passionate

problem solvers

Our People

Treetown Tech is a multi-faceted community of passionate problem solvers. We’re blue-sky thinkers who know how to channel creative brilliance into practical, pragmatic action.

We tackle projects holistically, so we need a diverse set of competencies and know-how under one roof.

Our engineers may have very different skillsets, but we work side-by-side with a nuanced understanding of how everyone’s expertise fits into the puzzle. This allows our team of innovators to move projects along quickly and efficiently with more iterations.

When a challenge arises, we never have far to go for the right brand of expertise.

treetown tech department managers
Casey Alford

Casey Alford

Managing Partner

Kris Schilling

Kris Schilling

Lead IOT Engineer, Partner

Mike Gorski

Mike Gorski

Lead Controls Engineer, Partner

Nate Ernst

Nate Ernst

Lead Mechanical Engineer, Partner

Vivek Reddy Alla

Vivek Reddy-Alla

Robotics Software Engineer

J. Bazyle

Jason Bazylewicz

Engineering Technician

Larry Mercier

Larry Mercier

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Matthew Reed

Matthew Reed

Software and Electronics Engineer

Chris Schoeps

Chris Schoeps

Senior Mechanical Engineer

James Coller

James Coller, PhD

Technical Project Manager

Esther Frank

Esther Franck

Office Manager

Brendan Fike

Brendan Fike

Technical Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer

Luke Wittrup

Luke Wittrup

Software Engineer

Parth Patel

Parth Patel

Mechanical Engineer

Luke Paul

Luke Paul

Electrical Engineer

Lauren Long

Lauren Long

Mechanical Engineer

Greg Robertson

Greg Robertson

Senior Electrical Engineer

Guerin Rowland

Guerin Rowland

Electrical Engineer

Derrick Miller

Derrick Miller

Software Engineer

Kevan Piggott

Kevan Pigott

Software Engineer

Austyn Larkin

Austyn Larkin

Software Engineer

Jayme Sparr

Jayme Sparr

Industrial Design Engineer

Jim Lee

Jim Lee

Senior Electrical Engineer

Chris Danks

Chris Danks

Senior Software Engineer

Kayla Curtis

Kayla Curtis

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Kevin Bancroft

Kevin Bancroft

Mechanical Engineer

Casey Alford

Managing Partner

Embedded software. 4 Startups, 2 time co-founder. Simulation software. Product planning. Engineering management. Poor golfer. Michigan native born in Ohio. Building local and thinking global. Field application engineering. Data analysis. Business planning. U of Michigan Computer Engineering.

Kris Schiling

Lead IOT Engineer, Partner

Mechanical Engineer turned software dev. Jack of all trades, master of many. CAD. Mechanical Design. Design for Manufacturing. Embedded software. Rock climber. Full stack web development. Everything IoT.  Michigan native. Embedded software. Labview guru. Beer nerd. U of Michigan Mechanical Engineer with Masters.

Mike Gorski

Lead Controls Engineer, Partner

Mike is mechanical engineer turned controls and electronics guru. Mike studied in the Yoop at Michigan Tech with a focus on Mechanical engineering. After graduation, he made his way to Ann Arbor he joined a startup where he grew an appreciation for electronics and software.

Nate Ernst

Lead Mechanical Engineer, Partner

FEA. Mechanical design. System engineering. Product planning. Michigan native. 1st fuel cell in a UAV. DARPA hard. Car Restorer. Beer brewer. Hands on. Thermo & fluids geek.  2nd generation engineer. U of Michigan Mechanical Engineering w/ Masters.

Vivek Reddy Alla

Robotics Software Engineer

Vision systems and robotics software developer.  Traveling the US one long car ride at time.  Full stack web development.  Best hair in the office.  RTLS data analysis.  Classic video game connoisseur. Matlab and Python testing.  Master in Robotics U of Michigan.

Jason Bazylewicz

Engineering Technician

Can build anything. CAD designer. Can probably fix your car. Voluntary movie quoter. Shop manager. Eastern Michigan University Engineering Management.

Larry Mercier

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Owns almost all specialty tools.  Built a carbon-fiber turbine for fun. Takes DIY to new levels.  Believes great design comes from iteration.  Solidworks. U of M Mechanical Engineer.

Matthew Reed

Software and Electronics Engineer

Loves everything software and electronics. Coffee aficionado. International volunteer. Altium. Embedded software expert. Creates electronics in his spare time. Cedarville University Computer Engineer.

