Our Team

Zach Minton

President / CEO

I helped start K2 Tech in 2015 due to a void in the market for small and medium sized businesses with high security needs. I was born in the upstate of South Carolina but have lived in Columbia for over 20 years. I attended the University of South Carolina and then became a State Farm Agent where I led our agency to a Top 100 national ranking among new agents.

It is during that time that I was able to learn the ins and outs of successful business operations from a Fortune 100 company. In 2015 I, along with several partners, founded K2 Tech. K2 Tech gives me the opportunity to work with businesses of all sizes (some of them even start ups) and to help those businesses streamline their technology and cybersecurity processes so that they are able to grow and operate more efficiently.

I believe our mission at K2 Tech is be more than just a technology partner with our clients, but to also aid them in the pursuit of their organizational goals in any way we are able. I have been fortunate enough in my time with K2 Tech to become a Sophos Certified Consultant among many other things and am also currently working toward an executive certificate from Cornell University. When not working, I enjoy volunteering with the United Way, Leadership Columbia, and spending time with my family.

I also enjoy expedition backpacking and mountain climbing when I have enough free time. I’ve not yet climbed K2 (the mountain in the Himalayas), but I will make it there some day.

John Garrison

CIO / Director of IT Services

John has been in the IT industry for more than two decades. His roles have had him serve in a variety of capacities ranging from Network Administrator, IT Strategic Programs Manager, all the way to Security Operations Center Manager for multi-billion dollar organizations. In early 2021, John got the opportunity to join forces with our organization to help K2 Tech to even greater heights. John’s past experiences are a huge driver in K2’s ability to continue to push the boundaries with cutting edge technologies to improve our client’s experiences and more importantly, their security.

Dario Pelligrino

Solutions Architect

“I’ve known Zach for almost a decade now. He hired me to be a State Farm agent when I was in college at the University of South Carolina in 2013. Together we led the agency to a Top 100 national ranking for new agents.

In 2015, I left to continue my career as a business development executive with a Fortune 500, C.H. Robinson. I was one of the top producing BDEs in the southeast when Zach called and asked if I would come work with him again. I gladly accepted the new challenge in March 2020 and have loved every minute of it. I am an entrepreneur and businessperson at heart. I have started 3 businesses of my own over the last 10 years and believe those experiences help me to better serve my clients in the pursuit of their business goals.

I am also passionate about Lacrosse (one of the organizations I started), hiking, golf, and spending time with my family. “

Ed Vogel

Help Desk Manager

I have been with the K2 Tech team since 2018. I first developed my love for computers when I started building my own around age 10. I am lucky enough to have been able to turn my passion for technology and helping people into a career.

I am now a Sophos Certified Security Engineer as well as a Mimecast Technical Professional and am always looking for new certifications to help grow my skill set for our clients. When the work-day is over I spend most of my time working on computers, playing games and learning more about technology in general.

Pete Nelson

Account Manager / Help Desk Engineer

“I joined the team at K2 Tech about a year and a half ago after working in retail management. I actually worked with K2 Tech as a client point of contact for a series of retail businesses in and around the Columbia area.

Technology has always been an interest of mine and when I decided I wanted to leave retail management behind, I reached out to K2 Tech and they welcomed me with open arms. Having a background in retail management allows me to better understand and relate to our clients while I assist
them with their day to day needs as well as planning for the future.

I am currently working on a series of certifications including my A+ certification as well as other security and project management certifications to help better serve our clients.”

Dylan Smith

Help Desk Engineer

“I joined K2 Tech in February of 2022 after having served in the Army for 4.5 years. I was a Human Resources Specialist in the Army; but I was doing IT work as a job duty. I have been to a few countries such as South Korea and Japan.

I always worked on computers when I was younger as a hobby, but once I found out that there are IT jobs, I knew that is what I wanted to be. I strive to learn as much as I can from anyone so that I can be the best I possibly can be about every aspect of IT.

I have some industry standard certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and Server+. I plan to take the CYSA+ future. I am currently halfway towards my associate's degree in cyber security."