Employee Testimonials

Ben Abraham

CNC Designer

Engineering & Design

"The team component of what we do here is so significant. We wouldn't be able to do half the stuff we do if we were all working individually."

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Ben was born and raised in Bahrain, later moved to Chennai, India, and eventually came to Canada to pursue engineering — completing a diploma at Cape Breton University and a Bachelor of Engineering from Dalhousie. He joined Protocase in July 2022 as a designer in the CNC division and has since earned multiple Performer of the Month awards. He credits his growth to the mentorship of his team and loves the collaborative, ever-changing nature of the work: "There's something new every day... work is often a puzzle we have to figure out."

Brett Kelly

Technical Director

45Drives Engineering

"It's amazing to see 45Drives grow into a full-fledged business. Doug was a good mentor for me and I realized that he believed in me and that I should start believing in myself."

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Brett joined Protocase in August 2014 as an engineer straight out of Dalhousie University, committed to staying on the East Coast and helping grow a homegrown Nova Scotia business. Co-founder Doug Milburn's early confidence in him — "yeah, it's a bit of a senior engineering position, but you'll figure it out" — became foundational to his career growth. Today Brett serves as Technical Director for 45Drives, overseeing engineering and technical strategy, and has been part of the company's evolution from building servers to a full integrated solution. He's also become a public face of 45Drives through the company's YouTube videos: "I enjoy doing the videos... it's a skill I never thought I was going to have."

Chris McGean

Senior Marketer

Marketing

"I love digging deep into why people make decisions and then being able to capitalize on that by formulating strategies."

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Chris has been a Senior Marketer at Protocase for over 10 years, managing digital media, analytics, and special projects across the company's marketing efforts. Beyond traditional marketing work, he hosts Protocase's "Ask an Engineer" YouTube series, overcoming early concerns about public speaking to become a confident on-camera presence. His work spans analytics, digital strategy, and content creation — all grounded in a passion for understanding customer behavior and market dynamics.

Colby Davis

Architect

45Drives Technical Service

"I get to work with high-level people in organizations that I probably wouldn't even talk to anywhere else. You just get to hang out and talk to them."

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Colby studied cybersecurity at the University of North Carolina Wilmington before joining 45Drives as part of its early Wilmington hires, starting in a service role. That hands-on experience became the foundation for his recent promotion to Architect, where he now acts as the technical bridge between sales and service — translating customer needs into real solutions. He credits 45Drives' lack of rigid hierarchy for giving him direct access to high-level customer relationships and growth opportunities like industry events and conferences.

Colby Niedzielski

IT Support

IT

"Every day brings something different to learn. There's a great feeling of accomplishment when you finally solve a difficult problem."

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Colby provides IT Support at Protocase, moving between buildings to address technical needs across hardware, software, network infrastructure, and user support. He brings a customer-service mindset to the role, understanding that effective IT support requires listening and asking the right questions before proposing solutions: "IT isn't only about fixing technical problems—it's about listening, asking the right questions." By solving technical challenges and supporting users, Colby plays a critical role in keeping Protocase's operations running smoothly.

Daniel Hoang

ProtoSpace Manufacturing Account Manager

Sales

"I like to learn new things and I absolutely love it at Protocase because I feel like the moment you get the hang of something they give you a little something extra to learn."

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Daniel joined Protocase in June 2021 on the production team while pursuing his MBA at Cape Breton University, drawing on his prior experience as a line cook to understand how work flows from station to station. After nearly three years in production and with his MBA in hand, he transitioned to Protocase sales in May 2024, earning a promotion to ProtoSpace Manufacturing Account Manager just 10 months later. What drives him is the constant opportunity for growth: "I like progression and I feel there is a lot of that here."

Eric Winner

Account Executive

Sales

"I'm huge on culture. At the end of the day, if we're doing our job right, we're helping them grow."

