The Social-Engineer Team

Shelby Dacko is a Human Risk Analyst at Social-Engineer, LLC. During her career as a professional visher and open-source intelligence (OSINT) investigator she has conducted over 20,000 vishing calls. As a Certified Ethical Social Engineer, Shelby is involved with various social engineering engagements and is a sought after speaker at Infosec conferences.

In addition to her work at Social-Engineer, Shelby also volunteers for the Innocent Lives Foundation. The Innocent Lives Foundation is a nonprofit organization that unmasks anonymous online child predators to help bring them to justice.

Shelby Dacko is a certified Social Engineering Pentest Professional (SEPP), has her bachelor’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and is a trained American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter.

Shelby defines social engineering as the act of using what you know about human behaviors to bring about your desired outcome.

“Social engineering can be beneficial when used to better understand and communicate with those around you.” — Shelby Dacko

With a background in esthetics and makeup artistry, Amaya has spent years honing the ability to build trust and connect with people quickly—skills that translate seamlessly into her role on the Social-Engineer social media team. Whether working on social media content, podcasts, or other marketing efforts, she brings her creativity whenever she can.  Amaya has a very accomplished career so far, publishing a children’s book at the age of 16, as well as working on a few independent films as the head makeup artist.

Amaya is passionate about exploring the psychology behind human interactions, both in the beauty industry and the world of social engineering.

Areesa Hadnagy is a sales assistant with Social-Engineer, LLC. In addition, she is our Events Coordinator and plays a supporting role in our Social Media Department. Areesa’s background is in volunteer work, education, administration for a technology school, phone sales and personalized education while working with both the government and public sector.

Areesa loves helping people and takes an active interest in those around her. She is a passionate ambassador for The Innocent Lives Foundation. She is positive, happy and caring with a focus on leaving people always feeling better for having met her.

“Being in a family of social engineers I have learned the power that using communication can have to unite and solve problems and make people feel better.” – Areesa Hadnagy

Chris Hadnagy is the Founder and CEO of Social-Engineer, LLC. During Chris’ 19 years in information security, he created the world’s first social engineering framework and newsletter. He has also hosted the first social engineering-based podcast. Chris is the Founder, Executive Director, and Board Member, for the Innocent Lives Foundation, a nonprofit organization that identifies anonymous child predators and helps bring them to justice.

Having written five books on social engineering, Chris is also a well-known author. His most recent book, “Human Hacking: Win Friends, Influence People and Leave Them Better Off for Having Met You,” was released January 5, 2021.

Chris leads the way in educating people about social engineering. He created the world’s first Social Engineering Capture the Flag (SECTF) to raise awareness of this serious threat. Chris is also an Adjunct Professor of Social Engineering for the University of Arizona’s NSA designated Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO). And he also lectures and teaches about social engineering around the globe. Moreover, he was invited to speak at the Pentagon and other high-security facilities.

Chris works with some of the world’s leaders in scientific research for the purpose of acquiring a deeper understanding of social engineering. Notably, Chris authored a book with Dr. Paul Ekman regarding the use of nonverbal communication by social engineers.

Chris is certified as an Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), as well as an Offensive Security Wireless Professional (OSWP). He is also the creator of the Social Engineering Pentest Professional (SEPP), Certified Ethical Social Engineer (CESE), and Master’s Level Social Engineering (MLSE), certifications.

“Understanding the ways humans make decisions is integral in everything we do from maintaining security to communicating with the people in your life. Social engineering skills, when used properly, can make your life so much better.” – Chris Hadnagy

Chris’ published books include:

• Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking
• Unmasking the Social Engineer: The Human Element of Security
• Phishing Dark Waters: The Offensive and Defensive Sides of Malicious E-mails
• Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking 2nd Edition
• Human Hacking: Win Friends, Influence People, and Leave Them Better Off for Having Met You

Jowan Joseph is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in account management,  business development, and financial and technical sales. Throughout his career, Jowan has demonstrated  a remarkable ability to foster client relationships, drive revenue growth, and create strategic solutions that  meet diverse business needs. 

With a strong background in navigating complex sales environments, Jowan has consistently achieved  outstanding results by leveraging his deep understanding of market dynamics and customer  requirements. His expertise in aligning business strategies with client objectives has made him a trusted  advisor in various industries. 

Jowan is now excited to bring his extensive knowledge and skills to Social-Engineer LLC, where he aims to  contribute to innovative solutions and drive the company’s mission forward. His commitment to  excellence and passion for building lasting partnerships positions him as a valuable asset to the team and  its clients.

Faith Kent brings a unique blend of life experience, education, and curiosity to her role as a Human Risk Analyst. After a decade as a stay-at-home mom, Faith returned to school and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Cyber Operations and an undergraduate certificate in Information Warfare from the University of Arizona IC-CAE. From there Faith transitioned into the cybersecurity field, and into the field of Social Engineering.

Her diverse career path includes everything from working at an archaeological dig site and serving as an inclusion leader at summer camps to holding roles in healthcare, cybersecurity education, and even commercial pyrotechnics. Faith’s wide-ranging background gives her a creative and empathetic approach to understanding human behavior and risk.

Outside of work, Faith enjoys spending time with her spouse, kids, and a lively assortment of pets. An avid reader and lifelong learner, she’s always on the hunt for her next challenge—whether it’s mastering a new skill or diving into a fascinating book.

