Serial Entrepreneur. Telecom Pioneer. Architect of the Full-Stack Layer 0.
Big ideas are a dime a dozen - true impact only happens when innovation meets infrastructure. My career has been defined by building what didn't exist yet. From acquiring my third IT company at age 18 to pioneering the world’s first integrated VoIP, eFax, and SMS platform at TraiTel Telecom in 2003, I’ve spent three decades solving "impossible" connectivity problems.
In 2022, after finding every existing blockchain fundamentally flawed for real-world enterprise use, I founded ITZA.
Today, ITZA is a Full-Stack Layer 0 protected by 70+ pending patents. We’ve moved beyond the "experimental" phase of blockchain to build the bedrock: a multi-cluster, horizontally scalable architecture that delivers sub-second atomic settlement and 100% global compliance.
I don't just build apps; I build the sovereign systems that power them.
A leader in my profession, an expert in information technology and a dedicated plus motivated entrepreneur. In my spare time, I spend time with family, fly planes and teach martial arts.
Alain Lapalme Chief Technology Officer
Alain Lapalme is the Chief Technology Officer at TraiTel group of companies.
Alain was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. As a child, he took an interest in computer programming and learned to program in BASIC at 8 years old. Over the following years, he advanced his knowledge in computing and studied a number of additional programming languages, such as C/C++ and assembly.
Alain successfully completed the Advanced level high-school program and went on to pursue post-secondary education. He graduated from the Information Technologies Program at Collège Boréal with a 4.0 average. During this time, Alain founded an internet service: “AtomicBoards.com”, a hosted forum & chat platform. At it's peak, this service had an active user base of over 35 000 members who had exchanged over a million messages. After graduating from Collège Boréal, Alain continued his education in the Software Engineering Program at the University Of Ottawa. Alain received a scholarship from Nortel Networks valued at $8,000 to this end.
During his first year at the University of Ottawa (2003), Alain worked online as a freelance software development contractor for a number of businesses and companies online, including TraiTel Telecommunications. Alain left the University after his first year to spend a year in Australia (2004) working with Eli Traitel. Alain has since then returned to Canada but continues in his role as CTO.
Alain speaks both French and English. He is passionate about computer programming and has an understanding of multiple Operating Systems including Linux, Windows, Unix, OSX, and Android. He can program in C, C++, C# .NET, Basic/Visual Basic, Assembly and Java. He has a strong understanding of the SQL database query language. Finally, he is also proficient in a number of web technologies including Perl, PHP, Python, JavaScript, HTML and CSS.
Joseph Ventura Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Ventura's expertise lies in the areas of taxation and business planning. He was a member of Arthur Anderson & Company for four years and holds a masters in taxation degree. He has assisted clients in the San Diego area with tax planning, estate planning, representation before local, federal and state taxing agencies and general business consulting. He is an avid car enthusiast and collector.
As a manager of Product Strategy, I use a creative leadership approach coupled with an extensive management experience in internationally focused technology companies to drive the future direction of ITZA's products. I am accomplished at developing and implementing strategic business plans and the commercialisation of new technology. Having a strong marketing background and experience in both B2B and B2C industries, I enjoy the challenge of growing and developing tools that help businesses to realize their future potential.
Paul Hofman Business Dev. Manager
Paul Hofman is a business development professional with a demonstrated track record and responsible for overseeing the implementation of business objectives among the company's sales, marketing and business development staff. Paul's duties include comparing current sales numbers to desired quotas, delegating sales and marketing tasks among team members and meeting with upper management to discuss progress.
Paul has extensive experience in the IT sector, primarily in the biotech field, having worked with world class teams on launching new, cutting edge products that are now commonly used to treat and cure various disease.
He graduated with Honors: summa cum laude, GPA 3.9/4.0 in 1989 to a Bachelor's degree in pharmacy - BPharm.
Paul Dennis Project Manager
I'm a determined, target and goal driven individual. I'm happy and able to take on extra responsibility and pressure. I'm ready to tackle challenges and always looking for ways to improve upon.
I like to follow my own intellect and instincts as they rarely fail me, however I am willing to listen to others and take on suggestions in order to maximize efficiency and minimize/remove any potential for errors. I am always looking for potential and talent in others and I try to support and develop this potential as much as possible. I believe in recognition, stimulation and a challenging, yet rewarding work environment is the strongest recipe for success.
Thais Maya Director of Media Relations
Thais is our in-house social media guru - expert and actress extraordinaire! She is awesome at making people laugh here and ensuring everybody (ITZA especially) is well connected with the social media world. Thais is kind enough to lend us her hand and sharing her many talents with us, however, Thais's expertise lay with her amazing acting ability.
She's originally from Brazil and as well as her native Portuguese, she speaks Spanish and a little English too! - though admittedly we can hardly ever understand her, but that's ok!
You can find her as @thaismayaofficial in any social media platforms.
Nicolai Steinal Software Developer
Nicolai has been developing software from the moment he was gifted his first computer, the mighty commodore 64. Before joining ITZA he worked for startup Mubiz developing blockchain-based applications. The biggest project he led development for was Mubiz.com, a search engine which crawls the decentralized marketplace OpenBazaar. He also worked on parallel computing efforts running very large datasets to solve complex calculations whilst working at DARA which stands for Deutsche Agentur fr Raumfahrtangelegenheiten (German Agency For Space Flight Affairs). He is highly skilled in C, C++, Assembly, Symfony, Rust and SQL. Nicolai regularly attends blockchain meetups in Berlin and is happy and able to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. Nicolai holds a Master of Science in Software Engineering from the University Carlos III in Madrid.
Arnold Broch Software Developer
As a Software Engineer, Arnold takes much pride in his work. Due to his past QC experience, he makes sure that the quality of the code base (both ITZA Blockchain and various ITZA apps) are flawless, something which he takes very seriously. He spent six years in Quality Control prior to joining the ITZA team. He's excited to see crypto and ITZA's clustered architecture transform the way organizations will be connected in the future as well as industries by making it easier to interconnect and exchange real time data of absolutely anything and everything. He also feels that the current state of the foundational blockchain sector is at its infancy and that ITZA has everything necessary to become a pioneering solution. When he isn't working, Arnold enjoys reading non-fiction, sports and traveling. Arnold holds a Bachelor of Science in Informatics and Control in Technological Systems from the Moscow Aviation University.
Mina Young Software Developer
As ITZA's freshest programmer, Mina spends her time doing GUI development, back end development and maintenance for both the Android and iPhone developments of ITZA among many other things and of course, soaking up as much knowledge from her very experienced colleagues as she can. Prior to ITZA, she built the backend and middleware for a learning app for the Chamber of Crafts in Ho Chi Ming. In 2012, she was an intricate team member of the start up Fairmondo which is now one of the leading marketplaces in Germany. From the moment she first learned about computers, she realized programming was her future and that through software she could one day make a broad and positive impact in this world. She built her first web page as a teenager - to promote saving the rainforest. Mina is currently working towards her Bachelor of Science in Media Informatics at RMIT University.
Helmut Gunter Software Developer
Helmut works as a web developer (frontend and backend development and administration) and in the back office.
Helmut studied Software Engineering (MSc) and Computer Science in Berlin and Paris. He then wrote books and articles about digital photography and worked as a content manager at an online store. Through his interests in technology and design, he finally dedicated his focus to designing Firmware and was soon after employed by Cisco Systems to focus on next gen IOT embedded networks. Before becoming a team member of ITZA, he was involved in the Silhouette Hero program, for example during the last crowdfunding campaign.
Peter Phipps Technical Manager / Support
During his early years, Peter prior to joining TraiTel had been working with Digital Dictation and Speech Recognition technologies in New Zealand for over 15 years. Having worked in IT for several years in a top 10 Legal firm, he came to TraiTel to look after all technical / hardware related issues.
In his time at TraiTel he has worked in several areas of the business including Support, Development and Programming and has relished the challenge of establishing TraiTel as a pioneer in the SMS, eFax and VoIP space and is very proud on being part of the development of the ITZA app as well.
