About Wireless Zone | Executive Staff
Russell Weldon
CCO and Founder of Wireless Zone
As the founder and visionary behind Wireless Zone®, Weldon directs the company’s “big picture” strategic planning.
He works closely with Wireless Zone department heads and regularly speaks with franchisees and upper management carrier executives.
A respected authority on the wireless industry, retail sales, customer service, and store management, Weldon acts as the CCO
(Chief Cultural Officer) of the company, and continues to drive the customer service values on which the company was created.
In 1988, Weldon and his partner, Mike Geer, opened a single store on the second floor of a small building in Wethersfield, CT. They named it The Car Phone Store and the idea was so successful, so quickly, that it created its own demand for replication. Weldon chose to sell franchises contingent mostly on the franchisee’s ability to adopt his philosophies about customer service: "don't make customers, make fans." He formed the parent company, Automotive Technologies, Inc. (ATI), to provide the support needed to grow the franchises and help them succeed. To this day, he is the driving force behind maintaining the fundamental principles that have kept the organization strong and thriving.
Kevin Sinclair
President & CEO
With over 10 years at the helm of Wireless Zone®, Sinclair is the master of the practical, strategic solutions
that have helped the company continue to grow, year after year. He became president of Wireless Zone in 2000 after six years as
Vice President of Operations. When Sinclair came on board, the organization was comprised of 27 stores (then known as The Car Phone Store)
in three states. Under his direction, Wireless Zone is now approaching 400 stores in 27 states plus the District of Columbia. Today there is demand from both
potential franchisees and carriers for extensive expansion into new territories.
Before joining Wireless Zone, Sinclair was general manager of national accounts with Bell Atlantic Mobile (now part of Verizon Wireless). He has extensive knowledge of the wireless industry, both from the carrier and distribution sides. Sinclair managed large, successful sales teams at Bell Atlantic Mobile, and has been a major accounts sales leader himself. His keen ability to identify with and support the needs of Wireless Zone franchisees facilitates his plans for continued franchise development, and existing store sales growth.
Sinclair is President of the Wireless Zone Foundation for Giving, Inc. and Chairman of the Make a Wish Foundation of CT. Kevin also serves on the Board of Directors for ATI and the Wireless Communications Division (WCD) of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The mission of the WCD is to: "Promote the value of the indirect channel to the wireless industry, and to grow the professionalism and longevity of that channel, with the support and advocacy of the entire supply chain."
Keeping a focus on the companies mission statement, “We are dedicated to being the nation’s top wireless retailer by providing the best customer experience”, will keep the system growing with new owners, and the expansion of existing owners and year over year store growth.
Mike Geer
Executive Vice President and Co-Founder of Wireless Zone®
Geer has been Russ Weldon’s partner in Wireless Zone®/The Car Phone Store from its inception to the present. Weldon and Geer
worked together at Sounds Great from 1980-1987. Geer ran the cellular division of one of Sounds Great’s largest stores in Connecticut at a
time when it was questionable whether cellular had a future.
He brought all of his "early on" experience to help grow the business and make it a national enterprise. The duo worked side-by-side selling and installing 3-watt phones in that first store in Wethersfield, CT. Geer is now a key player in the finance department. He continues to work with the franchisees, providing the same old-fashioned customer service that he has given from the outset.
Jim Dunham
Chief Operating Officer
Dunham joined the Wireless Zone® executive management team as Chief Strategy Officer in August 2009 and was named Chief Operating Officer in March 2010. His areas of responsibility include Information Technology, Logistics, Procurement and AdOne with the overall strategic goal of supporting Wireless Zone’s nationwide expansion.
Prior to joining Wireless Zone, Dunham was Senior Vice President, General Manager and a partner in Catalyst Business Solutions, a Los Angeles based start-up involved in providing value-added outsourced services to the Wireless Industry. He brings 32 years of experience in the wireless and consumer electronics industries including that of Executive Vice President, Logistics & Subscriber Services for Brightpoint North America. He managed the growth of the logistics business in the United States from 8.1 million handsets shipped in 2002 to over 48.5 million handsets shipped in 2007. Prior to joining Brightpoint, Jim held the position of President of American Wireless, a national wireless master agent involved in activations, distribution and fulfillment.
