Fusion Connect Leadership

Brian Crotty

Chief Executive Officer

Brian Crotty has more than 30 years of experience leading major organizations in the managed services and communications industries. Fusion Connect’s CEO since 2020 and a member of its board of director's, Brian has led the transformation from a telecommunications company into a leading managed communication service provider that helps businesses connect people, data, and devices. He was previously the chief commercial officer at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), where he was responsible for all company revenue and focused on customer experience, customer retention, and growth. Brian also served as the president of mid-market enterprise and commercial markets at Windstream and as the chief operating officer at Broadview Networks, where he led the transformation of the business to a unified communications as a service (UCaaS) cloud solutions provider. Brian earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from St. Norbert College.

Brian McClintock

Chief Financial Officer

Brian McClintock drives financial strategy and planning while optimizing the company's capital structure. He is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of experience in telecommunications and technology. Brian has delivered measurable gains in revenue, profits, and market recognition as a COO, CFO, and vice president. He is also a project management expert with experience in startup, turnaround, expansion, and consolidation of business situations. He has a Master of Business Administration in Finance from La Salle University and a bachelor's degree in business management from Lynchburg University.

John Dobbins

Chief Operating Officer

John Dobbins defines product strategy and optimizes network infrastructure, systems, and processes for efficiency and scale while improving customer experience. He has more than 20 years of experience rebuilding and transforming corporate infrastructures and operations. During his time at Windstream, John’s team developed and managed the company's SD-WAN, software-defined networking, network function virtualization, unified communications, fiber transport, and cloud services. John also held senior roles at Earthlink, XO, and Global Crossing, where he was responsible for supporting revenue growth and cost efficiency. John has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Rochester and a bachelor's degree in business (finance and management information systems) from Le Moyne College.

Mario DeRiggi

Chief Revenue Officer

Mario DeRiggi oversees revenue growth across all sales channels while ensuring an exceptional customer experience. He has more than 20 years of experience in executive sales and marketing leadership, as well as a history of increasing revenue, driving customer acquisition and retention, building partnerships, and managing through change. Most recently, Mario led global channel sales and business development teams as a senior vice president at Vonage. He spent five years as the executive vice president for sales at Broadview Networks and held leadership roles at Vonage and Paetec. Mario received a bachelor's degree in political science from the State University of New York at Oswego.

George Schoenstein

Chief Marketing Officer

George Schoenstein guides marketing, communications, and business development efforts while ensuring cohesive branding and effective communication with stakeholders. He has decades of leadership experience in marketing, corporate communications, and corporate strategy at technology, management consulting, cloud services, and software as a service (SaaS ) companies. He has held global executive roles at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), CompuCom, DXC Technology, BearingPoint, and KPMG, and has continually driven transformation through innovative strategies. By leveraging his expertise in branding, messaging strategy, demand generation, and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled marketing, George contributed to significant business growth. He holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Finance from Drexel University, and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Stockton University.

Chris Updegraft

Chief Information Officer

Chris Updegraft oversees the information technology department, with a focus on expanding the company's Microsoft-centric solutions portfolio. With more than 30 years of experience in technology leadership, strategy, and execution, he optimizes IT services that enable businesses to rapidly scale their operations using Microsoft products. Chris has expertise in leveraging technology to drive business growth and improve operational efficiencies. Prior to joining Fusion Connect in 2018, Chris co-founded and served as vice president of IQMax for 18 years. He has a bachelor's degree in computer science from Azusa Pacific University.

Brian George

Chief Technology Officer

Brian George leads the evolution of the engineering and development teams and manages the company's core network, service platforms, and infrastructure. He is responsible for driving technology advancements and anticipating opportunities to enhance, expand, and optimize the company's portfolio. Brian has been in the communications industry for 20 years and has held leadership positions in engineering and operations for various internet service providers in the New York metro area, as well as at AT&T Wireless and Unilever.

James Prenetta Jr.

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

James Prenetta Jr. oversees all legal matters and ensures compliance with applicable laws and state and federal regulations. He served as general counsel and secretary at Hibernia Networks, where he handled all key contracts, financing activities, mergers and acquisitions, and litigation. Prior to joining Hibernia Networks, he was an executive vice president and general counsel at One Communications Corp., and a senior vice president and general counsel of Viatel Inc. James was also a partner in the securities practice group at New York-based law firm Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Connecticut and a law degree from the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America.

Pieter Uittenbogaard

Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategy

Pieter Uittenbogaard focuses on expanding the company's Microsoft offerings, including Calling Services for Microsoft Teams, and driving product and service innovation. He has held numerous leadership roles at Microsoft over the past 15 years, was most recently the General Manager of the Microsoft 365 business in the United States, and in 2021 earned Microsoft’s prestigious Platinum Club award, a highly selective honor given to top-performing employees. Prior to that, he led the worldwide Windows Commercial go-to-market. Pieter has considerable experience accelerating growth, sparking cloud transformation at worldwide scale, and maintaining customer-centricity. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences.

Lisa Matthews

Senior Vice President of Human Resources

Lisa Matthews leads all areas of human resources and has more than 25 years of experience in HR management across multiple industries, including technology and professional services. Lisa previously served as the vice president of human resources at Alight Solutions, where she developed talent strategies while navigating a significant technology transformation. Earlier, as the company's director of human resources, she led organizational design, onboarding architecture, and business integration efforts with a focus on operational success. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia.