Meet Our Team

Michael Stearns

I am Michael Stearns - the co-owner, jack-of-all-trades, and head cheerleader at MightyMerchant. My main areas of responsibility include System Architecture, Technical Administration, Customer Support, and doing anything and everything it takes to keep our customers' websites ticking along.

Since Al Gore has already laid claim to founding the Internet, I can't take the credit for that one, but I have been a die-hard Internet user since the early days. Prior to founding MightyMerchant, I worked as an Internet Technical Writer at the University of Oregon and went on to be the lead designer and maintainer of the University's central website. My initial focus of doing visual design and writing content has evolved into a much more technical one. My primary interest, as far as computing goes, is how people can use computers to improve the quality of communication.

For the past half dozen years my life has been focused on our Internet business, my wife and 3 kids, and our 17 acre mini-farm in Oregon. Sometimes this is a hard act to balance. But I am never at a loss for something fun and interesting to do.

While the Internet has been a very fast rags-to-riches-to-rags story for many participants in the dot-com craze, Datahost has taken a slow and steady approach to building our business. We like to think of ourselves as the Heinz Ketchup of Internet companies. We invite you to give us a try!

Staci Schipporeit

I'm Staci and I am the lead programmer for and co-owner of MightyMerchant. My background in computers goes way back. While other girls were reading "Seventeen", I was subscribing to puzzle and science magazines. Later, when one of the first personal computers came out, the Radio Shack TRS-80, I got one and I began to learn how to program. I got a degree in Computer Information Science in 1987 from the University of Oregon and have been developing custom database applications ever since. It might sound kind of dry, but it's actually a lot of fun - just like those puzzle magazines.

In my spare time, I do stuff with my three children and pretend to be a farmer. We have a milk cow, chickens, goats and a big garden. I really enjoy working outdoors and producing and eating good food.

Jeanie Dunn

I came to work for MightyMerchant in February of 2003. After twenty years in the catering and food service industry, I decided to take a summer off and think about what else I might try my hand at. My first requirement: no hairnet!

Well, I must say that it's a good thing that I love a challenge, because this world of internet and ecommerce is very complex and interesting! I have a great time getting to know our customers, and helping them to create the website of their dreams.

For fun I like to hang out with my husband and 2 kids and pets (3 dogs, 4 cats, 2 goats) at our country home. I enjoy the outdoors, traveling, reading, and watching sports - especially when my son is playing.

Kathy Smith

After a previous life as an RN, I graduated in 1997 from the University of Oregon with a degree in English and a certificate in Electronic Publishing. Since that time, I have worked as a graphic and web designer.

I have been a web designer with MightyMerchant since Feb 2003 and think I have the best job around. I enjoy creating websites that look good and function well, and MightyMerchant's software features make that easy.

In my free time I like to read, watch movies, hang out in the backyard with my neurotic cat, and spend time with my husband and two (thankfully grown) children. And I'm always up for a good game of Yahtzee.

Carrie Todd-Michelson

I joined the MightyMerchant team in Oct 05. My duties will be answering phones, customer relations, bookeeping, and provide office assistance to the team.

My experience includes variety, human resources, customer service, medical billing, retail sales, and floral.

When I am not juggling a busy schedule, taxiing children, caring for 3 cats, our guppies, and 2 goldfish, I enjoy decorating our new home on the hill, selling kids clothes on ebay and growing lots of pretty colorful dahlias.

As a family my husband, 3 children, 2 granboys love to go camping, fishing and trips to the beach.

Kathleen Boynton

After living in Central Oregon for nearly 30 years, I decided to put the cold snowy winters behind me and move to the beautiful McKenzie River Valley. Four generations of my family have lived on the McKenzie River and it was always something I dreamed of doing myself.

How did I get into doing web design? I had went to school to be a Recording Engineer as music is a major passion in my life. But, somehow life had me zigging and zagging into other fields. I spent 7 years working in cable television advertising on the technical side of things. Then the Internet came along and changed the world ;) Being of a curious nature, I wondered if I could figure out how people were making these new things called “web pages”. I started playing around at home making a little music website for my favorite band "Journey" (hold your lighters up now - LOL). Soon, word got out around work that I could build web pages and before I knew it, I was a web designer for the cable company. Now, eight years later, here I am at MightyMerchant.

