Leadership Team

• 

  Hunter Gorham

  Founder, CEO

  Why did you start Joydrive?

  I love creating simple solutions to complex problems—from helping lead the start-up of a digital auto lending business at a $13B finance company to securing four patents for my photographic art frames. After 14 years working in the automotive industry, I decided to follow my passion and create a simple solution to the greatest problem facing the auto industry: the car buying experience. My unique intersection of auto, digital, finance and entrepreneurship gave me the vision and courage to start Joydrive.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  Prior to Joydrive, I had 14 incredible years with Ally Financial, formerly GMAC, the largest Automotive Finance Company in the nation. My career gave me insight into several distinct areas of the industry, including leading consumer and commercial operations, financing corporate bond exchanges during the 2009 bailouts, and most recently helping lead Ally's National Digital Auto business. I learned the valuable lessons that: 1) relationships matter and 2) working with dealers, rather than circumventing them, may actually lead to a simpler solution.

• 

  Gavin Tronset

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  I have a passion for building new tools to solve existing problems, and I love using technology in everyday life. During my seven years at one of the largest car dealerships in the nation, I came to appreciate the overwhelming challenges of buying a car. Given the opportunity to help build the tool which solves these problems, I quickly joined the Joydrive team.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  Over the course of my career, I led several teams that utilized technology to help a dealership scale from one store to seven. I became an expert in many of the systems powering the dealer industry and developed custom digital solutions to fit our individual dealer's needs. That experience gave me the skill set required to lead the creation of Joydrive's technology platform, which seamlessly integrates with dealers to deliver an easy experience for customers.

  What excites you?

  I'm a big foodie, love board games, and have a weakness for sparkling water.

• 

  Jim Freeze, Ph.D.

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  Joydrive helps dealers bring a modern approach to car buying while using cutting edge tools to develop their technology. Joydrive has also assembled a great team. Those two things make a great combination and make Joydrive an excellent place to work.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  I've been writing web apps while running ElixirConf using Elixir, Phoenix, and LiveView. Joydrive had the foresight years ago to adopt Elixir and LiveView technologies. Their adoption of Elixir and their support of the Elixir community was an excellent fit for me.

  What excites you?

  I like to travel, snow ski, visit my children who have moved away, and most importantly, visit my grand dog.

• 

  Dana Daldoss

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  Buying a car the traditional way is a pain. I believe that this team has created a better approach to buying cars and I’m excited to help them leverage cutting-edge technology to bring it to the market.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  I was raised by small-business owners. In my previous experience as a freelance developer, I was involved in all aspects of my clients’ projects—from hardware and deployment, up to high-level business decisions. In my career, I have worked almost exclusively with startups to continually provide great products for customers and expand their businesses.

  What excites you?

  Being a new dad, hiking around Colorado, and traveling abroad.

• 

  David Bernazal

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  I wanted to learn more about the car industry and was interested in the problems of delivering a great online purchasing experience. Buying cars is never a fun process but it doesn’t have to be like that!

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  I’ve been writing software across the stack for close to 15 years. I've worked on everything from user interface to backend development and everything in between. I love working with smart people, am an obsessive learner and I love tackling new problems.

  What excites you?

  Watching my kids grow up and experience the world. I love the feeling of learning and improving over time. Currently, I’m diving into sprint kart racing. Having barely changed my own oil over the past ten years it’s been a challenging but fun nut to crack.

• 

  Eric Hsieh

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  I joined Joydrive because it is the perfect intersection of people, technology and vision. A group of talented and humble people coming together, armed with cutting-edge technology to build towards a vision of making the car buying and selling experience as enjoyable as possible. I'm thrilled to be a part of this wonderful journey.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  As a long time software developer, I have a solid track record of delivering quality software in multiple industries such as auto, real estate, and global e-commerce. I constantly push myself to learn new skills and explore new ideas on the most effective way to produce software that helps people enrich their lives. Joydrive's fast-paced and collaborative culture allows me to put my knowledge and skills to full use to help my team succeed.

  What excites you?

  Time with family, great shows/movies, iced latte with a fresh-baked cookie.

• 

  Jonathan Arnett

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  I joined Joydrive to make the car-buying experience better for everyone, including me. After watching my parents struggle to navigate dealerships, I have been too intimidated to buy a car from one myself. When I learned that Joydrive was making the process simple and streamlined, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the team.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  My professional career has spanned several jobs at several different companies with a variety of missions. I have worked in fields as disparate as healthcare, logistics, and telephony. This varied background has given me the ability to learn new concepts quickly, adapt to changing market conditions, and to bring a diversity of perspectives to hard problems.

