About Us

We're builders who care deeply about economic development

ExecutivePulse is a team of practitioners and technologists who believe relationships and field intelligence—handled with care—create real community impact.

Since 1994
Our Origin Story

From BR&E pioneer to a team focused on impact

In the mid‑1990s, Laith Wardi was running Business Retention & Expansion programs in Northwest Pennsylvania. He created one of the early web‑based systems to capture company intelligence, coordinate partners, and follow through on next steps. That work became ExecutivePulse. Today we carry forward the same spirit—practical tools, taught and refined with economic developers in the field.

  • 1994–95: Early web‑based BR&E prototype takes shape.
  • 1996–present: Training and teaching through IEDC & OU EDI.
  • Today: Culture of craft, collaboration, and customer‑led iteration.
Colorful mural and walkway at our office
Our culture

A strong foundation in economic development

Our roots are in BR&E, so we build with the realities of your day in mind—partnerships, confidentiality, and community outcomes.

That perspective shapes how we work, how we prioritize, and how we show up for our customers.

Collaboration

We solve problems together

Everyone at ExecutivePulse contributes—customers included. We iterate quickly, test in the field, and improve based on real‑world feedback.

It's an environment where ideas move fast and ships are frequent.

Team collaborating in our conference room
Conversation during a team meeting
Craft

Human‑centered, detail‑oriented

We obsess over clarity and ease—whether it's a dashboard, a training, or a support email. The result: tools and experiences that feel simple and trustworthy.

Our aim is to remove friction so your team can focus on relationships and results.

Meet the team

The people behind ExecutivePulse

Laith Wardi, CEcD portrait
Founder
Laith Wardi, CEcD

Laith brings over two decades of specialized experience in economic development to ExecutivePulse's vision and strategic direction.

Sean Michaels portrait
President & CEO
Sean Michaels

Sean brings proven executive leadership and entrepreneurial expertise to ExecutivePulse's growth strategy.

Ryan Narpes portrait
Chief Technology Officer
Ryan Narpes

Ryan has dedicated over two decades to driving technology innovation in the economic development sector as ExecutivePulse's Chief Technology Officer.

Katie Traut portrait
Chief Financial Officer
Katie Traut

Katie brings comprehensive financial management expertise to ExecutivePulse's operational leadership.

Chuck Peters portrait
Advisor
Chuck Peters

Chuck provides strategic direction and oversight to ExecutivePulse's board, bringing extensive experience in economic development leadership and investment strategy.

Chris Camilleri portrait
Senior Database Administrator
Chris Camilleri

Chris has served as Senior Database Administrator since 2008, managing the complete technical infrastructure supporting ExecutivePulse's industry-leading CRM platform.

Brayden Hayes portrait
Senior Software Engineer
Brayden Hayes

Brayden has contributed to ExecutivePulse's technical development since 2013, focusing on feature development and maintenance across the company's core technology platforms.

Keven McQueeney portrait
Analyst and Support Lead
Keven McQueeney

Keven leads ExecutivePulse's client support operations and system analysis, ensuring optimal user experience and platform performance for economic development organizations.

Connect

Want to talk shop about BR&E and data?

We're happy to share lessons from the field and learn about your community's goals.

Start a conversation