Our team
The people you'll be working with.
We're a tight-knit crew of designers, developers, and human-service nerds committed to building technology that works for people, not the other way around.
Meet the leadership team
Four people, one promise: accountable to the people we serve.
Herb Ma
Chief Empowerment Officer (Founder and CEO)
Founder · Vision and partnerships
With more than 16 years of experience in Alberta human services and affordable housing, Herb founded Ppulus to give the people who run these programs tools as thoughtful as the work they do. Herb sets our direction, stays close to every partner, and keeps all of us focused on what matters most: bettering social outcomes for the citizens and families those programs exist to serve.
Kirk Autio
Head Architect
Digital and solution architecture
Kirk is the architect behind the Ppulus platform, turning messy, real-world program rules into systems that are secure, scalable, and pleasant to use. He also sets the bar for code quality, making sure everything behind the scenes, from architecture to testing to deployment, is as polished as what our users see. Show Kirk a hard problem and it will be taken apart by lunch.
Geoff Kliza
Head of AI & Security
AI, innovation, infrastructure, and security
Geoff leads our AI work, keeps the infrastructure underneath it all humming, and runs our security practice, so the sensitive data our partners trust us with stays locked down. He also shapes solution architecture alongside Kirk, scouting where the platform goes next and making sure new technology earns its place by actually saving our users time.
Mony Khiev
Head of Client Experience
Business analysis, help desk, client engagement, QA
Mony keeps Ppulus running smoothly. He leads our business analysis and help desk, writes the kind of crystal-clear user stories developers dream about, works side by side with clients, tests every release before it ships, and still finds time to pitch in on the code. If something touches a client, chances are Mony has already had a hand in it.
What guides us
Values that show up in how we work.
Our values guide how we build, support, and collaborate, fostering ethical decisions, alignment, and a culture of empathy and impact.
Adventurous and creative
We take risks to build better solutions. Our team constantly explores new ideas and technologies to improve how social programs are delivered.
Honest relationships
Trust is at the core of how we work. We value transparency with clients, communities, and each other, because real impact starts with real connection.
Good enough isn't good enough
We don't do "just okay". If it's not something we're proud of, it's not leaving our hands.
People before processes
Clients and users aren't tickets or transactions. They're real people, and we treat them with kindness, patience, and respect.
Keep it clear, keep it real
No jargon, no fluff. Just honest, straightforward communication so no one's left guessing.
Design and culture
Design is a collective responsibility.
At Ppulus, everyone has the potential for valuable design contributions. Our design culture thrives on principles that prioritize creativity, transparency, and inclusive spaces. By involving the entire team, our design principles reflect our shared values. We hold ourselves to a high standard of aesthetic excellence and stellar UX, ensuring that everything we produce meets our criteria for meticulous craftsmanship.
Ready to make affordable housing better?
See what modern housing and program delivery looks like, or just talk to us. Either way, you'll hear from a real person.