What's Inside

  1. AireSpring is Growing!
    • Scott Hailey Joins AireSpring as National Director of Channel Programs
    • AireSpring Adds Four Additional Channel Managers to its Award-Winning Channel Team
  2. AireSpring Honored with Two Industry Awards!
    • Tech Culture Award for Workplace Excellence
    • 2020 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award
  3. Product News
    • AireSpring Global Managed SD-WAN
    • VMware® SD-WAN by VeloCloud™ Advance 600 Series Edge Devices
    • AireSpring Gateway Access Changes
  4. AireSpring Eastern Virtual SD-WAN Boot Camp, July 16, 2020
  5. July Promo - It's Christmas in July!
  6. Partner Training - AireSpring's Global Managed SD-WAN Solution
  7. Join AireSpring at these Upcoming Events
  8. Partner Spotlight - Richard Padgett, President of PoinTek Solutions
  9. Meet the Team - Clinton Devereaux, Director of Solutions Engineering
 

AireSpring is Growing!

While many telecom companies are downsizing, AireSpring is growing! We are excited to announce the addition of five new Channel team members, including four new regional Channel Managers, to the AireSpring Channel Sales Team.

AireSpring's debt-free position and private, family-owned profile allows us to pursue an aggressive hiring strategy, tapping into an expanding pool of talent with the level of skill and dedication that meet our exacting standards. As businesses across the U.S. and around the world slowly phase in reopenings, AireSpring's growing channel team is better positioned than ever to connect partners and customers to our competitively priced, one-stop-shop of solutions and services.

Please join us in welcoming these new team members!

 

Former Call One and Fusion Channel Director Scott Hailey Joins AireSpring as National Director of Channel Programs

Channel sales veteran Scott Hailey has joined AireSpring as National Director of Channel Programs. This newly created position is a testament to AireSpring's deep commitment to partnering with the leading master agencies in the channel. Scott, a telecom executive with a sterling 20-plus year record in channel sales and business development, has been strategically responsible for helping Channel Partners, MSP's, VAR's, System Integrators, and IT Consultants nationwide expand their business into the multi-location/multi-service client markets, thus significantly growing their revenue and profit. Scott will work directly with top master agencies and strategic partners to further develop and empower relationships and revenue. He will coordinate close collaboration with master agencies on many levels, including events, education, promotions, incentives, channel recruitment and more. Scott will champion AireSpring's strategic commitment to serving these key partners and maximizing these valued relationships.

"As a 100% channel focused vendor, our master agency partners are our lifeblood. We are thrilled to have a seasoned partner development executive like Scott join the AireSpring team," stated John Young, AireSpring SVP of Channel Sales. "His extensive background in channel development makes him an ideal choice for us as we continue to build AireSpring's key relationships across the U.S. Scott brings a deep understanding of what it takes to develop and retain strategic partnerships in the Channel, and we look forward to working together to bring the full benefits of the AireSpring Advantage to all of our partners."

 

Patrick Harrison | Regional Channel Manager - Midwest

Ohio, West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, Kentucky

Pat Harrison joins AireSpring as Regional Channel Manager - Midwest, bringing a new, deeper level of support to our expanded footprint of partners throughout the region. Pat has a great 15-year record in telecom, including as a top producer at Time Warner Cable where he served as an Account Executive, achieving sales in the top three percent of the company, then serving as a Channel Sales Manager where he attracted two of the company's largest accounts in their history. Pat moved on to join IDT Corporation/Net2Phone, where he was most recently Senior National Channel Manager, securing deals for some of the largest enterprise accounts worldwide.

 

Rod Nichols | Regional Channel Manager -

Houston/Southeast Texas, Louisiana

Rod Nichols brings a 24-year record as an accomplished telecom veteran to AireSpring, most of that time devoted to the Channel. Prior to joining AireSpring, Rod served as a Global Channel Manager for Masergy. Before that, he was a Partner Sales Manager at Alpheus Communications where he was named as a President's Club Winner for two consecutive years. Rod has also held channel sales positions with some of telecom's top suppliers, including Comcast Business, XO Communications and MCI Worldcom. 

