Sovran has helped Minnesota organizations grow and compete since 1987. We partner with companies who want a simpler technology environment, whether fully-managed or in partnership with an in-house IT director.
Hand all of your IT tech burdens and strategy to Sovran’s team of engineers, system administrators, and help desk specialists. We’ll work with you to reach your long-term goals.
Our team has helped nonprofits and businesses from Minneapolis/St. Paul, to Sioux Falls, Fargo, Eau Claire, to Des Moines, and beyond. Our reputation attracts talented professionals, and we work to achieve the highest certifications for our platforms. Sovran is recognized by our vendor partners as a top-level technology provider.
Sovran Team
Lisa Loken
Owner
Technology companies are rarely owned and operated by a woman. At Sovran, Lisa Loken has been the majority owner since 2002, a partner since 1998, and an employee since 1990.
If there’s one thing Lisa has learned in her time at Sovran, it’s that the most critical focus for a business is the team. The relationships she has built with employees over the years have been golden. Past employees stay in touch and invite her to weddings or anniversary parties.
In another life, Lisa grew up on a farm near Northfield, MN. She earned a finance degree with a computer science minor and dabbled in programming languages like COBOL and FORTRAN. She credits her entrepreneurial spirit to her father – her most important mentor.
These days, she spends her time anticipating “what’s next” with the rapid technological change. With new tech, new energy, and a new focus, she looks forward to the future with Sovran.
In her free time, Lisa enjoys traveling. She hopes to visit Antarctica to see penguins, Germany to see the Passion play, and Costa Rica.
Traci Leffner
President
Traci Leffner, President of Sovran, Inc., is dedicated to providing top-tier IT experiences. She is passionate about technology’s benefits and ensures customers realize their potential with proper support. Traci and her team focus on reducing IT-related fears, fostering trust, and building enduring partnerships.
At Sovran, customer experience drives success. Traci exemplifies effective relationship and technology management, making complex needs understandable. Clients value the clear communication and consistent support from Traci and her team. Her approach ensures a win/win situation for everyone involved.
Traci is an accomplished entrepreneur and intrapreneur who leverages her skills to grow Sovran strategically. She has notably reduced daily help desk calls by 89% and maintains a 99% customer retention rate. Under her leadership, Sovran’s nonprofit market has expanded to 40% of its business.
Residing in Cottage Grove with her husband, pit bull, and kittens, Traci cherishes the small-town atmosphere and metro amenities. She enjoys family dinners, movies, and global travel, especially reminiscing about her African safari adventure.
Megan Killea
Director of Operations
Finding unique and novel solutions is the name of the game for Megan Killea. With a background in genetics, analytics, and project management, she enjoys focusing on improving operations and client relationships at Sovran and loves the team dynamics in the office.
Now in Cottage Grove, Megan grew up in Hudson, Wisconsin. She likes to play board games, try new food and drink, and spend time with her three cats and husband, Jonathan.
Shonn “ShonnTwight” Twight
Director of Managed Services
The future isn’t guaranteed, nor is a quiet morning for Shonn Twight. At Sovran, Shonn is the director of operations, leading the charge of technology solutions for tomorrow’s problems.
An early riser, Shonn takes the ‘watchtower’ approach to problem-solving – if you can see an issue coming from further afield, you can address it sooner and with fewer resources. Coming from a corporate background, he’s enjoyed the adjustment to a proactive approach.
Arriving at Sovran in 2008, Shonn feels the culture is second to none and believes the employees and their personalities make all the difference in responding to client needs. Originally from Duluth, Shonn wants to provide the best services possible to each client, especially those who might be overlooked by other IT providers.
In his free time, Shonn is well-read, finishing a few science fiction novels per week. He also enjoys time with his wife and two adult children.
Charles “Charlie” LeVoir
Director of Professional Services & Technical Sales
As Director of Professional Services & Technical Sales, Charlie Levoir partners with Sovran’s clients to develop and pursue their IT and cybersecurity initiatives. Charlie attacks the day with his trademark enthusiasm and loves the opportunity to help all types of organizations with his skills and experience.
Before Charlie started putting his energy into helping Sovran’s clients with their IT needs, he worked various jobs. His first job was detasseling corn, where he learned what hard work and dedication look like.
In his free time, he runs a social enterprise and hosts his own podcast.
Hunter Alden
Service Delivery Manager
Hunter Alden’s day-to-day is all about Sovran’s customers. As service delivery manager, he ensures that the customers get white-glove service and gives them confidence that Sovran will take care of their IT needs. Hunter is a people person who enjoys working the help desk when called upon and loves Sovran’s customer-caring culture.
When he’s not doing the heavy lifting for customers at work, you can find Hunter lifting heavy in the gym – the Orono, MN native is a member of the 1000 Pound Club! This ex-Army Renaissance man also enjoys painting, copper wire sculpting, woodworking, and making wine, beer, and beef jerky.