Peter's background is in the Arts having studied Drama and Classics at university. He then went on to study English and Philosophy for his Masters degree at Wellington University which will explain why he prefers flowing prose over bullet points as his chosen means of expression. In his spare time he enjoys science fiction literature, golf and fishing and is an occasionally successful cook.
Eric Goldstein Chief Marketing Officer
I bring a sharp commercial instinct and a deep understanding of brand development, customer acquisition, and digital growth strategy to ITZA. As Chief Marketing Officer, I am responsible for shaping ITZA’s market positioning, building awareness across both consumer and business audiences, and ensuring that the company’s message is communicated clearly, consistently, and persuasively.
With extensive experience in technology marketing, I've led campaigns across B2B and B2C markets, helping emerging products move from early adoption into mainstream recognition.
Before joining ITZA, I worked with several growth-stage technology companies, where I developed go-to-market strategies, managed brand launches, built sales enablement programs, and helped scale user acquisition through data-driven marketing. My approach combines creativity with discipline: clear messaging, measurable campaigns, strong execution, and constant refinement based on results.
I'm passionate about building brands that people trust. At ITZA, I'm focused on expanding the company’s reach, strengthening its public identity, and helping businesses understand how ITZA’s tools can create real-world value. I believe that successful marketing is not only about attention, but about building confidence, credibility, and long-term relationships with customers.
Jessica Rogers General Admin
Jessica is the kind of person who keeps the office running smoothly while somehow making everyone smile at the same time. Bright, organized, and naturally upbeat, she handles day-to-day admin, team support, scheduling, documents, and all the little things that quietly keep everything moving. Smart, quick to learn, and always happy to jump in where needed, Jessica brings positive energy, common sense, and a can-do attitude to every part of the business.
Rick Prentergast Product Manager
I’ve always liked building things that make sense.
Not just products that look good in a meeting, or features that sound impressive on a roadmap, but tools people can actually use. Things that solve a problem, remove friction, and make the day a little easier for the person on the other side of the screen.
At ITZA, my role is to keep the product moving in the right direction. That means listening carefully, asking the right questions, working closely with developers, designers, operations, and business teams, and making sure good ideas don’t get lost between conversation and execution.
I like the space between technology and people. That’s where product management really lives. You take feedback, pressure, ambition, limitations, and opportunity, and you turn all of it into something clear. Something useful. Something real.
I’m practical, focused, and always looking for the cleaner path forward. The goal is simple: help ITZA build products that feel easy to use, powerful in practice, and valuable from the first moment someone interacts with them.
Raul Rodriguez Compliance Officer
Raul is responsible for supporting ITZA’s compliance framework and helping ensure that the company operates with discipline, accountability, and respect for regulatory obligations. His role includes reviewing internal processes, assisting with policy development, monitoring compliance requirements, and helping the team maintain clear standards across business operations.
With a careful and methodical approach, Raul focuses on reducing risk, improving internal controls, and ensuring that compliance is treated as a practical part of daily operations rather than an afterthought. He works closely with management and operational teams to identify potential issues early, support proper documentation, and encourage responsible decision-making throughout the business.
Raul brings a serious, structured, and detail-oriented mindset to his work. He understands that trust is built through consistency, transparency, and strong governance, and he is committed to helping ITZA grow in a way that is both commercially ambitious and responsibly managed.
Rachel Lewis Project Manager
I believe good project management starts with listening, clarity, and follow-through.
At ITZA, my role is to help bring people, priorities, and plans together so that good ideas become real outcomes. I work across teams to keep projects organized, communication clear, and progress moving in the right direction. That means understanding what needs to be done, identifying obstacles early, and making sure everyone has the information and support they need to succeed.
I have always believed that strong teams are built on trust, accountability, and shared purpose. A project is never just a timeline or a checklist. It is a group of people working toward something important, and my job is to help make that work smoother, more focused, and more effective.
I bring energy, structure, and a practical mindset to every project. I care about details, but I also care about the bigger picture: helping ITZA deliver products that are useful, reliable, and meaningful to the people and businesses who depend on them.
