Our Leadership Team
Meet the experts driving DoorCheckr’s vision to secure schools across the nation.
Steve Schneider
CEO & Founder
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teve Schneider is a seasoned executive, entrepreneur, and technologist with more than four decades of experience in business leadership and software development. With a degree in mathematics and a passion for problem-solving, Steve began writing software early in his career and quickly combined his technical expertise with a vision for building successful organizations. Over the years, he founded and managed two thriving call centers, one with 635 employees and another with 350, where he led teams with a focus on innovation, efficiency, and people-first leadership.
Beyond his professional achievements, Steve is a proud husband, father, and grandfather who values family above all. He and his wife make their home in Lake of the Ozarks, where they enjoy the balance of community, family life, and the natural beauty of the area. Steve continues to inspire others through his dedication to leadership, integrity, and lifelong learning.
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Paul Chavaux
AI, Digital Media & Co-Founder
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aul Chavaux is a seasoned technology leader with a passion for creating solutions that enhance safety and security.
As Chief Software Architect of GEX Intelligence and Security software, he developed counter-intelligence tools for the Missouri Department of Corrections (MODOC). Paul holds nine Microsoft certifications, including MCSE, showcasing his expertise in software engineering.
An accomplished author, he has written 11 books, including four on Artificial Intelligence (2025), and is an ordained Catholic Deacon (2007, retired). Since 2020, he has owned The UPS Store #5252, demonstrating his entrepreneurial drive.
A proud Eagle Scout (1971), Paul’s commitment to service runs deep.
Paul brings unparalleled technical expertise and innovative thinking to DoorCheckr’s development team, ensuring our NFC, WiFi and Zigbee based software is robust, user-friendly, and tailored to meet the unique safety needs of K-12 schools.
His leadership drives our mission to deliver reliable, scalable solutions for secure learning environments.
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Alana Chavaux
CEO & Co- Founder
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lana Chavaux is a dynamic professional with a distinguished background in personnel management and software security. Her career includes pivotal roles as an intelligence analyst and account manager at Microsoft and Bayer, where she honed her expertise in safeguarding corporate systems and sensitive data. Passionate about protecting organizations from threats, Alana has led specialized teams dedicated to uncovering international corporate espionage and has worked alongside law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice.
Today, Alana channels her experience and leadership into overseeing the day-to-day operations of DoorCheckr, ensuring the company’s commitment to security, innovation, and operational excellence. Her ability to blend analytical precision with hands-on management makes her a trusted leader in the corporate security space.
Outside of her professional life, Alana is married to Matt Hecky, and together they are the proud parents of a two-year-old son. Family and purpose remain at the center of all she does.
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Matt Hecky
CTO & Co-Founder
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att Hecky is a software engineer and team lead with over 10 years of experience building scalable solutions in the e-commerce space.He’s passionate about creating dependable, user-friendly technology and has led development teams in fast-paced environments where performance and security are critical. At DoorCheckr, Matt plays a key role in designing the systems that power our NFC-based school safety tools—ensuring they’re as reliable as they are easy to use.
His focus on long-term technical health and thoughtful engineering helps us deliver products schools can count on every day.
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Sheryl Fokert
Co-Founder & Customer Support Lead
Sheryl Folkert brings a broad and diverse professional background spanning education, finance, technology, and customer service. Her career includes work within school systems such as the Waynesville School District in Missouri and the Kansas Board of Education, where she gained firsthand experience navigating complex organizational environments.
She also spent several years at Jack Henry & Associates, beginning her tenure as an installer and later advancing into the Quality Assurance department. Building on this technical foundation, Sheryl went on to serve as a Business Analyst for organizations including the Federal Home Loan Bank, where she applied analytical insight to drive effective, stakeholder-focused solutions.
Having entered the workforce at a young age, Sheryl developed a strong foundation in traditional, people-first customer service—guided by the belief that every customer is a person and every problem matters. This philosophy continues to shape her approach, enabling her to think creatively, collaborate effectively, and deliver practical, inclusive solutions that meet the needs of all stakeholders.
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Jake Young
Co-Founder & Lead IoT Data Engineer
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ake Young serves as the Lead IoT Data Engineer for DoorCheckr, where he plays a pivotal role in ensuring the company’s infrastructure is secure, scalable, and innovative. With a strong background in the Azure ecosystem, Jake safeguards customer data through advanced security protocols, containerization, and meticulous firewall management. His expertise in cloud technologies allows DoorCheckr to provide robust, reliable solutions that meet the needs of customers of all sizes.
Jake also leads the development team responsible for integrating AI, IoT devices, and storage solutions, enabling the company to scale quickly and efficiently for enterprise-level clients. His ability to blend technical precision with forward-thinking strategy has made him a cornerstone of DoorCheckr’s growth.
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Jake is married and a proud father to an energetic 18-month-old. He credits his success to balancing family life with his engineering career, embracing both with focus and dedication.