# Merit Systems Team - LinkedIn Headshots & Profiles

Last updated: [REDACTED_PHONE]

## Sam Ragsdale (CEO & Founder)
- **LinkedIn**: linkedin.com/in/sam-ragsdale-2ba55b122
- **Photo (800px)**: `https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D5603AQH9fBrwUX865w/profile-displayphoto-shrink_800_800/profile-displayphoto-shrink_800_800/0/[REDACTED_PHONE]?e=[REDACTED_PHONE]&v=beta&t=eM7KUnGk1h6TCTAG7LLpqc2Td00fhrRaoiOf1Q1fSaE`
- **Description**: Young man, short dark brown hair, light eyes, clean-shaven, warm smile, light blue button-up shirt, social gathering background
- **Career**: Merit Systems (Founder & CEO, 2024-) → a16z (Investment Engineer, [REDACTED_PHONE]) → Google (SWE, [REDACTED_PHONE]) → AWS (intern)

## Ryan Sproule (CTO)
- **LinkedIn**: linkedin.com/in/ryansproule
- **Photo (800px)**: `https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D5603AQHx1BSKFJCyVg/profile-displayphoto-shrink_800_800/profile-displayphoto-shrink_800_800/0/[REDACTED_PHONE]?e=[REDACTED_PHONE]&v=beta&t=gc2ImWY6YSB9ORtO9XUXeNw9-587LkNrDbLB4v8dVYM`
- **Description**: Young man, strawberry blond/reddish-brown hair, blue eyes, fair complexion, light stubble, warm smile, gray crewneck t-shirt

## Mason Hall (Head of Strategy)
- **LinkedIn**: linkedin.com/in/hallmason
- **LinkedIn Photo**: Not available via API (likely privacy setting)
- **Local Photo**: `~/Code/merit-systems/CraigClaw/assets/team-photos/mason-hall.png` (1.4MB, 1203x1203 ✅)
- **Description**: Young man, short brown hair parted to the side, brown eyes, clean-shaven, broad friendly smile, tan polo shirt with dotted pattern, blue backdrop
- **Note**: Formerly a16z. Open Water Scuba Diver (PADI certified).

## Shafu / Sharif Elfouly (Founding Engineer)
- **LinkedIn**: linkedin.com/in/sharif-elfouly-[REDACTED_PHONE]
- **Photo**: No LinkedIn photo found via scrape. GitHub avatar (shafu0x) is pixel art.
- **Full name**: Sharif Elfouly

## Jason Hedman (Founding Engineer)
- **LinkedIn**: linkedin.com/in/jason-hedman
- **Photo (800px)**: `https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/C5603AQGR5D0sMOD69g/profile-displayphoto-shrink_800_800/profile-displayphoto-shrink_800_800/0/[REDACTED_PHONE]?e=[REDACTED_PHONE]&v=beta&t=PVgTJCyAyhATlvkPBWMmKe_ViYUux5XmbzI0ZxXDbp4`
- **Description**: Young man, wavy brown hair, blue eyes, friendly smile, navy suit, white shirt, burgundy tie, professional portrait

## Alvaro Echevarria Cuesta (Founding Engineer)
- **LinkedIn**: linkedin.com/in/alvaro-echevarria-cuesta-6687b91b4
- **Photo (800px)**: `https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/C4D03AQE70HgjanvSng/profile-displayphoto-shrink_800_800/profile-displayphoto-shrink_800_800/0/[REDACTED_PHONE]?e=[REDACTED_PHONE]&v=beta&t=DqqKwyzrF7pOIkqUWBLY30fk8rSgu1B3gZB9xdD9riM`
- **Description**: Young man, short wavy dark brown hair, light stubble, tortoiseshell glasses, navy top with tan scarf, European street background

## Ben Reilly (Founding Engineer)
- **LinkedIn**: linkedin.com/in/ben-reilly-07100a193
- **Photo (800px)**: `https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/C4D03AQHlYAtpMgtMvw/profile-displayphoto-shrink_800_800/profile-displayphoto-shrink_800_800/0/[REDACTED_PHONE]?e=[REDACTED_PHONE]&v=beta&t=XMbBZNKfFIu3EhquPP-Kk6yaiQvM8EZ9FnwbQEY13Wo`
- **Description**: Young man, curly light brown hair, broad smile, athletic build, navy suit, white shirt, red/blue striped tie

## Mitch Morgan
- **LinkedIn**: Not found
- **Photo**: Not available
- **Note**: Apollo returned name "Mitch Morgan" but no LinkedIn or photo data

## Notes
- LinkedIn photo URLs expire (check `e=` parameter for expiry timestamp)
- For high-res, use `shrink_800_800` variant; for thumbnails use `shrink_200_200`
- Mason and Shafu have no real photos available anywhere — only pixel art GitHub avatars
- Mitch has no online presence found