About NVT Phybridge

NVT Phybridge is a global leader in Power over Long Reach Ethernet solutions. NVT Phybridge strives to help organizations maximize their IoT return on investment by providing high-quality PoE solutions that are robust, secure, and simple to implement. The award-winning CHARIoT series of long reach PoE switches and extenders help customers modernize to an IP-based network, transforming existing or new infrastructure into an IP path with power.

NVT Phybridge is a North American-based technology company with a global reach dedicated to practical innovation. The number one priority is bringing innovative and affordable solutions to the market that are technologically advanced and practical for the customer. Learn more at www.nvtphybridge.com.

Founders

Oliver Emmanuel

Oliver Emmanuel founded Phybridge in 2006 after developing a long reach Power over Ethernet switch that he wanted to bring to market. Mr. Emmanuel developed the switch to address the infrastructure barriers that organizations faced as they tried to modernize from analog to IP communication.

Mr. Emmanuel was recognized for his innovative approach and lateral thinking. He had a proven track record of undertaking challenging projects and bringing them to completion successfully. Mr. Emmanuel was respected as a veteran in the telecommunications industry with over two decades of experience leading projects in Europe, Africa, North America, and Asia.

His broad telecommunications experience encompassed legacy PBX, IP Telephony, wireless, and video. He held senior engineering positions at Unisys, Scientific Atlanta (a division of Cisco), and MCK Telecommunications. Mr. Emmanuel is recognized for his significant contributions to innovative designs, which resulted in enhanced corporate profitability. Mr. Emmanuel was a visionary who held several patents.

John Croce – President & Chief Executive Officer

John Croce’s specialty is in start-up businesses; having successfully managed three companies from the ground up, his passion is evident. As President & CEO of NVT Phybridge, Mr. Croce brings balance with his seasoned experience in management and finance. Before joining the company, Mr. Croce was the founding President and CEO of Counsel Wealth Management. Under Mr. Croce’s leadership, the company grew to over $2 billion in assets, making Counsel Wealth Management one of the fastest-growing fund companies of its time in Canada.

Mr. Croce has also served as a partner of Anthem Properties based in Vancouver, Canada. Anthem Properties grew to over $500 million in real estate assets and over $200 million in investor equity during his time with the company. In 1998, Anthem Properties became public and was listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Mr. Croce played a pivotal role in its monumental achievement. Before establishing Anthem Properties, Mr. Croce’s earlier success was as a business development representative for AGF Management, a leading Canadian mutual fund company.

Leadership Team

Arvind David – VP, Digital Experience

As the Vice President of Digital Experience, Arvind David is responsible for global digital transformation efforts across the organization within Digital Marketing, IT Management, Software Development, Partner Engagement, and more.
Arvind is a seasoned technology entrepreneur. Before joining NVT Phybridge in 2019, Arvind founded COD3M Consultancy Services, a global IT service provider specializing in Digital Marketing, Chat Bots, Artificial Intelligence, website creation, and Mobile Application Development.
Outside of the office, Arvind enjoys reading and cycling, although not yet simultaneously. Arvind attributes his success to hard work, focus, and deliberate execution of ideas, values that have shaped and strengthened the organization.

Richard Kasslack – Vice President of Sales and Corporate Development

Richard Kasslack has over two decades of presence in Application and Systems Architecture, Network Administration, and Call Center Operations. His impressive appointments have included Director of Call Centre Operations at The Toronto Sun Newspaper, where he oversaw the implementation of one of the first automated dialing solutions in Canada, and Director of Information Services at Investment Planning Counsel, part of one of the largest Wealth Management companies in Canada.

Mr. Kasslack has also founded several Internet start-ups. In addition, Mr. Kasslack has been a board member of several private companies and charitable organizations and contributes to various industry groups and committees. He is a seasoned professional, and his expertise has allowed NVT Phybridge to grow substantially since joining the company in 2009.

Graham Ward – Vice President, Operations

Graham Ward is an Operations Leader with diverse industry experience who brings a practical approach to operational excellence grounded in business results. Ten years of experience at Kraft Foods Canada and Maple Leaf Foods, in both Continuous Improvement and Operational roles, Mr. Ward has overseen a $50MM portfolio of projects that has spanned manufacturing, logistics, product supply, and customer service.  Besides being well-practiced in project management and structured problem-solving, he has experience with complex change management initiatives and organizational restructuring.

At Epicor Software Corporation, Mr. Ward directed the Professional Services and Support teams in the Manufacturing Execution and Intelligence (MEI) division. Graham was successful in his mandate to restore profitability and bring consistency to both US and UK operations. Demonstrating his broad business acumen, he worked closely with the sales leadership to establish a coherent pricing strategy for small and Enterprise customers. He collaborated with Product Development to establish and adhere to a robust product roadmap.

