Meet the
Data Sleuths

We create custom data solutions for you—tailored to your needs, capacities, and your industry.

The Cognicion Team

Our consultants and data management experts are every bit as important as the technology they use. Our teams are trained to efficiently guide law firms and legal departments through every kind of data management challenge.

Each of us brings excellent skills and a dedication to our clients, both as character-driven individuals and consummate professionals. Many of us have worked together for 10 years or more, so we know how to bring our best game to your work. Beyond our expertise, we are individuals who are members of our community, enjoy sports, photography, travel, good food, and working out. In short, real people, just like our clients. So, when your team needs digital discovery prowess we hope you’ll consider Team Cognicion. A great group of individuals, an even better team.

Leadership and Management Team

Chris McDaniel

President & CEO

Chris was appointed CEO of Cognicion in 2018 after joining the company two years earlier as Chief Revenue Officer, helping establish Cognicion as a leader in professional services centered around eDiscovery, cyber incident response, and data privacy services. As CEO, Chris’s primary objective has been orchestrating the growth of Cognicion’s existing client base by fostering strong relationships, excellent client service based on adept project management and operations, and developing revenue streams adjacent to the company’s core capabilities.

Prior to joining Cognicion, Chris developed extensive experience in an array of industries while working as a strategic consultant with Huron Consulting and Deloitte, where he oversaw the growth of the firm’s eDiscovery division into a business unit with over $100 Million in annual revenue.  Chris’s expertise in consulting services and sales and marketing for corporate legal departments and law firms includes civil litigation involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, petroleum/oil & gas, and the transportation and healthcare industries.  He also has experience overseeing government investigations and FTC HSR “Second Requests” including a $35 Billion merger of equals in 2019, as well as GDPR, CCPA, PII, HIPAA compliance, and program management.  Before working as a consultant, Chris founded GulfStream Digital Solutions, an imaging and reprographic company that he later sold to a national competitor. Additionally, Chris was instrumental in building DocuLex into national leader of imaging and eDiscovery solutions via the Discovery Cracker platform.

Chris is a graduate of Florida State University, where he majored in Communications and minored in Theatre. Prior to enrolling at FSU he played baseball at the University of South Florida, Santa Fe CC, and semi-professionally in Belgium and Australia. Chris and his wife live in Florida, where they raised three children and are currently delighted to be spending time with their infant granddaughter.

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Matthew Ronk

Chief Operating Officer

Matt’s mission as Chief Operating Officer is to ensure the consistent delivery of innovative, flexible, and effective solutions for our clients’ most difficult legal, investigatory, and regulatory challenges. Since joining Cognicion in 2018 his focus has been on building the best team, capable of leveraging the latest technologies to deliver exceptional service.

Like many people, Matt didn’t set out to get into eDiscovery, but after four years working on the infamous Enron matter, he was hooked; 18+ years later, he’s done it all, and now leads Cognicion’s business development team while also overseeing all business operations. Prior to joining Cognicion, Matt worked at Navigant Consulting and later, Deloitte. His extensive experience ranges from a variety of domestic and global litigation matters to contract remediations, cyber incident responses, HSR Second Requests, internal and government investigations, mergers and acquisitions, records management assessments, and technology implementations.

Originally from Ohio, Matt graduated from Miami University where he majored in Information Management Systems. After 14 fantastic years in Chicago and non-stop travel, Matt moved to Nashville to enjoy more time with his wife, son, and golden retriever.

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Jennifer Schettler

Director, Client Services

Jennifer is an accomplished legal professional with over a decade of experience managing teams and delivering exceptional results in the fields of eDiscovery, legal technology, and advisory services. Since joining Cognicion in 2017, Jennifer has played a pivotal role in in shaping the company’s success and industry-wide reputation for delivering innovative solutions for clients.

A dedicated leader, Jennifer excels in coordinating teams from across the globe to ensure the successful execution of projects and the timely delivery of client-centered work product. As a licensed attorney and seasoned legal technology expert, Jennifer has a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the legal/tech landscape and is uniquely positioned to provide valuable insight to Cognicion’s clients in the U.S. and abroad. Her commitment to building relationships and her ability to navigate complex, multinational projects have earned her a reputation as a trusted eDiscovery partner for innumerable clients.

Prior to her tenure at Cognicion, she held a significant position as the eDiscovery program manager for a multinational life sciences client at UnitedLex. Jennifer and her family reside happily in North Carolina halfway between the beach and the mountains.

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Alex McCombs

Director, Operations

Alex joined Cognicion in June 2023 as Director of Operations and brings fifteen years of experience advising clients on complex litigation matters, including identifying new and advanced technology to assist in meeting clients’ eDiscovery needs. As Director of Operations, Alex leads the team supporting Cognicion consultants, and uses her experience to assess, create, and implement operational processes and procedures to ensure the data team operates as efficiently as possible.

