The first thing about Thea Soehren, CBAP, CSPO, ICP-APO, is that she is a Christian and she tries to LIVE IT OUT LOUD.  She is also a seasoned Business Analyst with over 20 years of experience, including 15 years in Information Technology. Her career spans diverse industries—nuclear energy, insurance, medical diagnostics, tax preparation, and data governance—where she has led transformative initiatives in regulatory compliance, process optimization, security enhancement, and master data alignment.

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Currently at Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Thea provides strategic business analysis leadership and actively explores AI-driven solutions to boost organizational effectiveness. A proud contributor to the IIBA’s Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK®) v3.0, she has been a dedicated IIBA member for over a decade, mentoring analysts across five continents.

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As President and Vice President of Training and Professional Development for the IIBA Tampa Bay Chapter, Thea leads Business Analysis Master Classes and CBAP study groups—credited by more than two dozen professionals as pivotal to their IIBA certification success.

She founded the BA Force Multiplier Movement, and continues to present at industry events, champion the BA profession, and foster global mentorship. Recognized for her impact, Thea was named a finalist for IIBA’s Volunteer of the Year (Southeast Region, USA) in 2023, nominated again in 2024, and once more a finalist in 2025

Esther is a seasoned Business Analyst with a dynamic portfolio of achievements in business requirements gathering, solution design, visual modeling, and project management. Her deep expertise spans business process optimization, database architecture, data intelligence, financial reporting, management consulting, and system policy review—always with a focus on delivering high-quality, value-driven outcomes.

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As Lead Tech Coordinator for the SDLC Experience Workshop, Esther orchestrates the technical infrastructure that powers immersive learning and collaboration. She ensures seamless digital execution across platforms, enabling participants to engage with clarity and confidence.

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In her role as Vice President of Technology for the Tampa Bay IIBA Chapter, Esther drives innovation and operational excellence—streamlining systems, enhancing member experiences, and supporting strategic growth through technology.

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Her client portfolio spans public and private sectors, supporting organizations at every stage of growth—from start-ups to mature enterprises—across industries including financial technology, healthcare, engineering, oil and gas, banking, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, and advertising.

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Known for her adaptability, curiosity, and passion for business analysis, Esther thrives in change-oriented environments. She brings energy, insight, and meaningful contributions to every team she joins—always eager to learn, relearn, and unlearn in pursuit of excellence.

Olga Sliezina is a dedicated and results-oriented professional with diverse experience in IT Product Development and Software Engineering. She brings 5 years of expertise in Business Analyst and Technical Product Owner roles, complemented by a robust 14-year background as a Software Developer and Architect. Olga is passionate about collaborating with cross-functional teams and engaging stakeholders to align technology solutions with business goals. She is adept at grasping complex technical concepts and software architecture, and is proficient across the full development life cycle using Agile methodologies.

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An effective communicator with practical facilitation experience in international distributed teams, Olga’s strengths lie in self-management, analytical thinking, and strategic problem-solving. She currently serves as a Board Member at Large for the IIBA Tampa Bay Chapter, where she continues to provide value to the business analysis community through mentorship, leadership, and operational support.

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Olga served as Workshop Program Manager for the SDLC Experience Workshop, where she coordinated the multi-team simulation. In addition to her program-level leadership, she acted as Mentor and Project Manager for Team 2, guiding participants through iterative development cycles and fostering collaboration. Her contributions reflect a deep commitment to professional growth, community engagement, and the advancement of the BA discipline.

Bob is an exceptional Process Analyst with a global footprint—having led software development, systems analysis, architecture, simulation, modeling, control systems, and process improvement efforts at over 80 facilities worldwide. With deep analytical expertise, he maps and quantifies complex operations, defines governing equations, and translates business rules into actionable models and solutions. His ability to bridge technical and stakeholder conversations makes him a trusted partner across industries.

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In addition to his technical leadership, Bob is a committed contributor to the Tampa Bay IIBA Chapter. He has indexed and organized the chapter’s hundreds of YouTube videos in the Tampa Bay IIBA YouTube channel for public access, maintains a professional website to support the BA community, and consistently supports chapter operations and outreach.

