The Ascent Begins: A Conversation with Sonya Ziegler Meline, President & Co-Founder of Sierra Peak Solutions

20.11.25 03:43 PM - By Gary Herbert
Sonya Meline

We recently announced a significant milestone for Sierra Peak Solutions: the appointment of Sonya Ziegler Meline as our President and Co-Founder! This isn't just a new title; it represents a powerful alignment of vision, expertise, and a shared mission to empower businesses in the digital age.

As the Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing at Blue Team Alpha, a veteran-owned, comprehensive cybersecurity force, she leveraged over 15 years of experience in business strategy, transformation, and growth. She created and executed plans that delivered industry-leading results and customer satisfaction. She has a proven track record of developing competitive market advantages, identifying new markets, segments, and channel partnerships, and increasing revenue, market share, and shareholder value for diverse organizations across various sectors.

She is also a certified healthcare compliance professional and an emerging Gartner Tech CEO trainee, with deep expertise in cybersecurity, compliance, and incident response. She has successfully handled breach investigations across all 16 critical infrastructure sectors, working alongside the highest caliber talent in the cybersecurity industry, including many former nation-state-level government employees. She is passionate about building and leading organizations with a creative and inspiring vision that motivates and empowers her teams and clients to achieve new heights of performance and innovation. She operates by a "pay it forward" philosophy, offering pro bono consulting to not-for-profit and world-changing organizations.

To truly understand what this means for our partners and clients, we sat down with Sonya and Randy (Co-Founder/Partner Randy Hencken) for a candid conversation about her journey, our shared purpose, and the exciting future of Sierra Peak Solutions.

Q: Sonya, welcome! Your background is incredibly impressive. Can you share a bit about your journey that led you to co-found Sierra Peak Solutions?

Sonya: Thank you! It’s an honor to be here. My career has always been driven by a passion for creating impact through strategic growth and innovation. Over the past 15+ years, whether in business strategy, transformation, or market development, I've focused on helping organizations not just grow, but truly thrive by identifying competitive advantages and expanding into new opportunities.

A significant part of that journey was at Blue Team Alpha, where as SVP of Business Development and Marketing, I was immersed in the critical world of cybersecurity. There, I had the privilege of working with some of the highest caliber talent—many of whom are former nation-state-level employees—tackling breach investigations across all 16 critical infrastructure sectors. This experience deepened my expertise in cybersecurity, compliance, and incident response, and really solidified my belief that robust security is not just a necessity, but a fundamental enabler of business success.

The idea behind Sierra Peak Solutions resonated deeply with me because it’s about taking that comprehensive, strategic approach and making it accessible and actionable for every business. It's about bridging the gap between complex digital challenges and clear, effective solutions.

Q: That depth of experience in cybersecurity is invaluable. Randy, what made Sonya the ideal partner to co-found Sierra Peak Solutions?

Randy: From our very first conversations, it was clear that Sonya brought not only a profound level of expertise but also an incredible energy and visionary leadership. Her background in building and scaling organizations, coupled with her deep understanding of cybersecurity from the trenches, perfectly complements our mission.

We often say we're "leading the ascent in secure digital transformation," and Sonya embodies that spirit. Her ability to translate complex technical needs into clear business strategies, her dedication to client satisfaction, and her 'pay it forward' philosophy of giving back to world-changing organizations—these are all core tenets we want to embed in Sierra Peak Solutions. It's more than just technical solutions; it's about building trust and long-term partnerships, and Sonya excels at that.

Q: Sonya, given your extensive experience, what excites you most about the unique mission of Sierra Peak Solutions?

Sonya: What truly excites me is our commitment to being more than just a vendor; we aim to be a genuine partner. Many businesses face overwhelming challenges in navigating multi-vendor environments, ensuring compliance, or simply keeping their networks robust and secure. Our mission at Sierra Peak Solutions is to simplify that journey.

We’re here to provide clarity in digital complexity, bringing together the right solutions and expertise to help businesses not only meet their immediate needs but also strategically plan for the future. Whether it's transitioning to SD-WAN, enhancing network reliability for a small retail business, or integrating advanced cybersecurity measures, we focus on delivering tangible, impactful results. My passion lies in empowering teams and clients to achieve new heights of performance and innovation, and that's precisely what Sierra Peak Solutions is built to do.

Q: Looking ahead, what do you envision for Sierra Peak Solutions under your leadership? What can clients and partners expect?

Sonya: Our vision is to be the trusted advisor and go-to partner for businesses seeking secure and strategic digital transformation. Under my leadership, clients and partners can expect an unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and proactive support. We will continue to expand our capabilities, explore emerging technologies, and cultivate an ecosystem of best-in-class solutions.

We're going to double down on our collaborative approach – ensuring that communication is clear, implementation is efficient, and post-sale support is exceptional. We want every interaction with Sierra Peak Solutions to reinforce our dedication to their success. Ultimately, we aim to be the force that enables businesses to not just adapt to the digital future, but to confidently lead within it.

The Future is Bright

The entire Sierra Peak Solutions team is thrilled to embark on this new chapter with Sonya Ziegler Meline at the helm as President and Co-Founder. Her strategic vision, profound expertise, and inspiring leadership are invaluable as we continue our mission to empower businesses with solutions that drive secure growth and lasting success.

Stay tuned for more updates and insights from Sierra Peak Solutions!

Gary Herbert