 

Fredric Worthy | AireSpring Regional Channel Manager - Florida

Fred Worthy joins the AireSpring Channel team as Regional Channel Manager, Florida. Based in the Ft. Lauderdale area, Fred will build on our presence in Florida with an emphasis on the Southern counties, further developing existing partnerships and building new ones. A 20-year veteran and top performer in telecom business development, Fred most recently held the position of Lead Commercial Account Executive at CenturyLink, developing new business, networking and managing customer relationships to maximize revenue. Prior to CenturyLink, he was National Account Manager/Team Lead at Votacall in South Florida. Previously, Fred held channel and business development positions with MayaTel Systems, Avaya and Comcast NBCUniversal.

 

Grant Whyard | AireSpring Regional Channel Manager -

Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Eastern Pennsylvania

Grant Whyard joins AireSpring's Channel Team as Regional Channel Manager, Mid-Atlantic region, covering Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Eastern Pennsylvania. Grant served as National Channel Sales Manager for Net2Phone, a subsidiary of International Discount Telecom (IDT) and global provider of VoIP and cloud-based telephony products and services. Previously, Grant was a Senior Account Manager with Logix Fiber Networks, an ISP CLEC providing long-haul fiber and phone lines for voice, data, cloud solutions, MPLS and private networking. He began his telecom career with IPro Media, Inc., developing new market expansion in the Texas region. In this new position, Grant will grow the AireSpring channel presence in the greater Mid-Atlantic region, leveraging his existing relationships and introducing new partners to AireSpring's expansive solutions portfolio.

 

A Message from John Young, Senior VP of Channel Sales

"We are excited to welcome this amazing new team of telecom high achievers to AireSpring. Fred Worthy brings an outstanding record of achievement in building relationships and understanding of customer needs, along with his knowledge of new and evolving technologies," stated John Young, SVP of Channel Sales. "Fred's deep network among businesses throughout the region will help to further grow AireSpring's service to the Channel.

"Grant Whyard is a welcome addition to the AireSpring Channel Team as we deepen our commitment to the mid-Atlantic region, expanding the AireSpring footprint and bringing our signature customer service and next-gen solutions to partners and customers," John continued. "His energy and excitement about telecom are an ideal fit with the all-in AireSpring culture of commitment and teamwork. Rod Nichols' tremendous record and deep telecom experience will ensure that AireSpring's support for the South Texas region is more robust than ever before, and Pat Harrison's outstanding track record and love of telecom will build new and greater partner relationships throughout the Mid-West."

 

AireSpring Receives Tech Culture Award for Workplace Excellence

AireSpring is very proud to receive the Tech Culture Award for Workplace Excellence, presented by TMCnet, in recognition of our commitment to creating the ideal tech culture. AireSpring leadership fosters our unique culture and commitment to employee satisfaction to ensure that team members thrive while delivering exceptional customer and channel partner service. AireSpring continues to innovate, regularly introducing the new, cutting-edge solutions that have produced 19 years of exponential, profitable growth.

Our stability in a tumultuous industry has enabled a powerful recruitment process that attracts only top tier employees, who in turn find ample opportunity to broaden their skill sets. AireSpring recruits the best and brightest by calibrating the right mix of benefits with culture and opportunity. The outstanding training tools provided to employees along with the open communication channels up and down the management structure help to deliver stellar survey ratings year after year. AireSpring's high-performance tech culture also fosters camaraderie and a sense of fun, while keeping the focus on serving partners and customers with excellence.

 

AireSpring Honored with 2020 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award

AireSpring is very proud to have received the 2020 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award, conferred by TMC's Internet Telephony magazine, for our AirePBX UCaaS with Managed Connectivity solution. The award honors the most innovative unified communications products and solutions available over the past twelve months as judged by the magazine's editors. 

AireSpring's AirePBX UCaaS Solution with Managed Connectivity delivers complete professional communications capabilities with enterprise class features. In a crowded field of one-size-fits-all UCaaS solutions from competing telecom providers, AireSpring stands out by employing an in-house UCaaS design team to work with each UCaaS customer and on-site configuration, installation and testing, free Polycom IP phones with a 3 year contract and guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS) over an advanced, nationwide, fully meshed network, AireSpring offers AirePBX in two versions, AirePBX Business or AirePBX Enterprise, with the ability to mix licenses that accommodate different levels of employees.

 

AireSpring Global Managed SD-WAN is advancing global connectivity to a new level, taking down barriers that formerly challenged national and multinational enterprises, taking a holistic, as-a-service, approach to global connectivity. Our managed service frees enterprises from the complexities of procuring, deploying, monitoring, managing, and supporting SD-WAN and its many components. AireSpring transforms expensive, complex and rigid legacy networks into simplified, cost-efficient, agile and performance-driven business solutions.

