Staff
President
Mark Evans is the general manager and president of Better Direct. Since the start he has been hands on and highly interactive with customers and their orders. He is a two tour combat veteran. His first was Desert Storm in 1990 and his next was Afghanistan in 2009. Mark’s IT background is ten years with IBM Direct. He moved to Arizona to study history at ASU while serving with the Arizona National Guard and taking a summer job sailing the Panama Canal route on a merchant tugboat.
480-921-3858 ext:650
Diana Zhong
CFO
Diana Zhong joined Better Direct in 2018. As CFO, she works directly with Better Direct’s owner, Mark Evans. In this position, she handles all personnel, accounts receivable, payables, and day to day operations. Diana leverages her excellent teamwork and leadership skills to ensure that objective is completed on the time for delivery to our client. Additionally, she holds daily and weekly employee meetings to give information and take feedback for future improvement. Diana holds a Master of Science in finance from Arizona State University. She is a SAS Certified Base Programmer for SAS 9 and SAS Certified Advanced Programmer for SAS 9. Outside of work, she loves being a new mother and enjoys hitting new milestones every day.
Chase Cai
Operation & Financial Analyst Manager
Chase Cai serves as the Purchasing Manager at Better Direct. Prior to her time with the purchasing department, she served as a Data Administrator responsible for the data analysis and administration of GSA and SEWP V contracts. With the current role, Chase is responsible for overall purchasing activities, vendor negotiation, quality assurance, providing guidance in procedural decisions, and numerous other managerial responsibilities. She specializes in implementing cost-effective procurements, maintaining effective relationships with vendors, and regularly attending training sessions to learn new market trends. Chase has gained solid knowledge of the governmental rules of procurement to fulfill flexible purchasing needs. She is skilled in organizational management, logistics, and efficiency planning. Chase is a detail-oriented team player and a strong believer in the power of positivity. She is an amateur foodie who loves to admire different cultures by being adventurous and traveling to see the world. Going on road trips and exploring new experiences with friends are her fresh doses of needed oxygen in the leisure time.
Kim Lambert
Sales Manager
Kim’s journey at Better Direct began in 2020 when she joined the sales team. Her initial focus was on federal contracts, where she quickly grasped the intricacies of government procurement. Building strong relationships with customers, she became adept at navigating the technical aspects of hardware solutions. Within just 8 months, Kim’s exceptional performance led to her promotion as Sales Manager.
Kim’s passion lies in problem-solving. She enjoys engaging with customers, addressing their concerns, and ensuring seamless experiences. Her ability to prioritize tasks and adapt to changes in the tech landscape makes her an invaluable asset to Better Direct.
Her hunger for knowledge keeps her engaged in webinars and in-person training sessions. The ever-evolving tech industry doesn’t faze her; instead, she thrives on staying ahead of the curve. Recently, Kim earned an Expert Badge for HP supplies at the annual HP Partner Summit, showcasing her commitment to excellence. Kim is actively exploring how AI can enhance the experience for her government customers. She’s immersing herself in various facets of AI through ongoing training.
In her current role as a Sales Manager, Kim wears multiple hats. She not only drives sales for her team but also imparts her knowledge to help them succeed on contracts. She is also the Deputy Program Manager for the SEWP V contract helping her sales team boost sales and get their products on contract. Kim’s expertise ranges from technical hardware builds to 3rd party hardware maintenance, where she assists customers with end-of-service-life hardware needs.
Kato Wong
Sales Manager
Since joining Better Direct in 2018 after obtaining a master’s degree in MS Finance from Arizona State University, Kato has been a valuable asset. His knowledge and experience have enabled him to lead a sales team and manage contracts effectively. As the federal sales manager and ADMC-3 administrator, his responsibilities include ensuring the team’s success by maximizing gross profit and order revenue.
Beyond his role as a sales manager, Kato is an expert in Cisco and HP products. He possesses extensive knowledge of their offerings and can assist customers in finding the right solutions or troubleshooting issues.
As an ADMC-3 administrator, Kato’s primary task is to identify the best products that align with customers’ needs. During every consolidated purchase, he meticulously compares and contrasts specifications to determine the most valuable options that meet customer satisfaction. His dedication ensures that Better Direct consistently delivers high-quality solutions to its clients.
