From The Connectivity Industry. To Serve The Connectivity Industry.

Ben Edmond is the CEO and Founder of Connectbase, where he is responsible for leading the company’s strategy, culture and operations. Prior to founding Connectbase, Ben served as the chief revenue officer at Global Capacity, where he was responsible for all aspects of the company’s customer go-to-market strategy and execution. Ben has 25 years of experience in the fiber, telecom and networking industries, encompassing broad expertise in the areas of executive leadership, strategy, product, customer experience, sales, marketing and operations.

Shivani York serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Connectbase, leading global operations and customer experience, driving strategic planning, product marketing, customer operations, revenue growth, and cross-functional alignment. She also oversees execution of the entire customer journey, from onboarding to expansion, ensuring every interaction is seamless, high-value, and rooted in measurable outcomes.An award-winning executive, Shivani brings more than two decades of experience in scaling businesses, driving profitability, and leading global transformations. Shivani’s career spans executive roles across industry innovators including Ookla, The NPD Group, Ziff Davis, Ellevation Education, TIME, and The New York Times. During her tenure as COO at Ookla, she played a pivotal role in guiding the company through rapid global expansion, high double digit growth over her entire tenure and multiple acquisitions. She has a proven track record of building accountability-driven cultures, executing M&A strategies, and implementing AI/ML-driven innovations to enhance performance and scalability.Before that, Shivani built a reputation as a growth architect, leading her teams to a remarkable 250% growth, securing recognition on the Inc. 5000, Deloitte Technology Fast 500, and Consulting Best Firms to Work For lists. Her expertise in weaving execution culture, operational predictability, and strategic alignment has empowered scale-ups and legacy brands alike to thrive in changing marketplacesShivani graduated with a Bachelor of Science from SUNY Stonybrook, and finished her Executive MBA from Pace University in New York, where she was the Valedictorian of the graduating class. After finishing her MBA, Shivani also served on the Board of Advisors for the Pace University’s Lubin School of Business, guiding the dean & faculty on the program and driving success.

Steve Sincavage joined Connectbase with over 25 years of experience managing the finance, accounting and admin functions for high-growth technology companies. Prior to joining Connectbase, Steve served as the Chief Financial Officer for Socially Determined, a social risk data and analytics software company. Prior to that, Steve served as the Chief Financial Officer for SemaConnect, an electric vehicle charging company that more than doubled its revenues before it was acquired by Blink Charging. Prior to SemaConnect, Steve served as the Chief Financial Officer for Mobile Posse, a profitable mobile content discovery company that grew revenues 600% before it was successfully acquired by Digital Turbine. Steve also previously held financial leadership positions at Rivermine Software, Digital Paper and POMS Corporation. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from George Mason University.

As Chief Technology Officer, Trey leads Connectbase’s Engineering, Product Development, and Technology Operations. Beyond steering technology strategy, he champions innovation by integrating modern technologies with proven systems and processes to deliver reliable, future-ready platform solutions. With a career spanning extensive experience in managed IT services, network services and supply chain technology, Trey has a proven track record of developing and overseeing new product development strategies, executing client-specific IT solutions, spearheading business process improvements, and guiding large-scale projects from inception to completion. He is deeply committed to servant leadership, fostering high-performing teams through shared vision, modeling best practices, and embracing continuous improvement. Trey holds an M.B.A. with a concentration in Marketing, Product Management, and Product Development from Lindenwood University, and a B.A. in International Studies with a Minor in Spanish from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Prior to Connectbase, Andrew co-founded the UK-Based Telecoms Quoting Platform, LastMileXchange, in 2005 where he served as CTO. Andrew has 25 year’s experience building SaaS products, software teams and managing the operational procedures required to make them succeed. LastMileXchange was acquired by Connectbase in May 2023.