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Eric is an Account Executive at Protocase, building relationships with new and existing accounts while prospecting for growth opportunities. He brings over five years of leadership experience from managing operations at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and it was Protocase's culture that drew him in. His sales philosophy centers on listening, understanding customers' business objectives, and helping them achieve their goals through Protocase's solutions.

Gary Gardiner

Chief Shipper

Logistics

"I know I'm just a part of an entire chain that makes it happen. This is one of the best places I have ever worked. Period!"

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Gary has been Chief Shipper at Protocase since November 2017, responsible for ensuring the FedEx truck leaves the building at 11am every single day, shipping products worldwide. His role requires precision, coordination, and consistency — managing the final steps of the shipping process so orders are packaged, labeled, and ready for distribution on schedule, day after day. What he appreciates most is being part of a larger operation where everyone contributes to customer success.

Iain Gingell

EDS Training and Development Specialist

Training & Development

"I really enjoy the meritocracy here. If you show you can do something, or that you're willing to learn how to do it, they will let you try. I'm living proof of that."

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Iain joined Protocase in November 2021 at 18 years old on the production backshift, planning to stay just a year before university — but stuck around for the opportunities. After a couple of years in production, he taught himself SolidWorks through in-house training and passed the design test to join the Engineering & Design Services team. He later moved into training, where he's now an EDS Training and Development Specialist and hosts Protocase's "Ask an Engineer" video series.

Jill Thistle

HR Manager

Human Resources

"My favourite part of my job is helping my team grow. I never set out to manage or lead."

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Jill is the HR Manager at Protocase and 45Drives, leading an HR team of 10 across two countries. Her path to HR leadership is unconventional — she started as a summer intern counting screws on the production floor. She now manages hiring, employee relations, training, and strategic HR initiatives for both organizations, and her natural ability to support and develop people made leadership a natural progression: "I never set out to manage or lead."

Jordan Keough

Developer

45Drives Development

"I just like making cool stuff. Everyone's very friendly, open and welcoming."

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Jordan is a Developer at 45Drives, building internal tools and customer-facing features across the technology stack, using modern development practices and AI tools like Claude and GitHub Copilot to boost his productivity. His recent work includes developing the Houston task scheduler, a critical tool for internal operations, in close collaboration with product, design, and operations teams. He values the collaborative environment at 45Drives, where developers are empowered to solve interesting problems and have their ideas heard.

Jordan Rose

Business Unit Manager, CNC Machining & 3D Printing

Management

"My focus now is mostly management-related. What I love best about Protocase is our culture, a culture that puts people first."

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Jordan is the Business Unit Manager for CNC Machining and 3D Printing at Protocase. With eight years at the company, he has progressed from design engineer to R&D engineer to his current leadership position, managing the CNC and 3D printing divisions and overseeing teams, projects, and strategic direction. His progression through technical roles gives him deep credibility with engineering teams and a genuine investment in his team's growth.

Kim Thistle

Talent Acquisition

Human Resources

"You have to live it and you have to believe it. You don't have a great company unless you have great people."

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Kim has been with Protocase since March 2009, leading talent acquisition through significant periods of growth and change and processing thousands of applications annually. During the company's 2021 expansion, she handled more than 8,000 applications in a single year — a testament to both the company's growth and her ability to manage recruitment at scale. She understands HR as more than filling positions: it's about building the foundation of a great workplace.

Lauren Turner

R&D Engineering Project Manager

Research & Development

"A good day is when you are not at your desk all day. I'm here for the big picture."

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Lauren joined Protocase in February 2024 as an R&D Engineering Project Manager, bringing a background in chemical engineering to a critical role in the company's innovation efforts. She manages R&D projects and works to remove roadblocks for the engineering team, coordinating between departments and helping solve problems that could slow innovation. Her engineering background gives her credibility with technical teams, while her project management skills keep complex initiatives moving forward.

Lindsay Biagini

Customer Care Representative

45HomeLab

"What I like most is getting to meet new people and just learning about the tech industry. I haven't had a bad day yet."