  What excites you?

  I am most excited by learning new ideas, concepts, and frameworks. Outside of work, I'm an avid DIYer and hardware hacker who enjoys traveling, trekking, and Thai food.

• 

  Craig Dazey

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  Like many others I’ve been through the process of buying a new car the traditional way and it’s an experience I dread having to go through again. It’s become more and more popular for people to buy things online, and it’s super interesting to see vehicles entering this space!

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  I’ve been a professional software engineer for almost 5 years now, working across a wide range of industries. These experiences have made me very adept at acclimating to new industries, allowing me to meaningfully contribute as someone who was initially not intimately familiar with the ins-and-outs of buying a car. I don’t think I’ll ever stop learning and wanting to solve interesting problems and can’t wait to see how I evolve alongside the team at Joydrive!

  What excites you?

  I love spending time with my friends, playing video games and board games with the aforementioned friends, and anything Sci-Fi related - usually books, moves, or shows!

• 

  John Doneth

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  I wanted to join a company full of smart people solving interesting problems. Joydrive has taken the painful complexity of shopping for a car and simplified it to a great experience I can do anywhere. Joydrive is something that I want to use. Why not help build it?

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  I've been working on software for the majority of my life and it's what I love doing. I compulsively enjoy learning about new technologies and best practices. My goal is to help build Joydrive by bringing the best of my knowledge and experience.

  What excites you?

  A thrilling or suspenseful TV show. Great food. Video games. Cats. New computer parts.

• 

  Luke Lu

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  Aside from the opportunity to work on Elixir, I found myself having great chemistry with the team during the interview process. The Joydrive team is very responsive and accommodating, which I appreciated a lot!

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  I wasn’t a computer science major, but I had been involved with startups and web development throughout my college years. I had been working with Ruby for 3 years and switched to Elixir lately because of its greatness. Also as a car owner, I understand the frustration of purchasing a new car which helps me to understand the value that Joydrive provides to its customers.

  What excites you?

  Solving difficult problems. Traveling!

• 

  Grady Griffin

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  I had a horrific car buying experience in 2011. The dealership offered to pick me up which initially I thought was great. Once there, the experienced turned out not so great. Joydrive creates a buying and selling experience that, not only levels the playing field, but is more convenient overall. Combined with fun, new technologies and a talented team, joining Joydrive a no-brainer.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  I started porgramming at age of 11. I discovered from the manual that I could type instructions into my Tandy Color Computer and it would execute them. For years, without the ability to reliably save code and with limited resource (128K RAM), I had to focus on error-free, performant well designed code. Before I realized that I was not the first person to come up with bubble sort and binary search, I was a senior in high school! A lover of all math and sciences, I knew early on that I wanted to be a software developer. Though I have 15 years of professional experience now, I credit those early years for most of my talents.

  What excites you?

  I am a collector, tournament poker player, and father. Nothing excites me more than ensuring my children, nieces and nephews have a better life than myself.

• 

  Chase Philips

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  Compounding and making many decisions even during each day can be exhausting and even more so when trying to buy or sell a car. Joydrive is a company that strives to make decision making easy by presenting information in a clean and intuitive manner and I wanted to be a part of that sort of team.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  I've worked for many companies but I enjoy the close knit community and high throughput efficiency that smaller type teams can achieve. I like watching these companies like Joydrive grow and blossom and I want to continually be a part of that effort.

  What excites you?

  My favorite part about web development is prioritizing the user. Leaving easter eggs for users to find, or designing clean reusable interfaces is something that I really like being proud of. Being in a company that prioritizes user satisfaction is what keeps me motivated and excited for the future.

• 

  Pralie Dutzel

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  The last time I purchased a car was a few years ago, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget spending all day at the dealership despite knowing exactly what car I wanted going in. Most everything I buy these days is online, so why shouldn’t car buying? I’m looking forward to helping the team at Joydrive continue to make the online buying experience not only possible, but also intuitive, easy, and quick.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  Although my educational background is in game design, I got my start designing and building websites in middle school. Since then, I’ve done design and front-end development work across a number of spaces, including advertising, travel, product, and real estate. I’m excited to be able to apply these experiences to the work that Joydrive is doing and craft an awesome experience for our customers.

