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.