Rich Begert, President and CEO
Rich Begert has been involved with the wireless industry since its infancy. He launched two of the industry's most influential initiatives: the first wireless data network in the U.S. (CDPD) and AT&T's Digital One rate, which dramatically increased wireless usage by eliminating roaming charges.
Rich joined McCaw Cellular Communications in 1986 in a marketing position and rose quickly through the organization, first to general manager and later to regional president of the western United States for AT&T Wireless, a role he maintained until his departure in 1998.
As president and CEO of ImageX, Rich led the company from private funding to its initial public offering in 1999. Under his leadership, the company completed five acquisitions, and Rich negotiated the company's acquisition by Kinko's, which was acquired by FedEx six months later. Before his tenure at McCaw Cellular, Rich spent nine years at Xerox in various sales and sales management positions.
Rich is a 1978 graduate from the University of Washington with a BA in business administration with a marketing emphasis. He currently resides on both the board of trustees for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Northwest Academy for Exceptional Children.
Curt Miller, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer
An accomplished technologist in database design and implementation, Curt Miller is one of Wireless Services Corporation's founders and the primary architect of the company's core technology, the IDX delivery platform.
Curt's 20-year-career in the computer software industry includes five years at Corbis, where he designed the storage and retrieval system for the expansive Corbis image catalog.
Prior to joining Corbis, Curt led the team that developed R:BASE, one of the most commonly deployed MS-DOS-based database products, while at Microrim (now R:BASE Technologies). He holds a BA degree in mathematics from Hamilton College and is a volunteer firefighter.
Gowri Shankar, Senior Vice President - Sales and Business Development
Throughout his lifelong career in telecommunications, Gowri Shankar has focused on bringing new technologies to market and building multimillion-dollar sales organizations.
As a founding member of the Sprint PCS launch team, Gowri led the creation of the first nationwide telesales and e-commerce distribution channels in the wireless industry, thereby laying the foundation for Sprint PCS's industry-leading enterprise sales strategy.
In addition to his work with Sprint, Gowri was general manager for eAssist, a CRM software company. There, he developed eAssist's international strategy and was responsible for the organization's expansion into nine European countries.
Gowri holds a BS degree in accounting from the University of Madras and an MBA from the University of Missouri.
Mark Thomas, Chief Financial Officer & Senior Vice President - Corporate Development
Mark Thomas brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and relationships in the telecommunications industry to his position at SinglePoint.
Mark comes to SinglePoint most recently from the positions of CFO and senior vice president of business development for Terabeam Corporation, where he was instrumental in evaluating strategic alternatives for the company that led to Terabeam's sale to YDI Wireless.
In his positions at AT&T and AT&T Wireless, he was deeply involved in structuring transactions that significantly expanded AT&T Wireless's national footprint. Mark also brings operational experience from his role as president of AT&T Wireless's Aviation Communication Division and in the oversight of a major joint venture market.
Prior to working with AT&T Wireless and AT&T, Mark was a corporate and tax attorney with Davis Polk & Wardwell in Washington, D.C., and a clerk for former Chief Judge John C. Godbold of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit Court in Alabama. Mark earned a law degree from the University of Virginia and a bachelor's degree in physics from Harvard University.