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KEYNOTE
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Peter Carson, Senior Director, Product Management, Qualcomm
Peter Carson is responsible for leading the semiconductor (QCT) division’s modem strategy and roadmap for next-generation air interface technologies. He also plays a key role in the development of new business opportunities and ASIC marketing programs for next-gen modem technologies. He has more than 20 years of mobile wireless experience. Prior to Qualcomm, Mr. Carson was a member of the executive team at Flarion Technologies, which he helped launch prior to its acquisition by Qualcomm, and was instrumental in the formation of the IEEE’s 802.20 standards Work Group. Before Flarion, he was VP Marketing and Business Development at ArrayComm and served as Director of Marketing and Product Management for ADC Telecommunications.
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PANELISTS
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Scott Akrie, CEO, NetLogix
Mr. Akrie brings an experienced perspective to NXTcomm, having been involved in carrier wireless broadband deployments for well over a decade. He is currently the CEO of NetLogix, a leading engineering and managed services company focused on wireless broadband facilities, networks, and technologies. Prior to founding NetLogix, Scott served as Vice President and CTO of SkyRiver Communications, a business-grade wireless ISP. He worked as VP of Engineering and Operations for Clearwire and has filled executive level roles with AirTouch Communications, SprintPCS, and Repeater PrimeCo (later became Verizon Wireless). He has worked on advanced wireless networks around the world.
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Tom Axtell, General Manager, Vegas PBS
Tom Axtell has been in his current role since 1994. Vegas PBS's public service ventures include: programming 14 additional educational and general audience wireless and cable channels; constructing and supporting a statewide satellite downlink network serving schools, colleges, and prisons; producing courses for a virtual high school enrolling 5,000 students a year; creation of a statewide multimedia library serving the deaf and blind; establishing a broadband library of 90,000 on-demand curricular media; and innovative uses of digital data-casting to support local emergency response. Mr. Axtell's experience includes service as a member of the PBS Board of Directors, the co-chair of the Task Force on More Effective Governance, and Treasurer of the National Educational Telecommunications Network.
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Jeffrey Belk, Principal, ICT168 Capital
Jeffrey is focused on developing and guiding global growth opportunities in the information and communication technology space. Formerly, he spent almost 14 years at Qualcomm, where prior to his departure in early 2008, he was SVP of Strategy and Market Development. From 2000 until 2006, he was SVP Global Marketing, leading a team responsible of all facets of the company's corporate messaging, communications, and marketing worldwide. In 1999-2000, Belk was SVP and GM of Qualcomm Eudora Products. Prior to Qualcomm, he spent ten years in the PC industry, primarily with Proxima, in distribution, product management, and international roles.
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Steve Bell, Founder, Bell Consulting Group
Steve Bell is a technology business veteran, serial entrepreneur, and telecom business development consultant. He started his career at Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1979. As a member of technical staff at Bell Labs he received U.S. patents in mixed-signal telecom integrated circuit designs and for the co-invention of a new optical touch screen technology for telephone and computer interfaces. In 1998, Bell founded Silicon Valley Networking, which became the exclusive WiFi interoperability center for the first seven years of the WiFi Alliance program, certifying more than 4,000 products. In 1995 he founded Bell Consulting, which became one of Silicon Valley's busiest high-tech strategy consulting firms, serving over 100 C-level technology business clients.
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Mark Casey, President, CFN Services
Mark brings a successful track record of 18 years in the communications industry across sales, marketing, finance, business development, and general management. He has delivered results for several leading incumbent and competitive communications providers including AT&T, Bell Atlantic, MCI, and e.spire Communications. CFN Services, a spinoff of railroad operator CSX, is a managed network services company specializing in local access transport and mobile backhaul optimization, planning, implementation, and management, enabling large network operators to multiply capacity while reducing transport costs 20 to 50 percent. Mark holds a BBA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an MBA from American University.
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Tim Dunne, VP Business Operations, NextLink Wireless
Tim Dunne leads Nextlink's product and channel management, marketing, and service delivery initiatives as Vice President of Business Operations. He comes to Nextlink from RCN, where he was Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Previously, Dunne filled several senior leadership positions at Nextel, including Vice President of Digital Media and Business Development and Vice President of E-Business and Business Development. Earlier in his career, he spent over 14 years at Verizon/Bell Atlantic, where he helped launch new business units, joint ventures, corporate development initiatives, and products.
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P. Kelley Dunne, Co-Founder & CEO, DigitalBridge Communications
DigitalBridge is a broadband services provider that is deploying WiMax networks to smaller and mid-sized markets across the U.S. Kelley was formerly EVP Operations for Verizon Avenue, the subsidiary focused on providing bundled communications services to concentrated communities nationwide. His responsibilities included leadership of Network Operations, Program Management, Customer Care, and Field Operations for Verizon's multi-dwelling unit and concentrated community markets. He was also responsible for Verizon's rural broadband trials nationwide. Previously, Mr. Dunne held leadership positions at OnePoint Communications. He has over 15 years experience in telecom, including seven years with AT&T and Bell Labs, where he held management positions in Network Operations, Data Network Planning, and Network Security.
