DICE Local: New Jersey

Sean Baillie

CMO & Chief of Staff
QTS

Sean Baillie has served as CMO and Chief of Staff of the QTS Ashburn site since 2018. With over 20 years in the industry, Sean has a deep understanding of the communications market and industry trends. He has worked in the IP, Fiber, Data Center, Software and Equipment sectors with roles ranging from sales to executive management. Prior to joining QTS, Sean was most recently Senior Vice President of Fiber Services at Zayo and held P&L responsibility for $230M business. Sean has also served as Chief of Staff for Global Sales at Ciena, Vice President of Commercial Management/Global Analytics and Business Intelligence at Ciena, President of 24/7 Mid Atlantic Fiber and Senior Vice President of Fiber Services at Windstream. In those roles, Sean led organizations that either directly oversaw or supported high revenue and margin growth within each respective company.

Tom Brown

President & CEO
Hudson Interxchange

Thomas (Tom) Brown is responsible for planning and implementing the company’s strategy, and managing the overall revenue growth of the company. Mr. Brown joined Hudson IX (formally DataGryd) in 2018 and brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in start-up, turnaround and high-growth operations. He has a proven track record of success in strategic and tactical market development, creation of brand awareness and customer relationship management. Prior to joining Hudson IX (formally DataGryd), Mr. Brown led the content, cable, and data center verticals within Windstream’s Wholesale Business Unit. From 1999 to 2009, he was Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at FiberNet Telecom Group, Inc., where he was an integral part in the sale of the company to the Zayo Group. Mr. Brown earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Bob DeSantis

CEO
365 Data Centers

Bob DeSantis is an accomplished executive and entrepreneur who has held senior leadership positions in public and private, competitive and regulated companies within the communications, technology, and energy industries. He has been a leader in acquiring, building and growing businesses and arranging for their initial public offerings and other strategic events. Bob’s expertise spans strategy, operations, finance, corporate law, real estate, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to becoming the CEO of 365 Data Centers, Bob was the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Xand, which became the leading, privately owned, data center, managed services and cloud services operator in the Northeast prior to its sale to Tierpoint. His previous technology and communications experience includes serving as President and COO of cloud operator Flexisphere, CFO of DSL.net, a nationwide internet service provider, CFO of Electric Lightwave, a metro and long haul fiber business, Executive Vice President of core optical switch manufacturer Tellium, and CFO of Frontier Communications (f/k/a Citizens Communications) during that company’s transformation from a diversified utility to one of the nation’s largest telecommunications companies. Bob started his career as a Tax Specialist at KPMG and then as a Tax Attorney with GTE Corp. He broadened his professional expertise by serving as President & COO of the Financial Accounting Foundation, the overseer of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and was named by CPA Magazine as one of the top 100 most influential practitioners. Bob holds both BSE and MS degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School) and a Juris Doctorate degree from Boston College Law School. He is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the Bars of several state and federal courts.

Mike Robinson

CEO
Sungard Availability Services

Michael (Mike) K. Robinson serves as Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mike brings extensive operating and board leadership in public and private communications, technology and infrastructure companies to his role at Sungard AS. His focus includes strategy development and execution, driving business transformation, leading company culture, and focusing on stakeholder value. His customer-centric approach prioritizes the needs of Sungard AS’ production and recovery customers to ensure their business resilience. Mike most recently served as CEO, President and Member of the Board of Directors for Broadview Networks. In his role, Mike led the transformation of Broadview’s strategy and business model from a traditional local telecom service provider to a cloud-based Unified Communications as a Service provider which served to meet the needs of enterprise customers nationwide. Mike has a proven track record of acquiring and integrating multiple companies, as he did with Broadview, as well as focusing on organic growth. Prior to Broadview, Mike served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President for US LEC Corp., where he was responsible for all financial operations, including treasury, tax and investor relations, as well as human resources. While at US LEC, Mike raised substantial capital to fund the Company’s growth objectives. Prior to US LEC, he held senior roles at Alcatel (now Nokia), Windward International and Siecor Corporation. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts in business and economics from Emory & Henry College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Wake Forest University.

