About Us

St. Louis, MO based Buzz Broadband seeks to become the leader in providing broadband access to residential, small and medium size businesses, government and other institutional end users in selected, regionally concentrated suburban and rural markets across the United States. Buzz is deploying licensed spectrum wireless platforms interconnected through a leased or managed terrestrial network.

Wireless is the only infrastructure with the potential to effectively serve rural markets. Today, Buzz actively serves four markets and has recently acquired spectrum in and around Peoria, Il; Topeka, KS; Texarkana, TX; Texarkana, AR; McAlester, OK; and Hays and Great Bend, KS.

The spectrum covers a population of 408,000 households and represents more than 30 million MHz/pops of spectrum availability, positioning the company to become one of the larger operational spectrum holders in the country. Using a combination of WiMAX and multiple back haul technologies in a variety of spectrum, the company plans to offer not only internet access, but a wide range of advanced services for both the residential and business customer.

Buzz has assembled a seasoned management team with more than 200 years of collective experience in the telecommunications space. This team's expertise is in developing and building organizations capable of rapid growth: deploying network, bringing advanced products to market, attracting a loyal customer base and providing superior customer service.

The confluence of technology and government interest and support coupled with a team of proven executives positions Buzz to take full advantage of an enormous opportunity to meet the demand for broadband access in under-served communities across the United States.

Management Team +

G. Michael Cassity President & Chief Executive Officer, Board Member Mike, a seasoned telecom executive with more than twenty-five years experience in operations, finance, corporate restructuring, system re-engineering, regulatory & public affairs, HR, technology management and integration, served as an Executive Officer at BellSouth and as CEO and COO at multiple venture capital backed private companies, including NuVox, Inc. Prior to his involvement with N1 Communications, Mike was a consultant for TelePacific Communications serving as the Chief Integration Officer overseeing the integration of a public and private company with combined revenues of $460 million. Mike holds a BSEE from the University of Kentucky, MBA from the University of Louisville and attended the Program for Senior Executives at the Sloan School of Management, MIT.

Keith Coker, Chief Technology Officer Keith has most recently served as Chief Technology Officer for NuVox Inc, a super regional CLEC, where he was responsible for network design, bringing services that were once designated solely for large enterprises to the small to medium business market; and most recently, managing the strategic shift from traditional switched circuit telephony to a 100% voice over Internet protocol system. His background also includes extensive experience in Internet security, IT infrastructure planning, operational support systems, web design and infrastructure. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University and a Masters of Electrical and Optical Engineering from University of Arizona.

Christopher Benyo, Chief, Customer Operations Chris comes to N1 from NuVox Inc., where he served as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing managing the sales and marketing operations for more than six years and through three mergers. Chris led his team in achieving sales growth from $120 million annually to over $550 million annually. The span of his work experience ranges from operating an individually owned business to working for a Fortune 50 business, BellSouth Corporation, where he served as Senior Director. His expertise centers around developing big business solutions that are ready to move "down market" to small business and consumers, and managing a variety of direct and indirect distribution channels to get take these services to market. He has experience in telecommunications, computer software, electric power and wholesale distribution. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Florida.

Chip Gaskins, VP Corporate Development & Spectrum Planning Beginning his career at Earthlink, Chip is an experienced Corporate Development executive with particular knowledge of the rural broadband access issues and experience in deploying WiMAX solutions to under-served communities. At Digital Bridge Communications (DBC), a rural WiMAX ISP, he led Corporate Development efforts, with a major focus on securing 2.5GHz spectrum and acquiring Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) to facilitate the build out of rural WiMAX networks in Montana, Wyoming, Indiana, Idaho, Virginia and South Dakota. At Digital Bridge, he participated in USDA (RUS) application processes. Prior to his tenure at Digital Bridge, Chip managed broadband partnership deals at AOL. He negotiated deals with AT&T, Bellsouth, Charter and Clearwire. He earned a Masters degree in Engineering from North Carolina State University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