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Reini Florin, Axerra Networks's General Manager – Americas
Reini Florin is Axerra Networks's General Manager – Americas and has over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications sector developing sales growth in both public and private companies. Prior to joining Axerra, Mr. Florin was Vice President of Marketing at SilverStorm Technologies, which was acquired by Qlogic Corporation in October 2006. Prior to working at SilverStorm, Mr. Florin was the Wireless CTO and VP of Global Wireless Sales at Carrier Access Corporation and was Executive VP Sales and Marketing at Paragon Networks, which was acquired by Carrier Access in 2003. Before Paragon, Mr. Florin held various positions in sales, marketing, and business development at both Lucent and Siemens. He holds a BS in Business Administration from Ball State University and MBA studies from the University of South Florida.
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John Janchar, VP Telecommunications, Black & Veatch
John Janchar is responsible for the overall direction, client solution development and execution, strategy, and representation of Black & Veatch in the wireless industry. During his 18 years of experience, he has been instrumental in the infrastructure design and deployment of many large-scale wireless networks using CDMA, GSM, WiMax, SDARS, and FLO technologies. John is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla and a licensed Professional Engineer in Missouri.
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Matt Liotta, CTO, Rapid Link
Matt is the lead technologist behind Rapid Link’s next-generation network. He joined Rapid Link in 2008 with the acquisition of One Ring Networks, a hybrid fiber and fixed wireless carrier he founded in 2004 and guided to become one of the leading alternative access providers in the country. Before founding One Ring, Matt led Montara Software, a content management and portal software company, which was purchased by private investors. Prior to that he was the portal engineering manager for DevX, which was acquired by Jupiter Media. He has also served as a software architect for a variety of companies in San Francisco and Atlanta.
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Jake MacLeod, Principal VP & CTO, Bechtel Fellow, Engineering & Technology, Bechtel
Jake manages Bechtel's communications engineering services. He initiated Bechtel's RF and Network Planning team, which grew to over 150 world-class engineers, and designed Bechtel's state-of-the-art telecom laboratories to provide clients with applied research and development services. His technology teams developed the Virtual Survey Tool, an automated network-planning tool, and his labs are working with global wireless equipment manufacturers in the analysis of UMTS, HSDPA, Node B Hotels, WiMax, and Intuitive Networks. Jake has held management positions with Southwestern Bell, NovAtel, Western Communications, and West Central Cellular. At Hughes Network Systems he designed and established cellular and WLL systems in areas ranging from Russia to Indonesia and in 57 markets in the U.S.
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Tushar Maheshwari, Warid Telecom
Mr. Maheshwari is an MBA with over 18 years of experience in telecom, FMCG, and advertising. Prior to joining Warid he worked with leading telecom operators in emerging markets like India, Nigeria, and Afghanistan in senior leadership roles. Tushar has been instrumental in launching GSM services in many new markets as the third/fourth operator and establishing market leadership. His distinguished career is highlighted by strong management and operating performance with an impressive record of marketing and business development contributions. He has in-depth experience across all core business functions and a history of success in emerging markets and has been a key speaker at many international telecom conferences.
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Brad McCoy, Network Integration Manager, Ball State University
Brad began as a network engineer at Purdue, where he was in charge of deploying Purdue’s first campus-wide wireless network, covering 140 buildings and 1,200 access points. He was a vital contributor to Ball State’s No. 1 ranking among Intel’s “Most Unwired” campuses in 2005 and is in charge of the wireless and network initiatives for nationally recognized “Digital Middletown” Studies. Brad deployed a research-driven wireless ISP to a local Muncie community and deployed one of the first WiMax networks in the country for testing and research. He led testing of multiple WiMax vendors’ equipment in 2007 and has worked with academic programs to provide immersive learning opportunities for students.
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Darrin M. Mylet, Vice President – Wireless, Cantor Fitzgerald
Mr. Mylet joined Cantor Fitzgerald in 2003 and works globally with both the public and private sectors in facilitating the management and trading of radio frequency rights and tower assets. Further, he works within multiple Cantor Fitzgerald companies to grow its business with the use of mobile wireless technologies and co-led a team on the development of mobile applications for Microsoft, RIMM, Symbian, Palm, and Java. Prior to this, Mr. Mylet has worked for Radiant Networks, MFS/Worldcom/MCI, and GTE Corp. (now Verizon). Mr. Mylet was named to the Department of Commerce Spectrum Policy Task Force in 2006 and has spoken at numerous industry events including DySpan, WCAI, and USTA, among others.