As Director of Pre-Sales Consulting at Shoplogix Inc, Mr. Ward was responsible for proof-of-concept business analytics and project management. During his time at the Company, he devised a 100-plant global deployment plan for their largest customer that met the rollout timeline and the expectations for the solution’s rapid adoption and payback. As a Management System Consultant, Mr. Ward was a key contributor to the ISOsoft^© application at Intelex Technologies Inc. Mr. Ward authored comprehensive instruction and provided end-user expertise throughout functional development.

Frank Cerpnjak – Vice President of Finance

Frank Cerpnjak has spent the past 20 years as a financial consultant and advisor to various small and medium-sized companies. Mr. Cerpnjak’s expertise includes financial reporting, taxation, corporate finance, and business acquisitions.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Cerpnjak worked at a national predecessor firm to Doane Raymond as an Audit Manager. Mr. Cerpnjak later gained business valuation experience at McCarney Greenwood Vottero. Thereafter, Mr. Cerpnjak spent four years as controller and finance manager for Canadian Business Machines Limited, a manufacturer of AV accessary products, cash security solutions for Frisco Bay Industries, and NCR/OEM-specific products for Canon, Ricoh, Sharp, and Toshiba. During his time with the company, he developed his passion for operational restructuring and cross-border strategic planning.

As NVT Phybridge’s Vice President of Finance, Mr. Cerpnjak is charged with strengthening and aligning its central administrative and financial functions over its global operations. He oversees a broad range of departments in this role, including finance, accounting, resource planning, business affairs, risk management, and human resources. His focus lies on continuous improvement for the company’s reporting and management, and he has a genuine appreciation of all the organization’s contributions. Mr. Cerpnjak is a University of Waterloo alumnus with an Honours Degree in Accounting and Economics and is a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Business Valuator, and Certified Public Accountant (US).

Jovanco Spiroski – Director, Hardware Engineering

Jovanco Spiroski brings to NVT Phybridge his expertise, which ranges from design work at IMAX to a customer-facing role with Arrow Electronics.  His development skills are wide-ranging, including Analog and Digital circuit design, power electronics, interface, magnetic circuit design, and numerical analysis. Mr. Spiroski’s experience and personal approach allow him to address the challenges during all phases of product development from concept to manufacturing.  He is a graduate of the University St. Cyril and Methodius in Macedonia from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering with a Major in Electronics.

Regional Sales Leadership

Julian Kennedy – North American Sales Manager

As North American Sales Manager, Julian oversees the North American sales team, manages partner relationships in the region, and assists customers with large-scale deployments. Julian and his sales teams work closely with sales support and technical support teams to ensure the best possible outcome for our customers.

Julian has over 25 years of sales experience, nine of those with NVT Phybridge. Before coming to Canada in 2000, Julian lived in Ireland, where he also enjoyed working as a professional DJ and did some TV and radio work. Julian is currently a rep soccer coach in Canada, bringing an understanding of coaching and teamwork to his role at NVT Phybridge. Above all else, Julian believes in honesty, integrity, and hard work, which he brings to every aspect of his personal and professional life.

Antonio Pérez – Director of Sales, Latin America, and the Caribbean

Antonio Pérez has been with NVT Phybridge for over 20 years. Mr. Pérez joined Network Video Technologies (NVT) in 1997, performing functions across several departments, including Operations, Technical Support, Marketing, and Sales. Mr. Pérez was quickly promoted to Sales Manager for the Caribbean, Central, and South American regions. During this time, he traveled more than 2 million miles across Latin America and the Caribbean as he helped to grow the business tremendously in the area. In 2015, Mr. Pérez became the Sales Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, where he oversees a team of three Sales Managers.

Before joining the company, Mr. Pérez attended the University of Barcelona, where he earned a Bachelor of Law. Mr. Pérez brings to NVT Phybridge a proven track record of strong Leadership, Business Development, Strategic Planning, Key Account Management, and a deep understanding of Digital Transformation and new technologies.

Jon Adams – Sales Director, United Kingdom and Ireland

As Sales Director for the United Kingdom and Ireland, Jon Adams is responsible for managing sales teams, business growth, and partner relationships in the region.

Before joining NVT Phybridge in 2018, Jon managed several large acquisitions within the rail, corrections, and hospitality sectors. Jon values trust, honesty, and integrity which helps him foster strong partner relationships while doing what is best for the customer.

In his spare time, Jon loves playing golf with friends and colleagues, agreeing with Plato, who believed “you learn more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”

Jon played in and managed a band for six years, reaching national notoriety as they supported big names such as Amy Macdonald, CAST, Paolo Nutini, and more. Jon still leverages the experience gained from managing the band, which helped him develop strong organizational and decision-making skills.

Vincent Matthys – Sales & Business Development Director, Europe

Vincent Matthys is the Sales and Business Development Director for Europe. Vincent is based in Belgium and is responsible for developing and expanding business development and sales strategies for the European market. Vincent works closely with marketing and other corporate teams to grow the NVT Phybridge brand and business in Europe.

Previously, Vincent Matthys led business and marketing strategies and managed global teams at large and small EMEA-based organizations within the physical security and ICT industries. Vincent is well respected in the European physical security and ICT industries and has a proven track record of building strong sales teams and results.