EASYMERLIN - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Lead and Software Developer
• Software Developer - Web Apps

Ashvin Bhuttoo is the team lead and software developer in the Merlin Web Apps team and works from Merlin Software's Mauritius office. Ashvin Bhuttoo is the team lead and software developer in the Merlin Web Apps team. With a bachelor's degree from UoM in Information and Communication Technologies, Ashvin worked for nine years in Full Stack Web App Development and Desktop Application Development (Microsoft Stack). His role at Merlin includes code reviews and enforcing best coding practices, providing support/training to all the Web Apps developers and working on enhancements and code changes to Merlin Apps Code. Ashvin works from our Mauritius office.

Job Titles:

• Project Manager
• Project Manager - Web Apps, Web Services

Garth Arenz is a Merlin Project Manager with a particular focus on Web Apps, Web Services, Rental Rate Cards and Channel Manager Integration. Acting as "scrum master", Garth is involved with Web App and API testing while providing client support in these key areas. Garth has an educational background in IT service delivery and project management with CompTIA A+ and ITIL Foundations certifications. He is exceptionally skilled in HTML, CSS and Google Analytics.

Job Titles:

• Chief
• Trainer
• Merlin Software 's Chief Trainer

Jacques Steyn is Merlin Software's chief trainer specialising in accounting, data management, template creation, reporting, support and HTML. Jacques Steyn graduated from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, majoring in Computer Applications Technology, Accounting and Mathematics. After teaching for several years and as a certified Microsoft Trainer, Jacques joined Merlin Software in 2014 as a front-line support agent. Today, Jacques Steyn is Merlin Software's chief trainer specialising in accounting and accounting logic (Back Office module), data upload and management, document templates, HTML (Merlin Marketing module) and system configuration. In addition, his outstanding skills include Advanced Microsoft Office, Crystal Reports and Adult Training.

Job Titles:

• Senior Software Developer

Jeetesh Daya has been involved with the development of Merlin Software since its inception. His knowledge of the industry, as well as being an excellent programmer and software developer, has been invaluable in the creation of Merlin as we know it today. He has a long-standing relationship with Mike allowing for an excellent understanding of the company's requirements. Jeetesh has a great understanding of the timeshare and vacation ownership Industry. This is partly due to his involvement with Mike's ventures and ideas for the past 16 years. In 2000, Jeetesh began working on the development of Merlin Software for Timeshare - Merlin's original marketing and property management software suite. Due to the knowledge he gained from his time working at The Leisure Corporation, he immediately got involved in all aspects of the project. His duties included re-writing of the existing application written in FoxPro to a web-based application using industry standard technology. This involved redesigning of the existing system from the ground up using new intelligent business logic. He is a master in the use of MS SQL, Visual Basic 6, JavaScript, VBScript, ASP and HTML. Jeetesh's current duties are numerous and include: Jeetesh has been involved with the development of Merlin Software since its inception. His knowledge of the industry and his being an excellent programmer and software developer has been invaluable.

Job Titles:

• Director of Technology & Infrastructure

Kyle Pnematicatos is responsible for all IT matters, project management of specific clients as well as managing the head office in Mike's absence. He ensures that all servers, networks and hardware are operating under optimum conditions and is responsible for planning the future expansion of IT resources. Based at Merlin's head office in Cape Town, South Africa, Kyle is responsible for the technology platform on which Merlin is built and for all hardware and the server infrastructure. He is also involved in the design of features of the software, project management and staff management. Kyle has performed a variety of roles in Merlin moving from support to training, project management, IT assistant and staff management.

Job Titles:

• Head of Sales
• Merlin Software in 2020 As Head of Sales

Mark Thomas joined Merlin Software in 2020 as head of sales after a long career in the travel and technology sectors and is based at our Barcelona office. Barcelona-based Mark has worked in the travel and technology sector since 1999. He moved into software sales with a SaaS-based solution in 2006 with a Microsoft Partnership to deliver Hosted Exchange and SharePoint. He delivered early cloud propositions for an Internet Service Provider and, since 2009, has integrated cloud backup for small businesses. For over ten years, Mark has sold "server-less" fully cloud platforms, hybrid on-site and off-site platforms and 100 per cent on-site server platforms for businesses. Mark is a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist in Volume Licensing, a certified VMware Sales Professional and a specialist in Attix 5 Backup software; HP; 3CX (Voice Software Solutions); Sophos (security solutions); and Veeam (backup software). Mark joined Merlin Software in 2020 and operates from the company's Barcelona office. He works closely with Martine Pnematicatos to promote Merlin to new resorts and support our current client base.