Some of my favorite things to do are to go to concerts, do genealogy research, read books, bake, golf (not very well) and work in my garden.

Vanessa Salvia

In 2006, I earned a degree in chemistry from the University of Oregon with the goal of working as an educator. I’m still educating, just not in front of a middle school science classroom as I originally imagined! As MightyMerchants’ Internet marketing specialist, my goal is to help you reach your business goals…through the best search engine optimization and online marketing practices, tools, and knowledge available.

When not focused on the marketing world, I'm spending time with my family, camping, hiking, or buying music for my already too large CD and record collection. I am also a magazine editor and freelance writer. I love watching movies and reading whenever I can, which isn't easy with two young kids, but I try!

Jesse Wakeley

Originally hailing from the mountainous wonderland of North Idaho, I made the migration to beautiful Eugene, Oregon in 2002. I graduated from the University of Oregon in June 2007, majoring in Computer & Information Science and minoring in Business Administration and Music. My technological interests lie in the economic and social potential of the Information Age, primarily via the Internet, which I feel has just begun to be realized. My position as a Web Developer allows me to further my understanding of where this exciting future may take us, while also helping clients discover possibilities as well!

When not making all of your e-commerce dreams come true, I enjoy the marvelous outdoors (Rain or shine, but mostly rain), spend way too much time reading numerous articles online, work on building a home studio, or play music, be it guitar, piano, electronic doodling, or DJing for fun (I spin traditional vinyl and CDs! I'm old AND new school! Does that make me Middle School?). Aside from this technology stuff, music is my passion. When I grow up I still want to be a rock star.

Judy Stickney

After earning my degree from the University of New Hampshire, (Go Patriots!) I traveled west and discovered my background was a great fit for a career in sales and marketing. Probably because my father was a career military man and traveling, change and new friendships became a normal childhood routine. Consequently, I enjoy meeting new people, discovering new places and experiencing different cultures. Although I enjoy traveling, I do believe there is no better place for natural beauty, diverse culture and innovative thinking than the Pacific Northwest. Known for being home to many of today's leading Internet companies such as Amazon and Microsoft, the Pacific Northwest naturally attracts some of the nation's brightest minds and foremost developers of Internet technology.

I'm excited to have the opportunity to work with a new bright star...MightyMerchant. Not only are they offering small businesses some of the best shopping cart services available, MightyMerchant's forward-thinking leaders are dedicated to bringing you creative, simplified and solid solutions for online marketing and hosting services.

When I'm not on the computer, I enjoy spending time with my family, my doggie Zephyr, gourmet cooking, gardening, camping and traveling.

Ahren Baesler

My name is Ahren Baesler, and I just joined the MightyMerchant team in 6/06. At MightyMerchant, I will be assisting in the design/creation aspect of the clients' webpages, and creating tutorials for MightyMerchant in Camtasia and Flash.

I enjoy doing computer work, web page design, playing High-School basketball, movies, reading, guitar, and just being around my friends. I have one dog, one younger brother, and two parents (obviously!).

Next year, I will begin my Senior year at Pleasant Hill High School. My classes are going to be School Newspaper, AP History, AP Biology, and Advanced American Lit. I try to aim high in everything I do, and when working at MightyMerchant, it is no different.

Charlie Offenbacher

I'm Charlie Offenbacher and I am an intern here at MightyMerchant. I joined the company in the summer of '06, and really enjoy working here. I'll be a
Senior at Pleasant Hill High School next year.

I really enjoy photography, playing piano, juggling, tennis, and chess as past-times. Riding my bike to MightyMerchant every day is always awesome! Of
course, riding to MightyMerchant is much more fun than riding home...it's all up-hill on the return journey.

Ahren Baesler and I will be working to design tutorials for the company, as well as helping on other tasks whenever we can help out.

Teija Stearns

I'm Teija and I'll be working at MightyMerchant this summer answering phones, bookkeeping, and whatever else my parents or the employees tell me to do. I've observed the growth of this business since an early age (when it was only Mom and Dad working out of the basement in our house!). I am excited to now be a part of it. I will be a sophomore at Pleasant Hill High School this fall (2007) where I am involved in a variety of activities from art to sports. I like to read, play several musical instruments, swim, act, do art projects, tennis, soccer, and spend time with friends (ok, and family.)