Thien Phung
GSA & 2GIT Contract Manager
Since joining Better Direct in 2022, Thien has been an integral part of our team as a GSA Administrator. His dedication shines through as he meticulously reviews and maintains the product list, always on the lookout for new additions to enhance the GSA Schedule. Thien’s commitment extends beyond his core responsibilities—he readily assists the GSA & 2GIT Contract Manager with side projects, demonstrating his eagerness to contribute.
Thien’s passion lies in numbers and information. Whether crunching data or working with spreadsheets, he finds joy in the details. His journey took an exciting turn after a year and a half when he stepped into the role of GSA & 2GIT Contract Manager. With this promotion came increased involvement in various projects, showcasing his exceptional multitasking skills and ability to prioritize effectively.
As the GSA & 2GIT Contract Manager, Thien’s responsibilities have evolved significantly. Beyond maintaining the current schedule and expanding product offerings, he ensures strict compliance with federal regulations and policies. Thien also handles schedule modifications, conducts cost analyses, evaluates prices, and prepares detailed reports. His expertise extends to training new hires, sharing best practices, and fostering a collaborative environment. Thien’s story exemplifies growth, dedication, and a genuine passion for making a difference.
480-921-3858 etx:651
Sean Thomason
GSA & 2GIT Program Manager
Sean Thomason is Better Direct’s GSA & 2GIT Program Manager. Intending to expand our company’s penetration in the IT VAR market, Sean researches, initiates, and facilitates partner relationships with OEMs across the technological spectrum to aid Better Direct in satisfying the growing needs of our federal customers.
Driven by altruism, efficiency, and joy, Sean works to enable others to operate at their peak and reach the goals they’ve set for themselves. Outside of work, Sean is a BBBS Big Brother, D&D game master, or regular cookout attendee. If there’s something to be organized, money to be made, and fun to be had, you won’t find him far behind. If you’d like to join in the fun, feel free to contact him at: Sean.Thomason@BetterDirect.com or (480) 921-3858×671.
sean.thomason@betterdirect.com
480-921-3858 ext:671
Angelica Gutierrez
SEWP Program Manager
As SEWP Program Manager, Angelica supports sales and improves operational processes at Better Direct. She applies her love of coding and relationship-building as she works with the management team to learn about the needs of her colleagues, and to create technological solutions to their problems leading to a more profitable, efficient, and balanced workplace. She also applies her data analytics skills to streamline SEWP contract processes at Better Direct. Angelica lives by the motto that the solution to any problem is often within reach, all you need to do is look at the problem from a different angle. Her top accomplishments are becoming the first woman engineer in her family, and having a diverse career from electronics, to healthcare, to information technology. Outside of work, Angelica is an art, music, and history enthusiast. She likes to travel to explore new cultures and visit museums and concerts with her family and friends.
angelica.gutierrez@betterdirect.com
480-921-3858 ext:667
Rashawn Hugg
Contract Acquisition Manager
Rashawn Hugg is in a Program Manager role at Better Direct, acquiring and managing contract services from solicitation to the end-of-program life cycle. He currently facilitates partner relationships with other contract and program managers in the federal space to create new opportunities for Better Direct to directly prime new and follow-on opportunities. Rashawn loves relationship building and cultivating a positive atmosphere in the workforce environment. Also contributing to the success of the organization. He is a former collegiate Track and Field All-American in the 4×100 and 4×400 meter dash. Also a Certified Scrum Product Owner and Scrum Master. Lastly, Rashawn has managed Prime Contracts and employees in the Intelligence Community Space for nearly ten years in sub and prime capacity. He loves going to the gym or a sporting event.
480-921-3858 ext:676
Jacob Hernandez
Sales Lead
Jacob Hernandez is a Sales Lead, specializing on the GSA, 2GIT and SEWP Contracts. His duties consists establishing relationships with customers by researching and quoting products that best fit their needs in a timely matter. Jacob is constantly learning new information as he grows more accustomed to the different procedures within the Federal Contracts. His overall goal is to be able to provide and contribute to his family and within the business. Some of the things that he values in life are relationships, respect and intelligence. One of his top accomplishments within his life is graduating with a Bachelor in Business Administration with a minor in Finance from Arizona Christian University on a athletic scholarship for football. Outside of work, Jacob is a light-hearted and an easy going individual who enjoys playing the guitar, learning new things and going to the gym.
