About Buddy

Hi! I'm Amy Brachman. I caretake + companion elders and dogs, invite formerly-strangers into my home, sit regularly in contemplative spaces, and have been known to float on the wind in life and a camper van. I'm actively unlearning, re-learning, and stepping towards a vision of a more conscious & collaborative collective. It's a joy to be able to help build the foundation and maintain the support we need to dream & achieve big together at Buddy.

I’m a homebrewing, wrestling coaching, DIY-ing, web-developing, history and geography nerd. I’m a pretty eclectic dude with a background in education (chemistry), anthropology and philosophy. I like to do a lot of fun stuff too, such as trail-running, lifting and jumping in rivers.

A perfect day for Chris starts with hot coffee by the campfire, a robust day of outdoor adventure, ending with bourbon under the stars. Professionally, Chris’s entire career has been about data, uncovering insights, analyzing trends and optimizing.

Mom always knew I'd had a good time when I came home covered in dirt. The same energy to play and adventure now fuels my passion for what we're building at Buddy. I love using the tools of technology and storytelling to enable others to be fearless.

I am a college field hockey Coach turned Developer. I have always enjoyed solving complex problems, enjoying the outdoors and being part of a driven team. After work, you can find me running the local Richmond trails or exploring the James River with my 10 year old puppy.

I love making lives better, organizing chaos, and taking risks, so it's no surprise to find me here. Helping people has always been at the core of my life choices and Buddy is no exception. In my off time, you can find me cooking-up something (or eating somewhere delicious), renovating our house, or trying to tackle something completely new.

Through Buddy, I have found a way to combine my passion for the great outdoors with my 25+ years in the insurance industry. When not working, I can be found paddling white water, mountain/road cycling, climbing, or just about anything where I can push myself into the wilds of the world.

I'm a technologist with a relentless passion for designing solutions that overcome technical obstacles. Pushing for innovation, I continually challenge myself and my teams to make technology work harder and smarter. Crafting dynamic experiences, efficient development practices, and continuous learning are among my core principles. Also, I'm a donut connoisseur.

When I'm not adventuring outdoors with my girlfriend you can usually find me staring at a computer screen with my kitty-babies curled up nearby. I'm a native Richmonder and I love exploring all that this city has to offer. I've been in the web and graphic design space for many years and am excited about broadening my skills and horizons here at Buddy.

I'm an avid trail runner, mountain climber, backpacker, nature photographer, entrepreneur, and cyber security nerd. I've worked in the technology field for well over a decade and have founded two separate companies designed to make communication tech available for everyone. On any given day, I can be found tinkering with computers and radios or goofing off with my wonderful wife and our little velcro puppy.

I've never met a problem I couldn’t fix with a node script. I've published multiple books on programming and won 12 Cannes Lions for creative work. I was the second fastest gun in the west, and I remain undefeated to this day in thumb wrestling!

I find joy in helping people, learning technology, and finding new things to explore. I'm lucky that Buddy allows me to do all three everyday. Outside of work, you'll probably find me riding my bike, trying new foods or wrestling with my kids.