  What excites you?

  Hanging out with my corgi, playing video and board games with friends, working on craft projects, baking, and checking out all the fantastic restaurants around Austin.

• 

  Sebastian Nitu

  Technology

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  I’ve never had a pleasant experience buying a car, so the opportunity to change that for people excites me. Joydrive has changed the car buying game in the best way possible—by empowering us to buy cars on our own terms. The opportunity to help build that tool and remove a stress point in our lives is why I joined Joydrive.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  I’ve been a user interface designer and front-end developer for over ten years. My primary goal is to make web applications as intuitive and painless to use as possible. I’m excited to be able to bring this perspective to Joydrive and help build a car buying tool that’s fun and simple to use.

  What excites you?

  Spending time with my family, drawing, reading books that challenge me and talking to people who do the same.

• 

  Brad Lynch

  Marketing & Analytics

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  After working for seven years in the automotive industry, knowing every facet of how the business works, even I had to sit in the dealership for 6 hours to complete a purchase. I was thrilled to join the Joydrive team to make the process easier for everyone.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  During my seven years at one of the largest dealerships in the nation, I worked across several roles including marketing, sales, and business development, touching every facet of the business. Doing so gave me the experience to understand dealer needs—their pain points and their desire to improve the customer experience. All of that has helped me in my current role of managing dealer relationships to provide a hands-on experience which ensures every customer is treated with professionalism and respect.

  What excites you?

  Spending time with my wife & little girl, puzzles and RazzApple Fun Dip.

• 

  Johnny Bennerson

  National Director of Dealer Growth

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  It’s simple! I joined Joydrive because this is a game changer for the automotive industry! People are busier than ever in life and Joydrive makes what’s a necessity in many cases easy.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  I was in the military prior to being in the auto industry for 24 years. I’ve worked all sales and executive management positions in the industry. I have worked for some of the largest dealers in the country and have seen first-hand how excited customers are for a new buying experience like Joydrive.

  What excites you?

  I’m a big golfer (but not that good!) and have a great family. Oh yeah, and my 3 dogs are awesome!

• 

  Charlotte Deardorff

  Strategy

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  I recently purchased my first pickup truck. The dealership experience was 1) waaay too looooong 2) stressful 3) annoying. I’m thrilled to work for a company whose main goal is to take the hassle out of an event that should be fun and super exciting. Why wouldn’t you want to join a movement like this!? I’m ALL IN.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  First and foremost, I’m a MOM. This basically means I can do anything, anytime, anywhere… PERIOD. My life is filled with experiences of being an entrepreneur, campaigner, mediator, advocate, architect, logistician, and an adventurer. I wear bossy pants really well and I’m not afraid to roll my sleeves up and do what it takes to get it DONE.

  What excites you?

  Louis Vuitton, Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food ice cream, a full-bodied glass of cabernet, warm tortilla chips with a mean salsa, running, chillaxin’ in the pool with my cute family.

• 

  Ian Waak

  Customer Leader & Analyst

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  Shopping online is the new norm. It only makes sense that buying a new or used vehicle should be something you can do online with the peace of mind that comes with shopping from a reputable dealer, and Joydrive is breaking the mold when it comes to the car-buying process.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  I’m a Navy vet with three years of experience working at dealerships, so I am very familiar with the stress and headaches that come with buying a new car. I also have a computer science background, and I was a math tutor while I was in college. Being able to communicate effectively is paramount in those industries, and my experience will allow me to help you find the perfect vehicle.

  What excites you?

  Spending time with family and friends, soccer, football, basketball, hiking, auto racing, and video games.

• 

  Keirstyn Johnson

  Customer Leader & Analyst

  Why did you join Joydrive?

  I wanted to be a part of the positive change that Joydrive has and will continue to have on the car industry. I buy almost everything online, so joining a company that allows you to easily buy and sell your car online was very exciting to me.

  How has your background prepared you for Joydrive?

  Every job I have ever worked has helped mold me into a person that provides excellent customer service. I worked for years at a dealership learning the ins-and-outs of the car buying and selling process. I have also worked at an auto auction where I saw a whole different side of the car industry. And I worked for a company that has a cheer about putting customers first and ensuring they’re cared for. All of this has supplied me with the knowledge and experience I need to excel in my position at Joydrive.

  What excites you?

  Adventures. Food. Wine. Family. Friends. Animals. Video games. Binging shows. Mostly, exploring and navigating through life with the love of my life.