Gabe Venturi is the Senior Vice President of Business Operations at Connectbase. Gabe joined Connectbase in 2024 via the acquisition of Network Capacity Solutions. His functions include pre and post sale oversight of Connectbase’s network inventory product offerings. Gabe brings over 25 years of telecom industry experience, covering fiber, satellite, and software applications. Education has always been a focus for Gabe with a Bachelors in
Economics from the University of Mary Washington, a Masters in Telecommunication from The George Washington University, and a Doctorate in Leadership from St. Thomas University. Outside of Connectbase, he also serves as an Adjunct Professor for St. Thomas University teaching courses in Systems Thinking and Crisis Management.

Prior to joining Connectbase, James was one of the co-founders of LastMileXchange (LMX) where he was the Chief Commercial Officer for 18 years. He joined the telecoms industry in 1996 working at Telecom Italia, European Communication Services and then WorldCom before founding LMX in 2005. He has a wide range of experience in leadership, sales, marketing, product development and pricing strategies.

Maria Sterck is the Senior Vice President of Platform at Connectbase. She joined Connectbase in March of 2023 and is responsible for Product, Data, Sales Engineering, and the PMO. Maria brings over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry and telecom sector leading product development, digital transformation, operations, and organizational design efforts. She is committed to driving transformative change and embracing new technologies and strategies to meet ever-evolving customer needs.

With over 25 years of experience in the technology space, Mary Ann Rose is a proven leader in solution selling and managed services, dedicated to empowering teams to drive customer transformation, modernize environments, reduce costs, and accelerate revenue growth. Known for her commitment to exceptional customer experiences, Mary Ann builds and mentors high-performing teams that foster lasting relationships grounded in trust and measurable value.

As the Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Mary Ann Rose strategically leads a high-impact revenue team dedicated to transforming global network buying and selling through Connectbase industry-leading platform, The Connected World. Mary Ann is responsible for driving revenue growth, managing key account expansions, and establishing high-value partnerships across global markets. She also spearheads global marketing efforts, including The Connected World LIVE! event, to elevate Connectbase’s reach and influence. With a focus on achieving transformative results, Mary Ann empowers her team to deliver unparalleled value and innovation to customers worldwide.

A previous co-founder of the Unitas Global Connectivity Line of Business, Mary Ann launched two groundbreaking solutions—Unitas Nexus and Unitas Reach—that connect enterprise edge locations globally, bringing unmatched connectivity solutions to the market. Her visionary leadership was recognized in 2021, when she was named one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology.

Matt Clark brings over two decades of experience in leadership, entrepreneurship, and strategic growth to his role at Connectbase.  Before assuming his current position, Matt served as President of MasterStream, a prominent telecom quoting software platform. Under his leadership, the team spearheaded initiatives to expand the platform’s reach and capabilities, while positioning MasterStream toward its successful acquisition by Connectbase.

Matt‘s journey in the telecommunications industry began as a co-founder of RNi, a pioneering fixed wireless company. During that time, RNi achieved significant milestones and ultimately secured a successful acquisition in 2007. Matt‘s continued dedication to the company’s growth led him to assume various executive roles within the acquiring company, where he played a pivotal role in integrating assets and driving expansion strategies, culminating in a successful exit to GTT.  Matt earned his Executive MBA at the W.P. Carey School of Business in 2015.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Matt treasures spending quality time with his wife and three children. On weekends, you can often find him gathered around a fire, cooking delicious meals on the pit or grill, and enjoying the company of family and friends.

Prior to role as VP of Sales Engineering & Enablement, Carrie Ferrero spent most recent years at Connectbase as VP of Product focused on solutioning with customers to innovate the product, enhancing the user experience and The Connected World platform. Her expertise in lead to cash cycles, various distribution channels, automation and leveraging APIs to build a cohesive fabric dates back to her days at MasterStream where she was their Solutions Architect. MasterStream, now a Connectbase owned company, has allowed Carrie to help create powerful partnering ecosystem that would be key to connection and industry growth. Carrier concentrates on the user experience and developing meaningful relationships at every layer while partnering with customers, driving workflow driven solutions with a hyperfocus on efficiency, connection and innovation in the marketplace. Carrie’s passion for her craft, the tech industry leadership has led her to mentor others in the industry, with a special support of young women breaking into the industry. Carrie focuses on mentoring authentic leadership by teaching transparency and vulnerability through EIQ wile partnering in programs with Achieve Unite, Alliance of Channel Women and Channel Partners. Carrie is well known as the trusted advisor and innovator, making a positive impact in a complex fast-moving industry.

