Leadership Team
Meet the team behind the team. Our leadership is here to support and guide the incredible people at Merito, who are the real driving force behind the innovation, hard work, and outstanding results that make a true difference each and every day.
John Goodson
CEO And Founder
Having founded Merito 24 years ago on the principle of providing excellence to customers, John brings his extensive engineering and computer science background to the business. A dynamic and highly regarded technical instructor and presenter, he led Merito to become a Platinum-level Micro Focus Partner with superior customer retention. A previous instructor for Application Testing solutions, John holds his BSBA in Business and Computer Information Systems. If you have questions about Data Analytics, Application Security, or Quality Assurance – John is your go-to resource.
Chris Carpenter
Chief Operations Officer
A serial entrepreneur with a passion for operational excellence, Chris is dedicated to making processes efficient and delivering measurable results. With a degree in Business Administration and Information Systems from the University of Washington's Foster School of Business, he brings a strong foundation in strategy and leadership. Chris believes in the power of simplification and emphasizes that Merito’s competitive edge is being easy to work with while providing the ultimate customer experience. He fosters a culture where success is not just measured by outcomes but by the careers Merito helps build at its customers, making Merito a sought-after partner and employer.
Louis Tadman
Chief Technology Officer
Louis brings unparalleled expertise shaped by an early career leading transformative initiatives at Google, where he was instrumental in one of the company’s most impactful and largest global initiatives of its time. Known for his ability to scale technology solutions that drive innovation and deliver exceptional user experiences, Louis has a proven track record of success in the tech industry. A graduate of Bellevue College, he combines deep technical knowledge with visionary leadership. At Merito, Louis leads the charge in leveraging advanced technologies to empower clients, foster innovation, and position Merito at the forefront of the industry.
Tom Haakma
Vice President of Sales
With 8+ years in Cybersecurity, specializing in application security and 20+ years in IT including the Department of Justice and San Diego Unified School District, Tom is a knowledgeable and dedicated IT sales professional with a focus on building relationships and solutions. Whether it be hardware, software or professional services, if the solution fits the problem, Tom wants to sell it. Having helped over 250 customers implement and deploy successful security practices and platforms, Tom’s expertise is unparalleled. A former HP Fortify employee, and an active member of OWASP, ISSA and ISACA, Tom holds a BS in Computer Information Systems from San Diego State University.
Andrew Carpenter
Director of Professional Services
Andrew brings over a decade of consulting experience, combining technical depth and leadership to deliver high-impact solutions in enterprise settings. He leads the Professional Services team overseeing delivery operations, consultant development, and quality assurance across vendor-agnostic tools. Known for empowering teams by driving knowledge transfer, and scaling repeatable delivery frameworks, Andrew is committed to making Merito both an outstanding partner and a destination for talent.