PRAYSON W. PATE
3511 Meadowrun Drive, Durham NC 27707
+1-919-451-0443
praysonpate@gmail.com
Engaging and compelling technology executive with a strong background in leading teams and building
products.
Proven track record in delivering innovative products to leading communication service providers.
Entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated by founding a successful company in difficult economic conditions.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

BUSINESS LEADERSHIP: Co-founded Overture and led the development of next generation technologies.
Grew the team to 100+ engineers supporting $70M annual business.
Company recognized with multiple
product and company awards, including “Fastest Growing Private Company” in Triangle Business Journal’s
2012 Fast 50 Awards.

CUSTOMER FOCUS: Drove the product development and technical engagement that led to 450
Communications Service Provider (CSP) customers in over 45 countries, including 5 of top 7 global
Ethernet services vendors and 8 of top 10 US Ethernet services vendors.
Most of these customers are
direct, indicating the value that customers see in Overture.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT: Led definition and implementations of such technologies as TDM circuit
emulation, Ethernet rings and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV).
Recruited and led the engineering
team that developed numerous award-winning products deployed internationally by tier-1 communications
service providers. Named inventor on 9 US patents.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: Created numerous articles, blogs and videos to support the launch of
Overture’s award-winning Ensemble Open Services Architecture.
Numerous sales support engagements,
and corporate spokesperson at tradeshows and other customer events, both in the USA and
internationally.
TECHNICAL AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Executive Leadership

Product Development

Staff Recruitment and Development

Budget and Scheduling

Technology Evaluation

Patents and Intellectual Property

Due Diligence

Open Source Software

Customer Development

NFV and SDN
EDUCATION
Master of Science – ECE – NC State University – May 1986
Bachelor of Science – Electrical Engineering and Computer Science - May 1984.
PATENTS, WRITING AND SPEAKING
Please see my web site praysonpate.com for a complete list of my 9 US patents and 5 IETF
RFCs, as well as numerous articles, blogs, videos and speaking engagements.
EXPERIENCE
OVERTURE NETWORKS - September 2000 to Present – Founder and CTO
I am charged with helping Overture anticipate and lead through major industry transitions and
market shifts while conveying Overture’s message to its customers and the larger industry. Most
recently, I guided Overture’s own transition from a telecom hardware powerhouse to an
innovation leader in orchestration solutions for software-defined carrier-class networks. I am an
evangelist for network functions virtualization (NFV), helping communication service providers
(CSPs) and mobile operators create virtual environments optimized for agility and profit. I speak
often at industry events, post to my blog praysons-prate.blogspot.com and share NFV
information, ideas and guidance through bylined articles published by industry media.
I participate regularly in standards bodies such as the MEF and IETF, and was chosen to be
the co-editor of the pseudowire emulation edge-to-edge (PWE3) requirements and architecture
documents (RFCs 3916 and 3985).
Key Accomplishments:

Co-founded Overture in September 2000.
company.
Raised angel and VC money to start the
Recruited first set of engineers and delivered initial product by fall of 2001.

Drove product innovation in TDM circuit emulation that led to 5 US patents.

Served as co-editor of IETF PWE3 requirements (RFC 3916) and architecture
(RFC3985) documents.

Developed products that led to initial company growth and customers such as tw
telecom, Wiltel and Verizon Business
Prayson Pate - praysonpate@gmail.com - Page 3

Led due diligence for acquisition of Ceterus Networks in January 2009.

Led product development during next phase of growth with initial focus on fiber
products.

Grew team to over 100 engineers.

Led integrated development team after merger with Hatteras Networks in March 2011.

Drove thought leadership for Overture’s relaunch with its Ensemble OSA Architecture in
2013, including numerous articles, blogs and conference appearances.

Led intellectual property efforts that have resulted in 10 US patents granted and others
pending.
Recent Overture Awards:

Jun 2, 2015: Overture wins Runner-up in Pipeline Innovation Awards

Apr 2, 2015: Overture Ensemble Service Intelligence Honored With 2015 INTERNET
TELEPHONY NFV Pioneer Award

Mar 3, 2015: Overture Ensemble Service Intelligence wins NIA Award for Network
Intelligence

Aug 6, 2014: Overture Ensemble OSA™ Receives 2014 NFV Pioneer Award

Feb 19, 2014: Overture 6500 Receives Internet Telephony 2014 Product of the Year
Award


Oct 22, 2013: Overture Ensemble OSA™ Receives 2013 Excellence in SDN Award
Sep 18, 2013: Overture Honored as Stevie® Award Winner in 2013 American Business
Awards

Jan 30, 2013: Overture First to Receive MEF Carrier Ethernet 2.0

Nov 16, 2012: Fast 50: #1 Overture Networks

Sep 18, 2012: Overture Honored with TMC INTERNET TELEPHONY Excellence Award
for Optical Ethernet Mobile Backhaul

Jun 20, 2012: Overture's Ethernet Smart Demarcation Solution Recognized for
Innovation

Oct 18, 2011: TBJ Unveils Fast 50 Award Winners

May 24, 2011: Overture's ISG 6000 Receives 2011 NGN Leadership Award from TMC's
NGN Magazine
Prayson Pate - praysonpate@gmail.com - Page 4
LARSCOM - December 1992 to August 2000 - Engineer/Manager/Director
Responsible for development of software for telecom products deployed at tier 1 service
providers.
Also involved in development of MFR standards at the Frame Relay Forum.
BNR (Nortel) - June 1988 to December 1992 - Member of Scientific Staff
Developed hardware and embedded software for Nortel telecommunications peripherals.