Here are the Top Ten Reasons AireSpring Global Managed SD-WAN is the best solution for your national and multi-national customers.

  1. Powered by VMware® SD-WAN by Velo Cloud - Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader for WAN Edge Infrastructure.
  2. Fully-managed Layer 2 Global Private Network, backed by a single-provider global SLA that replaces the inherent unreliability of long-haul public Internet, to reduce latency, packet loss, jitter and over-subscribed networks.
  3. Flexible network deployment options with managed hybrid network that combines AireSpring Global Private Network and last mile public Internet.
  4. PoPs geographically distributed around the world.
  5. Replaces or augments expensive, capacity-constrained, and rigid legacy MPLS networks.
  6. Leverages powerful orchestration and management platform for deep granularity and improved control.
  7. Globally connects directly to multi-clouds and SaaS for enhanced application performance.
  8. Accesses highly-available, dedicated connectivity to-and-from locations in China.
  9. Leverages a single vendor to source, design, implement, monitor, and support last mile Internet connections globally.
  10. Proactive 24/7/365 NOC network monitoring and resolution support, covering all connectivity, whether provided by AireSpring or other vendors.
 

AireSpring Leads the Channel with the Latest

VMware® SD-WAN by VeloCloud™ Edge Devices

AireSpring is proud to announce the availability of the exciting new 600 series of VMware® SD-WAN by VeloCloud™ edge devices. AireSpring is pleased to be one of the first MSP's to beta test the software required to support the new 600 series models, providing its channel partners and customers with a true "edge," as they work to gain an advantage in the challenging business environment of digital transformation.

To facilitate the rollout of the 600 series, AireSpring worked closely with the VeloCloud engineering team to configure, test and deploy the new software in its core network prior to its general release to the marketplace. AireSpring was one of the first partners to upgrade all its VeloCloud Gateways (VCGs) worldwide to support this latest software release. AireSpring Global Managed SD-WAN includes industry-leading VMware SD-WAN by VeloCloud technology, our carrier-grade Global Private Network (GPN) with globally distributed PoPs, and last mile circuit procurement, all monitored and supported 24/7/365, through our global NOCs.

The new SD-WAN Edge 600 series devices combine a purpose-built networking appliance from Dell with the VMware SD-WAN by VeloCloud software for an all-in-one solution that provides complete WAN modernization. Additionally, the Edge 600 series also includes centralized orchestration and global gateways with Dynamic Multi-Path Optimization (DMPO) which has been demonstrated to deliver up to a 75% reduction in costs over traditional MPLS-backed WAN designs, and increase performance for state-of-the-art applications.

 

AireSpring Gateway Access

AireSpring Gateway Access (AGA) is changing to offer customers more flexibility. The AGA bandwidth will continue to match to the in-tunnel bandwidth license chosen. The option to vary AGA bandwidth is available for licenses above 200 Mbps. AGA has a maximum in-tunnel bandwidth of 2000 Mbps regardless of the VeloCloud box in-tunnel bandwidth license chosen. AGA up to 200 Mbps will remain free for AireSpring Customers.

For more detailed information on these and other AireSpring products and services, please contact your AireSpring Channel Manager.

 

Earn Certification in AireSpring's SD-WAN Solutions and

a $150.00 Amazon gift card for completing the Boot Camp!

AireSpring's one-day SD-WAN Boot Camps are Webinars! Earn Certification in AireSpring's SD-WAN Solutions and a $150.00 Amazon gift card for completing the Boot Camp!

  • Attend a full day's training session via MaX UC Webinar on SD-WAN, the go-to technology for improving control, management, business agility, uptime, security and data encryption of Wide Area Networks. 
  • Learn from our SVP Solutions Engineering and SD-WAN guru, Mike Chase, J.D., CCIE #7226, aka "Dr. Cloud."
  • Leave with a better understanding of how AireSpring's solutions, like Platinum SD-WAN by VeloCloud™ now part of VMware, serve your customers' changing business needs.

Reviews from our recent Boot Camp:

"Mike Chase did an exceptional job presenting! Best training I've attended, by far, in my 12 years in this industry."

