Read This Week’s Executive Profile 

Education: Clovis High School & Pasadena High School  

Age: 36

Family: I’ve been married to my husband for just over 13 years! He’s a CTE teacher at a local high school. Our 7-year-old daughter is precocious and kind. Somehow, she embodies both the “fancy girl” and “wild active kid” stereotypes and we are continually amazed by her. 

What we do: 

Bitwise Industries, a transformative technology company, creates scalable digital solutions, offering services in Salesforce, DocuSign, and custom SaaS—using a representative workforce in underestimated cities. Bitwise is not only a nationwide catalyst towards economic transformation, it also has a proven record of year-over-year growth and has been nationally recognized for its work. Bitwise has pioneered a movement in the industry that not only talks the talk regarding diversity, equity and inclusion, it walks the walk — reflecting faces, lives, and humans in those we employ, those in which we partner, and communities we mean to lift up.

Tell us a little about your career up to your current role.

I’ve had a varied career up until now. From selling cars to running the shipping department for a small business to working for a local church in their communications department — I’ve done it all. Somehow all of the roles ended up perfectly preparing me for my role as the vice president of Bitwise Fresno.

What prompted your move to Shift3 Technologies and Bitwise Industries?

Like many people, in March 2020 I found myself without a job. Unlike anyone else, I’m married to Darren Grubel, who is a gem of a human. Darren told me to take my time looking for another role — to find something I loved instead of whoever is hiring immediately.

That patience paid off. Three months later, a friend let me know about an open position at Bitwise. I’d been following the company’s growth from afar, and Bitwise seemed like a company whose values aligned with mine. I appreciated all of the work they did to support the communities they’re in, and I wanted to be a part of their efforts. I interviewed for the role—and did not get it. However, they offered me another role and the rest is history.

2022 was a big year for Bitwise. Can you summarize some of the moves Bitwise made?

During 2022 Bitwise Industries grew immensely — expanding into four new cities in four states and acquired three companies. We have nearly doubled our employee count, doubled revenue, and have tripled square footage of the buildings we are renovating nationwide. 

We have continued to impact the lives of those within the cities we serve, while supporting businesses small and large with innovative solutions that span from our Salesforce managed services to our SaaS custom solutions. As we welcome the new year, we are excited to continue the momentum that we have had over the past year to accelerate our work.

What does 2023 have in store for Bitwise?

As we head into 2023, we will continue to look for the most effective tools and vehicles that ultimately further our mission. What partnerships will help accelerate and maximize those efforts. One area we see exponential growth and opportunities is within the Salesforce ecosystem and we plan to double down our efforts in that area which we believe will have real impact in the lives that we seek to touch. 

How has venture funding empowered Bitwise to accomplish its goals?

The infusion of venture funding has allowed the company to grow at an accelerated pace. As a result we have been able to expand across the country, impact thousands of lives, and also deliver transformative tech solutions. While the venture dollars have been a great help, the support of the individuals who run these firms have been just as impactful on the work.

How has the local community supported Bitwise in all its efforts?

The community has played a major role in our success, from supporting our mission to joining us when we have held public events. Those in the community see the importance of the work that we are doing and have either joined in our work or supported it in whatever way they can. 

How is Bitwise being received in the new U.S. markets it is entering?

As previously mentioned, the vetting process that Bitwise undertakes when selecting a city is exhaustive; at the point when we are ready to make a public announcement, we have already had numerous conversations with government, community, and public/private leaders. At the point we have entered the market the response has been a very positive one. 

What are your roots in the Central Valley?

My family moved to the Valley in 2000—exactly one month before my eighth-grade promotion. I went to Clovis High, where I played basketball with a team that meant well but unfortunately did not play that well. I attended my senior year of high school at Pasadena High School just 10 minutes away from where I grew up. After moving around a bit, I moved back to Fresno in 2005. In the 17 years since I have been spent serving and partnering with non-profit organizations in the area to gain an understanding of the needs of our valley community.

What was your very first job and what did you learn from it?

My first job was under the table at the law firm where my mom worked. As a young kid, I was charged with filing documents and acting as the gofer for my mom’s team. In that role, I learned that every role and person on the team is vital to keeping the organization running. My first “real” job was at a UPS Store. Along with learning how to properly pack a package and which carrier to use for which items, I learned the art of customer service. How to meet a customer’s needs and deescalate a situation if necessary — as you can imagine the holiday season got a little hectic.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

With a small child and a couple of grownups working, there’s not a whole lot of time to spare. If my family’s schedule is calm and slow, you can find me baking, cooking, or snuggled up in my favorite chair reading a book. I’ve been trying to make space for a regular hike to sneak in a little exercise every now and then. This year, I signed up for a 52-hike challenge! Check back with me in 2024 to see if I regret that choice!