Title: Partner
Employer: Levine, Blaszak, Block & Boothby, LLP
Nickname/Alias: The beauty of having a one-syllable name is that you don't need a nickname. What I'm Best Known For (in the Telecom World): I am primarily known as a deal lawyer who represents large users of telecommunication services and products. Other Primary Areas of Expertise: As part of my legal practice at LB3, I negotiate deals for enterprise users and government agencies that involve systems development and integration, software and intellectual property licensing, application hosting, outsourcing, business process management, Voice over IP (“VoIP”) services and products, data and voice network equipment purchases, maintenance and management, and managed information security services. Summary of Professional Background: Since joining LB3 in 1998, I have assisted Fortune 500 corporations and other major companies structure information technology transaction. From 1996 through 1998, I was an associate in the Charlotte, North Carolina office of Hunton & Williams where I represented clients in commercial litigation concerning antitrust, consumer fraud, and class actions. Prior to attending law school, I was a systems engineer for GE Aerospace where I specialized in systems integration and software engineering in support of information technology programs for several federal agencies. I received my B.S.E.E. (1989) from Howard University, my M.S.E. (Systems Engineering - 1992) from the University of Pennsylvania and my J.D. (1996) from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Law. Prediction on the Future of Telecom & Telecom Managers: Enterprise customers will stop buying voice services by the minute. Instead, all-you-can-drink voice minutes will be offered to enterprise customers by network providers or systems integrators as part of their managed network services or business process management solutions. With that said, I am reminded of a quote from a long dead telecom expert – “This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication.” From a Western Union internal memo, 1876. Weirdest Thing People Usually Don't Know about Me: During the summer following high school graduation, I helped refurbish, and then manage, a drive-in movie theatre. As part of the job, I inspected vehicles to investigate and discourage inappropriate activity. When I'm not talking or doing something in relation to telecom, I'm usually... Struggling to learn a new sport and sticking with it just long enough to become slightly above (or below) average. Most recently, sea and surf kayaking have captured my attention. Book and author I'm currently reading: Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan CD currently or most recently in my car stereo: Get Lifted by John Legend The stupidest thing I've ever seen anyone do or say in relation to a phone: Cell phones with cameras encourage a lot of stupidity, but happy slapping is just about the stupidest thing I’ve seen done with a phone. | 