Jason is responsible for sales growth and strategic planning, by providing his years of enterprise technology sales experience and leadership. He has served as a trusted resource and consultant to corporate IT & security teams since 2004, and believes strongly in customer relationships.

“Our clients seek us out for our expertise and trust us with their critical information. I take that responsibility very seriously.” — Jason Kozak

Amanda Marchuck has been a part of Social-Engineer, LLC since its beginning. As a matter of fact, she was the very first employee the company hired. Over the years she has been with the company she has done everything from administrative duties to social media management. She is now the online content manager, managing and writing the content published by Social-Engineer. She also has managed the SEVillage events at Defcon throughout the years.

Through all of that she has excelled at contributing high quality content to both the social media and web-based platforms for both Social-Engineer.com and Social-Engineer.org. Her detailed orientated and hardworking nature has helped her contribute to the company’s ongoing success. When she is not at work, you can find her chilling with her family, saving cats who get trapped under boats.

“For myself, in my personal life, applying social engineering to personal relationships helps me to realize the thought process of people.” — Amanda Marchuck

Bringing a unique level of experience and scientific validation to her work, Dr. Abbie Maroño is both a scientist and a practitioner in the field of human behavior. The United States Department of State has recognized her international acclaim and record of extraordinary achievements, placing her in the top 1% of her field.

Underscoring her recognized expertise, Dr. Abbie has been invited to provide specialized behavior analysis training for elite units such as the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. This prestigious group includes agents from the US Secret Service, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and local law enforcement agencies.

Having completed her PhD in Psychology, Dr. Abbie became a Professor of Psychology by the age of 23. She is now the Director of Education at Social-Engineer, LLC, and specializes in behavior analysis. A regular contributor to Forbes and Apple News, Abbie has also been featured in WIRED and Forbes Breaking News.

She is an active member of several internationally recognized research groups and was awarded Reviewer of the Year in 2020 for her significant contribution to the academic community. Additionally, she is an author, expert consultant, coach, and a TEDx speaker.

Kazuyuki Nishi is the Chief Administrative Officer of Social Engineer, LLC. He joined the Social-Engineer, LLC Team in 2015. With 13+ years of experience as a senior engineer for a global company, Kazuyuki brings strong technical, organizational, and problem-solving skills from outside the security space.

“Social engineering, very broadly, is the act of influencing others. It has been a fascination of mine for awhile. Though I am an engineer at heart, I find the skills needed in this field valuable. Not just for security education, but also for developing meaningful relationships that last a lifetime.” — Kazuyuki Nishi

Kazuyuki Nishi has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology. He also has an Associates in Engineering Technology in Telecommunications Technology from the Pennsylvania State University. Additionally, Kazuyuki is a graduate of the Advanced Practical Social Engineering class.

Josten Peña is a Human Risk Analyst with Social-Engineer, LLC. As a professional visher, Josten uses the same social engineering tactics as an attacker would. By doing so, he trains clients to become better equipped should a real attack arise. His work as a professional visher, providing assistance through education, enables Josten to help other people; something that he enjoys doing.

Josten holds experience in many different occupations. His experience includes working as a Collections Agent, Door to Door Salesman, and even in the Hospitality Industry. Though these occupations are very different, one commonality Josten honed in on is how to effectively connect with people and build rapport. Valuable skills which he uses in his current job.

In his off time, Josten enjoys exploring small towns with his wife, collecting magazines and listening to movie soundtracks. He enjoys science fiction movies and is also a big fan of the Reality Competition Show “Survivor,” which he one day hopes to compete on.

“Social Engineering is a powerful tool that in reality, anyone is able to master. However, how you use that tool is what matters the most. Those that may try to use social engineering with malicious intent will do so ruthlessly. Which is why it is our job to use it for the greater good in helping others to protect themselves and finding vulnerabilities that someone with ill intent may try to exploit.” – Josten Peña

Rosa Rowles is a Human Risk Analyst for Social-Engineer, LLC. Originally from Spain, Rosa relocated to the U.S in 2000. After working in hospitality for over 20 years, Rosa is excited to start a new career in the field of social engineering. She is also eager to see what her new career holds as she works alongside the best in the field of social engineering. Additionally, psychology and human behavior fascinate Rosa, and she also looks forward to expanding her knowledge in these fields.

Jeff serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Social-Engineer, LLC. He joined the team in 2024 and is responsible for budgeting, accounting, payroll, tax, and financial compliance for the organization. He is a licensed CPA with 15 years of experience in public accounting. He has also worked for various private companies with extensive experience in the fields of manufacturing, aviation, and construction.

Jeff is busy with numerous outside interests, including his volunteer work with the Innocent Lives Foundation. He cares for all the financial reporting and compliance work for the organization.

“When I was recruited to come work for the company, I was excited by the opportunity to use my skill and experience to support this group of ultra talented individuals. Their enthusiasm, experience and professionalism contribute to an incredible work environment. It is a privilege to have a part in providing our clients with exceptional service.”  – Jeff Stringham

Carter Zupancich is a Human Risk Analyst at Social-Engineer, LLC. With over 6,000 vishing calls completed, Carter conducts social engineering assessments designed to help enterprise and government clients identify security vulnerabilities and improve employee readiness against evolving human-based threats.

Carter also volunteers with the Innocent Lives Foundation (ILF), helping unmask online child predators and support law enforcement.