John LaSalle
Vice President of Sales
If you’re part of a Twin Cities chamber of commerce, you’ll likely meet John LaSalle. He has been helping companies and nonprofits articulate their IT needs since 2021. With a keen understanding of nonprofit and corporate IT challenges, John is an excellent resource to reach out to on LinkedIn.
A team player, John is a positive, friendly presence in any office he enters. He loves focusing on building long-term relationships through his work in area Chambers and discussing industry news on social media.
John, his wife, and their son welcomed a daughter at home in 2022. He enjoys hockey, golf, and beating the other contestants on Wheel of Fortune in his free time.
Jonathan Schulz
Senior Systems Engineer
Jonathan Schulz should only be approached for the most extreme IT problems, like a sage on a mountaintop. At least, that’s what he wants his colleagues to think!
Since 2014, Jonathan has been solving issues with emails, servers, hardware installations, and more. From HP servers and VMware to Microsoft 365, Jonathan enjoys helping clients in ways only Sovran can.
Taking on tough problems can require creative thinking. That’s why Jonathan spends as much time as he can camping, hiking, and photographing in Minnesota state parks.
Chi Vang
Security Specialist
Chi Vang desires the feeling of elation from solving complex client issues most! Solving problems helps others immediately, but he also likes that it helps him learn more to help the next client.
Chi troubleshoots computers daily and loves using RemoteAgent to see exactly what the client is having problems with.
As a young man, Chi wanted to be a pilot, which would have involved different troubleshooting. At home, he and his wife raise two wonderful boys. In his free time, Chi enjoys fishing.
Michael “Mike” McRae
Systems Administrator
Winner of the “Most Helpful Employee” at the annual Sovran awards banquet for eight years running, Mike McRae is the man you want on any IT team. Starting in 2016 on the help desk team, he has codified all of his knowledge as he worked his way into system administration and project engineering.
Mike likes puzzles and is a problem solver, building relationships daily with his calls and client visits. He often works to install and deploy servers, set up workstations, storage, applications, and backups, and handle Office 365 migrations. Mike’s favorite product at Sovran is VMware.
Mike loves camping and horseback riding, nature walks at state parks, or riding along the Cascade River. He also loves spending time with his wife and three adult children.
Todd Fisher
Systems Administrator
Like a tailor fitting a fine suit, Todd Fisher is known for finding the ‘just right’ solution for his clients. He has been a team player since 2020, working on customer tickets and handling work escalated from the help desk.
Todd enjoys his time making on-site visits to clients, putting faces to names, and physically checking servers and other hardware to ensure they’re running smoothly. He drops in monthly for his total care clients to monitor issues and make adjustments. You may even catch him occasionally at Big Lake Chamber of Commerce events.
In his free time, he enjoys camping and ice fishing, as well as spending time with his wife, daughter, and dog.
Tony Rosenow
Systems Administrator
Like father, like son – Tony Rosenow grew up imitating his father, a computer programmer and gamer. When building his first computer at 16, he had to troubleshoot connections through an I/O panel. Joining Sovran in 2023, Tony found his niche, supporting clients as a systems administrator.
Tony enjoys helping clients navigate technical roadblocks and learning new techniques. In his free time, he plays massively multiplayer online games.
Abdel Askar
Systems Administrator
Troubleshooting is Abdel Askar’s middle name. From his initial interview with Sovran, Abdel knew he had found a company he would love. He now spends his days working with Office 365, which he admires for its vitality to every business.
Growing up in Damascus, the capital of Syria, Abdel wanted to become a doctor. He now lives in Eagan, Minnesota, and in his free time, is learning sign language.
Luke Haag
Systems Administrator
Troubleshooting client issues is the name of the game for Luke Haag, and he loves providing efficient and convenient solutions for Sovran’s clients. Luke grew up in rural Illinois before moving to Inver Grove Heights, and he could identify what Sovran is all about from his first interview. He said, “Traci and Shonn’s interview with me was one of the most validating and comfortable conversations I’ve ever had with a potential employer,” and can already see how people are valued over profit at Sovran.
Previously, Luke worked perhaps one of the most unique jobs of anyone at Sovran, manually pulling tassels off corn plants while riding in a basket held by a long-armed tractor. He once wanted to own a fireworks mall but now spends his time away from work playing disc golf, visiting art festivals, or building keyboards and playing video games.
Ismail Sheikh
Systems Administrator
Empathy and active listening are two of Ismail Sheikh’s most valued tools in his position at Sovran’s help desk. Through phone calls, emails, and ticketing systems, Ismail takes great pleasure in solving – and documenting – technical issues with software, hardware, and network connectivity to get his clients back in business.
Spending his youth in Yemen, Ismail spent time in Chicago before coming to New Brighton, Minnesota. In his off-hours, Ismail enjoys playing soccer, tinkering with IT problems, and hanging out with his wife.
