About Us
Our Story
Canopy’s roots lie at Kansas State University, where our flagship product PEARS was born. What initially started in 2011 as a collaboration between OEIE, K-State Research & Extension, and Kansas Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (Kansas SNAP-Ed), has since bloomed into a public benefit company that highly values our team, our clients, and the communities they serve.
OEIE & KSRE
K-State Research & Extension (KSRE) hires the Office of Educational Innovation and Evaluation (OEIE) to perform an evaluation of their current evaluation and reporting practices. Results reveal the need for a user-friendly, automated system to plan, track, and report on the impact of their efforts.
2011
From K-PICS to KSRE Online
PEARS was originally called the Kansas Program Impacts Collection System (K-PICS) and later called KSRE Online. K-PICS was launched in 2013. Taking the system from K-PICS to KSRE Online meant infrastructure changes, moving to a more responsive design, improving support, and adding additional modules.
2013
PEARS
Our team worked with K-State Innovation Partners (KSU-IP) to license the system for use outside of K-State. Significant updates were made and the system was rebranded as the Program Evaluation and Reporting System, or PEARS.
2015
Canopy
In late June 2021, Canopy was officially formed as a public benefit company and the entire PEARS team moved over from OEIE to Canopy. Our headquarters, lovingly referred to as The Grove, is located a short distance from K-State's campus.
2021
National PEARS (N-PEARS)
National PEARS, or N-PEARS, launched on May 22, 2023. Canopy developed N-PEARS in collaboration with the USDA Food Nutrition Service (FNS) and Westat Insight to support submitting State plans and annual reports as well as to improve overall SNAP-Ed program effectiveness and accountability.
2023
Events System
We released the initial version of our Event Management and Registration system in 2024. Early 2025 was spent securing our PCI compliance documentation and developing the payment processing piece of the "Events Module," which is now live!
2024
No-code Module Builder
You ask and we deliver! Coming soon is our new no-code module builder, which will allow organizations to consolidate community-focused research, outreach and impact reporting into a single platform.
2025
A team with
PEARS-onality
Whether it’s lending a hand, digging into a tough problem, or asking thoughtful questions, our team shows up with heart and purpose. Together, we’re not just building software—we’re cultivating tools that help people and programs thrive.
Aaron has over 20 years of experience building data management and reporting tools. Although his favorite tree is a red oak, you might find him on the disc golf course trying desperately to avoid them.
Aaron Shroeder
Joel leads our client success team and ensures our clients receive top-notch service. He uses trees to make delicious smoked meats, which the rest of our team loves to eat!
Joel Wallace
Brent leads our engineering team and has over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He loves trees found in the mountains the most, and trees in the form of paper the least.
Brent O'Connor
Allison has 10+ years experience working with SNAP-Ed and Extension to improve evaluation and reporting practices. The weeping willow (not to be confused with the whomping willow) is her favorite tree.
Allison Teeter, Ph.D.
John has worked with software and data teams for his entire career. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Canopy. John has an appreciation for any tree that provides protection from the strong Kansas wind.
John Keller
Bethany assists with Canopy’s day-to-day operations. Her ideal summer afternoon would involve a hammock hung between two Cottonwoods near a stream. Here she would read a book, listen to the trickling water and enjoy the Kansas breeze.
Bethany Garren
Levi has over 7 years experience working with web applications. When he isn’t working with wood to renovate his home, you may find him hanging in a hammock between two trees enjoying some fresh air.
Levi Mann
Derek has been a member of the Client Success team since 2019. He is the voice behind and producer of our PEARS training videos. A lover of high fantasy fiction, he will do anything to get his hands on it; except climb a large tree due to a fear of heights. Also, Lord of the Rings is his favorite (of course).
Derek Beins
Thomas graduated in December 2020. He started full-time as a software engineer before transitioning to the role of data analyst. In his free time you may find him taking a run with his dog or reading philosophy.
Thomas Lazarus
Chris graduated in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Kansas State University, and is currently doing software engineering at Canopy. His favorite plant is the Sundew because it feeds on bugs.
Christopher Schultz
Joshua has broad experience in both front end development and project management and he enjoys building applications that make people’s lives better. When he’s not working, he is outside, preferably rock climbing.
Joshua Weaver
Weston has been with the team for 3 years, starting as a student software engineer before joining the team full-time. When asked what his favorite tree is, Weston said “probably the Willow because that is the one I remember grinding the most in Runescape.”
Weston Chan
Madalyn has been a member of the Client Success team since 2019 and supports SNAP-Ed and Extension in their use of PEARS. Her favorite houseplant is aloe vera. She identifies with its low-maintenance lifestyle and love of sunshine.
Madalyn Talmage
Victor has been working with the Canopy team since he was an undergraduate. He has 5 years of experience in the software industry. Victor’s favorite tree is the White Pine, which is scattered throughout the state of New Hampshire where he currently lives.
Victor Valdez-Herrera
Previously employed as a student software engineer, Joshua briefly worked for Cerner before returning to our team full-time in 2021. He enjoys playing video games, reading books, taking walks around his neighborhood, and is also learning to play electric bass in his spare time.
Joshua Patterson
Sam is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science at K-State. He enjoys mountain biking and camping his free time. He has always been interested in computers, and his favorite fruit is pomegranate.
Sam Wilson
Cindy joined the Client Success team in 2023 and brings 10 years of experience in a variety of customer support roles. She enjoys spending time with her family and coffee is the key to her heart. Cindy loves the variety of trees that cover the Flint Hills.
Cindy Ochoa
Sara joined Canopy’s Client Success team in 2024. Prior to that, she spent 6 years as Extension faculty in Idaho and Montana. One of Sara's core childhood memories is climbing the big cottonwood tree in her backyard. She enjoys sunny winter days, visiting new places, and printmaking.
Sara Fluer
Takumi is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Computer Science at Kansas State University. His favorite vacation location is mainland Japan. He also enjoys soccer and playing video games in his spare time.
Takumi Hendricks
Jack is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Computer Science at Kansas State University. In his free time he enjoys Rock Climbing and Camping. His favorite tree has to be a Flowering Dogwood, the state tree of Missouri.
Jack Ryan
Josh is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science at Kansas State University. He enjoys playing Magic the Gathering and going for runs, someday he wants to compete in a 100-mile race in the Alps.
Josh Caldwell
Tiffani is currently pursuing a degree in Agricultural Communications and Journalism with a minor in Horticulture at Kansas State University. She usually can be found around her family or friends in her free time. Her favorite tree is a Christmas tree because it reminds her of family!
Tiffani Allerheiligen
Jon is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science at Kansas State University. His favorite thing to do in his free time is make and listen to music. He also enjoys being with friends and family.
Jon Fuller
Our Core Values
Service
We aim to serve our clients and
each other to the best of our abilities.
Humility
We are open to others' ideas and
working together toward what is best.
Honesty
We aim to be transparent
and honest in all we say and do.
Collaboration
We prioritize working, learning,
and succeeding together as a team.
Curiosity
We love to learn and try new things - understanding the "how," the "why," and the "what if" is key.
Grit
We approach challenges head on and do
what it takes to find solutions and be successful.
Want to join our team?
Think you might be a PEAR-fect fit for our team? We'd love to connect! Explore our open positions and see how you can grow with us.