Job Titles:

• Director of Global Operations

Operating from offices in London and Barcelona, Martine Pnematicatos has participated in the development of Merlin's Software Services, being involved in the company from an early stage. She is responsible for the financial affairs of the business besides her normal duties relating to project management, software development and staff management. While working at TSS Marketing Ltd in the UK, Martine started documenting specifications for Merlin's software development. In particular she concentrated on developing the Back Office Module within Merlin's original Software for Timeshare. In 2006 she moved full time to Merlin and has worked closely with Mike to grow the business into the successful company it is today. Performing software implementations onsite enabled Martine to gain first hand in depth knowledge of different business processes. She has worked in many international locations performing implementations and training, which has given her the experience to work with many different cultures. Merlin Software is a customer service orientated environment and that has become a large focus for Martine. She is particularly passionate about ensuring that customer service is of the highest quality. Today Martine is responsible for a number of important areas within the company:

Job Titles:

• Project Manager
• Project Manager - Web Apps, Data Uploads

Kamlawtee Ragoo joined Merlin Software in July 2019 after nine years in technical support in the telecom industry. Her first Merlin Software role was Support Supervisor based at the company's head offices in Mauritius. Today, Kamlawtee is a Project Manager with a special focus on Web Apps (in particular, the Member, Booking and Rental Web Apps), data uploads and providing after-sales support. Mauritius-based Kamlawtee Ragoo is a Project Manager with a special focus on Web Apps, data uploads and providing after-sales support.

Job Titles:

• Chief Architect

Mike is an internationally known and respected authority on all types of vacation ownership including timeshare, fractionals and points clubs and is the chief architect for Merlin Software. The Merlin Software team is headed by Mike Pnematicatos and supported by his highly motivated and talented team of software developers in South Africa and account managers located in Spain, the U.S, Australia and the U.K. Mike is an internationally known and respected authority on all types of vacation ownership including timeshare, fractionals and points clubs. His career in property development began in 1983. In 1987 he pioneered the development of one of South Africa's very first points clubs. Less well known is that he also undertook fractional ownership developments in the early 1980's, well before this product became the global buzzword it is today. Together with his partners, Mike Pnematicatos built one of South Africa's largest timeshare and points club development and management companies with over 40,000 members in four different points clubs and 16 managed resorts. The business was vertically integrated and covered every aspect from property development through marketing and sales to after sales management. Integral to the success of this business was the fact that the software on which the business operated was developed in house. He partnered with Roy Peres and Club La Costa, one of Europe's largest and most successful timeshare developers to form the CRI Points System, the forerunner of RCI Points. He sold his various timeshare businesses to RCI in 2000 and assisted them for close to three years in designing and launching the RCI Points programme in Europe and the USA. He has spoken at international conferences in Europe, USA and Australia on the future of timeshare and points clubs. He has also served on the boards of a number of timeshare resorts and owners' associations and has occupied the position of chairman on many of these boards. His main business interest today is the ongoing development of software for the vacation ownership industry. His extensive knowledge and firsthand experience of how to manage these developments and clubs means that the software he designs supports the best practices in vacation ownership business processes.

Job Titles:

• Project Manager
• Project Manager - Points Club, System Configuration

Nakita Bornman joined Merlin Software in 2012 after achieving a Bachelor of arts degree in Social Dynamics, Political Science and English Linguistics from Stellenbosch University. Today, Nakita is a Merlin Software Project Manager focusing on points clubs and logic, workflow design (specifically UI and UX interactions), reservations and stock. Her other specialities include system configuration, data uploads, analysis and interpretation, accounting logic and configuration and design of client documentation templates. Nakita is a product knowledge specialist interested in software design and is an assistant software architect. Nakita Bornman is a Project Manager focusing on points clubs and logic, workflow design (specifically UI/UX interactions) and reservations.

Job Titles:

• Software Developer
• Software Developer - Merlin Classic

Renu Jophy is a software developer with a special focus on Merlin Classic Software and the Back Office Accounting Module.

Job Titles:

• Project Manager
• Member of the Merlin Software
• Project Manager - PMS, Front Desk Operations

Riana Lambrechts has been a valuable member of the Merlin Software team since 2015. She obtained a Higher Diploma in Tourism Management in 1998 and has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Today, she is a Project Manager, focusing on PMS and Front Desk Operations and assisting with Support Administration. She is also responsible for other aspects of the business, including planning, implementing and managing projects, business analysis, staff training and management, enhancement specification and regression testing. Riana has an extraordinary ability to connect with people, which is evident in how her clients respond to her. In addition, she has over 15 years of experience in the software implementation industry in the hospitality and timeshare industries. As a result, she can find creative solutions to challenges associated with introducing new products and systems. Riana Lambrechts is a Merlin Project Manager, focusing on PMS and Front Desk Operations and assisting with Support Administration.

Job Titles:

• Administrator
• Project Manager
• Project Manager - System Configuration

Tonia Dalbock is an accomplished project manager and administrator, and at Merlin Software, her special focus is on system configuration.