- Justin Duffy, SKS Communications

"Mike's insight and industry knowledge helped me to gain a different perspective on future opportunities for SD-WAN. Thank you!"

- Lori Norton, Telstrong

"Probably the best training webinar I've attended in my 25 years of telecom."

- Julie Gilbert, Digital Management Solutions

"Great training event with SD-WAN guru, Mike Chase. Mike is amazing and has so much knowledge."

- Paul Feather, Founder, IT Compliance Services by Compu-Netics, LLC

What: AireSpring Eastern Region Virtual SD-WAN Boot Camp

Presenter: Mike Chase, J.D. CCIE, SVP Solutions Engineering

When: Thursday July 16, 2020

Boot Camp: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (ET) 

Break: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm (ET)

Space is limited! Deadline to Register is Wednesday July 15th at 8 PM ET.

Every channel partner attendee who completes the training will receive a

$150 Amazon gift card for their participation!

Previous 2020 Boot Camp attendees not eligible. All attendees must register in advance!

 

It's Christmas in July!

Industry-leading AireSpring SPIFFs are still working on your behalf! Get rewards for your hard work as you grow into the future. AireSpring Partners earn an amazing: 

  • 1X MRC on SD-WAN Services
  • 1X MRC on Global SD-WAN Services
  • 6X MRC on Voice/Cloud Services
  • 1.5X MRC on Connectivity Services & MPLS
  • $1600 Cash Bonus on Toll-Free Services
  • $800 Cash Bonus on LD Services

Earn even more with ongoing extra bonuses on these deals: 

  • 5% EXTRA Bonus Residual Commission on AireSpring Network & SIP LD underlying it all. 

AireSpring provides everything you need to fulfill your service and support requirements, including:

  • Project coordinators & managed services engineers assigned to each order
  • Free consultation with solutions engineering team
  • 24/7/365 NOC Network Monitoring
  • 20-second response time to support calls
  • Escalation list up to our CEO

AireSpring is the One-Stop-Shop for Managed Communications, Network and IT Services and flexible cost-effective SD-WAN solutions, with a complete lineup of products from POTs to Global Managed SD-WAN.  AireSpring's unique multilocation expertise continues to bring you one bill, one point of contact and one responsible vendor.

Why wait till December when you can get an extra "gift" this July! Include AireSpring SD-WAN in any deal and earn an EXTRA PRIZE-on top of your usual commission and SPIFF (based on total deal value-not just the SD-WAN portion)!

AireSpring wants to spread that giving spirit as we head into the second half of the year. We're celebrating Christmas early in July with a heartwarming Amazon Gift Card for some mid-year cheer. All you have to do is include AireSpring SD-WAN with any deal you bring in this month. You can earn:

  • A $100 Amazon gift card on deals worth $1000 to $2499
  • A $250 Amazon gift card on deals worth $2500 to $4999, and
  • A $500 Amazon gift card on deals worth $5000 or MORE!

AireSpring offers more than one way to close your SD-WAN deals, with three powerful solution choices. There is sure to be a perfect fit for your customer, including:

  • AireSpring fully managed Platinum SD-WAN by VeloCloud, now with, FREE DDoS mitigation service; AireSpring Cisco® Meraki® SD-WAN with Firewall; AireSpring Global Managed SD-WAN, combining the power of SD-WAN with the reliability of our Global Private Network.
  • Add in FREE 24/7 proactive network monitoring; FREE Granular Configuration Capabilities; FREE Solutions Engineering Design Services; and White Glove Configuration, Installation and Support Services and it really does feel like Christmas!

Orders must be completed by midnight PT, July 31, 2020 to qualify.

Contact your Channel Manager for details.

 

AireSpring and VMware will team up for an educational webinar focusing on AireSpring's Global Managed SD-WAN solution and why it is quickly replacing or augmenting expensive, capacity-constrained, rigid legacy MPLS networks. AireSpring and VMware are changing the game when it comes to how global SD-WAN is delivered.

AireSpring's Global Managed SD-WAN frees enterprises from the complexities of procuring, deploying, monitoring, managing, and supporting SD-WAN and its many components. AireSpring transforms expensive, complex, and rigid legacy networks, into simplified, cost-efficient, agile, and performance-driven business solutions.

