NetGain Communications
Telecom expense management and network optimization consulting for T1, PRI, MPLS, frame relay, web conferencing, VOIP, and local & long distance services.
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Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Callowhill provides strategic direction for the company and oversees solutions partner relationships to ensure customers are provided with the highest telecommunications value.
Mr. Callowhill owns more than 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, including the establishment of five Washington, D.C. area-based telecommunications firms between 1993 and 2002. Prior to leading NetGain, Mr. Callowhill co-founded Net2000 Communications, a facilities-based competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC). Holding varying management roles over a period of eight years, including Senior Vice President of Sales for Net2000, he played a leading role in the successful creation and execution of the firm’s business strategy, driving revenues to more than $110 million. Mr. Callowhill also established other Washington, D.C. area firms including N2N Communications, a regional Internet Service Provider (ISP), and InterPeer, a Web Hosting service. Mr. Callowhill served as President for both companies which, through a series of acquisitions, are now components of Verio, an NTT Communications Company and national Tier 1 ISP. Additionally, Mr. Callowhill co-founded Fastraktion, LLC, a regional venture capital firm focused on providing seed capital to start-up telecommunications firms in the Washington, D.C. area.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Callowhill held sales and sales management positions of increasing responsibility for Nortel Networks (formerly Northern Telecom), Verizon (formerly Bell Atlantic), and Motorola.
Mr. Callowhill is a charter member of the Potomac Officer’s Club and a board member of the TelecomHUB. Mr. Callowhill earned a B.S. degree in biology from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Larsen has responsibility for managing business operations, information technology, and finance. Mr. Larsen has spent his entire 15-year career providing telecommunications and IT services for businesses in the Baltimore and Washington Metro area. Before co-founding NetGain Communications, he spent two years with Net2000 Communications, last serving as the General Manager of Wholesale and Carrier Services. He led the development of several network services products that enhanced Net2000's wholesale offerings and, under his leadership, the division grew revenues to over fifteen million dollars in annual revenue.
Mr. Larsen spent five years at American Management Systems (AMS), an international business and technology consulting firm headquartered in Fairfax, VA. He last served as Sr. Manager, responsible for developing the business strategy and managing an organization focused on marketing and developing data conversion services and software for clients in the state and local government and telecommunications marketplace.
At Software AG, an international software development firm, Mr. Larsen was a Senior Software Developer. In this role, he trained clients around the world on techniques for developing software applications using the firm's proprietary programming language and database tools. Mr. Larsen also served in various IT and sales positions at Sprint International and Intermedia Communications.
Mr. Larsen earned a B.B.A. degree in Computer Information Systems and Management from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Vice President, Operations and Customer Care
Mr. McClellan has 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Prior to joining NetGain Communications, Mr. McClellan spent 7 years with Net2000 Communications in various Director-level positions. As Net2000’s first Director of Customer Care, his most significant achievement was the creation of Net2000’s premier class client service organization that was consistently ranked number one in the local telecommunications agent marketplace. In addition to his client service responsibilities, he served as their first Director of Service and Implementation and ILEC Services.
Mr. McClellan began his career with Bell Atlantic (Verizon) where he spent 18 years in various client service and sales support management positions. He was instrumental in the design and staffing of Bell Atlantic’s first Priority Account Center in the Washington, D.C. sales office. This critical client care office managed the sales support and client care functions of clients such as the Government of the District of Columbia, Fannie Mae and the Washington Post. His last position was as the Support Manager for Bell Atlantic’s Corporate Accounts Group.
Mr. McClellan holds a BS degree in Education from Old Dominion University.
Vice President, Finance & Business Development
Mr. Murphy, Vice President, Finance & Business Development, is intimately familiar with a variety of communications services. He has been consulting with clients for over 4 years on solutions such as voice over IP (VOIP), MPLS networks, Ethernet access services and conferencing solutions.
Previously, Mr. Murphy served as Director of Marketing for Net2000, managing the voice, internet and data services product lines. During his 3-year tenure at Net2000, Mr. Murphy developed 8 different products and pricing plans across the voice, internet and data services spectrum. He also managed several channel initiatives, focusing on the agent and carrier segments.
Prior to joining Net2000, Mr. Murphy spent 4 years at MCI Communications. During that time, he worked in some of MCI’s most challenging areas, including: brand management, product management and development, regulatory analysis and business analysis. He managed the launch of local residential telecom service in 3 markets and launched the nation’s first nationally-advertised directory assistance service. Mr. Murphy also received MCI’s Circle of Excellence award 3 times during his 4-year tenure.
Mr. Murphy also has over 6 years of intensive financial and consulting experience. He spent 4 years as an auditor and consultant for Arthur Andersen & Co., servicing more than 40 clients ranging from Marriott Corporation to the County of Loudoun, Virginia. During the S&L crisis of the early 1990s, Mr. Murphy worked for Freddie Mac analyzing the credit-worthiness of some of the country’s largest S&Ls, banks, and mortgage companies.
Mr. Murphy earned an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Indiana University in Bloomington Indiana. His Bachelors is in Accounting, conferred by Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Director, Network Engineering
Mr. Kriss possesses over 25 years of telecommunications experience. Well versed in the broad spectrum of voice, data and packet-based technologies, Mr. Kriss represents a unique skill set in delivering converged network solutions both in retail and wholesale environments.
Prior to joining NetGain and throughout his extensive career at Verizon Communications, Mr. Kriss has performed increasingly complex pre- and post-sale subject matter expert [SME] engineering support. Progressing through the Senior Systems Design Consultant, Systems Engineer and Technical Solutions Specialist titles, Mr. Kriss brings to NetGain Communications a proven track record of innovation and success in the Fortune 50 finance/banking, manufacturing, information systems, professional service and Internet service provider sectors.
Mr. Kriss’s broad technical knowledge is further complemented by his extensive carrier-centric operational experience, as well as his fluency of the very volatile telecommunications regulatory environment.
Just prior to his retirement, Mr. Kriss contributed heavily to Verizon’s evolving optical broadband offerings such as next generation SONET, optical Ethernet, as well as DWDM.
Joining NetGain Communications, Mr. Kriss serves to represent the commitment that only the best of breed solutions and solution providers will constitute the evolving portfolio of Netgain’s consultancy.
Mr. Kriss earned a double major B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from Virginia Tech.
Director, Client Services
Ms. Sordi-Semon has been helping clients manage their telecommunications services for over ten years. In Ms. Sordi-Semon's current role, she is responsible for managing ongoing client relationships, overseeing post-installation projects, and escalating client service issues within NetGain and all carrier organizations through to resolution.
Prior to joining NetGain, Ms. Sordi-Semon was the Director of Client and Technical Service with ARG where she served in a similar role managing a team responsible for over 1,200 clients nationwide.
Ms. Sordi-Semon held a variety of management positions at Net2000 Communications, including Manager, Customer Relations and Call Center Director.
Ms. Sordi-Semon has an extensive background working with national and regional carriers, including Verizon, MCI, AT&T, US LEC, Paetec, and UCN. Her experience and track record help provide NetGain clients true value and support throughout the relationship.
Ms. Sordi-Semon earned a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Communications and French from the University of Dayton.
"We were extremely pleased with NetGain's management of the conversion process. I'm elated ..."
-Principal, CFO, Ai Architecture
Washington, DC