Meet Our Leadership Team
Dr. Branden Kappes | CEO & Co-Founder
Dr. Branden Kappes is the CEO and co-founder of Contextualize. With deep expertise spanning R&D, materials science, modeling, and data science, he brings a unique, product-focused perspective to solving complex problems through federated data collection, structured analysis, and reusable knowledge frameworks.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kappes has advised the Obama Administration on policies to strengthen workforce resilience and diversity; the Trump Administration on sustainable manufacturing and trade strategies; and the National Science Foundation on advancing cybersecurity and data security in scientific research.
He has guided a wide range of organizations on building outcome-driven strategies, data-centric infrastructures, and scalable systems that accelerate discovery and advancement. At Contextualize, Dr. Kappes leads with a mission to transform fragmented data into operational knowledge to drive innovation.
John Fechnay | Chief Growth Officer
John Fechnay serves as Chief Growth Officer at Contextualize, where he leads business strategy, finance, go-to-market execution, and enterprise partnerships. He brings a proven track record of scaling organizations across manufacturing, commercial real estate, finance, and materials science—bridging digital transformation with real-world operational impact.
Before joining Contextualize, John helped build and scale high-performing teams and platforms focused on unlocking value from complex systems and workflows in materials science. His cross-sector expertise uniquely positions him to drive the adoption of next-generation solutions across diverse industries.
John holds an MBA from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.
He is passionate about advancing American manufacturing through strategic technology adoption—enabling teams to unify siloed data, enhance cross-functional collaboration, and drive measurable business outcomes. At Contextualize, he is helping to make this vision a reality.
Lindsey Kuettner | Principal Materials Solution Scientist
Lindsey Kuettner joined Contextualize in 2022 as a Materials Application Scientist, bringing deep expertise in polymer materials science gained through her work in both national laboratories and industry settings. She holds a Master’s degree in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Oregon and has built her career through a series of lab-based research roles focused on materials characterization, polymer additive manufacturing, and data management.
During her time at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lindsey developed a comprehensive understanding of advanced material systems and the critical role data plays in research environments. Today, at Contextualize, she collaborates closely with researchers, students, and industry partners—bridging complex technical needs with practical, customer-centered solutions.
Lindsey is passionate about ensuring customer success. She works with clients to translate laboratory challenges into scalable data strategies, ensuring that solutions are not only technically sound but also tailored to accelerate discovery, improve workflows, and maximize impact in dynamic research settings.
Dr. Chen Chen | Principal Materials Application Scientist
Dr. Chen joined Contextualize in 2023 as a Materials Application Scientist and is now our Principal Materials Application Scientist. A computational chemist by training, he earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Wuhan University and completed postdoctoral research at The University of Chicago and Penn State University.
Dr. Chen specializes in hierarchical computer simulation methods, including classical and reactive molecular dynamics, first-principles calculations, coarse-grained simulations, and finite element analysis. By integrating computational modeling, data science, and machine learning, he has contributed to a wide range of projects spanning chemistry, physics, biology, materials science, and engineering — collaborating closely with both academic and industry teams.
With a strong academic foundation, a unique blend of technical skills, and rich cross-disciplinary experience, Dr. Chen plays a key role at Contextualize in advancing data management solutions and driving innovation across complex research environments .
William Silloway | Principal Software Engineer
William joined Contextualize in 2023 as our Senior Software Developer, bringing experience building scalable, high-performance software solutions and now our Principal Software Engineer. He holds a bachelor's degree in software engineering from Kennesaw State University and has held critical development roles at organizations including Indeed, Amazon OTT Video, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
William’s expertise spans the full software stack — from low-level systems programming to the design of intuitive, user-centric web applications. His background includes large-scale cloud architecture, API development, data management, and real-time systems integration, giving him a rare ability to bridge infrastructure with user experience seamlessly.
At Contextualize, William leads development efforts focused on creating powerful, flexible platforms that meet the complex needs of enterprise clients. He is committed to delivering intuitive, secure, and scalable solutions that allow organizations to unlock the full value of their data.
