Executive Management Team
Charles G. (Chuck) Taylor, Jr.CEO and President
Chuck Taylor was appointed CEO and President of Americatel Corporation in January 2009. He has over 22 years of telecommunications experience. Chuck continues to be President of Americatel's sister company Matrix Business Technologies, a position he has held since September 2007. Prior to becoming President, Chuck joined Matrix as CFO in October 2001 with responsibility for all finance, accounting, collections and regulatory affairs. Formerly, Chuck was Founder and VP of Finance for VarTec Telecom (1987 – 1990), Founder and COO for Matrix Telecom, Inc. (1990 – 1996), EVP – Retail Business Development for Pacific Gateway Exchange (1996 – 2000) and Founder and President of Local Gateway Exchange (2000 – 2001).
Chuck graduated cum laude with a BS in Accounting from Lamar University and has been a Certified Public Accountant in Texas since 1984.
Laurie Rodriguez
Chief Financial Officer
Laurie was appointed Interim CFO of Americatel in March 2009, adding to her role as CFO of Matrix Telecom, Inc, where she has served in that capacity since 2007. She has over 20 years of experience as a financial executive in the telecommunications industry, with a broad background in mergers, acquisitions, integrations, transitions, bankruptcies and debt refinancing. Before her promotion to CFO of Matrix Telecom, Laurie served as its Vice President of Finance since 2005. Prior to Matrix Telecom, Laurie held various executive and management positions with VarTec Telecom, Excel Communications, and GTE/Verizon.
As Interim CFO of Americatel, Laurie's responsibilities include all financial functions including billing, revenue assurance, collections, accounting, enterprise reporting, regulatory/tax compliance, and treasury.
Laurie earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Murray State University in Murray, KY and holds CPA and CMA certifications in the state of Texas.
Nermin Selimic
Executive Vice President Marketing and Business Development
Nermin Selimic joined Startec in 2003 leading Startec's marketing efforts in Germany. In 2005 Nermin joined Startec's U.S. marketing team and was responsible for integrating Startec's U.S. and Canadian marketing and sales teams. Nermin was a member of Startec's M&A team responsible for negotiations which resulted in the acquisition by Americatel. Since September 2008 Nermin has led the consolidation of Americatel and Startec's marketing teams. He leads the company's marketing, business development, sales and wholesale teams.
With 17 years of marketing experience, Nermin has led ethnic marketing efforts in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia. He has launched products for clients from the Finance, Travel, Telecommunication, Publishing, Consumer goods and other sectors. Nermin was a founding member of the daily newspaper "Vesti", one of the largest ethnic newspapers in the world, distributed in 22 countries across three continents, and the Nidda Verlag Publishing Company and Marketing agency.
Prior to joining Americatel Nermin was managing Nidda Verlag's Ethnic Advertising Agency and Sales in Frankfurt, Germany.
Russell Clarkson
CIO
Russell Clarkson was appointed Interim CIO of Americatel in February 2009, adding to his role as CIO of Matrix Telecom, Inc, where he has served in that capacity since 2007. Russell over 25 years of experience in the telecommunication and information technology industries. He has held executive level positions with Sage Telecom, Deloitte Consulting and Andersen Consulting. Russell has published articles in numerous magazines and co-authored the book; After the Merger, The Authoritative Guide to Integration Success.
As Interim CIO of Americatel, Russell’s responsibilities include all aspects of the information systems and infrastructure.
Russell earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from New York University.
Johnna McCooey
Director of Human Resources
Johnna McCooey joined Americatel as Director of Human Resources in February 2009. Additionally, Ms. McCooey also serves as the Director of Human Resources for Matrix Telecom, Inc., a sister company under Platinum Equity. Before joining Matrix in 2006, Ms. McCooey has filled HR management positions with Choice One Communications and Xelus, Inc. Ms. McCooey holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from the Rochester Institute of Technology.