Gil Santaliz

Founder & CEO
NJFX

Gil Santaliz is the Founder and CEO of NJFX, as well as the visionary behind developing NJFX as North America’s preeminent international hub for subsea communications, interconnecting many international carriers across three continents with multiple predictable, private backhaul and U.S. termination options. In order to satisfy the market, Mr. Santaliz developed the concept of “Tier 3 by the Subsea”, a purpose-built facility for high- and low-density data center space as well as colocation of subsea systems interconnecting global backbone networks to unique metro fiber assets providing safe, diverse and unique backhaul options. This is a paradigm shift from traditional backhaul to the nearest metro without consideration of potential bottlenecks found in congested areas such as New York and Northern New Jersey.

Tom Banta

Senior VP, Product Management & Development
vXchnge

Sagi Brody

CTO
Webair

John Diamond

VP, Engineering
Evoque Data Center Solutions

Frank McCann

Senior Manager, Network Construction
Verizon

As a certified Data Center Design Professional specializing in network design and construction, Frank McCann's current role as Senior Engineer focuses on Construction Power and Grounding for Verizon Wireless' Northeast and Great Lakes Markets. He oversees designs, request for proposals / quotes and company standards, as well as MOPs for the multiple regions from Delaware to Maine out through the Great Lakes. He recently transitioned from construction engineering for Verizon Wireless' nationwide network equipment centers. McCann's main area of responsibility was Verizon Wireless' Southlake Texas Network Equipment Center (aka Data Center), although he had projects in our other locations as well. After years of being the prime engineer for Verizon Wireless' corporate microwave network, his final task was to decommission it. The network, originally built for Transco, stretched from New York to Texas. McCann also lead Verizon Wireless' Disaster Recovery team. He has designed and built several Cell On Light Trucks (COLTs) for microwave communications, as well as disaster recovery nodes for Verizon Wireless' fiber network. Combined with other aspects of Verizon Wireless' Emergency Preparedness / Disaster Recovery efforts they could restore communications to anywhere within a 100-mile radius of a Mobile Switching Center. He also had the responsibility of overseeing Telco POP (Point Of Presence) rooms in several national network buildings. Additional specialties include Wireless Communications, Project Management, Product/Vendor Review, Power & Grounding, Disaster Recovery, Microwave Path Design.

Sachin Ohal

Chief Architect, Distributed Cloud/Industry Solutions
Deloitte Consulting

Sachin Ohal is the Chief Architect - Distributed Cloud and Industry Solutions at Deloitte Consulting LLP, and is a seasoned global information technology leader with 20+ years of professional excellence in enterprise leadership, product management, CxO advisory, and digital transformation. He is industry leader in Distributed Cloud, AI Infrastructure, 5G, Satellite, Edge Computing and Cyber Security areas. His innovative digital transformation and organizational change management programs have helped clients accelerate their global application, Infra and network modernization, time-to-market, competitive intelligence acquisition and vertical M&A capabilities to grow existing and new markets with data-driven digital revenue. Sachin leverages DevSecOps, AIOPS, and SRE principles to build high-performance teams.

Rick Galietta

Senior Director, Global Solutions Architects - Americas
Equinix

Mary Jane Horne

Senior VP, Network Operations & Engineering
iBASIS

Phillip Koblence

Co-Founder & COO
NYI

Phillip Koblence is a strategic executive and thought leader in the data center and network space. He co-founded NYI (www.nyi.net) in 1996 and has successfully navigated through an ever-shifting infrastructure landscape, growing the company from a single data center in Lower Manhattan to a robust network with executional capabilities in key national and international markets. His leadership, focus on customer experience, and ability to cut through complexity and hype, has positioned NYI as an industry leader in high-touch infrastructure solutions. Phillip is also CEO of Critical Ventures, a consulting agency offering a range of services to help clients, owners and investors optimize the value of critical infrastructure assets. Phillip sits on the DE-CIX North America Advisory Board as well as on the Board of OIX (formerly Open-IX). Phillip is Co-Founder of the Nomad Futurist Foundation and Podcast, designed to demystify the world of critical infrastructure and inspire younger generations to join the industry. He is a frequent speaker at industry events and has been profiled by Data Center Knowledge, TheWHIR, MSPMentor, and NJ BIZ. He has an engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Jim Paterson

Senior VP, Global Product Management
Sungard Availability Services

Jim Paterson is Senior Vice President, Global Product Management for Sungard Availabilty Services (Sungard AS). Jim has more than 20 years’ experience in information technology services’ product management and development leadership roles. He has a proven track record of creating products and solutions that address global market requirements and solve dynamic, complex IT and business challenges. In his role, Jim is responsible for global product management across Sungard AS’ solutions portfolio, including: Cloud & Hosting, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity, Data and Disaster Recovery Centers, Managed Application Cloud and IT Consulting.

Michael Sevret

President
South Reach Networks

Michael is the President of South Reach Networks where he will be overseeing the strategy, growth and market expansion. Michael brings 20 years of successful telecommunications experience. Michael was a Principal Executive and Board Member of Cross River Fiber heading up sales and business development (January 2012 through February 2018). Cross River Fiber was successfully acquired (majority stake) in 2014 by Ridgemont Equity Partners. Prior to joining Cross River Fiber as a partner in January 2012, Michael was the Regional Vice President of Sales for Cablevision Optimum Lightpath where Michael was responsible for the overall sales initiatives, establishing P&L responsibility, maintaining and growing sales revenues accountable for leading the New Jersey’s sales efforts. Prior to joining Optimum Lightpath in 2008, through a successful acquisition and transition Michael was the Vice President of Sales & Business Development and a key Executive with 4Connections LLC. 4Connections was an entrepreneurial niche NJ Based CLEC & telecommunications start-up that constructed, owned and operated its own independent Dark Fiber network assets. Michael’s leadership and vision at 4Connections helped elevate the firm to become a widely recognized and respected company in the industry. Michael started his career directly of out college as account executive at MCI Worldcom in 1999 with a direct sales role handling global enterprise & national accounts. Michael has achieved incredible results and success since then. He is a highly recognized sales leader and has held sales and executive positions at MCI WorldCom, TelCove, 4Connections, Optimum Lightpath and Cross River Fiber. Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Western New England University where he also played football. In addition, Michael has been the face to many of the industry’s keynote conferences, panel speaking roles and round table discussions and has been quoted numerous times in the media, press releases and on local TV. In 2010, Optimum Lightpath senior management and marketing nominated Michael as a candidate submission being recognized as a potential nominee for NJ BIZ TOP 40 under 40. Michael is a father of 4 children and is very active in his local community in NJ where he and his family live. Michael is on the board of trustees for the Wayne Hockey Club and is head hockey coach for the Wayne Hockey Club and the NJ Bandits travel hockey association. Michael also donates his time as a coach and volunteer with various sports programs for his children and charity venues.

Todd Taylor

CEO
Directlink Technologies

Todd Taylor has served on the Directlink Board of Directors since 2010, and became CEO in April 2017. He oversees Directlink’s 290,000 square foot facility in Reading, Pennsylvania, including 65,000 square feet of active raised floor data center space. He has overseen over $20 million in capital improvement projects at Directlink, which have brought state-of the-art cooling, generation, UPS, and security improvements to the former First Telecom/GPU regional technology center. He also serves on the Board of Boscovs Department Stores, Directlink’s parent company, a department store chain in the Mid- Atlantic region. Prior to his current position at Directlink, he was an applied hydrogeologist with a practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Pennsylvania.