Prior to joining Cognicion, Alex was Deputy Director at Amentum, where she spent nine years supporting a large federal government agency’s litigation support contract. Alex led the first document review workspace to utilize Relativity’s Technology Assisted Review (TAR 1.0), culling 70,000 responsive documents out of an initial population of over nine million records in just seven weeks. In the same role, Alex introduced the client agency to the use of social media collection tools, allowing for the forensically supported collection of data from platforms such as Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, permitting the data and its ancillary metadata’s admissibility in judicial proceedings.

Alex holds a J.D. from the University of New Hampshire School of Law and an undergraduate degree in Sports Management from Guildford College in Greensboro, North Carolina.

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Lou Verrelli

Director, Business Development

Lou has shaped and developed numerous eDiscovery providers and software companies in a variety of leadership roles over 30 years. After starting his legal career at a Philadelphia law firm, Lou transitioned to the services side of the industry. As the National Director of Business Development at Cognicion, he advises clients on practical approaches to manage their eDiscovery, Managed Review, and Data Privacy requirements. As a member of the management team, he is responsible for overseeing the revenue, client and service line growth as well as the business development team focused on external law firms, corporate counsel clients and the firm.

Prior to joining Cognicion, Lou successfully developed a 50-seat Managed Review facility and new service line in Wilmington, DE, supported by a multi-year partnership with Cognicion.

Lou and his wife live in Devon, Pennsylvania and enjoy the beaches of Ocean City, NJ, and the Colorado mountains with their two daughters. Lou graduated from Pennsylvania State University where he majored in Political Science / Pre-Law. On most weekends, he can be found playing keyboards and sax with Philadelphia-area rock bands.

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Lelia Keen

Senior Manager, Data Privacy

Lelia is an accomplished program management professional who drives results by building strong relationships, collaborating with cross-functional partners to organize complex, and structuring processes to conform with program goals. Since joining Cognicion in 2016, Lelia has dedicated herself to providing exceptional client service and established Cognicion’s Advisory Services Line.

Since GDPR’s inception, Lelia has focused on program management, with a concentration on data privacy topics, leading a team of privacy consultants who work with clients to implement processes and update operations to address global privacy regulations. Additionally, working with a global life sciences and technology corporation, Lelia provides dedicated expertise on a wide range of data privacy program initiatives, identifying potential improvements to enhance program efficiencies.

Lelia earned her J.D. from Charleston School of Law and her BA from James Madison University. While attending JMU, where Lelia majored in History and double minored in English and Medieval + Renaissance studies, she developed her passion for individuals’ rights and freedoms.

Lelia and her husband are native to Hanover County, Virginia, where they currently reside and raise their daughter. She enjoys perusing local estate sales, antiquing, exploring new cities on foot, and practicing yoga.

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Lindsay Baldwin

Manager, eDiscovery

Lindsay serves as the Cognicion eDiscovery Services Manager, where she provides leadership to the Client Services team and oversees the eDiscovery program. Prior to her appointment in 2023, Lindsay served as a Sr. eDiscovery Consultant, where she managed eDiscovery projects from open to close with a focus on creative, consultative solutions to best meet clients’ needs.

Before joining Cognicion in 2018, Lindsay worked at UnitedLex where she managed simultaneous active review projects for clients in intellectual property, employment discrimination, and product liability matters.

Lindsay graduated from James Madison University and Western New England University School of Law. She is an active member of the Virginia State Bar. Lindsay and her husband live in Richmond, Virginia with their son and dog.

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Melanie Ricci

Manager, Review Services

Melanie is a seasoned eDiscovery and Managed Review consultant at Cognicion. With a comprehensive background in all facets of eDiscovery—from data processing and hosting to managed review and production services—Melanie excels in her role as Manager of Managed Review Services. Since joining the company in 2016, she has been committed to delivering strategic, high-quality results and providing expert leadership to our review teams. Her responsibilities include overseeing staffing, onboarding, and managing review workflows such as first pass, QC, and Privilege Review. Additionally, Melanie is adept at reporting review metrics and managing teams across various scales.

A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Melanie earned her degree in Legal Studies in 2009, followed by a Juris Doctorate from Ave Maria School of Law in 2013. She is an active member of both the Maryland and Virginia State Bars.

Residing in Allentown, NJ, Melanie balances her professional achievements with family life, enjoying time with her husband and their two young sons.

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Meet the Data Sleuths

The Cognicion Team

Our consultants and data management experts are every bit as important as the technology they use. Our teams are trained to efficiently guide law firms and legal departments through every kind of data management challenge.

Leadership and Management Team

Meet the
Data Sleuths