The David Ross Group provides a highly qualified team of experienced professionals familiar with the latest developments and trends in the international telecommunications arena.

With decades of experience in system development throughout the world, the David Ross Group will significantly enhance your competitive position in today's rapidly evolving global communications marketplace.

Our team:

• David Ross, Founder and President
• John Mariano, Vice President and Founder
• Elaine Stafford, Vice President of Strategic Planning
• Martin Price, Vice President of Business Development
• Lance Pohling, VP Project Management
• Gerald Tourgee, Director of Technical Services
• James Baroni, VP Network Design
• Rajesh Kheny, VP Business Development
• Michael Mulvihill, VP OA&M

David Ross, Founder and President, has over 30 years experience in telecommunications technology and its commercial applications, with a primary focus on undersea fiber optic networks.

Prior to founding the David Ross Group, Mr. Ross was Managing Director of Strategic Marketing at Tyco Submarine Systems Ltd. from 1997 through 1999, where he was responsible for advising Tyco's clients and top executives on strategies to benefit from new trends and opportunities in the undersea fiber-optic industry. In this role, Mr. Ross advised many of today's major global network developers.

Before his tenure at Tyco, Mr. Ross was Executive Director of Technical Marketing at AT&T submarine Systems Inc. from 1992 to 1997. During this period of worldwide liberalization in the telecommunications sector and rapid growth in undersea fiber-optic system technology, Mr. Ross was responsible for developing emerging markets for regions such as Africa. Here, he spent several years on the Africa-One development team, working with numerous African telecom carriers, regional satellite authorities, and equipment providers, developing a total network solution incorporating undersea, satellite and terrestrial fiber solutions.

Prior to this, Mr. Ross was a senior manager of technological development in Bell Laboratories from 1970 to 1992. His work included pioneering efforts in the application of new fiber optic technologies to the challenges of international communications - both for government and commercial application. He has been involved in numerous government, military, and commercial communication projects. His accomplishments have been recognized in several patents and many publications, and he has been an invited speaker at conferences and seminars worldwide. (back to top)

John Mariano, Partner & Executive Vice President, has over 30 years experience in the telecommunications industry, specializing in planning, deployment and operation of undersea fiber systems for both commercial and government application.

Prior to joining the David Ross Group and founding OptiConnect, Inc., Mr. Mariano was Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Global Photon Inc. from 1999 through 2000, where he played a crucial role in planning and implementing the Global West System on the West Coast of the US, the first and only major domestic undersea network in North America.

From 1993 to 1999, Mr. Mariano was Director of Sales for Tyco Submarine Systems Ltd. and its predecessor, AT&T Submarine Systems Inc., where he was responsible for new applications of undersea system technology, such as the development of novel system approaches for the connection of island groups in Palau, and offshore oil platforms in Brazil with undersea fiber optic cable. In addition, he worked closely with government customers, consulting on the complementary benefits of undersea cable and satellite network solutions.

For much of his career, Mr. Mariano was a manager in Bell Laboratories (now part of Lucent Technologies), responsible for the development and implementation of special applications of undersea fiber technology communication solutions for the US Government. He is a certified Professional Engineer. (back to top)

Elaine Stafford, Vice President Strategic Planning, has 25 years experience in the telecommunications industry, specializing in marketing & sales, planning, design and deployment of telecommunication networks & network products.

Prior to joining the David Ross Group, Ms. Stafford was on the TyCom executive team as a Senior Managing Director, where she played a crucial role in planning and implementing TyCom’s Global Network (TGN). There, she was responsible for Product Qualification & Integration, TGN network planning, TGN Business Development and Product Management for TyCom’s network products and services. Prior to this, Elaine held various senior level management positions within Tyco Submarine Systems’ Project Management and Marketing & Sales organizations, and was directly involved in supporting the development and deployment of a large fraction of the world’s major transoceanic network solutions over the last two decades.

Prior to 1991, Ms. Stafford led a product development organization in AT&T Bell Laboratories, where she was responsible for hardware, software, and systems development of terminal transmission & network management products. Earlier in her career, Ms. Stafford was involved in the development satellite communications equipment. She has advanced degrees in Engineering. (back to top)

Martin Price, Vice President of Business Development, has over 25 years of experience in the global telecommunications industry. Prior to joining the David Ross Group, he was a key member of Global Crossing, where he had systems planning, procurement and vendor management responsibility for their successful build-outs of Atlantic, South America, the Americas and Asia undersea networks from a multiplicity of worldwide telecom equipment vendors.

