Empowering people to live and work well.

In the winter of 2018, Kenny got the notion to talk Kyle Morris into founding a business with him, and here we all are. Kenny’s background in (and frustrations with) sales operations management was instrumental in spawning Fractional Operations, AKA Kicksaw’s bread and butter. An avid board gamer, Kenny lives in Toronto with his wife and young sons.

‍

So, which of Kicksaw’s four core values is your favorite, Kenny?

“That’d have to be Own It. I think this core value ultimately represents the essence of what allows Kicksaw to be so great. We care about outcomes and delivering value not only for our clients but to our colleagues and ourselves as well. There are many things out of our control, but our attitude and actions are always solely ours, and they ultimately shape our outcomes.”

‍

What is it about the Salesforce ecosystem that makes it so special?

“I really appreciate the diversity within the ecosystem. Between differing sizes of companies using the platform, the broad swath of industries utilizing it, and the scope of the AppExchange offerings, the global nature of Salesforce and the diversity in the community make it a thriving place to work in. There’s so much to learn and explore — it feels like you can never be finished!”

‍

When that dreaded after-lunch slump hits, what is your go-to snack to get the creative juices flowing again? 

“I love a fruit shake. It’s a great pick-me-up that’s healthy and tastes great — plus, it feels like a novel snack.”

‍

Kenny, we know you are teaming with life pro tips. What’s one you can share with us today?

”You know how it feels impossible to walk across the room with a full cup of hot coffee/tea without spilling some? It isn’t — just don’t look at the cup while you are walking, and you won’t spill a drop. It’s terrifying but true. I’ve tested it.”

Kyle co-founded Kicksaw, along with CEO Kenny Goldman, back in 2018. An Army Ranger Veteran with a knack for entrepreneurship, Kyle’s passion for solving problems and his instinct to go against the grain have served him (and Kicksaw) well. Kyle lives in the PNW with his wife, two daughters, and a German Shorthaired Pointer.

‍

Hey Kyle, what’s your favorite Kicksaw core value, and why? ‍

“That’s tough. Picking a favorite core value is like picking a favorite child, but I do have one that I come back to often, and that’s Be You. I really love the unique characteristics that each and every person at Kicksaw brings to work each day — I love that they feel comfortable being exactly who they are and that we, as a company, have the confidence to buck the trends and do what we think is right, rather than what’s popular.“

‍

What do you appreciate the most about the Salesforce ecosystem?

“I love how supportive the ecosystem is, whether that’s business to business or person to person. For as long as Salesforce has been around, SFDC professionals have been the quirky oddballs who often don’t quite fit in. That said, when we find our people, we get along, as my Kiwi friend says, ‘Like a house on fire.’”

‍

So, when your earbuds are in, is it music, podcasts, or both?

“If I’m working, silence is best for me. If I’m out walking my dog, it’s music. Crosby, Stills, and Nash or Rainbow Kitten Surprise are my go-to’s.”

‍

What secret-sauce-level life advice do you have for us?

‍“I had a friend once tell me, ‘Advice is what you ask for when you already know the answer, but wish you didn’t.’ Trust your gut!”

DJ Krebsbach is a senior operations executive who loves turning chaos into something that works. She helps growing teams build the systems, processes, and clarity they need to scale without losing their soul. DJ’s known for digging into the messy stuff — what’s not working, what’s unclear, what’s getting in the way—and helping teams find their rhythm again.

‍

She’s based in Pennsylvania and spends her time outside of work focused on causes close to her heart: disability inclusion and food insecurity. For DJ, it’s all connected — whether she’s helping a business run better or helping a community feel more supported, it’s about bringing people together and making things better than she found them.‍

‍

What’s your favorite core value and what does it mean to you? 

Own It! To me, it’s about honesty with heart. It’s the courage to say the hard thing — paired with the care to say it in the right way.

‍

What do you like the most about your role at Kicksaw? 

It’s the kind of place where everyone shows up for each other. We’re doing hard, meaningful work — and no one’s doing it alone.

‍

If it’s go time and you really need to focus — what helps you get dialed in?

Noise-canceling headphones, a whiteboard, and a ridiculous number of sticky notes. And water, lots of water.

‍

Okay, we have to know, what’s your most tried-and-true piece of advice about life? 

Love loudly. I think the whole point of life is connection — showing up for people, building community, and creating something bigger than yourself.

‍

Hailing from the very same neck of the PNW woods as Co-founder Kyle Morris, Tim has an extensive background in systems engineering, software development, and related fields. Never one to turn down an invitation to solve a crossword, Tim’s fearless leadership has been instrumental in developing Kicksaw’s Engineering Operations team.

‍

So, Tim, which core value do you have tattooed on your lower back?

“The Be You core value is definitely my favorite. We hire talented/accredited team members who can complete all the technical requirements, but ‘done’ is not sufficient around here. Our team members’ personalities affect the mood of the project, and this is the secret sauce. Put another way, you can complete a project but still be unsuccessful if the client didn’t enjoy the process.”

‍

What gets you excited about your role here at Kicksaw?

“I enjoy my role because I get to interact with a diverse set of internal team members and external stakeholders. Because we’re cross-functional, the Engineering team gets to meet new stakeholders and internal team members all the time. We’re constantly meeting new company personalities and quirks, and learning to adapt to all this variation is what makes the job fun!”

‍

When you need a quick mental break during a workday, what’s your move? ‍

“I like to sit in the hot tub in the middle of the day while on lunch. My WFHT (work from hot tub) regimen includes a quick dip, a shower, a bite to eat, and back to work. If you catch me mid day with my camera off, maybe I’m at my ‘floating desk.’ Who knows?”

‍

What’s the life hack you want to share with us?

‍“Boil life down to the essentials. You can get more ‘adulting’ accomplished in a shorter period of time simply by saying no to the things that are draining, asking for help from the people around you, and being present while you are doing what you’re doing.”

Emily brings a strong background in Delivery, with a career that spans a range of technologies and service models. She also has hands-on experience leading healthcare Operations, with a focus on care coordination, referral management, and provider management. She’s excited to bring that combined expertise to Kicksaw, helping clients implement solutions that drive lasting impact.

Based in Minneapolis, Emily loves to travel, host, and spend time outdoors with her family, including both her daughter and her very opinionated fur-child. Her superpower? Optimism. As she puts it, “Almost every problem is surmountable, you just have to find your way through it.”

‍

What core value resonates with you the most?

“Be You - Magic happens when we align our lives with our natural internal drive to be authentic.”

‍

What do you enjoy the most about your role at Kicksaw? ‍

“People. Employees & Clients. My primary responsibility is all people and I love that."

If you need a break from your desk to refocus, where are you headed‍

“Out for a walk around Lake Harriet - a lake in the middle of a major city, grateful I live close by, I swear a walk around the lake can solve most problems.”

‍

We know you’re sitting on an amazing life pro tip for us. Spill those beans, please.

‍“Everything will be ok in the end. If it’s not ok, it’s not the end."