Tell us about your professional background and roles you’ve held prior to joining AireSpring.
I grew up in Oregon, working on a farm. I picked berries starting at age 8, and advanced through farm hand, working every summer through college. I learned a tremendous amount about the importance of a strong work ethic and teamwork while performing various duties on the farm, which is something I am proud of to this day. I graduated from the University of Rochester with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. Rather than pursuing research and managing chemical processes like most of my classmates, I decided my passion was working with, leading and inspiring people. I accepted a role in Accelerated Management with Rochester Telephone. My first job was Central Office Engineer, designing migrations from analog to digital class 5 switches and introducing some of the first automation of records. Through the program I held positions of Construction Supervisor, Construction Manager, OSP Engineering Manager, and by my second year I was promoted to Director Outside Plant and Construction.
Soon thereafter, I earned my MBA, concentrating in Operations Management. Rochester Telephone was on the leading edge of deregulation and created competitive companies including a long-distance company, and we changed our name to Frontier. My team led the design and partnered with Qwest to build the first dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) optimized nationwide long-haul fiber optic network, reaching nearly 100 cities and spanning over 20,000 miles. It was acquired by Global Crossing, and I led the data team, building a global IP network and tying the US network to Europe, South America and Asia via new undersea fiber optics networking cities across the globe with unparalleled capacity and data services.
In 2003, I moved to Mpower Communications as Chief Network Officer. I led the technical diligence leading to the acquisition of ICG fiber assets in California, resulting in an extremely cost-effective set of interconnected local access networks. That network was central to cost savings leading to TelePacific acquiring Mpower in 2006, and I became SVP Engineering and Operations for TelePacific. TelePacific executed 9 acquisitions and grew tenfold with organic and inorganic growth (and we changed our name to TPx along the way). TPx had a product suite rich in the services necessary to be a business customer’s one-stop shop, and it evolved into IT Managed Services. I was promoted to Chief Operating Officer TPx upon the private equity sale in 2019.
What led to your interest in AireSpring?
As an industry veteran, I knew Avi (Avi Lonstein, CEO, AireSpring) and the great work AireSpring had been doing for more than 15 years. He and I had many conversations over the years about technology, the ecosystem, and the products and services that customers want or would want if they had them. In 2021, Avi and I started discussions about rapid growth opportunities, outstanding customer service and the relative void in our industry for truly exceptional service, combined with the great opportunity the channel presents to exponentially achieve new heights if we delivered. I met Daniel (Daniel Lonstein, President and CRO, AireSpring) and David (David Lonstein, Exec VP Product, AireSpring) and together with Avi I was inspired by their utmost integrity and desire to be the best. AireSpring had a commitment to create a complete suite of products, intent on being the best. At that point I knew it was right for me to join them.
Tell us about your role at AireSpring and your goals for the organization.
Throughout my career, I have learned that people are our secret sauce. All the companies in our space have access to similar technology. My goal is to get the right people in the right place, with the right tools and automation to deliver an outstanding, industry leading customer experience. With the right people delivering delightful service, our partners will deliver us ever-increasing opportunities, knowing their hard-earned customers will get the best possible outcome. In my first year we have embarked on automation projects and structural alignments, hired additional talent to augment a strong base of team members, and much more to foster a winning culture focused on providing excellent customer service. And we had record growth!
Tell us about your hobbies outside of work.
I have two tracks--my wife Kathy and I have four children and six grandchildren. We enjoy spending time with all of them, seeing them grow into wonderful people and spoiling them as needed. We are blessed that each of our children have become successful adults, ranging from school administration, real estate, personal training, and entertainment. I believe they all have the work ethic gene, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.
The second track is sports. I love watching nearly all sports and follow several teams fairly closely. I am a huge Buffalo Bills fan, New York Yankees fan, and Vegas Golden Knights fan. I enjoy NASCAR and am currently a Kyle Busch fan (drivers come and go and change owners, so if you know, you know!). You might find me at a concert where my son is performing, at Little League with my grandkids, at T-Mobile stadium cheering on the Knights, or at any venue--including reclined in front of my 65-inch TV, yelling at it (again, if you know, you know!!).
