Staff
President
480-921-3858 ext:650
Diana
zhong
Financial Quantitative Analyst
Diana Zhong joined Better Direct in 2018. As a Financial Quantitative Analyst, 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.
480-921-3858 ext:275
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.
480-921-3858 ext:320
Jackie
Ochoa
Project Manager
Jackie Ochoa is Better Directs project manager. She began working with Better Direct in 2015 as a GSA buyer and then shifted into an outbound sales rep. In July of 2018, she started working directly with Mark on special accounts. She helps maintain close relationships with the VIP customers who have had a long-standing relationship with Better Direct. She also manages the solutions architect team, and she is hands on in the Better Direct computer lab to provide equipment to meet the specific needs of DOD customers. Jackie has supervised in testing and shipping over 2 million dollars’ worth of end of life IBM equipment and continues to successfully provide solutions to all VIP accounts accordingly to their specified needs. When she is not at Better Direct, she likes to spend time with her family, work out, and travel.
480-921-3858 ext:241
anthony hernandez
Assistant Engineer Architect
Anthony Hernandez is our Assistant Engineer Architect. Anthony has held many positions starting at Data Entry and switching over to Purchasing Agent. His current role here at Better Direct is technical support. Anthony helps provide maintenance for Better Direct internal systems – including testing and replacing old hardware for new hardware in the server room, as well as employee computers. He is a very goal-oriented person who likes a challenge. He is currently attending ASU with an associate in Applied Science. Anthony’s main goal is to finish school with a bachelor’s in computer engineering. In Anthony’s spare time, he enjoys going to the gym and spending time with his family.
480-921-3858 ext: 241
Joe Holt
Solutions Architect and 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
Adam Fogel
Business Systems Analyst
Adam Fogel is a Business Systems Analyst at Better Direct. Adam started at Better Direct in January 2023, and has accomplished learning three Federal Contracts within two months. His background in leading software development projects helps him navigate complicated problems and provide clients with precise solutions. On his own time, Adam enjoys collecting board games and card games.
480-921-3858 ext:117
Mitchel LaMarca
SEWP Program Manager
Mitchel LaMarca, a SEWP Program Manager here at Better Direct, is responsible for the timely and accurate entry of incoming orders as well as assisting in the research & upkeep of current product information. Mitchel likes to stay busy at work and is a big believer in there always being something productive to do.
As a “forever curious” person, Mitchel always loves learning new things and expanding his knowledge in multiple fields with an affinity for metaphysics, math, and science. He also loves discussing movies/tv shows and playing boardgames with friends and family.
Mitchel has a variety of work experience ranging from retail and warehouse to fitness and entertainment. He has always strived to learn as much as he can at any company he’s worked for and aspires to obtain and fulfill leadership roles wherever he is. Within 3 years at his last employer, Mitchel went from entry level to a lead to a supervisor, and then ultimately accepted an executive position to help maintain and create the company’s culture and atmosphere.
When Mitchel’s not at work, he enjoys spending time with friends/family doing activities both inside and outside. He loves binge watching media and good old fashion table gaming as well as running, hiking, and biking outdoors.
480-921-3858 ext:355
kimberly
lambert
Sales Manager
Kim Lambert is a Sales Manager with Better Direct. She started as an Account Executive learning the contracts which led her to a managerial role. She leads her sales team and continues to help customers across all facets of government by providing what they need through the ADMC-3, SEWP V, 2GIT and GSA contracts. Kim takes pride in her ability to prioritize tasks and complete them in a timely manner. She is very competitive and loves to challenge the sales teams. She also enjoys learning new skills. In her free time, she takes adventure trips with her best friend all over the country. She also hosts zoom chats once a week with several friends, each in a different country. She loves to play games and learn about their cultures.
480-921-3858 ext:133
Thien Phung
GSA and 2GIT Contract Manager
Thien Duc Phung is currently holding GSA and 2GIT Contract Manager title at Better Direct. He is responsible for updating the price, country of origin for the products withing the catalog. By using the information, he obtained from sources using a set of complicated Excel formulas and logic he learned from training. Every week Thien will download the information from the sources, then transform the data to a readable format for everyone at Better Direct. Next step, he uses what he’s trained to complete the next objective such as filtering and verifying against contract guidelines for possible new products.
Thien had completed his Bachelor’s in Computer Science. He believes that there is nothing impossible to do. If you are putting time and effort to achieve your goals. Therefore, he is always looking forward to new challenges and is eager to learn. While working hard, he also enjoys reading fictional online novels and listening to music. Occasionally he enjoys playing games as well, especially FPS and survival genre.
480-921-3858 etx:651
kato wong
Sales Manager
KaTo Wong is one of our many amazing Sales Managers. KaTo’s role is doing quotes for our customers. This is his first job and has been with Better Direct since 2018. His goal is to learn the American culture and to learn more about the global market. His top accomplishment would be that he graduated with his Bachelor and Master in Finance degrees at Arizona State University. Outside of the work he loves collecting rare shoes and clothes. The rare pieces makes him excited as they hold investment value.
480-921-3858 ext:119
Iris guerrero
Sales Account Executive
Iris Guerrero is currently a Sales Account Executive at Better Direct. She started in 2021 as a Data Entry Clerk, and has moved her way up to her current position. She is responsible for providing customers with quotes, and assisting them in finding any items or products they may be searching for in a timely manner. Her goal is to expand her knowledge in sales and to learn everything there is about our current government contracts, GSA, 2GIT, SEWP V, and ADMC-3. While not at work, she likes to spend her free time drawing and playing video games with friends from all over the world.
Iris’s goal is to become a better version of herself everyday and to achieve a higher sense of self by providing support to
friends and family.
480-921-3858 ext: 125
Jacob Hernandez
Sales Account Executive
Jacob Hernandez is a Sales Account executive, 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 Account Executive
Sarahi Cruz is a Sales Account Executive that assists with the GSA and 2GIT contracts. Her role is to create quotes for customers and find the parts and products they are looking to purchase off Better Direct’s Federal Contracts. 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 is a Purchasing Agent. At Better Direct, Christina assists her customers by helping with any of their IT needs. Before joining Better Direct, Christina completed her Master program with a Finance Major from W.P. Carey School of Business. Christina has also created new relationships with many manufacturers for Better Direct. In her spare time Christina enjoys cooking and exploring new recipes to try with 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
robert warnicke
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