In this webinar, you'll learn why AireSpring Global Managed SD-WAN is the best solution for your national and multi-national customers:

  • Learn about the Top Ten advantages of a Global Private Network, the challenges of global application delivery, the complexities involved and the advantages of partnering with AireSpring.
  • Learn how to determine the necessary components and pricing elements that make up a Global Managed SD-WAN solution.
  • Discover the key differentiators and advantages of AireSpring's Global Managed SD-WAN service, such as 18 global gateway locations connected by a fully managed and meshed Global Private Network (GPN).
  • Learn how your customers can deliver encrypted traffic to and from China without being blocked by the Golden Shield Project.

Learn why AireSpring's customizable Global Managed SD-WAN service should be in your portfolio in 2020, and how it differs from the other products on the market today.

Enter our drawing at the end for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.

What: AireSpring Global Managed SD-WAN - A Modern Solution for Global Business

Presenters: Rajendra Chayapathi, VMware Senior Systems Engineer

Dave Pierce, AireSpring Director of Global SD-WAN

Eli Lazich, AireSpring Director of Business Development Global SD-WAN 

When: Thursday July 23, 2020 | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm (PT) 

 

AireSpring's Eastern Region

Virtual SD-WAN Boot Camp

July 16, 2020 | 10:00 am - 2:30 pm (PT)

REGISTER HERE

TBI Big Event

Chicago, IL

August 20, 2020

 

To begin, please tell us a little about yourself, your agency, and your professional background in Telecom?

I have been in telecom for 33 years. What a blast it has been! I started out as a National Account Manager for Wiltel, assisting all National Account Managers in selling new cutting edge solutions like bandwidth on demand to Fortune 100 accounts. My next stop was in Birmingham, AL as National Account Manager and then Branch Sales Manager for Sprint, where I managed the operating budget and directed all business sales in Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida panhandle. Together with my sales and support staff of 16 individuals, we were responsible for annual sales in excess of $10 million. I moved on to become General Manager for American Communications Services, Inc. (ACSI), building out three Metro Fiber Networks while developing and directing a sales and support team. We successfully generated 153% of annual plan revenues. ACSI was then a new CLEC; they served several markets in the Southeast, and were acquired several years later.

My next career move was as Senior National Account Manager for Intermedia Communications. I was responsible for direct sales and the acquisition of wholesale revenue. Following Intermedia, I joined 360networks as Director of Sales, Southeast, where I managed a high-powered strategic direct sales team engaged in the acquisition of carrier, next generation, and large multinational accounts. Services included Optical Transport (OC3-OC192), Optical Virtual Private Line (newest deliverable optical platform), IP Transport, IP Transit, Colocation, Dark Fiber and Conduit. I then moved on to join GlobeNet Communications, an operating unit of 360networks, as Director of Sales. My final stop was NuVox which was acquired by Windstream Communications in 2010, where I served as National and Major Account Executive.

By 2014, I found that Windstream had not adequately integrated the many smaller companies it acquired, and customers were growing dissatisfied with their service. I saw a great opportunity to continue serving my best customers through my own company, and started my agency, PoinTek Solutions. As the name suggests, our main focus is to "take the point" in learning about new technologies and finding the proper technology solutions for customers. I go further by taking on the full customer life cycle, working with the customer to ensure that solutions are designed and installed properly. The majority of my time is spent supporting our premier customer, Pratt Industries, as they grow their business across the U.S. with a presence in nearly every state.

What do you like about working with AireSpring?

I started our relationship with AireSpring toward the end of 2018, working with Jesse Michael [AireSpring Regional Channel Manager, Southeast], with whom I had worked when he was a major account manager at Windstream. I reconnected with Jesse after he joined AireSpring. We ordered circuits for Pratt, and their Technical Services Manager, Juan Merelo, asked to visit AireSpring headquarters-he prefers working with companies about the size of AireSpring. He made the trip and met with Avi Lonstein, CEO. He was taken on a thorough tour of AireSpring headquarters, where Avi introduced him to multiple team members, returning from the trip with high praise for AireSpring and the way they work. The personal touch that AireSpring delivers was evident from the CEO down through the entire company. People are willing to be flexible and communicate effectively up and down the organization, in contrast to the Tier 1 companies that show no flexibility and work with strict edicts from the top down.