Chris Schoeps

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Loves prototyping.  3D printing aficionado. Builds homemade meat smokers.  Fuel cell system design.  Jeep off-roading.  Solidworks.  Michigan native, U of Michigan Mechanical Engineer.

James Coller

Technical Project Manager

Loves all things nautical. Designed a 17-foot unmanned boat. Michigan native. PhD in Design Theory. U of Michigan Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.

Esther Franck

Office Manager

NASCAR Team EVP (really!). Law Firm Operations. Now Managing all things Office at TreeTown. Michigan Native born in Ohio. Loves Jeopardy, Yoga and Baking Cakes. Not an Engineer 🙂

Branden Fike

Technical Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer

Aerospace Engineer turned mechanical engineer and project manager. Dog lover and K9 Search handler. Ann Arbor native. U of Michigan Aerospace Engineer w/ Masters. Western Michigan University, MBA.

Luke Wittrup

Software Engineer

Budding software engineer. Embedded systems. Mediocre golfer. Django and React guru. Sad Detroit sports fan. Mobile app and HMI design. Michigan native. U of Michigan Computer Engineering.

Parth Patel

Mechanical Engineering Technician

First Robotics coach (middle school and high school). Video game and 3D printing enthusiast. Marvel and DC fanatic. Michigan native-born in Ohio. Baker College of Flint Mechanical Engineering.

Luke Paul

Electrical Engineer

Embedded hardware designer. Process enthusiast. People-centric. Hockey fanatic—Men’s league team calls me “Coach!” Avid adventurist. Altium design. Circuit board mods are like candy. Grand Valley State University Electrical Engineer.

Lauren Long

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical design. CAD. Design for manufacturing. Biomedical device experience. New Mexico native. Bachelors in Mechanical NM Tech. Masters in Biomedical U of Michigan. Photography and hiking enthusiast. Loves baking desserts.

Greg Robertson

Senior Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineer, mainly hardware design: stayed same.  Came to Ann Arbor for Electrical Engineering degree from U of Michigan: stayed in Ann Arbor.  Coolest project: hardware & firmware design for research instrument that flew on the space shuttle Columbia.  Passionate about downhill skiing and live music (but not at the same time).

Guerin Rowland

Electrical Engineer

Electronics enthusiast. Software and SolidWorks dabbler. Wooden furniture and bowl maker. Built an electric guitar and tube amplifier for fun. 2nd best hair in the office. Hiking and camping addict. Western Michigan University Electrical Engineering.

Derrick Miller

Software Engineer

Embedded systems enthusiast. Electronic music producer and amateur game developer. Small form factor electronics connoisseur, retrocomputing fan, and homelab builder. Appreciates a little coffee and outdoor time, as a treat. Computer Engineering BS @ University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Kevan Pigott

Software Engineer

Embedded Software. Sailing enthusiast, spends free time playing the guitar. Full Stack developer and a jack of all trades. Ohio native. Miami University Computer Engineering

Austyn Larkin

Software Engineer

Software engineer with diverse platform experience. Interested in all engineering disciplines. The next Tony Hawk (not really). Miami University Computer Engineering. Master’s student at UMich for MS in Embedded Systems.

Jayme Sparr 

Industrial Design Engineer

Designer by day.  Home Brewer, Residential Chef, Horticulturist, Forager of wild foods, Fine Artist, Soap Maker, Fisherman, Dog Father, and very sleepy by night. Collage for Creative Studies Industrial Design. Schoolcraft Collage Metallurgy Science and Welding Technologies.  

Jim Lee

Senior Electrical Engineer

Chris Danks

Senior Software Engineer

Kayla Curtis

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Loves human-centered design and innovation. Mechanical Design. Design for Manufacturing. Industrial design amateur. Avid artificer and artist. Has climbed Mt. Fuji twice. Social gaming enthusiast. U of Michigan Biomedical Engineering with a Masters in Biomechanics.

Kevin Bancroft

Mechanical Engineer

Machine and manufacturing applications Engineering. Rapid prototyping with SolidWorks + 3D printing…and some 80/20. Loves getting his hands dirty, with a team. Aspirations in software and electronics design. Born in a car, grew up on the race track, defeated a Nascar driver, and (unsuccessfully) raced an Indy 500 champion. Mechanical Engineering Technology, Eastern Michigan University.