The People Behind the Pentest

A calling card doesn’t leave itself.

Behind every finding is someone who asked another question, tried another path, and proved what was possible. That’s the team you hire when you work with Raxis.

Raxis team members together at a holiday gathering

The people behind the proof

Real people.
An offensive mindset.

Nothing replaces skill.

Skill that follows the lead.

A scanner can point to a weakness. A senior engineer can connect it to the next one. We follow those connections to show you what they mean for your environment.

Proof you can work with.

See what we reached and how. Your engineers get a path they can reproduce and remediation guidance they can use. Your leadership gets a clear explanation of the risk.

People you can talk to.

Work with U.S.-based practitioners who can explain their findings, answer the next question, and help your team understand where to act.

Built around the work. Since 2011.

Mark Puckett founded Raxis in Atlanta with a clear purpose: deliver hands-on penetration testing led by engineers who think like attackers.

His background included security roles at Nortel Networks, GE Energy, and Symantec, and leading the global Red Team at Home Depot. Raxis grew from that offensive mindset into a fully remote, U.S.-based team working with banks, healthcare organizations, defense contractors, and critical infrastructure operators.

That focus still shapes the company. We hire for demonstrated offensive skill, give engineers room to investigate, and build our work around evidence your team can act on.

Mark Puckett, Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Mark Puckett

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Mark Puckett

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Mark founded Raxis in Atlanta in 2011 to deliver hands-on penetration testing led by senior engineers. His information security career includes roles at Nortel Networks, GE Energy, and Symantec, and leading the global Red Team at Home Depot.

He earned his BBA in Computer Information Systems at Georgia State University in 1996 and holds CISSP, CISM, and ISSAP certifications. He has also supported students and the security community, including serving as a judge at Georgia Tech’s HackGT hacking competition in 2023.

Outside of work, Mark enjoys photography, cars, and the occasional lap around Road Atlanta. He lives north of Atlanta with his wife and three daughters.

  • 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

The people who make it happen

A technical company. A human team.

Meet the people leading the testing, building the platform, and keeping your engagement moving.

Bonnie Smyre, Chief Operating Officer

Bonnie Smyre

Chief Operating Officer

Bonnie Smyre

Chief Operating Officer

Bonnie oversees Raxis operations and financials, drawing on a career in information technology and security. Before Raxis, she worked in application security and development at PBS North Carolina and held leadership roles at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A University of North Carolina graduate, Bonnie also shares cybersecurity insights on Fox 5 Atlanta, helping explain data breaches and security risks to the public. She lives in Marietta, Georgia.

Brian Tant, Chief Technology Officer

Brian Tant

Chief Technology Officer

Brian Tant

Chief Technology Officer

Brian leads penetration testing and Red Team operations and guides the firm’s technical direction. His background spans IT infrastructure, ethical hacking, system exploitation, and adversarial tactics.

Outside of work, Brian enjoys technology, agriculture, and beekeeping. He runs a small farm near Atlanta with his wife and daughter.

Brad Herring, VP, Business Development

Brad Herring

VP, Business Development

Brad Herring

VP, Business Development

Brad leads business development at Raxis. Since joining in 2016, he has helped build the sales organization and connect clients with the firm’s testing services. He also speaks at conferences to help organizations understand security risks.

Brad enjoys family time, fishing, and outdoor projects, often on his vintage tractor. He lives north of Atlanta with his wife and two children.

Adam Fernandez, Director, Software Technology

Adam Fernandez

Director, Software Technology

Adam Fernandez

Director, Software Technology

Adam joined Raxis in 2017 and leads software development for Raxis One, alongside internal IT operations. His development experience spans web and mobile applications, APIs, and databases, and he has assessed applications, code, and networks for clients in finance, healthcare, and security.

Adam enjoys writing code, developing exploits, and studying security systems. Away from the keyboard, he watches science fiction and goes hiking and camping with his wife.

Caroline Kelly, Account Manager

Caroline Kelly

Account Manager

Caroline Kelly

Account Manager

Caroline helps clients choose testing services that fit their environments and goals. Her technology sales background spans VoIP, networking, routing, managed security, and enterprise infrastructure. She began her career in nonprofit operations and development in Memphis.

Outside of work, Caroline enjoys her butterfly garden, watching anime with her son, backyard fire pits, and regional travel with her family.

Chris Krautheim, Software Developer

Chris Krautheim

Software Developer

Chris Krautheim

Software Developer

Chris joined Raxis in 2025 and develops features for Raxis One, the platform supporting Raxis Attack and Raxis Strike. His work supports collaboration between clients and penetration testers.

He earned a computer science degree with Highest Honors from Georgia Tech, where he developed software for atmospheric research and played in the marching band. Chris lives in Kennesaw, Georgia, and enjoys drumming, college football, gaming, pickleball, and trivia.

Tim Semchenko, Senior Manager Operations

Tim Semchenko

Senior Manager Operations

Tim Semchenko

Senior Manager Operations

Tim has managed Raxis operations since 2020. He coordinates engagements from scheduling and resource planning through delivery and follow-up. His background includes penetration testing sales at Rapid7 and project management, giving him experience with both client expectations and delivery.

Tim lives in Scituate, Massachusetts, with his wife and two children. He enjoys kayaking, beach days, pickup sports, and making music with friends.

Cole Stafford, Sales Development Representative

Cole Stafford

Sales Development Representative

Cole Stafford

Sales Development Representative

Cole joined the Raxis sales team in 2021 and helps clients navigate their penetration testing needs. His interest in security began with building computers and grew through cybersecurity studies at Kennesaw State University and hands-on practice with platforms such as TryHackMe.

Cole lives in Kennesaw, Georgia. He enjoys pickleball, fishing, hiking, and restoring classic trucks with his father, and is an Ohio State football fan.

See the offensive mindset in action.

A real adversary looks for a way through your people, processes, and technology. Our Red Team brings that perspective to an agreed scope, then shows you the path and what it means for your defenses.

Watch the team in action, then explore how we approach adversarial simulation.

Watch the Raxis Red Team in action (video)

Put us under the same scrutiny.

Choosing a testing partner is a trust decision. Here’s where you can check our work and how we handle yours.

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