480-921-3858 ext:115
Sarahi Cruz
Sales Lead
Sarahi Cruz is a Sales Lead that assists with the GSA, 2GIT, ADMC-3 and SEWP V contracts. Her role is to create quotes for customers and find the parts and products they are looking to purchase under Better Direct’s Federal Contracts. She also assists the sales team with any questions they have. Sarahi strives to become successful and is always open to learning new things. Outside of work, Sarahi loves spending her time with family and friends creating new memories.
480-921-3858 ext:127
Christina wu
Purchasing & Financial Analyst
Christina Wu serves as a Purchasing & Financial Analyst at Better Direct, where she supports clients with their IT requirements. Prior to joining Better Direct, Christina earned her Master’s degree in Finance from the W.P. Carey School of Business. She has also cultivated valuable partnerships with numerous manufacturers on behalf of Better Direct. Christina has strong analytical skills to break down complex problems, identify trends, and extract meaningful insights. Her robust problem-solving skills enable her to navigate challenges and propose effective strategies.
Outside of work, Christina indulges in her passion for cooking and baking, often experimenting with new recipes alongside her friends and family.
480-921-3858 ext:123
Catalina Estrada
Purchasing Assistant
Catalina is a Purchasing Assistant for Better Direct. She processes invoices and keeps track of customers payments also updates them on their invoices. While not at work , she loves to spend her free time with her dog named Coco hiking and exploring new trails in Arizona. One of Catalina many goals is to expand her knowledge and grow with Better Direct.
480-921-3858 ext:124
Brianna
Recruiter
Brianna is a Recruiter with Better Direct and enjoys connecting with people and finding the best possible candidate for each role. Brianna tries to live her life by the Maya Angelou quote “Success is loving life and daring to live it.” In her professional career, Brianna is proud of her Health Sciences degree and enjoys being a busy part time educator. In her free time, Brianna enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
480-921-3858 ext:654
Anthony Hernandez
Project Manager
Anthony Hernandez is our Project Manager. He started his career at Better Direct in Data Entry before moving to the technical side as the Head Engineer’s Assistant. This experience helped him transition to his current role as Project Manager. His responsibilities include building and maintaining relationships with our key and federal accounts.
In addition to his account management duties, Anthony leads the Better Direct service team. He is responsible for coordinating complex installation services and ensuring projects are completed on time and to Better Direct’s standards. A notable example of his leadership is a recent project in Washington, where Better Direct successfully installed fiber cables in a SCIF room. Outside of his professional life, Anthony enjoys staying active by going to the gym and values spending quality time with his family and daughter.
480-921-3858 ext:121
Joe Holt
Solutions Architect & IT Services
As our Lead Solutions Architect and IT Services, Joe Holt is responsible for technical support for Better Direct Sales opportunities. He also provides billable design, configuration, installation and consulting services for Better Direct Customers. Joe is a primary source for support and maintenance for Better Direct internal systems. He enjoys solving engineering problems and anything that requires lots of thinking. Joe has over 38 years of computer industry experience including 25 years in sales at Fortune 100 companies and a successful transition to becoming a technical specialist while at IBM. Some of Joe’s accomplishments include numerous awards and trips as a sales representative and numerous past and current technical certifications from many manufacturers including IBM, HPE, Cisco, VMware and Lenovo. In Joe’s free time he enjoys spending time with his family.
480-921-3858 ext:325
Robert Warnicke
Federal Contracts Consultant
Robert has been practicing law since 1993, and primarily focuses on debtor/creditor relations and commercial litigation. In 2013 he opened his own firm, and has expanded his practice to include assisting Better Direct on business matters, particularly with respect to obtaining and complying with GWACs (Government Wide Acquisition Contracts). Over the years he has worked a number of appeals, including reported decisions: Hullett v. Cousin, 204 Ariz. 292 (2003) (involving the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act); Stauffer v. US Bank N.A., 233 Ariz. 22 (App. 2013) (Protecting homeowners with A.R.S. § 33-420). An Arizona native, he left to Tennessee for an undergraduate degree at Vanderbilt University, cum laude in Honors History, and returned to Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law for a J.D., also cum laude. He is interested in historic preservation, infrequently is involved in land use matters on behalf of existing neighborhoods, is President of Phoenix Historic Districts, and is Vice President of Phoenix Historic Neighborhood Coalition.
480-921-3858 ext:122