"The personal touch that AireSpring delivers was evident from the CEO down through the entire company. People are willing to be flexible and communicate effectively up and down the organization, in contrast to the Tier 1 companies that show no flexibility and work with strict edicts from the top down.The number one strength has to be the great people that support me and my key customer. Everyone has been so supportive and responsive, it's the best service I've ever experienced. "

"In contrast with many mega-carriers that acquire and absorb multiple smaller companies, AireSpring remains a stable ally, a partner that will consistently fulfill its commitments to serving partners and customers, and to ensuring that its quality products and services retain their high standards."

There is so much to like about AireSpring. The number one strength has to be the great people that support me and my key customer. Everyone has been so supportive and responsive, it's the best service I've ever experienced. Anything Pratt Industries has asked for has been delivered with excellence, a true "White Glove" experience! Other organizations use the term, but their actions don't live up to the name like AireSpring's. I also like the tools that AireSpring has for its partners, like QuoteSpring, the real-time automated online quoting tool. It saves me from chasing a lot of different providers to get a quote -  it is awesome. AireSpring truly makes it easy to sell and to support customers.

The fact that AireSpring is a debt-free organization is highly unusual in our industry and very important. It means there are no worries of a venture capital group destroying the enterprise to meet their own personal goals. In contrast with many mega-carriers that acquire and absorb multiple smaller companies, AireSpring remains a stable ally, a partner that will consistently fulfill its commitments to serving partners and customers, and to ensuring that its quality products and services retain their high standards. 

"What I love about telecom is it changes so much with new and different services. It keeps me interested getting to know the new offerings. You have to constantly communicate that new information to your customer, because if you don't, someone else will."

What would you say is the secret to being a successful agent? 

Developing and maintaining the trust of your customer, and always doing the right thing for the customer no matter what the personal impact. You have to be a good general businessperson so that when you review bills for your customers, you can look at them and know what their available options are and you're certain that what you recommend is truly the right thing for them. That is a big part of gaining their trust. Recently we've made sure when going into a new location to ask to see current billings. We sometimes uncover old, inactive sites for a single location, including one that had been billed for seven years on a past location. They were being charged for an old line to the tune of $10,000 a month! You have to fight those battles for the customer. It's really important to go several layers deeper than the obvious and folks appreciate it. When you sign an agreement, make sure that you verify and educate them as to what is involved. Help them by auditing old bills, staying active in the account and showing concern for that individual first, and then the company second. Think of them as your family member and treat them accordingly. 

People entering the channel for the first time can find a lot of very fine, experienced master agents. I chose not to go through those guys and have become my own master agent, but if you're new, it's your best bet to find a good master agent to start. Just be sure to interview more than one. What I love about telecom is it changes so much with new and different services. It keeps me interested getting to know the new offerings. You have to constantly communicate that new information to your customer, because if you don't, someone else will.

What is the "next big thing" you think agents should be aware of for 2020?

On the whole, I think 5G and larger bandwidth/wavelength options should be watched. In our area 5G is not "ready for prime time" yet, but I was intrigued by the AireSpring Partner presentation with AT&T's 5G expert Todd Zeiler, AVP of Network Services a few months ago. You have to help your customers understand the limitations but start planning for a year or two from now. Our key customer, Pratt Industries is in almost every state all over the U.S. and we will want to keep on top of changes in 5G for some of their locations.

What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of telecom? 

My family is Number One. We absolutely love spending time together. My wife's Mom turned 95 at the end of May, so we gather around her as often as possible. My daughter lives in Los Angeles, and my son is in Atlanta. I also have children in North Carolina. Every year we take two or three trips together, often renting a big house in the Bahamas. My only grandchild turned three in May one day after my mother-in-law's birthday, so you will find the majority of us in North Carolina, celebrating together as a family whenever we can! I manage to work in a few games of golf and I enjoy a Friday card group, playing Canasta with friends. I enjoy playing the popular video game Call of Duty Blackout, especially when I'm waiting for my family to get ready for an outing on the weekend. My son-in-law gave me a t-shirt that says, "I Paused My Game To Be Here!" I am always looking for opportunities to help someone else out in any small way that I can.

 
 

Please tell us about your professional background and how long you've been in the telecom industry.

I started my career in telecom in 1987, having just come out of the U.S. military, where I served my country for six years. I started with New England Telephone in the business customer service center as a business rep, writing service orders for provisioning. Then I moved on to work  at NYNEX. As a member of my union shop, IBEW Local #2222, I realized that outside of the business offices there was a back-end delivering the services, which made me curious. I started studying for additional tests and got certified, first as a wire frame tech, running the pairs on a wire frame and connecting them to different resources. I next became a cable vault technician. When broadband came into being and ISDN was the next big thing, I became an ISDN tech. I also became a DMS500 tech and did switch translations, taking orders and provisioning them myself manually.

