BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nan is known in the telecom/networking industry as the founding President of the MEF. Under his leadership, MEF has become one of the major success stories in the new Internet age. With 200+ members, 35+ Carrier Ethernet standards, 150+ certified companies and 400+ professionals the aggregate membership market capitalization is well over $1.5 trillion.

Nan’s profound drive to unite standardization and certification with dynamic, global campaigns and strategic initiatives, helped make Carrier Ethernet one of the fastest growing areas in telecoms, reaching $50B+. In 2012, MEF launched CE 2.0, that delivers the next generation of standardized technologies with unmatched efficiency and cost-savings for exponential data growth in mobile backhaul, cloud computing and Internet applications.

Prior to founding CENX, he was VP of Marketing at Strix Systems (acquired by Private Equity); VP of Marketing at Atrica (acquired by Nokia Siemens Networks); and Director of Technology at Bay Networks/SynOptics (acquired by Nortel).

Mr. Chen has received 30+ industry awards/accolades and 10,000+ citations in worldwide media, and has been named as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Telecom/Internet Industry.

As vice president of Verizon’s Global Planning and Technology organization, Ihab Tarazi oversees one of the largest facilities-based communications networks in the world. Tarazi is responsible for the network planning and development of Verizon’s converged global wireline network including, the industry leading FiOS platform and one of the most interconnected Global IP networks spanning more than 2,600 cities in 150 countries touching six continents.

Tarazi is responsible for the development of IP and Ethernet network capabilities delivering high speed access on a converged high performance network. He is driving the implementation of 100G Optical backbone expansion in Verizon. Ihab has also been instrumental in the development of next generation cable systems including the Trans-Pacific-Express (TPE) and the Europe India Gateway (EIG).

Ihab is a graduate of the University of Maryland and has a Masters Degree in Telecom Management from Southern Methodist University (SMU).

Bob Metcalfe graduated from MIT, where he is now a Life Trustee, and in 1973 received his PhD from Harvard for his dissertation on Packet Communication. Bob joined pioneering of the Internet in 1970.  In 1973, he invented Ethernet at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center.  In 1979, he founded 3Com Corp., taking it public in 1984. After 30 years, 3Com became part of HP in 2010.  In 2001, Bob became a venture capitalist at Polaris Venture Partners.  In 2003, he was appointed Advisory Director to the MEF board.  Among Bob's myriad awards and accolades are the IEEE Medal of Honor in 1996, National Academy of Engineering in 1999, National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007, and Computer History Museum Hall of Fellows in 2008.  In 2005, Bob received the National Medal of Technology for “leadership in the invention, standardization, and commercialization of Ethernet.

Zhao Huiling has over thirty years experience in the telecommunication industry in China. Ms. Zhao specializes in the research on NGN broadband network, and development strategy of communication network. She joined China Telecom in 2000. She is responsible for study network evolution including IP network, service, equipment, protocol, interface and testing in China Telecom. Before joining China Telecom, she was the Vice President of Research Institute of Telecommunication Transmission of MII.

In 1999, she was the Chairperson of Network Switching Technical of organizing technical program and relevant technical specification of IP-MAN soft switch network and equipment. In 2006, she initiated and presided over research work on standardization for Common IMS convergence network, and set up a joint research group in China. She has won many awards for sci-tech programs at national and ministerial levels.

James is a results oriented leader who consistently exceeds team, corporate and customer objectives is how James Cassella is often described. As Vice President for the Verizon Account at Cisco, James leads, energizes, inspires and challenges a team of sales and engineering professionals to always provide synergistic and symbiotic value solutions to both Cisco and the customer.

With more than 20 years of major account management, team building, relationship development, partnership development and C-level client relations experience, James has consistently established and maintained highly effective, profitable and genuine relationships at all levels.

James has a wealth of telecommunications industry experience having worked for Starent Networks, Sonus Networks, Lucent, AT&T Wireless, and Bell Atlantic Mobile. His focus over the past 10 years on the fast-paced evolution of wireless networks in the areas of CDMA, UMTS, EVDO, IMS, LTE and WiMAX has made him a recognized strategic partner.

James holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Minor in Communications from the College of Saint Elizabeth.

Arie Goldberg is the founder and CEO at Omnitron where he is responsible for the company's corporate vision and direction. He has more than 20 years of telecommunication and computing industry experience as a technologist and entrepreneur.

Under his leadership, Omnitron is a successful growing company with a dedicated focus on delivering quality fiber optic products to its telecommunication and enterprise customers. Since its inception, Omnitron has been focused on fiber optic technology for LAN enterprise applications.  In 2001, Arie led the diversification of Omnitron into the Carrier Ethernet market with the development of sophisticated Ethernet access and demarcation technology. 

Prior to Omnitron, Arie held engineering and management positions at Technology Marketing, Western Digital, General Automation and Electronic Memories. He has also architected and directed numerous telecommunication and computing product developments for Alcatel, Myrias Research and Modcomp.

Arie holds BScEE and MScEE degrees from California State University, Long Beach.  He is a frequent speaker at conferences promoting the adoption of fiber-optic and Carrier Ethernet technologies.

