Raxis’ Senior Manager of Operations since 2020, bringing a background that spans both sides of the cybersecurity business. Before joining Raxis, he started in penetration testing sales at Rapid7, giving him a firsthand understanding of what clients are looking for before an engagement even begins. He then moved into project management, developing the operational expertise that defines his work today.

At Raxis, Tim owns the full lifecycle of every client engagement, from resource coordination and scheduling to delivery and follow-up. He thrives on the complexity of managing multiple simultaneous projects, treating every last-minute complication as a problem to be solved. His dual background in sales and operations gives him an edge in anticipating client needs and keeping engagements on track and on time.

Outside of work, Tim enjoys the outdoors with his wife and two children, from beach days and kayaking to pickup sports. He has a lifelong passion for music and can occasionally be found performing with friends’ bands or taking the mic at karaoke. Tim lives in Scituate, MA.

Cole Stafford, Sales Development Representative

Cole Stafford

Sales Development Representative

Cole Stafford

Sales Development Representative

Cole has served as a Sales Development Representative and a key member of the Raxis sales team since 2021, working alongside Vice President of Business Development Brad Herring and Customer Account Manager Caroline Kelly to help clients navigate their penetration testing needs. His path to cybersecurity began the way many do, building computers for friends and family and developing a curiosity for how systems work. That passion led him to Kennesaw State University, where he is completing a degree in cybersecurity with just a few semesters to go. He continues sharpening his skills outside the classroom through hands-on platforms like TryHackMe. Cole takes genuine pride in the work the Raxis engineers do and the real-world impact their findings have for clients in every engagement.

Outside of work, Cole lives in Kennesaw, Georgia and enjoys pickleball tournaments around the area with his girlfriend. He also enjoys fishing and hiking and shares a love of restoring classic trucks with his father. Cole is a proud supporter of the Ohio State Buckeyes and grew up spending summers with family in Ohio, which he still considers a second home.

Trusted by Thousands, from Startups to Enterprises

Watch our Red Team in action. Seeing how readily a determined attacker can move through a defended environment is often the clarity a security program needs.

The Numbers Tell the Story

More than a decade of real breach experience, hundreds of engagements every year, and a client roster that spans regional banks, Fortune 500 enterprises, and critical infrastructure operators across the United States.

In business

15 years

Raxis discovered CVEs

12

Reaching crown jewels

85%

Cups of coffee

31,337+

Watch the Raxis Red Team in action (video)

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