Dunham is an active member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP).
Stephen J.Lewkowicz
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Lewkowicz joined Wireless Zone® in the beginning of 2001 as Chief Financial Officer and oversees the financial and treasury operations of ATI.
His duties include financial strategic planning, reporting and compliance for the company. He serves as Treasurer and Director of the Wireless
Zone Foundation for Public Giving, and is a member of the ATI Board of Directors.
Prior to coming to Wireless Zone, Lewkowicz was the CFO of TELEFLEX-Sermatech Corporation, where he was involved with domestic and international financial operations. He brings over 25 years of financial and treasury experience with major Fortune 500 companies such as United Technologies and Bayer Pharmaceuticals and has been on the Board of Directors and Investment Committee with the Kaman Aerospace Credit Union. Steve was named "CFO of the Year" for 2009 by the Hartford Business Journal.
Lewkowicz has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Norwich University and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) -Lally School of Management and Technology.
Susan Suhr, CFE
Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer
Suhr oversees all training, legal, administrative, and contractual issues pertaining to Wireless Zone® and its affiliates. Since joining Wireless
Zone in 1994, Suhr has administered all legal issues including: new and old franchise documents, state and federal regulatory issues, supervision of in-house
counsel and paralegals, contract preparation, coordination of outside counsel, employee and operations manuals and more. In spring of 2007, she was tasked with
creating a new training department, which has grown into a valuable resource for our franchisees. Suhr serves as Clerk and Director of the Wireless Zone Foundation
for Public Giving, and is a member of the ATI Board of Directors. She brings deep experience as a senior executive at Pfizer, Inc. to guide Wireless Zone’s rapid
expansion.
Suhr has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from Bucknell University and an MBA in international business and finance from New York University Graduate School of Business Administration.
David Staszewski
Senior Vice President of Sales
Staszewski joined the ATI team in August 2006 as the Vice President of Business Development with more than twenty years of business and sales management experience. In April 2007, he was promoted to Vice President & General Manager, and joined the Executive Staff in March 2010 as the Senior Vice President of Sales.
His duties as Senior Vice President of Sales include overseeing store operations, franchise growth, Verizon FiOS, customer service, and all Verizon Wireless regional relationships.
Staszewski’s career began with the development and management of the regional finance department of start-up wireless carrier Metro Mobile CTS. From there he went on to build the Indirect Distribution and Reseller (MVNO) Channels, a niche that allowed Staszewski to excel as a manager and develop a number of successful organizations for two of the nation’s largest wireless carriers.
Staszewski has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Post College.
Brian Murtari
Chief Technology Officer
Murtari joined the company in 2006 as the Chief Technology Officer. As a member of the Executive Staff, Murtari directs and manages all information management
budgeting, strategic and tactical planning, Internet strategies, business process re-engineering, and database system strategy. He also oversees the planning
and implementation of all business information systems, such as sales, customer operations, Internet sales, Point of Sale, and internal communications.
Murtari’s experience includes serving as Director of Information Technology at Thales Broadcast & Multimedia, Inc., where he managed all day-to-day
IT operations for four North American Facilities. He received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Sciences from Central Connecticut State University.
Since graduating, Murtari has sought to expand his knowledge base through numerous training seminars and continued educational courses. At ATI, Murtari
has received a reputation for being the go-to technology guy, with the insight and experience to help to lead the company into the 21st century.
Diane O’Brien
Director of Human Resources
Diane is the company’s Director of Human Resources, joining the management team in November 2006. She is responsible for the development and administration of all employee related programs at our corporate office. Diane’s high energy and good nature have quickly made her a team favorite.
Diane has over 15 years experience in Human Resources with large and small companies, including United Technologies, prior to joining the Wireless Zone family. She has also been a consultant to businesses sharing her know-how in organizational development, human resources, and training. Diane was also an Assistant Professor at Eastern Connecticut State University, and continues to serve as a part-time instructor of management and strategic planning.
Diane has a Bachelors degree from the University of Connecticut and a MS in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lally School of Management and Technology.
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