His mentorship and facilitation during the SDLC Simulation Workshop helped guide participants through real-world development cycles, and his ongoing contributions earned him a nomination for IIBA’s Southeast USA Volunteer of the Year in 2024.

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Whether negotiating requirements, optimizing processes, or mentoring future analysts, he brings precision, generosity, and a systems-thinking mindset to every engagement.

Cossi is a passionate Business Analyst with over five years of experience transforming data into actionable insights. With a solid foundation in finance and a strong command of SQL, Oracle, and Excel, he excels at supporting applications, managing change, and helping teams adapt smoothly to deliver successful outcomes. Certified in ECBA and Microsoft Excel White Belt, Cossi brings a continuous learning mindset and thrives in dynamic, value-driven environments.

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Fluent in English and French, he enjoys collaborating with diverse teams and driving process improvements that deliver measurable impact. As a Board Member at Large for the IIBA Tampa Bay Chapter, Cossi has played a pivotal role in chapter operations and community engagement.

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He served as Technology Coordinator for the SDLC Experience Workshop, resolving technical issues and ensuring a seamless experience for participants. His leadership and reliability have earned him the upcoming role of Vice President of Technology for the Tampa Bay, Florida IIBA Chapter.

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As Observer Co-Coordinator for the SDLC Experience Workshop, Cossi supports simulation oversight and feedback synthesis—helping ensure that observer insights are captured, organized, and translated into meaningful improvements for future cohorts.

Cossi continues to provide value to the business analysis community through mentorship, operational support, and a commitment to excellence in every initiative he joins.

Promise is a seasoned Business Analyst with a rich background in digital transformation, product innovation, and process refinement. As an advisor to the South Africa IIBA Chapter, he supports strategic initiatives that advance the business analysis profession across the region.

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He played a key role as one of the organizers of the SDLC Experience Workshop, helping shape its structure and delivery with operational clarity and strategic insight. His expertise includes business requirements gathering, stakeholder communication, and project management—leading initiatives that enhance system efficiency and strengthen security.

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Promise’s toolkit spans Microsoft Visio, Trello, Jira, SharePoint, Microsoft 365, and AI-powered solutions for business efficiency. He is a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP®) and a Certified Salesforce Professional Associate, with academic credentials in finance and a master’s in International Business with Data Analytics from the UK.

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He actively contributes to the ALX Salesforce community and volunteers with the Association for Project Management UK, supporting the growth of the project delivery profession. Known for his passion for continuous learning and personal development, Promise consistently translates complex stakeholder needs into strategic, value-driven outcomes.

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Outside of work, Promise is a mental health consultant and a football enthusiast.

Pamela is a business-minded technical leader with deep expertise in data analysis, process strategy, and agile transformation. As a mentor for the SDLC Experience Workshop, she guided  participants in translating complex requirements into actionable insights—leveraging visualization tools and agile techniques to drive meaningful change.

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With global experience across the US, China, France, and Canada—and remote collaborations spanning Poland, India, Greece, Belgium, and beyond—Pamela brings a seasoned perspective to product lifecycle management, governance, and quality assurance. Her influence has shaped corporate PLC standards used worldwide and helped organizations assess and improve agile readiness.

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Pamela holds multiple certifications including CBDA, CBAP, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and CPOA. She is practiced in tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Azure DevOps, Jira, Confluence, and Databricks, and is known for her ability to create compelling data stories that shift priorities and improve collaboration across teams.

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As President of the IIBA RTP Chapter, she fosters professional growth and community engagement across the business analysis field. Pamela’s leadership style is flexible, focused, and transformative—driving excellence in every initiative she joins.

Aaron is a widely regarded IT professional with over 35 years of experience spanning business analysis, consulting, and project management. With deep expertise in SDLC and PLC processes, he has led initiatives in systems analysis, product development, and enterprise application delivery across multiple platforms in multiple industries.

As a Mentor and Product Owner for a team in the SDLC Experience Workshop, Aaron guided participants through agile analysis, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration—bringing clarity, structure, and momentum to every phase of the simulation.

