About Us:
James H. Hooker
President & CEOJim establishes and guides Televerde’s strategic focus as a premier provider of integrated lead to revenue services. He started the company in 1995 with a mission to help clients solve complex problems through market intelligence and lead generation programs. Since then, the stellar results that consistently exceed their expectations have enabled our long-term relationships with leading B2B tech and non-tech companies. Jim strongly advocates that we provide clients with a second-to-none experience based on extreme customer service and the best return on investment attainable. The goal he sets for the Televerde team is clear: Set the bar on great performance and then continually drive to exceed it.
Prior to founding Televerde, Jim served as President and COO of Pacific Corp Capital, one of the top five diversified computer leasing companies in the U.S. He also served as an Executive Vice President for Pacific Atlantic formed through a merger with a Bell Atlantic subsidiary. Having begun his career with IBM, he also was involved in three successful start-ups including Ceres Capital Corp., where he was President and CEO.
On a personal note, Jim ranked third in the world as a novice bridge player in the American Contract Bridge League in 1993. One of his finest accomplishments was to be voted "The Best Parent Fan” in support of his son Joey's 2004-05 Big Red Cornell wrestling team (4th Place NCAA).
Vince Barsolo
Senior VP of OperationsVince has contributed to the growth and success of Televerde for over a decade. His leadership helps to define the best practices and operational efficiencies that ensure the company has the capacity and means to exceed customer expectations. He currently directs Televerde's strategic business planning and operational activities, including expansion initiatives and oversight of our multiple call center operation.
He joined Televerde in 1997 in the role of Call Center Supervisor where, as a star performer, he quickly rose through the ranks. His hands-on experience provides for a foundation of experience that is highly valuable to our operation. Prior to Televerde, Vince worked for Touchdown Publications and Prudential Insurance. His career highlights include creating sales networks, earning a Customer Service Trainer certification, and developing successful key account relationships.
When he's not in the office, Vince enjoys escaping to his cabin in Prescott, Arizona, golfing, and supporting his favorite sports teams. His approach to work and life: "Continue to work on your game, come to play every day, and have fun."
Sherry Paterra
Senior VP of End-to-End Services GroupSherry is responsible for development of Televerde’s marketing and sales pipeline management and consulting services we provide to clients in each of our three integrated services portfolios – data, marketing automation and teleservices. Her expertise and experience enables us to create strategic engagements that benefit clients by providing best practice go-to-market methodologies based on their unique needs. Her consulting engagements are centered on the fact that B2B companies’ demand creation and lead nurturing programs require multiple integrated approaches to effectively address target markets and optimize sales revenue performance.
Sherry came to Televerde from Phone Works where she was Managing Partner and General Manager and had worked closely with Televerde as a client. Prior to Phone Works she co-founded and served as CEO of TeleSpectrum where she served as Senior Engagement Director for clients including GE, American Express, Apple, Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Dell and IBM. Sherry continues to serve as Director and Strategic Advisor of two companies, Livelook (a venture-backed SaaS company) and Opus8 (a private equity company focused on CRM/BPO in the Customer Management sector).
She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and her MBA from the University of Chicago. Sherry resides in Piedmont, California and her extra-curricular activities include a joy for cooking, travel, writing and philanthropy.
Michelle Cirocco
VP of Client SuccessMichelle oversees Televerde Client Success Department whose primary focus is to create customer loyalty by understanding and aligning client expectations and requirements with Televerde’s capabilities. She is a talented and accomplished executive who helps to lead our clients through changes and challenges to achieve profitable growth. A strategic problem-solver who envisions and implements smart solutions throughout all levels of the organization, she is skilled in analyzing business needs and creating innovative programs, processes and strategies that consistently lead to client loyalty and business growth.
Michelle has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business & Marketing from the University of Phoenix and an MBA from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. She is a member of the National Association of Women MBA’s, a Certified Auditor and Quality Coordinator for ISO 9001, a Certified Analyst for Predictive Index, and is certified by SiriusDecisions in the Foundations of Demand Creation, Messaging & Campaign Planning, and Effective Account-Based Marketing. Her training includes Miller Heimen’s Strategic Selling and Conceptual Selling, Selling to VITO, and The Complex Sale.
Michelle is also an active leader of several Televerde corporate social responsibility initiatives. She is a marathon runner and an avid snow skier and resides in Phoenix with her husband Chris and has two sons.
Karen Schweitzer
VP of Call Center OperationsKaren is responsible for taking our operations to higher standards of performance, refining our processes, improving productivity and effectiveness, and delivering stronger results for our clients. She has been involved in call center management for over 30 years.
She was instrumental in establishing the first national call centers for Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Programs. Subsequently, she co-founded TeleSpectrum, an outsourced inbound/outbound call center serving high-tech, pharmaceutical and Fortune 500 companies. Operating as CEO and COO, Karen was responsible for all aspects of call center operations and for growing the company to 350 seats. In 2008, Karen became a consultant with Phone Works, a company that specialized in helping high-tech firms build inside sales teams. In 2011 she played a key role in Phone Works’ consulting engagement with Televerde where she developed a keen understanding of our innovative business model and the unique benefits it produces for clients. Karen joined Televerde in January 2012.
Karen is a past recipient of Telemarketing Magazine’s “Top Ten Professional Women” award.
Ken Simonelic
VP of Information TechnologyKen is responsible for the company’s strategic use of data and technology in providing innovative products and services to clients, and ensuring the responsiveness and agility of the company’s digital assets and IT infrastructure.
Prior to joining Televerde, he spent nine years providing information technology leadership and strategic planning through his close collaboration with top executives of Fortune 500 companies, which included the banking, insurance, retail and entertainment industries. At Wells Fargo & Co., he served as Vice President, Data Services Group and Vice President, Business Intelligence & Forecasting.
Ken has an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, (Minneapolis), a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University (Lafayette, Ind.) and is also a Six Sigma Green Belt. He is an avid mountain biker and skier, and is also a founding member of a local non-profit animal rescue. He remains active in the non-profit, helping save the lives of dogs and cats in Arizona by finding them loving homes.
Chris Palmer
CFOChris Palmer, CPA, is focused on the company's growth plans, market opportunities, strategic direction and practices that will scale with the business as we grow while continuing to exceed customer expectations. He collaborates closely with Televerde’s executive team and sales, marketing and operational leaders on growing the company’s core competency of designing and delivering integrated demand generation and lead nurturing solutions to clients. He brings discipline and efficiency to Televerde’s financial planning, budgeting, management reporting, and ROI decision-making practices.
Chris is a seasoned global financial executive and business general manager in the technology industry where he’s worked in tandem with enterprise leaders on planning, finance, accounting and integration. He established his 20-plus-year career in leadership positions at technology giants Intel and Micron Technology where he oversaw alliances, joint ventures and start-ups with global operations. Prior to entering the technology arena he was an audit manager with a Big Four accounting firm.
Chris received his MBA from Duke University, and his undergraduate degree in accounting at the University of Arizona. Chris is married and a new dad. While not working, he likes to pass the time hiking, running, reading and biking. He also enjoys things with boards, particularly skiing and surfing.