WildBlue Executives
| David J. Leonard | Chief Executive Officer |
| President and Chief Operating Officer | |
| Erwin C. Hudson | Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer |
| Mark D. Adolph | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
| David M. Brown | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
| Chief Information Officer | |
| Lisa Scalpone | Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development |
| Joe Ducey | Vice President of Technical Operations |
| Jim Elliot | Vice President, Infrastructure & Supply Chain |
| Tom Glavan | Vice President, Customer Care |
| Bob Koppel | Vice President of Government Affairs |
| Carla Mayer | Vice President of Human Resources |
| Vice President of Technology | |
| Raymond Mills | Vice President of Network Management Systems |
| Senior Vice President of Field Operations | |
| Craig S. Thill | Vice President of Finance, Controller |
| Dan Turak | Vice President of Sales & Marketing |
David J. Leonard
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Leonard brings more than 25 years experience in media and telecommunications to WildBlue. Most recently, Leonard had worked with Liberty Global (LGI, formerly Liberty Media International) overseeing operations in Argentina, Chile and Puerto Rico. Prior to LGI, Leonard was founder and CEO at VeloCom Inc. which established the largest competitive local exchange carrier in Latin America. He has served as either CEO or Board Member of several foreign and domestic entities including VTR (Chile); Cablevision (Argentina); Metrocall Wireless (USA); United International Holdings; Kabelvision (Sweden), and United Cable of Colorado (a subsidiary of United Cable Television Corporation). Leonard was named Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2000. Mr. Leonard is also on the board of Goodwill Industries of Denver, Inc. Mr. Leonard has a BA in Government and International Relations from the University of Notre Dame (1975), and a MBA in Finance from the University of Colorado (1981).
Kenneth G. Carroll
President and Chief Operating Officer
Ken Carroll is responsible for the strategic leadership and tactical execution of WildBlue's business. Prior to joining WildBlue in 2003, Mr. Carroll was President and Chief Financial Officer of Liberty Satellite & Technology, Inc., a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation. He served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PRIMESTAR, Inc. from April 1998, and was responsible for the business operations and financial oversight of PRIMESTAR’s satellite television business with 2.5 million subscribers across the U.S. From December 1994 to May 1997, Mr. Carroll served as Vice President of TCI K-1, Inc. and as Vice President of United Artists K-1 Investments, Inc., subsidiaries of TCI Communications, Inc., the nation’s largest cable operator at that time. From April 1994 through January 1995, Mr. Carroll served as Vice President of Business Operations and Chief Financial Officer of Netlink USA, a subsidiary of TCI. A graduate of Georgetown University, Mr. Carroll received a Masters in the Science of Accounting in 1978. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Environmental Science from the University of Virginia in 1977.
Erwin C. Hudson
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Erwin Hudson is responsible for the technical leadership of WildBlue. In the two years prior to joining WildBlue, Hudson was Vice President of Mission Engineering at Space Systems/Loral, responsible for satellite and communications payload engineering, controls engineering, on-orbit test and on-orbit support, advanced systems, and planning and management of SS/L's research and development program.
Previously Hudson had been manager of the Satellite Communications Directorate at TRW Space & Electronics Group. Leading TRW's military and commercial SATCOM efforts, Hudson established the SATCOM Directorate in 1995 and, over three years, implemented the business and technology strategy that led to TRW's entry into the commercial communications payload market. His group led new business activities resulting in well over $2B in contract awards.
Hudson has held engineering and management positions for several satellite communications programs, including Payload Systems Engineer for the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, Systems Engineering Manager for several military satellite programs and Systems Engineering Manager & Chief Engineer for the Milstar I and II Communications Payloads.
Hudson holds a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University, a Master of Science from Ohio State University, and an Engineer's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California.