These steps gave me important experience in the grassroots of telecom, all while I was attending college and getting a BS degree in electronics technology. At the time, Silicon Valley was the source of all the new technologies being created, and that drove my curiosity. Working at the phone company helped put all the pieces together for me. I next got my Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification in Windows Server 2008 CCNA, then worked for many more years at NYNEX and later Bell Atlantic when they merged, as a network consultant, working with the largest accounts, consulting with the C-level executives and serving as the advocate for Bank of Boston and other multi-million dollar accounts. All this early background gave me an understanding of how things came to be, which helps me to stay caught up on all the new developments.

When competition opened up for other telecom companies, I was recruited from Bell Atlantic to Connectiv Communications, one of the first competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) where I worked on number portability. Then Cavalier Telephone acquired Connectiv Communications, and I went on to direct their Move Add Change Disconnect (MACD) department. I then transitioned into a sales engineering role and found it was the ideal fit for me. I next accepted an opportunity at Broadview Networks, managing a team of 14 sales engineers. Over time, I recognized the greater earning opportunities in sales and became an individual contributor with Broadview as a sales engineer, selling network equipment and designing network solutions, which fulfilled both my technology interests and my personal goals.

I left Cavalier to join iCore Networks as a Senior Sales Engineer where I worked for six years, before they were purchased by Vonage Business. After the acquisition I continued to serve as a sales engineer but was then promoted to technical trainer. I found there were a lot of products but no one showing people how they worked. I took on the administration of two enterprise-sized learning management systems, SABA and Docebo, also creating videos and content for the training program. Most recently, I joined Nuso Cloud as a Cloud Solutions Engineer, creating solutions around their infrastructure IaaS, SaaS and UCaaS. 

Tell us about your role at AireSpring and what you hope to accomplish here. 

I want to work for a company that is going places and has integrity, and I believe AireSpring is that place. I'd like to become the person, like Mike Chase, SVP of Solutions Engineering, that everybody comes to for everything, so that I am well versed in products and culture, and I can become an answer hub. It's very valuable in a company like AireSpring, that's why guys like Mike and Chuck Long, Solutions Engineer, are such an important knowledge base.

I enjoy designing Layer 2 and 3 networks for customers and having an understanding of both the technology and what AireSpring can do with it. I will convey that to the team that I'll be managing, as we work to expand our world-class solutions engineering team that is recognized by our competitors, as well as our partners and customers. We have the right leader in Mike Chase and he has already led the team to a great start.

What attracted you to AireSpring?

What attracted me was the fact that I had competed against AireSpring-and lost-in the past. We were up against an AireSpring Channel Partner working with Mike Chase and Chuck Long, and I was impressed by the power of AireSpring. Calling the team Solutions Engineering makes more sense than sales engineering, as other companies do, because it distinguishes the process from the sales function and eliminates the typical squabbles that can emerge between engineering and sales. I'm discovering just how unique AireSpring is, for example in the way we handle IP traffic and the IP routing options we offer. A lot of carriers don't make that available to their customers. 

What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of the office?

I consider myself a technologist. I was always interested in current and future tech and I keep up with it purely for my own interest, as well as my profession. I'm also interested in mycology, the study of fungus-I grow medicinal mushrooms, like shitake.

I also refurbish classic audio gear to its original glory (Harmon Kardon, Sansui, Pioneer, etc.) and design and build my own 2- and 3-stage single-ended triode tube audio amplifiers. I've built (and sold) quite a few custom designs that are still gracing the listening rooms of those discerning audiophiles. I'm a musician and I play guitar. I have collected a vintage guitar for each of the music genres I love. Putting them together with these amplifiers lets me hear the sound as I intended it.

 
 
 
 

Not a Partner? Join our Program!

AireSpring is an award-winning provider of Managed Connectivity and Cloud Communications solutions providing fully managed and connected end-to-end, next-generation solutions for multi-location enterprise customers, including:

AireSpring's services are delivered over its revolutionary nationwide MPLS Mesh Network, providing customers a fully integrated, end-to-end solution from a single vendor.