Aaron is an active leader in the Bluegrass IIBA Chapter, where he contributes to professional development and community
engagement across the business analysis field. Known for his rare ability to balance technical precision with strategic vision, he communicates seamlessly across business and IT teams.

His specialties include requirements elicitation, business process improvement, product ownership analysis, and multi-project planning.

Aaron is also recognized for his thought leadership, mentorship, and training—consistently driving change, improving outcomes, and fostering alignment across diverse teams.

Alicia Funderburk is an accomplished, award-winning 40 Under 40 Professional with over 17 years of experience leading, managing, and delivering Technology, Engineering, and Creative projects for renowned organizations including ESPN, Paramount (BET Media Group), Getty Images, and The Walt Disney Company.

As a mentor for Team 5 in the SDLC Experience Workshop, Alicia brought her signature blend of creativity, strategy, and technical insight, guiding participants in bridging the gap between innovation and execution.

When the team faced moments of conflict and misalignment, Alicia applied agile principles and transformational leadership to guide the team through challenges, realign around shared goals, and drive delivery excellence.

Through agile coaching and facilitation, she fostered a culture of trust, growth, adaptability, and continuous improvement, empowering the team to rebuild cohesion, regain momentum, and achieve high quality, on time delivery.

Alicia is deeply committed to community impact and actively volunteers and serves on the Board of Directors with organizations in Florida and North Carolina.  Her dedication to service, excellence, and innovation continues to inspire teams and elevate outcomes across industries.

Simas is a dynamic Business Analyst and Project Manager with deep expertise in Agile delivery, enterprise platforms, and eCommerce strategy.

Simas served as Co-Coordinator for the Observers during the SDLC Experience Workshop, providing critical leadership to the group that spanned all teams and brought a "Lets find the good" mindset.

As a Certified Scrum Master and Product Owner, he leads multi-environment deployments at ByDesign Technologies—supporting one of the company’s largest client accounts. His work spans backlog grooming, Jira board management, stakeholder engagement, and production rollouts across solutions now used by 100+ clients.

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Outside his corporate role, Simas is passionate about AI automation and entrepreneurship. He builds advanced workflows using Make and n8n to help small and medium-sized businesses streamline operations and scale efficiently. He also runs a successful eCommerce business powered by AI-driven integrations.

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As the dynamic Vice President of Membership for the Tampa Bay IIBA Chapter, Simas fosters community growth and professional engagement across hundreds of business analysis practitioners.

In the SDLC Experience Workshop, he serves as Observer Co-Coordinator—supporting simulation oversight and helping translate observer insights into actionable improvements.

Carole Hoeke-Friberg is a seasoned leader, consultant, architect, and mentor in Information Systems and Information Technology, with deep experience across financial services, hospitality, manufacturing, telecommunications, and academia.

As a Mentor and Product Owner in the SDLC Experience Workshop, Carole guided Team 4 through agile delivery, strategic planning, and quality assurance—bringing clarity and structure to every phase of the simulation.

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Her career includes ten years of on-site implementation management across the Asia-Pacific region, where she led product development and business analysis initiatives that transformed enterprise systems.

Carole is known for her ability to bridge technical depth with strategic insight, supporting cross-functional teams in delivering high-impact solutions.

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Her specialties include financial systems, credit card platforms, retail operations, higher education systems, and application development.

As an Agile coach, she brings strong expertise in requirements analysis, systems design, and continuous improvement—empowering teams to deliver with precision and purpose.

David is a seasoned Software Development Consultant with deep expertise in Java 21, relational and NoSQL databases, and Agile methodologies.

As a Mentor and Developer for Team 5 in the SDLC Experience Workshop, David guided participants through technical implementation, agile collaboration, and solution delivery—bringing clarity and precision to every sprint.

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His development experience includes RESTful web services, Groovy Spock, and JUnit for both unit and integration testing. With strong customer-facing communication skills, David excels at translating requirements, reporting project status, and liaising between users and developers to ensure successful outcomes.

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David’s specialties include Java/J2EE development, data modeling and analysis, Six Sigma adoption, and strategic system design.

He is a former Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), and continues to apply his business analysis mindset to every technical engagement.