Mark D. Adolph
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Adolph is a communications industry financial executive with over twenty years of experience in senior financial management, legal, tax and corporate strategy. He joins WildBlue from Open Range Communications, a broadband wireless service provider for rural America, where he served as CFO, co-founder and as a board member. Prior to Open Range, Mr. Adolph was CFO and Chief Operating Officer of the venture capital firm Telecom Partners. Prior to Telecom Partners, Mr. Adolph was Chief Financial Officer of Cook Inlet Communications Ventures and the principal financial officer of various Cook Inlet entities in the communications industry. He began his career at Touche Ross & Company, and also served as a Senior Manager for KPMG Peat Marwick. Mr. Adolph holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Diego School of Law, and a Bachelor's of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Akron. He is a member of the American Bar Association and California Bar Association.
David M. Brown
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
David Brown is responsible for directing WildBlue's legal and regulatory strategy. Prior to joining WildBlue, Brown practiced business law with Brownstein Hyatt & Farber, P.C. His practice focused in the areas of corporate finance, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. Brown represented clients in connection with private and public debt and equity transactions, structured asset-backed loan transactions, and real estate transactions with credit-enhanced tax-exempt bonds. Before joining Brownstein Hyatt & Farber, P.C., Brown practiced with Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersol.
Brown earned his juris doctorate degree from the Fordham University School of Law and his bachelor's degree in business administration from Boston University. Immediately after graduation, he served as a judicial clerk in a Federal District Court.
Michael A. Casullo
Chief Information Officer
Mr. Casullo has managed technical development and operations departments for more than 22 years. His most recent assignment was CIO for On Command Corp, a world leader in the hospitality entertainment industry with responsibilities in software development, network engineering, and technical operations. Casullo also was Vice President of Operations for Qwest Cyber.Solutions, the nations largest Applications Service Provider (ASP) and Vice President of Information Technology for VeloCom, Incorporated, where he was involved deploying voice and data services in Brazil and Argentina. He also held several technical management positions at Telecommunications, Incorporated (TCI), including Network Operations and Engineering and Data Center Operations spanning a 16 year period. Casullo holds an Bachelors of Science degree from Regis University.
Lisa Scalpone
Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development
Lisa Scalpone is responsible for handling new business initiatives of the company, including overseeing WildBlue's efforts to secure stimulus funding. Prior to her current position, Ms. Scalpone was WildBlue's Vice President of Legal and Government Affairs responsible for handling the company's operational legal matters, government relations, intellectual property and licensing strategy. Prior to joining WildBlue, Ms. Scalpone practiced antitrust and corporate law with McDermott, Will & Emery. Ms. Scalpone represented clients in connection with merger and joint venture combinations, trade regulation issues and licensing arrangements, and she has represented a former Liberty Media subsidiary, On Command Corporation.
In March 2009, Ms. Scalpone served as a panelist on behalf of the Satellite Broadband Coalition at an NTIA Public Meeting. She represents the company on several state broadband councils, including Colorado, and is an advisory board member of Silicon Flatirons. Ms. Scalpone earned her juris doctorate degree from the Loyola University School of Law and her bachelor's degree from University of Illinois. After graduation, she served as a judicial clerk in Federal District Court in Chicago.
Joe Ducey
Vice President of Technical Operations
Mr. Ducey is responsible for technical operations management of the WildBlue services and brings over 27 years of experience in the field of communications systems at WildBlue, U.S. Satellite Broadcasting (USSB), TRW and Northrop. Previously, as WildBlue's Gateway Director, Mr. Ducey managed all aspects of the design and construction of WildBlue's gateway earth stations. These facilities receive and transmit data to the satellites, provide content caching and centralized services (e-mail, web hosting, etc.), and house the intelligent processing that manages the sharing of bandwidth across multiple customers. In addition, Mr. Ducey acted as Program Manager for the WildBlue-1 satellite program, responsible for oversight of final Assembly, Integration and Test of the spacecraft, satellite launch, In-Orbit Test and network and gateway turn-up. As senior VP of Broadcast Operations at USSB, Ducey reported directly to the CEO, overseeing all aspects of network control operations, broadcast technology development, traffic management, technology strategy and capital budgeting. He was involved in every phase of USSB's development, from the design of the first DBS spacecraft and uplink facilities, to its growth into a billion dollar company. Prior to USSB, he worked at TRW and Northrop on several advanced technology projects, including proposals for communications packages on the International Space Station, NASA's Ka-band Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) and the U.S. Air Force's next generation stealth aircraft. Ducey received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Jim Elliot
Vice President, Infrastructure & Supply Chain
Jim Elliot is responsible for meeting WildBlue's cost, system procurement and implementation goals through contractual and technical management of the space segment, ground segment gateways and customer premise equipment. In addition, Mr. Elliot is responsible for WildBlue's import/export compliance.