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Lindsay is a Customer Care Representative for the 45HomeLab division, processing incoming orders, responding to customer questions, and gathering feedback to share with the R&D team for future product development. Coming from a background outside technology, he's actively learning the technical side of home lab solutions while excelling at customer interactions. His enthusiasm for learning and meeting customers makes him a valuable asset to 45HomeLab.

Michael Pearson

Chief Operating Officer

Executive Leadership

"You treat everybody the same by treating them all individually. I come to work every day because I love what I do."

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Michael joined Protocase in 2015 as a production supervisor, bringing 13 years of military experience as a supply technician. Today he serves as COO of both Protocase and 45Drives, overseeing operations across both companies through strategic decision-making and process optimization. What drives him is a belief that strong operations are built on treating people with respect and individualization — a philosophy carried from his military background into everything he does.

Pratik Patil

R&D Software Developer

Research & Development

"I released the 45Professional MSP Portal, Lynette (our DMR App), and helped with the 45Studio website. It's mostly full stack development—I love it."

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Pratik grew up in India before pursuing a bachelor's degree in technology and later a co-op placement at Dalhousie University in Canada, where he landed an internship with Protocase. After impressing during the internship, he moved into a full-time role as an R&D Software Developer, working across the stack on portals, applications, and website optimizations for 45Drives and Protocase. Outside of coding, he enjoys badminton, chess, gaming, photography, and reading science fiction.

Rob MacQueen

Chief Operating Officer

45Drives Leadership

"If you have the right attitude, you can go very, very far. Being nice to people is one of the best attributes a person can have."

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Rob started at 45Drives in 2014 as a summer student performing vibration analysis and was named COO of 45Drives at just 29 years old — a testament to his capabilities and the company's commitment to developing talent from within. As COO, he oversees operations from product development to customer fulfillment, bringing hands-on experience from every level of the company. He believes in treating everyone with respect and creating an environment where team members feel valued: "It's been a dream come true."

Silpa Latha

HR Specialist

Human Resources

"I like the helping part of the job. I feel like something I do is making an impact for the organization."

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Silpa was promoted to HR Specialist at Protocase after serving as HR Admin, and now manages employee onboarding, background checks, documentation, and compliance requirements. She works closely with hiring managers to identify talent and supports employees throughout their tenure. Her promotion reflects Protocase's commitment to developing talent from within, pairing technical HR knowledge with a genuine desire to support the organization and its people.

Stephen MacNeil

Account Manager

45Drives Sales

"I believe in two-by-four testing and making it happen. It's the fear of failure that drives me."

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Stephen, known affectionately as "Big Deal" MacNeil, joined Protocase in January 2012 and was seconded into 45Drives during the company's early development stages. As an Account Manager at 45Drives, he manages significant accounts with a consultative approach, working to understand customer needs deeply and drive growth for the organizations he serves. His success comes from listening, understanding customer challenges, and building relationships based on mutual trust and respect.

Trevor Hardy

Solution Specialist

45Drives Technical Service

"Career-wise, I'm much happier. What I like most is helping people find a solution. It's good to have a win. Figure something out, learn something new. It's rewarding."

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Trevor's path to 45Drives was far from conventional — he started college in nursing, switched to criminology, spent nearly a decade in law enforcement, then completed a cybersecurity degree at UNCW while working full-time and transitioned into IT. He joined 45Drives as part of the second wave of hires to the Wilmington office, and as a Solution Specialist he spends his days troubleshooting technical problems and helping customers find solutions. Beyond his technical skills, he's become a mentor for new arrivals, helping them find their footing at the company.

Vikram Solanki

Channel Manager

45HomeLab

"I'm working with everyone. It's like my third child. Everyone here has been nothing but kind to me."

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Vikram is the Channel Manager for 45HomeLab, a cross-functional role touching sales, marketing, R&D, production, and shipping as the main customer-facing contact for the division. His work involves managing relationships with key accounts, identifying growth opportunities, and ensuring customer satisfaction across the HomeLab product line. What stands out most to him is the supportive environment and collaborative spirit of the team he works with every day.