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Paul Nerger, VP Advanced Services & Applications, dotMobi
Paul Nerger brings extensive international sales and marketing experience to dotMobi as Vice President of Advanced Services and Applications. He is responsible for supporting developer-focused programs, such as dev.mobi (the dotMobi Developer Forum) and leading applications like DeviceAtlas™, the world's largest and most accurate superset of mobile device information. Prior to joining dotMobi in November 2007, Mr. Nerger served as Director and Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Argo Interactive, a market-leading provider of automated test and evaluation tools for the mobile telecommunications industry. He has previously held senior executive and management positions in marketing, sales, and engineering globally.
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Chris Pearson, President, 3G Americas
Mr. Pearson is responsible for the integration of strategy and operations in the areas of technology, marketing, public relations, finance, and public and regulatory affairs. He also represents 3G Americas’ market representation interests within the 3GPP organization. He came to 3G Americas from the Universal Wireless Communications Consortium (UWCC) where he served as EVP in charge of the strategic management of the technology consortium. Previously, Mr. Pearson was Strategic Alliance Manager for the Advanced Network Services Provider Program (ANSPP) at AT&T Wireless Services in Kirkland, Wash. Throughout his 20-year career in telecommunications, he has provided lectures, technical marketing training, and speeches for technology audiences throughout the world.
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Jonathan Pelson, Chief of Convergence Strategy, BT Group
Jon Pelson is responsible for developing BT's product roadmap for Mobility and Convergence offers and defining the company's strategy in the market. His background is in the development and launch of breakthrough technologies, particularly in the mobile communications market. He previously was Vice President of Marketing and Strategy at Lucent's Switching Solutions group, and later was responsible for fixed/mobile convergence at Nextel where he also ran product management for the company’s Custom Networks division. Jon holds an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia and a BA in Economics from Dartmouth College.
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Tim Sanders, President and CEO, The Final Mile Inc.
Tim Sanders comes from the broadband wireless side of the tower industry. His first job in 1999 was to negotiate tower and rooftop contracts in new cities for a broadband wireless carrier. Later he held the General Manager's position of that company, which became a multi-state fixed wireless ISP that was successfully sold in a rollup. He led the company into its first out-of-state expansion. More recently Tim has worked as a consultant, author, and analyst to the broadband wireless industry for vendors, carriers, and associations. Tim focuses on the business case side of broadband wireless and helps clients build business plans, financial models, and value assets and perform product management and project coordination and development. Prior to the wireless business, Tim was Director of Technical Operations for a software consulting firm specializing in digital imaging and software products to the auto body industry. His teams served over 8,000 partner customers in less than a two-year period. Tim studied Mechanical Engineering and is a frequent speaker and author in the broadband wireless industry.
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Andrew Shikiar, Director of Global Marketing, LiMo Foundation
Andrew Shikiar is responsible for helping develop and articulate LiMo's vision and market strategy. He possesses significant strategic marketing and business development expertise in cutting-edge technologies and market-shifting industry initiatives. He served as Membership Director for industry consortia the Liberty Alliance Project and Blade.org. At Sun Microsystems he helped drive the company's Java and Liberty Alliance launch initiatives. In addition, Shikiar was a founding executive at Radical Communication, where he helped raise nearly $20 million in venture financing and drove market adoption of interactive video and email marketing technology solutions.
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Paul J. Sinderbrand, Wilkinson Barker Knauer
Paul has 30 years of experience in the practice of communications law and specializes in issues involving wireless broadband services. His clients include wireless broadband and cable system operators, communications equipment manufacturers, and investors. He serves as FCC counsel to the Wireless Communications Association International and has been at the center of the effort to secure spectrum allocations and service rules in the U.S. capable of supporting WiMax and other wireless broadband services. Paul authored the industry coalition proposal that led the FCC to modify the 2.5 GHz regulatory structure to promote broadband usage and led the effort by 2.3 GHz licensees to secure sufficient time to deploy WiMax 802.16e-2005 technologies.
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Steve Tak Wan, Director, Technical Marketing, Qualcomm
Steve is responsible for the global technical marketing of wireless applications and services at Qualcomm. He leads a team that works with operators in Asia, Europe, and North America to analyze service trends, explore new applications that can be enabled or enhanced by improved network capabilities, and develop user cases and business models for those applications. Steve holds an MBA from the Wharton School and an MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.
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Mel Yarbrough, VP Sales, Towerstream
Mr. Yarbrough is responsible for expanding Towerstream's reach in both current and future markets. He spearheads the overall sales strategy in an effort to further grow Towerstream's sales force. In addition, he is charged with all customer acquisition, channel, and revenue growth initiatives. He comes to Towerstream from Hoovers (Dun and Bradstreet), where he served as VP of Business Development and VP of Subscription Sales. Prior to joining D&B, Yarbrough spent nearly a decade in several executive sales positions, including roles at StarCite and Handango. During that time, he spearheaded efforts to achieve new sales and revenue growth as well as foster business development activities.
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