ABOUT

Team

REVOLUTIONIZING CONTROLS, ONE TURBINE AT A TIME

OUR TEAM

At the core of our engineering services is a team of passionate problem-solvers, industry veterans, and forward-thinking specialists. With decades of combined controls experience, our team brings technical excellence, creative thinking, and a commitment to quality to every project. We work collaboratively with our clients to deliver reliable and real-time solutions for our clients.

CEO and Co-Founder

Max Erwin is a seasoned engineer with a knack for automation and control systems, particularly specializing in the Mark VIe control system and OT networks within power plants. Graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia in 2008, he later added a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from the same institution in 2013.

With over a decade spent at GE, Max worked on automation projects worldwide, working on everything from Gas Turbines to HRSGs. Since 2018, he’s been the CEO and Co-Founder at SISO Engineering, blending his technical chops with a hands-on approach. Beyond the office, Max is all about rugby – it’s been a passion since college and still keeps him on his toes.

CTO and Co-Founder

Kellan McCarthy is a dynamic force in engineering, serving as CTO and Co-Founder at SISO since January 2018. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s from North Carolina State University, Kellan’s expertise lies in controls, analytics, and gas turbines. At SISO, he pioneers automation and analytics to elevate customer experiences, leading the engineering team and managing product development for Snapshot and SmartWash services.

With over 18 years in the power generation industry, Kellan’s career highlights include roles as an aeroderivative gas turbine controls tech lead and graduate of the Edison Engineering Development Program. Off-duty, Kellan indulges his passion for racing and flight simulation, crafting homemade simulators to feed his adrenaline fix.

Senior Controls Engineer

Daniel Carpenter plays a vital role at SISO as a Senior Controls Engineer, bringing his expertise to bear on two crucial fronts: controls engineering and software engineering. Within controls engineering, Daniel focuses on optimizing the performance of Mark VIe systems and HMI software, ensuring seamless operation and reliability for clients. Additionally, his proficiency extends to software engineering, where he designs and implements custom IoT data collection systems tailored to meet the unique needs of SISO’s projects. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for problem-solving, Daniel’s contributions are integral to SISO’s success in delivering cutting-edge solutions to its clientele. Prior to his tenure at SISO, Daniel amassed experience in controls engineering for various applications, including 7F-class gas turbines, offshore blow-out preventer control systems, and landdrilling rig control systems. Outside of the office, Daniel finds solace in the art of Bonsai, actively participating in the Houston Bonsai Society and nurturing over 50 trees.

Vice President of Finance

Meghan Wittorf joined SISO in 2025 as Vice President of Finance, bringing extensive experience in financial planning, cost accounting, and corporate accounting across the energy and technology sectors. At SISO, she manages financial efficiencies, optimizes internal controls, and supports the company’s strategic growth initiatives.

Before joining SISO, she served as Corporate Controller at Luminare, Inc., leading financial operations and supporting key growth initiatives. She also held senior finance and accounting roles at Data Gumbo Corporation and Murphy Oil Corporation. Meghan earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from St. Edward’s University, graduating Cum Laude.

Outside of work, Meghan enjoys starting her days with early morning runs or strength training and loves traveling to tropical destinations.

Vice President of Product

John Hicks joined SISO Engineering in March 2025 as Vice President of Product. John’s has a diversified background in industrial control systems and heavy machinery automation within the energy sector. At SISO, John focuses on product management and software development. He is actively involved in advancing the tools and services that support real-time operations and data-driven performance improvement. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MBA from Arizona State University. Prior to joining SISO, he led product management initiatives in the oil and gas industry, with a focus on digitizing upstream procurement supply chains. Outside of work, John enjoys competing in local and state amateur golf tournaments.

John hicks
Controls Support Engineer

Jr. Rodriguez is a key resource to SISO Engineering as a Controls Support Engineer for SnapShot. He provides technical expertise to support customers with automation and gas turbine related issues. Committed to customer satisfaction and operational excellence, Jr. works closely with customers to resolve complex automation challenges and ensure smooth, efficient performance. Jr. has a diversified background in supporting critical infrastructure projects and hands-on experience with advanced control systems. Jr. joined SISO Engineer after a successful tenure at Arizona Public Service as a Technical Advisor where he trained employees on GE units and MarkVIe control system. Jr. has in-depth control experience with LMS100 and LM6000 engines, equipping him with a strong foundation in troubleshooting and optimizing gas turbine operations.