As VP of Solutions for Connectbase, Don Roots has over twenty years of experience in Telecom. Don has gained leadership experience in the Direct, Indirect and Wholesale distribution Channels along with leadership roles in both Telecom Sales and SaaS Quoting Automation, previously for MasterStream and currently with Connectbase.

Don is excited about helping to advance improvements in the Lead to Order automation process and being part of the team that will provide a better experience for Telecom Commercial and Wholesale buyers and sellers.

Outside of the office, Don enjoys time with his wife and three children and as a fifth generation Texan, Don can also be found working on his “Pit Master” skills on his smoker and grill which his family and friends are eternally grateful.

An experienced commercial leader with 20 years of experience in the telecommunications and cloud industries. Prior to Connectbase, Edison served in senior commercial roles at Telnyx, PacketFabric, and Megaport, leading successful global market expansions for each of these companies. His career is marked by exceptional leadership skills, a deep understanding of international business dynamics, and a proven track record in sales management and strategy. Edison is recognized for his ability to drive rapid revenue growth and successful market entries across complex global regions.

Heidi Juarez brings over 25 years of experience in Account Management, Implementations, Customer Success, and Customer Experience to her role at Connectbase. Before assuming her current position, Heidi served as VP of Customer Experience at MasterStream, the industry leader in complex quoting automation between telecom advisors and service providers doing business within the telecom ecosystem. During her tenure at MasterStream, she held many roles focused around providing amazing customer experience on the platform while building strong partnerships with the human side of her customers outside of the platform.

At Connectbase, Heidi leverages her experience and dedication to customers in an executive leadership role within Customer Care. She is committed to enhancing the customer experience by overseeing Service Delivery, Customer Success, Documentation, and Training, helping customers fully realize the benefits of the platform.

When Heidi is not working, you will find her focused on being a wife & mother who loves to cook and host gatherings while enjoying quality time with her family and friends.

Steve Leavitt joined Connectbase in 2018 as the company’s early-stage Sales Leader. Currently he is leading the North American Strategic Accounts. Prior to leading Strategic Accounts at Connectbase, Steve Leavitt was the VP of Sales at Legendary Applied Analytics. While there, Steve was responsible for designing and executing their go-to-market strategy targeting net new market segments for the company. Steve has 25 years of diverse experience in SaaS sales serving in both Sales Leadership and General Management roles for both Pre-IPO and public companies. His prior experience also includes working for companies such as Connected Corporation, Imperva, Exact Software, Iron Mountain and HP.

Michael Coleman is a Director at Wafra, focusing on real assets and infrastructure investments.

Previously, Mr. Coleman was an Associate at American Infrastructure Funds where he focused on real asset private equity investments. Mr. Coleman began his career as an Analyst in the Energy& Power Investment Banking Group at Wells Fargo Securities.

Mr. Coleman earned a BA in Economics from Yale University.

Sean is Principal at Osage Venture Partners. He received his MBA after spending five years at Monitor Group where he focused on integrating marketing strategy and organizational design. He has enabled Fortune 500 multinational companies to achieve sustainable growth, primarily in the consumer-packaged goods and life sciences industries.

Results-focused leader with diverse experience within the telecom industry. Demonstrated acumen in strategic planning, sales team development, leadership, business planning, product management, execution and market development.

As a Founder and General Partner at Pulse Ventures, Matt is involved in all aspects of the firm including sourcing, researching, negotiating and leading investments in early stage technology businesses. Matt works closely with a handful of companies where he is an active board member and adviser to the senior management team.

Mr. Roberts is a founding member of venture capital fund Harbert Growth Partners, providing growth capital to emerging entrepreneurial leaders for the last nineteen years. He has spent the last 30 years as a principal in creating and investing in new businesses and as an advisor to entrepreneurs and corporate executives on operating growth, financing and exit strategies.