John Cerciello, VP Market Development John brings twenty plus years of telecommunications industry experience to his role at N-1. His most recent position was with Digital Bridge Communications (DBC) as General Manager for Business Development-Midwest Region. In that position he was responsible for the planning, launch, revenue generation, and support for the Midwest Region of the Internet Services that DBC delivered via WiMAX technology. Prior to his experience at DBC he was Vice President of National Sales for Comcast Commercial Internet services. In this position he led the sales and service teams supporting the middle market, enterprise market segments, and alternate channel market segments. John was a Division Manager for AT&T Solutions a network outsourcing organization. In this capacity, he led the efforts to sell, install, and maintain network outsourcing agreements for International Fortune 500 Clients. John also served as Vice President of Marketing and Sales for GMAC in the development of their Residence Advantage marketing program targeted at the MDU markets. John has extensive experience in the area of direct sales, operations, marketing, product management, and business development. John holds an MBA from Lehigh University and a BS Degree in Economics from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.

Peggy Forrest, Administrative and Human Resources Officer An Administrative and Human Resources Executive, Peggy brings more than 25 years experience in the telecommunications arena to her N-1. Working in both the public and private sector, and serving as the senior officer for corporate administration and Human Resources in three telecom start-up companies, she developed the Human Resources strategy from the ground up and led each respective organization during periods of organic growth, as well as the due diligence and integration processes for multiple mergers and acquisitions--more than 20 over the course of her career. Prior to joining N1 Communications she served as Senior Vice President- Administration and Human Resources for NuVox Inc ., and Brooks Fiber Properties and its subsidiaries: Brooks Fiber Communications and Brooks International. Peggy served as Managing Director for Brooks Investments LP from 1996-2000. She is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management and Women in Cable & Telecommunications. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Fontbonne University and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Missouri State University.

Board of Managers+

Brent St. John Chairman Mr. St. John is CEO of Hampden Holdings LLC which seeks to acquire minority and majority interests in promising new technologies that are poised for broad commercialization. He also serves as Chairman of Crosslink USA, a high tech polymers coatings company. Mr. St. John was previously CEO of Crosslink and a Sr. Operations Manager with The Pillsbury Company. Mr. St. John received his BSCE and MBA from Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

Michael Cassity – President & Chief Executive Officer, Board Member Mike, a seasoned telecom executive with more than twenty-five years experience in operations, finance, corporate restructuring, system re-engineering, regulatory & public affairs, HR, technology management and integration, served as an Executive Officer at BellSouth and as CEO and COO at multiple venture capital backed private companies, including NuVox, Inc. Prior to his involvement with N1 Communications, Mike was a consultant for TelePacific Communications serving as the Chief Integration Officer overseeing the integration of a public and private company with combined revenues of $460 million. Mike holds a BSEE from the University of Kentucky, MBA from the University of Louisville and attended the Program for Senior Executives at the Sloan School of Management, MIT.

Ray Kalinowski Jr. Mr. Kalinowski is Managing Partner, Royal Rock Capital LLC founded in 2008 as a Sino U.S. private equity investment and business development firm with offices in Shanghai, China and St. Louis, MO. Mr. Kalinowski previously served as Senior Vice President of the Mergers & Acquisition Group and Board member of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Managing Director Harbour Group, Managing Director, Corporate Finance A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., and Financial Analyst Eli Lilly & Company. He received his BA and MBA from The University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN and is a member of the board of Crosslink and the Center of Creative Arts (COCA).

Nick Niknejadi Mr. Niknejadi is Chairman of United Technologies Corporation, NJN Development, LLC, a Board member of World Trade Center/St. Louis County Economic Development, and a past Board member of Superior Bank and the America Israel Chamber of Commerce. United Technologies Corporation is a Missouri based information technology company specializing in IT consulting, Public Safety Homeland Security, and wireless technologies. Mr. Niknejadi is also involved in sports products development, banking, import/export businesses and real estate. He received his BS, and MSEE from Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

Andrew Kennard Mr. Kennard is the founder of Apex IT Consulting, a St. Louis based Managed Services Provider to small and medium sized businesses.