Prior to joining WildBlue initially in early 2000 as WildBlue's Director of Space Systems Procurement, Elliot spent 12 years in strategic planning and as a program manager on the Lockheed Martin Atlas launch vehicle program responsible for bidding, winning and successfully managing, integrating and launching eleven commercial spacecraft. Missions Elliot was responsible for included DirecTV's Galaxy Latin America, PRIMESTAR and the U.S. Navy's UHF Follow on programs. Elliot also held a senior position with Ball Aerospace's Commercial Space Operations business unit negotiating agreements and licenses, managing the contracts organization and performing import/export compliance duties as the Commercial Space Empowered Official.
Elliot holds a master's degree in business administration with a program management emphasis from the University of San Diego and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Northern Arizona University.
Tom Glavan
Vice President, Customer Care
Mr. Glavan is a senior telecommunications and customer care executive with over 25 years experience in both large and entrepreneurial environments. He joins WildBlue from SEI, LLC where he served as Vice President of Global Operations, responsible for directing SEI's help desk operations and sales support functions in the U.S., the U.K. and Hungary.
Prior to SEI, Mr. Glavan served as Vice President of Customer Care for the Western Region for NEXTEL Communications, leading a 1250-person customer care and contact center in achieving significant gains in customer and employee satisfaction. He has also held the position of Vice President of Call Center Services for Atlas Technology Group and the position of Vice President of Sales and Service for PRIMESTAR, Inc. Prior to PRIMESTAR, Inc. he had an impressive 14-year career with MCI Telecommunications, ultimately serving as Director of Consumer Markets, Customer Service.
Mr. Glavan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Iowa.
Bob Koppel
Vice President of Government Affairs
Mr. Koppel is our chief liaison to Congress, U.S. federal government agencies (including the FCC), and state governmental entities. Prior to joining WildBlue, Bob worked for Texas Instruments in a similar role, where he served as a key player in the successful effort to obtain legislation setting 2009 as the deadline for TV broadcasters to terminate analog transmissions, thereby freeing up the 700 MHz spectrum band for an auction that raised over $19 billion for the Federal government. In addition, Koppel actively participated in numerous FCC proceedings regarding wireless spectrum, network management, broadband policies, and cable set top box technologies. Prior to Texas Instruments, Bob worked in senior regulatory positions at MCI WorldCom and IDB Communications Group, Inc. Before joining IDB, Koppel worked as an associate at a major Washington, DC law firm. Koppel is a graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Law School.
Carla Mayer
Vice President of Human Resources
Carla Mayer is the Vice President of Human Resources for WildBlue Communications, a position she has held since 2003. Under her leadership, the company has grown from 10 employees to nearly 300 employees at present.
Ms. Mayer is responsible for developing and executing HR programs and policies that align with the short and long term goals of the business, and prepare the organization to meet its future challenges. Her direct responsibilities include the development and implementation of recruiting, compensation, benefits, training, employee relations, and organization development programs. Ms. Mayer also ensures that the company remains compliant with multi-state, federal, and local employment laws.
Ms. Mayer possesses more than 25 years experience in the Human Resources field, having worked with both start-up companies, such as Astracon and Rhythms Net Connections, and larger established companies, such as MCI Communications, Newmont Mining, and Traveler’s Insurance. Her experience encompasses both domestic and international Human Resources, covering both developed and emerging market countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and an M.B.A from the University of Colorado.