Robert Kuse has 12 years experience in carrier data sales, product management and business development with BellSouth, AT&T and Cox Communications. His current focus is on Metro Ethernet projects for Business Ethernet, wireless backhaul and carrier access services and is a member of the headquarters transport planning and architecture organization within Cox Communications.

Robert has a successful track record developing and delivering wholesale VPN, DSL and Metro Ethernet services and solutions. Robert's experience brings a front line perspective on the challenges service providers have delivering carrier class Carrier Ethernet today. Examining the MEF's service attributes, these are clearly aligned with both our customer experience and with Cox's plans.”

Robert strongly supports the MEF technical leadership in this and other critical areas such as E-NNI, CoS and service NID. “It also includes important education, messaging and media events that communicate this important work to the customers who ultimately judge the value of our collective efforts and buy Metro Ethernet Services.”

Scott Mansfield is a Principal Engineer in Ericsson’s DUIB Technology Network Architecture group. A long time technologist, Scott has built object-oriented workflow systems for the US Treasury Department, The United States Naval Reserve, Federal Express, and the United Parcel Service.

Scott has also been the Lead Architect for Ericsson’s North American Mobile Backhaul Solutions, before moving into a position of Standards Engineer. Scott has been Ericsson’s MEF Coordinator for the past 5 years and is also an active contributor to the IETF and the ITU-T.

Andrew has over 30 years experience within the telecommunications sector. He started his career with Cable & Wireless where he held a number of positions within the international operations and marketing teams planning and negotiating international traffic routes and interconnects. He served as the UK Telecoms Manager at Price Waterhouse before re-joining C&W.

He then joined Deutsche Telekom helping to create the joint venture Global One where he held a number of different international posts including Managing Director of Global One Germany. Following a year as Head of Sales EMEA, Andrew became the Managing Director of Equant (subsequently Orange Business Services) UK and Ireland.

As Head of Global Marketing Network Solutions, he is responsible for the maintenance and development of the Company’s global network strategy, and global IP network portfolio, responsible for telepresence and video interconnect service.

Andrew is also the President and Chairman of the Open Visual Communications Consortium.

Eric Puetz has been in the data communications industry for over 30 years. He is currently responsible for strategic standards in the area of broadband, access and transport including Ethernet and cloud services. He has led organizations responsible for development and deployment of emerging services (e.g. Ethernet, IPTV).

Eric’s many contributions to the MEF have been in both the certification and marketing teams. He is currently co-chair of the certification committee responsible for the development of the MEF 2.0 certification program. Some current areas AT&T heavily supports/leads are Mobile Backhaul, Certification, Multi-Network Layer 2 Control Protocol, and Virtual NID.

Eric has been a member of the MEF since its inception and served on the MEF Board of Directors from 2004 to 2008. His background in the development of standards strategies brings a strong practical focus in order to fulfill the goal of “Accelerating the Adoption of Carrier Ethernet”.

Raghu Ranganathan is co-chair of MEF Technical Committee and editor of MEF 6.2 (Ethernet Service Definitions). Previously he led the work on MEF 22.1 (Mobile Backhaul Implementation Agreement). Additionally, as an elected Board member of MEF (2011-2012), he has used the extraordinary opportunity to be an active leader in defining MEF’s future and educating the networking community across the world on MEF’s excellent work on Carrier Ethernet Services & Networks.

Raghu has been with Ciena since 1998. He is a Senior Member of IEEE with many publications and patents in addition to conference presentations. He has also been active in the industry as member of various conference committees including as chair.

For 28 years, Ralph has developed information and communications technology (ICT) products and Cloud-based services addressing Consumers, Businesses and Communications Services Provider markets at Fujitsu, IBM, Nortel, and four startups. A founding member and leading contributor to all MEF committees, he was editor of MEF 5 and 6 and contributed to MEF1/5/6/10/22/33 technical specifications.

He authored the MEF's Ethernet Services Primer and was editor and co-author of the MEF’s Carrier Ethernet Security Best Practices and Carrier Ethernet for Private Cloud Service Delivery papers. Ralph created the MEF Carrier Ethernet Professional Certification Program and co-developed the MEF’s Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional (CECP) exam. Ralph currently leads the Carrier Ethernet for Cloud (CE4Cloud) project in the Marketing Committee and contributes to the CE4Cloud project in the Technical Committee.

At Fujitsu, Ralph helps customers develop Carrier Ethernet solutions that best address their requirements for mobility, security, scalability, management, and migration to Cloud.

Karen Schmidt serves as Executive Director, Product Management and Strategy for Comcast Business Services. In this role, Schmidt is responsible for product lifecycle initiatives and long-term strategies to optimize growth for Comcast’s business data portfolio, including Business Class Ethernet and Internet Services. Comcast was the first service provider to earn all three MEF 9, 14 and 18 certifications, and has extended its Ethernet reach to 20 of the top 25 U.S. markets.

Schmidt has more than 20 years of telecommunications, internet and cable industry experience. Prior to joining Comcast, Schmidt was Vice President, Products and Marketing for Network Solutions, where she directed two wholesale brands. Previously, she held product, marketing and corporate development roles within MCI Communications and Concert Communications.

Schmidt holds a BA from Wheaton College and completed graduate coursework at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.