Growing up in rural Germany, I have been an outdoors person for as long as I can remember. At age 17, I went to northern Sweden for my first long-distance hike where the vastness, beauty, and fragility of nature deeply moved me. Through high school, Army, and undergraduate Biology degree, I never lost the passion to be “out there”. That wasn’t made easy during my university days in London, but I was redeemed when I moved to British Columbia for my postdoctoral research.
I spent the next 20 years building laboratory instruments and medical devices and when the opportunity came up to combine my love for science with my passion for nature, it was a dream come true.
Dietrich Ruehlmann
Founder & CEO
I grew up in northern and central Indiana, I loved playing with my friends outdoors. There was a small ravine in our back yard and we would spend ours running up and down the creek, looking for wildlife, and enjoying the outdoors. A love for the outdoors is something I’m passing on to my 2 kids, and we frequently go on hikes, spot wildlife, and enjoying exploring new places. Now that my kids are in school, I have a new appreciation for how kids learn, how to keep them engaged and making the outdoors fun. Prior to my joining Gaiaxus, I spent more than 15 years in product and technical development creating systems both large and small, understanding how people use technology and make it a better part of their lives.
Lee Brindel
CTO
Ever since I can remember, I have had a love for the outdoors. This passion for nature was what lead me to major in General Biology at Liberty University with a focus in Environmental Sciences. After I graduated from Liberty University, I moved to Charleston, South Carolina where I worked in a lab with horseshoe crabs. As much as I loved working with those incredible animals, I wanted to do something that would have more of an impact on my community.
I later became a high school science teacher striving to get students excited about the world around them so they could be good stewards of it. I’m excited to be a part of GaiaXus, so that more students will have access to technology which will further their understanding of the ecosystems around them and the importance to protect them.
Abigail Koelsch
Education Outreach Manager
Born in the UK and raised in the USA, my formative years were predominantly spent in Maryland, where my interests revolved around two main passions: chess and swimming. The latter, in particular, has become a constant in my life, a pursuit I am committed to regardless of my location on the globe.
My fascination with technology has been a guiding force throughout my academic journey. I earned my BSc in Mechanical Engineering, delving deeper into the realm of innovation with an MSc in Mechatronics, specializing in Artificial Intelligence. Driven by a curiosity for the research and development facets of engineering, I dedicated six years to the dynamic field of medical devices, followed by a year in academic research.
GaiaXus offers me the chance to combine cutting edge IoT and sensor technology with my love for the outdoors, education and research.
Jacob Clark
Senior Engineer
My degree is in Business/Accounting from Penn State University. I enjoy learning new accounting systems, improving my knowledge and skills, and working at looking forward to tomorrow. But this does not define me. Traveling to new places, camping in forests and close to lakes, exploring nature and its beauty, creating wood Christmas decorations, dancing West Coast Swing, and working in the garden with my husband are all things I enjoy. By supporting my family, friends, and my work team I feel much happier.
“Happiness is only real when shared.”
- Jon Krakauer
Oksana Bartlett
Operations Manager & General Accountant
Born in San Diego, I am blessed to have grown up in the D.C. area, where I can spend one day hiking in Great Falls Park and the next roaming the Dupont Art Walk downtown. While pursuing my Immersive Media Design degree from the University of Maryland, I was involved in youth energy outreach and have always aspired to apply my design and technology interests to education and community engagement. I'm eager for the opportunity at GaiaXus to do just that. Outside of the office, you can find me reading, swimming, playing guitar, and exploring the local music scene.
Caroline Dinh
Frontend & UX Developer
I am a Yellow Lab and happiest when I can swim in a cold river or lake. I do like the occasional muddy patch to roll in but generally I prefer clean water where I can chase sticks, eat gnats and other tasty things that float by.
Clean water is important to me; at GaiaXus, I represent all dogs that play in and around the water. It is an important job and I take it very seriously. Woof.