Known for his ability to work directly with business teams and drive results, David brings both technical depth and collaborative leadership to every initiative.

Kati Payne is a certified Project Manager and Business Analyst with over 25 years of experience spanning both the operational and IT sides of application development, digital marketplaces, complex settlement administration, healthcare systems, and ERP implementation.

As Director of Community Events for the Bluegrass IIBA Chapter, Kati fosters engagement and professional growth across the business analysis community.

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Known for her leadership, relationship-building, and mentoring abilities, Kati has a proven track record of developing others while delivering high-impact solutions. As a mentor for Team 5 in the SDLC Experience Workshop, she brought course correction and UI/UX expertise to the table.

Her expertise includes project analysis, planning, execution, and implementation—supported by certifications in PMI-PBA, Agile Analysis Certification (AAC), Professional Scrum Master (PSM), ITILv4, and Six Sigma Lean Black Belt & Champion.

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A true data enthusiast, Kati brings clarity, structure, and strategic insight to every initiative she joins—bridging business and technology to drive meaningful outcomes.

Eimal Dorani is a dedicated IT Business Analyst with a proven track record in business analysis, process improvement, and stakeholder collaboration.

As a mentor for Team 6 in the SDLC Experience Workshop, Eimal guided participants in requirements elicitation, documentation, and solution design—bringing clarity and structure to every phase of the simulation.

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Skilled in fostering collaboration across cross-functional teams and business units, Eimal excels at analyzing complex systems, identifying operational gaps, and implementing effective solutions that enhance productivity and efficiency.

His strong documentation and critical thinking skills are complemented by deep proficiency in business analysis tools and techniques.

Sarita is a proactive, results-driven professional with a strong background in business analysis and digital solution delivery.

As both a Mentor and Observer for Team 2 in the SDLC Experience Workshop, she supported teams in refining requirements, enhancing collaboration, and translating insights into actionable improvements.  She also brought her experience as a Quality Assurance Analyst to provide instruction to Team 2 and others.

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Her experience spans insurance, IoT (Home Security Automation), healthcare, e-commerce, and banking—where she has consistently transformed complex business needs into precise technical specifications. Sarita excels in stakeholder management, agile project leadership, and cross-functional collaboration, driving large-scale technology initiatives with clarity and impact.

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Her areas of expertise include Agile and Scrum methodologies, requirements elicitation, data mapping and flow, product management, and storytelling for business alignment. Sarita brings strategic insight and a collaborative spirit to every engagement, helping teams deliver meaningful, value-driven outcomes.

Mauva Campbell served as Product Owner for Team 2 during the SDLC Experience Workshop, bringing decades of real-world experience and a calm, confident presence to every sprint.

She owned the PO role with clarity and conviction—guiding the team through shifting priorities, refining user stories, and ensuring that every deliverable aligned with business value.

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With over 35 years of international experience across private sector and UK central government projects, Mauva has led digital transformations and regulatory initiatives under pressure.

Her ability to translate complexity into clarity, ask the right questions, and foster strong stakeholder relationships made her an anchor for her team.

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Throughout the simulation, Mauva modeled what it means to lead with purpose. She balanced strategic vision with day-to-day responsiveness, mentored emerging analysts, and helped the team stay focused on outcomes.

Her presence elevated the workshop experience and demonstrated how a skilled Product Owner can turn uncertainty into momentum.

Misti Chancellor served as a mentor to Team 1 during the SDLC Experience Workshop, offering steady guidance, practical insight, and a calm presence throughout the simulation.

Her deep experience in government administration and business analysis helped participants navigate documentation challenges, testing protocols, and stakeholder alignment with confidence.

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With a career spanning roles in the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services, TEKsystems, and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Misti brings a wealth of expertise in analytical skills, documentation, test management, and regression testing.

Her ability to translate complex requirements into actionable plans made her an invaluable resource to her team.

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Beyond the workshop, Misti is leading the charge to establish an IIBA Chapter in Oklahoma City—advocating for professional development, community building, and elevating the role of business analysts across the region.

Her commitment to mentorship and transformation continues to shape the next generation of analysts and project leaders.