Elyon Strategies Names Tech Veteran Ben Hafer Chief Revenue Executive

Elyon Strategies, a Folsom-based company that seeks to “help future-proof public-sector organizations and private companies by combining the power of AI with industry expertise to solve real business problems,” has named Ben Hafer to the role of chief revenue executive.

Hafer, based in Sacramento, has a deep background in government digital services, including nearly 15 years of experience in state and federal IT leadership roles and a total of 25 years of “demonstrated experience in planning, developing and implementing cutting-edge technology solutions to address business needs,” Elyon said in a news release.

Hafer’s priority, the company said, is “to lead our growth in both traditional and innovative sectors.”

Hafer’s background includes the public and private sectors, with his most recent affiliation being as principal and founder of the Digital Services Group, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Before that, he held vice president roles with Optum and HHS Technology Group, and prior to that he was director of business development for CivicActions.

Hafer is also a veteran of California state government, having held management and executive positions, including chief technology officer, with entities within the California Health and Human Services Agency. Hafer also worked under contract as a technical project manager for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Carl Engel, Elyon’s chief executive officer, said: “Ben’s experience has equipped him with the expertise to secure and manage an extensive project portfolio, including an impressive $5.5 billion worth of digital services projects. As Elyon continues its pursuit of digital services projects in state and federal markets with our innovative narrow artificial intelligence (AI) applications, Ben is certain to expand his success further, and we are very excited for him to join our team.”

Karen Morphy, Elyon’s chief strategy officer, added: “Elyon is a great place for him to continue this pursuit and return to his roots in independent project estimation, portfolio assessment, application and technology rationalization, data analytics consulting, and user experience design. I’m looking forward to collaborating with Ben as we plan and carry out Elyon’s strategic direction and broaden our impact in digital transformations for existing and new clients.”

In addition to his professional endeavors, Hafer volunteers with the California State Guard and Yolo County Sheriff Search and Rescue team. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served as an aviation rescue swimmer. His LinkedIn profile details his service: “Honorably discharged with 19 medals and ribbons awarded, including the NATO and Armed Forces Service Medal for the Operations Deny Flight, Sharp Guard, and Provide Promise over Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a pair of Southwest Asia Service and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals for two Operation Southern Watch campaigns over Iraq.”

Hafer’s volunteerism includes work in youth sports, Scouting and historic preservation.