Tony Rossabi is an IT industry executive and board member active in advisory, networking, and industry speaking. Tony is co-founder of OCOLO, LLC, a dynamic marketplace for the sale of colocation products and services. Tony most recently was CEO of Recovery Point Systems Group Holding Company, a leader in Disaster Recovery services. Prior positions include Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of TierPoint, Managing Director for Digital Realty Trust’s colocation and connectivity business unit (Telx, LLC), and Senior Vice President of Global Carrier Solutions at TATA Communications. A talented and seasoned executive, Rossabi brings over twenty years of experience with technology, communications, and data center infrastructure firms in the functional areas of sales, marketing, operations, and strategic planning.

Mr. Shutt’s leadership career spans more than two decades in strategic leadership positions having held the roles of Executive Officer, President and Board member of several high profile and fast-growing technology companies in the telecommunications and technology industries in both public and privately held companies.

Alexandre Villela is a Senior Vice President and Head of Venture Capital at DigitalBridge Investment Management with a focus on privately held, high-growth companies in digital infrastructure technology sectors. Mr. Villela has spent over 25 years working and investing in the Technology, Media and Telecom sector, with a particular focus on communications, infrastructure software, and networking domains.

Prior to joining DigitalBridge in 2021, Mr. Villela was a Managing Director at Qualcomm Ventures where he was responsible for
investments in 5G, networking and digital infrastructure. At Qualcomm, Mr. Villela oversaw the Qualcomm Ventures 5G Fund, a
$200M global allocation to accelerate adoption worldwide. Prior to Qualcomm, he spent seven years at Intel Capital as a Senior Investment Director, focused on Latin America and digital infrastructure deals in the U.S. Mr. Villela has extensive experience in corporate governance and transaction management, having participated on more than 20 boards as a director or observer.

Before working in venture capital, Mr. Villela was a General Manager at Gradiente Eletronica in Brazil, leading procurement and product development, and an Operations Manager at Samsung Electronics in South Korea, Mexico and Brazil. Mr. Villela received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at UNICAMP (Brazil) and attained his MBA at INSEAD (France).

Eric is the Senior Vice President of Wholesale at Frontier Communications, bringing over 20 years of experience in the telecom industry. A results-oriented leader, Eric excels in developing strategic business plans, driving business growth, and optimizing revenue. His expertise includes turning around operations and leading cross-functional teams to achieve consistent revenue growth and operational excellence.

A Global Technology Leader with a core finance background that has been leveraged to drive significant revenue growth and cost efficiencies. Successfully leads large organizations including; global sales, finance, procurement, and product management/marketing. Aptitude to assess and drive strategic investments that maximize the firms economic value and drive revenue growth.

At the heart of every business transformation, there lies a fundamental truth: growth and profitability are the fruits of clear vision and precise execution. I am deeply passionate about steering organizations towards these outcomes by demystifying complex challenges, crafting actionable strategies, and fostering a shared vision that galvanizes teams to deliver exceptional results. My philosophy is simple yet profound—empower people, simplify processes, and watch businesses thrive. With leadership experience in sales, marketing, and operations, I’ve garnered expertise in driving sustainable growth for companies’ financial performance. I specialize in delivering technology transformations to improve productivity, team building and GTM refinement to enable growth. As a high-energy and strategic professional, I motivate teams to achieve, even exceed, their performance goals, and I’m known for my ability to turn around underachieving organizations. I’m committed to providing unparalleled customer experience, which is evident in my long-standing relationships with clients, vendors and previous employers. I approach problems with a strategic and pragmatic mindset to offer sustainable solutions to companies, clients, and teams. I’m motivated by challenging opportunities and have consistently proven my success in exceeding sales goals, key performance indicators, improving operational efficiency and revenue metrics.

A driven leader with a passion for directing growth stage businesses. Strategic thinker with diverse experience in all phases of the telecommunication industry. Proven track record of delivering strong consistent revenue growth. Steve has been a Public Company CEO, has led several start-ups to profitable exits and was a senior executive at Charter Communications responsible for the launch and early-stage growth of their Business Service division. Stephen has also raised millions of dollars in early and mid-stage funding, provided M&A advisory services and has overseen several mergers & acquisitions.