Outside of work, Jr. is a competitive body builder, enjoys working on cars and spending quality time with family and friends. His passion for technology and problem-solving push him to continually think outside the box, and expand his skill set to contribute to the success of his colleagues and customers.

Field Technical Advisor

Jose Rodriguez is a seasoned veteran in the industrial automation field, bringing his expertise to SISO since January 2024, as a Field Technical Advisor. Graduating from the Arizona Institute of Business and Technology, Jose’s journey has been marked by 29 years of invaluable experience. Based in Phoenix, Jose oversees the southwest region and manages the fabrication of Matrix boxes. With a versatile skill set encompassing field service, troubleshooting and customer support, Jose supports our customers from the job site setup to customer training. His extensive background includes working on a wide array of gas turbine projects, making him one of the few experts able to cover all of GE’s aero-derivative engines. Jose has diversified expertise in controls systems, electrical systems, and mechanical work on gas turbine engines.

Prior to joining SISO, Jose served as a Technical Advisor for Arizona Public Service, where he trained over 40 employees on GE aero-derivative units, providing comprehensive support and guidance. Outside of work, Jose enjoys basketball, off-roading, and camping, as well as indulging his creative side through laser engraving and assisting his wife with her home crafts.

Senior IoT Solutions Architect

Javier Humani brings a wealth of expertise to SISO since joining in May of 2023, in the role of IoT Data Engineer. Holding a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas in Austin, and an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Javier’s academic journey is marked by excellence. With a penchant for designing cloud-based data architectures, managing data lakes, and leveraging languages like SQL, Python, and R, Javier excels in transforming data for business analysis and machine learning solutions, all while adhering to agile practices for Data Ops and Dev Ops. At SISO, Javier’s expertise shines through in managing IoT devices nationwide, streamlining Gas Turbine data streams via Azure, and spearheading the development of analytics solutions using tools like PowerBI and Grafana. His research and development on historical data promises future breakthroughs in classification and regression modeling. Prior to SISO, Javier spent nine years at Schlumberger, culminating in a role as a Data Scientist for their OneSubsea Segment. Outside the data world, Javier’s passion lies in salsa dancing, a hobby he’s embraced for over a decade, even collaborating with his wife on partner work routines.

Controls System Engineer

Andy James began his journey at SISO as a Summer Intern in June 2022, swiftly transitioning into the role of Controls System Engineer. With a focus on HMI software and Gas Turbine control logic, Andy has been instrumental in developing and implementing SISO’s cybersecurity policies. Outside of work, Andy is a passionate 3D printing enthusiast.

Senior Software Engineer

Courtney Koko joined SISO in September 2024 as a Senior Software Engineer, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in software design and cloud computing solutions. A graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Courtney is passionate about developing secure, efficient, and scalable applications.

His expertise lies in optimizing software performance, ensuring robust security measures, and leveraging cloud platforms to deliver seamless scalability tailored to modern business demands.

Before joining SISO, Courtney honed his skills as a Software Engineer in the insurance industry, where he gained valuable experience building systems to address complex business challenges.

Outside of the office, Courtney enjoys modifying and racing vehicles—a hobby that fuels his love of precision and performance both on and off the track.

Marketing Manager

Kate Sias joined SISO in 2025 as the Marketing Manager, with a background focused on marketing, business development and sales within the energy industry. At SISO, Kate develops and executes marketing strategies which drive brand visibility, sales enablement and lead generation within the controls and automation sector. She manages digital campaigns, creates targeted sales and promotional materials, and coordinates industry events to position the company as a leader in controls analytics. Kate works closely with leadership, engineering and development teams to translate technical capabilities into compelling, value-focused messaging to ensure all marketing efforts align with SISO’s strategic growth initiatives. Prior to joining SISO, Kate worked in business development at two of Houston’s leading law firms where she drove client development and cross-selling strategies.

Kate earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations from The University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work, Kate enjoys playing pickleball and arranging flowers for special occasions.