Thad Mazurczyk
Vice President of Technology
Mr. Mazurczyk is responsible for WildBlue's Engineering team. Mazurczyk has extensive experience establishing and leading technology organizations as well as designing, developing and operating communication products and systems.
Prior to joining WildBlue, Mazurczyk was the Senior Vice President of Technology at High Speed Access Corporation. While at HSA, Mazurczyk was responsible for all of HSA's technological needs and Engineering, Information Systems Management and Technical Operations organizations. Before HSA, Mr. Mazurczyk spent more than nine years as the Vice President of Engineering at Primestar, Inc. where he established and led the company's engineering organization. While at Primestar, Mr. Mazurczyk and his team were awarded the team Emmy award for Technological Achievement for pioneering digitally compressed television and satellite delivery direct to homes. Before joining Primestar, Mr. Mazurczyk provided eight years of combined service with RCA and General Electric where he held successive management positions in the Engineering, Systems Development and Business Development areas.
He served five years as a committee member of the Montreux International Television Symposium and seven years as a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
Mr. Mazurczyk received a B.S. in Physics from Haverford College.
Raymond Mills
Vice President of Network Management Systems
Mr. Mills is responsible for the management of the WildBlue network.
Prior to joining WildBlue in 2004, Mills was with Comcast Cable's High Speed Internet services where he was responsible for the operation of the network supporting 2.7 million Internet customers. Prior to Comcast, Mills was with PRIMESTAR where he grew the operation to support the first customer through 2.3 million customers. Mills has the unique skill sets of operating in both the satellite and Internet businesses in the entrepreneurial and startup environments. Mills started in the cable industry in 1979 working for Warner Qube, the first two-way interactive television cable system and test market. While at Qube, the operation grew from the Columbus market to include Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Chicago, and St. Louis. From 1982 to 1990, Mills ran the MIS operations for OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) managing the company's mini-systems development and operations and deploying office automation in its early endeavors.
Lloyd S. Riddle III
Senior Vice President of Field Operations
Mr. Riddle brings extensive experience in both the cable and satellite industries. He comes to WildBlue from DirectSat USA, one of the largest Home Service Providers providing installation and service activity for DirecTV, where he served as CEO from 2006–2008. Previously, he served as COO of Liberty Satellite/Primestar Satellite Television from 1995-1998, and as vice president of TCI of New York from 1992-1995. His experience includes serving on the Board of Directors & Executive Committee for the Cable Television Associations of New York and Iowa, and serving on the Board of Directors for the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association. Riddle is a graduate of Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin.
Craig S. Thill
Vice President Finance, Controller
Craig Thill is responsible for directing WildBlue's accounting, operational finance and financial reporting activities. He has over 18 years in financial management positions in the communications industry. He joined WildBlue in 2004 from 360networks, inc, a global, fiber-based broadband provider, where he served as Senior Financial Controller. Prior to 360networks, Thill was Financial Controller of HickoryTech Corp, a local exchange telecommunications company and also with Wipfli LLP, a regional public accounting firm. Thill began his career as an electronic engineering technician with Texas Instruments. Thill holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Minnesota State University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Dan Turak
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Mr. Turak has extensive experience and a proven track record in the satellite radio, satellite television and cable television industries. Mr. Turak joined WildBlue after six years with XM Satellite Radio where he was the General Manager of Sales, responsible for the strategic planning, development, launch and management of sales and marketing for national retail sales and distribution channels. Prior to that, he was responsible for national sales at ACTV, SpotOn, an interactive television targeted advertising tool, into the cable and satellite television industries. At PRIMESTAR, Inc., he was responsible for the development and strategic management of national sales network of satellite television distributors and independent sales agents from 1995 through 1999. He began his career in sales in the cable industry. Mr. Turak received a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania.
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