Previously at Lucent Technologies, Martin led the commercialization efforts for the deployment of DWDM in optical ring projects for AT&T, as his principal customer. He also held the key role of pricing and commercialization for all other business that had to be formalized when Lucent Technologies was IPO’d from AT&T. Martin established and provided leadership to Lucent Technologies’ global account team which resulted in multiple successful commercial projects for major global telecommunications carriers.

At AT&T, Lucent and Global Crossing, Martin spearheaded the strategy development, sales efforts and managed the on-time implementation of large scale projects for developing countries, including Africa and Mexico. In each case, he was key to developing national network fiber backbone and undersea solutions, integrating with other interconnecting technologies such as microwave, wireless and satellite. Martin established European market development for AT&T by opening the Brussels, Belgium office where he resided. Martin began his career in transmission engineering and then worked new technology deployment in the fiber optics area for AT&T. (back to top)

Gerald Tourgee, Director of Technical Services, has over 15 years of experience in telecommunications technology, specializing in design and development of telecommunications equipment, much of it in specialty areas in government communications.

Prior to joining the David Ross Group and OptiConnect, Mr. Tourgee was a Technical Manager for Terabeam Corp from 2000 through 2001, where he led the design and development of an advanced optical wireless terminal for urban area "last mile" high-speed connectivity to the Internet.

From 1988 through 2000, Mr. Tourgee was a Technical Manager for AT&T and then Lucent Technologies at Bell Laboratories, where he was responsible for the design, development, and testing of a variety of telecommunication devices, and development and implementation of specialized undersea network transmission technology. (back to top)

James Baroni, VP Network Design has over 25 years of experience in fiber optic systems engineering, more than half of which is undersea telecommunications systems. For the past seven years Mr. Baroni has had senior leadership experience in a broad range of the technical and commercial elements for both domestic and international networks.

Most recently, Mr. Baroni was VP of Procurement Management at VSNL Telecommunications (US) International, where he was responsible for all procurement associated with the development and operation of VSNL's global undersea network.

Prior to this, he was the Managing Director Network/OSS Design, Test and IT at Tyco Telecommunications, where he was responsible for the design, development and implementation of OSS for Tyco's global network, field support of station activity, and design/development of the network's IT infrastructure and services. (back to top)

Rajesh Kheny, VP Business Development is responsible for consulting services in the area of undersea cable networks. He provides planning, design and project management services to carriers and ISPs in South and South-East Asia.

Mr. Kheny has been associated with the undersea cable industry for over 15 years. From 2003 to 2005 Mr. Kheny was Managing Director of Solis Ventures LLC, a consulting firm focused on the telecommunications industry. Prior to 2003, Mr. Kheny managed the Asia Pacific Region for Tyco Telecommunications out of Singapore, overseeing the marketing, sales and project management operations for the regional offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo and working with several prominent carriers in that region. Mr. Kheny has also held the position of Director, Network & Strategic Planning and, Director Application Engineering with Tyco Telecommunications Laboratories (previously AT&T Bell Laboratories), where he was responsible for system design for undersea applications. Mr. Kheny has also held various positions in product management, systems engineering and product training. (back to top)

Mike Mulvihill, VP OA&M, has over 25 years of experience in fiber optic systems operations, starting with the first AT&T US terrestrial fiber optic cable deployment, as well as the first undersea fiber optic cables in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He has directed operations planning, system configuration, and managed provisioning, maintenance and restoration activities for owners’ capacity on numerous consortia cables. He has been responsible for global operations and the Network Management Center for the Tyco Global Network and held process ownership of the operational Quality Management System, achieving continuous improvements in operational and financial measurements.  His leadership experience includes the integration plans for support systems and personnel among TGN, Teleglobe and VSNL International during merger activities. He has held key leadership positions in operations organizations within AT&T, Tyco Telecommunications and VSNL International.

Mr. Mulvihill’s accomplishments include numerous international agreements for capacity plans, technology features, and multinational restoration plans, as well as managing support system design and delivery requirements. His leadership and team management skills have been recognized with several corporate awards. (back to top)