A strategically focused senior telecom executive with over thirty-sevent years of experience building and leading successful teams in sales, marketing and operations. A broad comprehension of the ever-changing landscape of telecommunications and the ability to lead through it. Exposure on the customer side lending insight into end user priorities.

John joined Sage Management, a division of SIB Fixed Cost Reduction, as CEO in 2024. With nearly two decades of leadership at AT&T, Nolan has been instrumental in overseeing critical global and domestic telecommunications operations, driving significant advancements in cost reduction, service improvement, and international alliances. His strategic vision and deep industry expertise make him a standout leader, poised to lead Sage Management to new heights of innovation and success.

Previously, as Chief Development Officer of Bluebird Network, John led all aspects of corporate development including M&A, business development, corporate strategy and innovation, as well as Wholesale & Strategic Sales, Carrier Management, and Contract Management functions.

As the former Vice President, Global Connections & Alliance Management for AT&T, John led a team of 600+ professionals in more than 40 countries responsible for AT&T’s voice, data, and performance relationships with other telecommunications providers in support of AT&T’s wireless and wireline business objectives around the world. Up until 2014, he led AT&T’s Wholesale Operations Center of Excellence that included Technical Sales, Regulatory Operations and Sales Operations.

Earlier in his career, he led the Business Development & Alliance team responsible for SBC Communications relationships with strategic partners including, Cingular, TelMex, Bell Canada, EchoStar, WilTel, HP, Covad and others.

He helped launch Southwestern Bell Internet Services, where he was promoted to lead the alliance and integration with Prodigy, a national ISP they acquired in 2001.

He began his career in St. Louis, Missouri where he held various positions of increasing responsibility in Sales, Finance and Operations with Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems, which is now AT&T Mobility.

John earned his MBA from Saint Louis University and an undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Missouri – Columbia. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Board for Capacity Media’s Global Leaders Forum and on the MEF Board of Directors. He has also served on the Advisory Board for the Robert J. Trulaske Sr. School of Business at the University of Missouri and in various capacities supporting United Way of Dallas and the Boy Scouts of America Circle 10 Council.

Recently retired from an illustrious 35-year career in telecommunications, Mr. Ortega has held multiple C-level roles in various companies.  He is credited with transformative strategies that have not only enhanced performance but also introduced sustainable business models, creating shareholder value, and paving the way for future growth.  As a former CEO and CRO, Mr. Ortega possesses a deep understanding of strategic capital markets and the requirements of successful business models across multiple industries. 

Sreenivas Rachamadugu is the cofounder and CTO of SK Solutions Group, LLC, a technology advisory and consulting firm that helps organizations leverage technological advancements to establish market leadership and create sustainable long-term differentiation. A technology and operational innovator, Sreenivas serves as an advisor to several startups aiming to disrupt their industries through AI advancements.

Sreenivas has over 25 years of experience leading product, engineering, and operations organizations at prominent global companies. Prior to founding SK Solutions Group, LLC, he served as the Senior Vice President of Product & Engineering, Core Services at Expedia. In this capacity, he led a 3,000-person global organization responsible for building and operating the Travel Platform that powers Expedia’s brands and B2B customers. His remit encompassed product, engineering, and operations for various platforms, including Checkout, Payments, Fraud & Risk, Loyalty, Ordering, Coupons, Conversations, Affiliate, One Messaging, and Finance.

Before joining Expedia, Sreenivas spent nearly 17 years at Verizon, where he held several executive roles in Product, Engineering, Operations, Business Transformation, Sales, Business Development, and Strategic Ventures and Alliances. His most recent position at Verizon was VP of Product & Engineering for e-commerce at Verizon Media, where he spearheaded the development of e-commerce capabilities. Prior to Verizon, Sreenivas held leadership roles in engineering and project management at IBM/Candle Corporation, e.spire communications, and First Consulting Group.

Sreenivas holds a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras, an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. A curious engineer and problem solver, he has been awarded more than a dozen patents, ranging from video technology to cost optimization using edge networks.

Currently, Sreenivas resides in the Washington D.C. metro area.