Our Team
Gezim Hoxha
hgezim@kalif.caBusiness Analyst, Programmer
The first time I saw a personal computer in use, I was completely blown away. The fact that Microsoft Paint allows you to draw and then just erase something with no consequence was really fascinating. Of course, at this point I didn't even dream of owning a computer. Then I moved to Canada!
When I moved to Canada, I was pleasantly surprised to find computers readily available. Not owning one, I spent as much time as I could at the Edmonton public library learning to design websites and trying my hand at programming. I then went to University of Edmonton and majored in Computer Science and, as they say, the rest is history.
I used to be an entrepreneur of sorts even as a kid back in the old country. It ranged from selling scarves, chocolate cookies and helping my dad at the local market. Fast forward a decade, I'm now very fascinated with business models, startups and all things business, really. Some of my favourite books on the subject are E-myth Revisited; Fire, Ready, Aim; and Making Ideas Happen and Business Model Genration.
For all the above experiences, I first thank God for granting me such a beautiful life. Secondly, I thank my family for the continued support (hi mom!) including my soon-to-be wife.
Rahil Tarique
rahil.tarique@kalif.caGraphics and Interaction Designer
At the young age of 14, Rahil used to escape out onto his roof, look at the stars and dream about aliens. Sigh. He would also write on his diary about how no one understood him. We think he started writing poetry later on.
I was going to be an astronomer. I was getting myself ready to be the first man to ever walk on Mars. I would have been the first Bengali to be in space. I was going to replace Stephen Hawking as the Einstein of our time.....Noble Prize in Excellence in Physics was only a matter of time......until.....I failed in chemistry in my very first semester at the University of Edmonton and chickened out of physics and changed my major to Computer Science. But that's not when I learned how to make websites.
I have been making websites since 1997 with a very keen interest on the design aspect of things. Just like the astronomer in me wants to go to infinity and beyond, the designer in me wants to design websites that are user friendly and eye catching. Besides my shenanigans with Kalif, I currently reside in Cow-Town (Calgary) and am working for the University of Calgary as a web developer for the Faculty of Education and Veterinary Medicine. When I am not busy with websites, I love eating, playing with my son Musa, listening to my wife talk, and watching cricket and wrestling (ok, ya I know it's fake). God has blessed me with a really awesome family and some fantastic friends - All Praises be to Him and Him only. Peace.
Abdirazak Said
a.said@kalif.caManager, Sales and Marketing
We feel it's imperative you know that Abdirazak has some special powers. These include, the ability to have goosebumps on demand (no jokes, I've seen this!), the ability to sweat on demand, and the ability to "sense" when a cell-phone is about to ring. The last one is unconfirmed but he thinks it happened once.
I did most of my growing up in Canada. A lot of people don't know this, but I like tricky riddles and very random statistics. I was always on the right side of things and kept out of trouble. I love basketball and I was very competitive in High School. After High School I first enrolled in University in the B.Sc Chemistry program later on finding out that it wasn't for me.
I then enrolled in in the University of Edmonton Bachelor of Management program and it became my home. While at the University of Edmonton, I met Gezim and Rahil. We became very good friends and together developed a great entrepreneurial spirit, encouraging and motivating each other. In the past I've worked for Dell Canada and more recently at Enbridge Inc. where I was part of Corporate IT Operations. Kalif should be thankful for my winning attitude, intellectuality, and experience that I bring, really!