Daniel Miller
Senior Help Desk Technician
Helping clients is the name of the game. From minor issues to major headaches, Daniel Miller enjoys working with nonprofits and small businesses to solve IT problems. When he’s not on the phone or answering emails, he likes to learn new technologies to help him do his job better.
Growing up across the United States, from Georgia to North Dakota, Daniel now lives in Eagan. He’s always been interested in networks and solving online issues. As a young man, he dreamed of joining the military and working for the U.S. Army Cyber Command.
Xeng Cheng
Service Delivery Technician
Xeng Cheng cites Sovran’s culture as a significant reason he loves working here. He grew up wanting to be a firefighter, but his day-to-day consists of putting out fires for clients who call Sovran’s help desk and providing the best service possible to help them work through IT issues. The born-and-bred Minnesotan has enjoyed learning new things every day as he’s gotten started at Sovran.
The youngest of seven kids, Xeng grew up in a large, close family and feels that Sovran provides a similar environment. He enjoys working out at the gym when he’s not at work.
Justine Del Rosario
Dedicated L2 Technician
From day one, Justine Del Rosario has felt welcomed and ready to help clients at Sovran. His work requires him to keep a sharp eye on alerts and stay plugged into the Sovran team to assist as needed.
Justine spends his days setting up machines, backing up servers, serving as a liaison, and monitoring alerts.
Growing up in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, his most interesting job was working at a hot dog factory. Justine has been in the IT industry for a decade.
Elijah Vang
Help Desk
Elijah Vang joined the Sovran team as an intern before coming aboard full-time. He loves how positive and helpful his coworkers are, and at the help desk, he tries to channel that same energy when he’s supporting clients.
Elijah grew up in St. Paul and dreamed of becoming a professional bass fisherman when he was young. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping.
Crystal Konen
Operations Coordinator
Crystal Konen focuses on enhancing operational efficiency and client satisfaction for Sovran. She has a strong background in coordinating complex processes and ensures clients experience seamless service delivery. Crystal is committed to Sovran’s mission of providing reliable and innovative IT solutions. Her dedication helps businesses achieve their technological goals with confidence and ease.
Sovran History
1987-1996
- Sovran was founded on December 29, 1987, by three former employees of Control Data Corporation, a supercomputer firm based in Bloomington.
- Operated as a third-party maintenance provider for IBM and Wang Laboratories’ mainframe systems.
- The original office was located off of East Bush Lake Road in Bloomington.
- Henry Rogers, a Sovran salesperson, purchased the company in 1990.
- Lisa Loken joined Sovran in 1990.
- In 1992, it began a partnership with Novell, Inc., a major contributor to the adoption of local area networks (LAN).
- Acquired another IT firm in 1993.
- Began partnering with Microsoft by offering Windows NT in 1993, a multi-user operating system for workstations and servers.
- Deubener Award Recipient from St. Paul Chamber of Commerce in 1994.
- Moved to the second office off of Pilot Knob Road in Eagan.
1997-2006
- Lisa Loken bought into Sovran as a minority owner in 1998.
- Partnered with Cisco Systems, Inc., a networking and telecommunications company, in 2000.
- On September 11, 2001, Sovran moved to the office at 2915 Commers Drive in Eagan. This 24,000-square-foot rented space included a seminar and lab area for customers to come for lunch and learn.
- It survived the dot-com bust of 2000-2002, during which many IT firms failed, and companies restricted spending on new technology.
- Lisa Loken became the majority owner in 2003. Sovran becomes a fully woman-owned business.
2007-2016
- Survived the great recession of 2007-2009, started by the financial crisis, which caused restricted spending among many businesses and corporations.
- Sovran was named one of the top 25 women-owned businesses by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal in 2010.
- Sovran was named one of the top 25 women-owned businesses by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal in 2011.
- Lisa Loken started a New Horizons franchise in the Twin Cities in May 2011. New Horizons is a computer learning center for technology and business skills in Sovran’s building. New Horizons and Sovran work together synergistically.
- Traci Leffner joins Sovran in 2016.
- At its peak, Sovran has employed more than 60 individuals.
2017-2026
- Hosting various lunch-and-learns and product education seminars, Sovran began to offer more education to its existing and future clients.
- Traci Leffner becomes president of Sovran.
- Sovran more clearly defined its business model and services and explicitly catered to more organizations in the nonprofit sector.
- Traci Leffner joins the BBB of Minnesota & North Dakota board of directors.
- Sovran survives and thrives during the COVID era.
- New Horizons rejected its franchise agreement and morphed into Crescent Career Center, owned by Lisa Loken and helmed by new President Traci Leffner.
- In spring 2024, Sovran and Crescent Career Center moved 1.6 miles north to 1171 Northland Drive in Mendota Heights into a new, wholly-owned 10,348-square-foot office space.
