Meet the team
Tyler Pistole
Tyler Pistole brings a hands-on, field-tested approach to customer success at goAardvark. With over a decade of experience in equipment service and monitoring, most recently as a Machine Monitoring Specialist at James River Equipment, Tyler knows what it takes to keep systems running smoothly and customers supported every step of the way.
Tyler’s service-oriented mindset extends beyond technology. Since 2017, he has served as a Patrol Deputy with the King & Queen County Sheriff’s Office.
He holds an associate degree in Applied Sciences from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and completed law enforcement training through the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Academy.
Outside of work, Tyler stays active by training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, riding motorcycles, exploring off-road trails, and enjoying time outdoors with friends and family, especially on the river.
Eric Soto
A self-proclaimed jack of all trades, Eric thrives on solving complex problems and jumping into new challenges headfirst. With a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a master’s in Human-Computer Interaction from Georgia Tech, he brings more than two decades of software development experience to the goAardvark team.
Before joining goAardvark, Eric spent nearly 20 years at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, where he built everything from collaborative mission planning tools to vaccination scheduling systems and automated deployment pipelines. If a system needs to communicate with another, Eric is the one who makes it happen.
When he is not wrangling integrations, you can find Eric spending time with his family, tending to his smoker for the perfect BBQ, or trackside supporting his son’s Legends car racing adventures.
Eric Gracyalny
Eric Gracyalny has been building on the web since the days of dial-up, when animated logos were cutting edge and the internet still felt untamed. His first professional role was at the University of Wisconsin, where he created eCow (Engineering Courses On the Web), a platform that allowed professors to build course websites long before learning management systems became standard. Eric holds a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Wisconsin.
His early projects with animal themes ran even deeper, including CHOP (Cichlid Homepage), a passion project and early precursor to wikis dedicated to tropical fish enthusiasts. It was a love letter to aquariums, open contribution, and an early example of the thoughtful architecture and user-centered design that would define his career.
Today, Eric serves as Chief Architect at goAardvark, focusing on building reliable, scalable, and future-forward technology solutions. He also supports Rivers Connect (formerly Raven), maintaining his long-standing affinity for animal-themed platforms.
Mike Johnson
Mike brings more than 24 years of experience in equipment dealerships with a strong focus on development, analytics, equipment inventory, and fleet management. In 2020, he recognized the need for a contractor-focused fleet management system, which inspired the creation of goAardvark.
Guided by the mindset of a “Solutioneer,” Mike’s philosophy is simple: have a problem, fix the problem, and keep it simple.
When he is not solving problems, Mike enjoys working on classic cars, participating in club and kart racing, and spending time with his family.
Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems with a focus on Decision Support Systems from Virginia Tech.