Meet Our Executive Leadership Team
George Barkley
George has served as the CEO of BlueAlly since May 2021, bringing a wealth of experience and a distinguished professional background to the role. With a 25-year track record of success in the IT industry, George has held key positions with esteemed companies such as IBM and EMC and is renowned for his transformational leadership style. A career highlight includes founding and managing Sovereign Systems, an Atlanta-based solution provider that was acquired by Ahead in 2019; and other remarkable achievements include steering BlueAlly’s growth from a regional $100 million reseller to a national solutions provider with nearly $1 billion in sales. George oversees the strategic design, direction and success of BlueAlly while mobilizing and enabling leadership teams and engaging stakeholders. His vision is to position BlueAlly as a leading force in the industry. George earned a bachelor’s of business administration from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business and an MBA from Emory University Goizueta Business School.
David Coulter
In his role as chief technology officer, David is responsible for the company’s overall technical go-to-market and internal technology strategies, including leading solutions policy, solutions engineering, IT and internal development efforts. David's career has spanned a range of challenging roles, from technical expert to C-level executive while managing globally distributed teams. Notably, he co-founded and led a cloud management and automation software company to a successful exit, showcasing his strategic governance and entrepreneurial skills. As CTO, David’s organizational goals are centered around redefining the role of the modern solutions provider by driving technology innovation and enhancing customer experiences—positioning BlueAlly at the forefront of the tech services industry.
Ian Daum
As chief revenue officer, Ian is responsible for the expansion and maturation of BlueAlly’s sales organization. Drawing from a history of leadership roles with AHEAD and Sovereign Systems, Ian has also provided an influential voice in the development of BlueAlly’s overarching corporate go-to-market strategy. Focused on fostering an authentic, entrepreneurial sales culture that prioritizes long-term client relationships and customer service excellence, his executive vision is to see BlueAlly evolve towards a more modern, thoughtful and accountable version of the traditional technology partner.
Steve Halligan
Steve, executive vice president of the federal division, brings extensive experience as the founder of n2grate (now a BlueAlly company) and previous positions at Cisco Systems and VMware. Steve, who holds an MBA from the University of Maryland and a BBA in finance from Loyola University, is focused on driving sales and engineering success for BlueAlly's federal client base. His notable achievements include developing a model that positions the company as a prime destination for top-tier sales and engineering talent. Steve's executive vision is focused on expanding the federal division into a $750 million business unit with a base of well-served and highly satisfied customers.
Chris Porras
BlueAlly’s chief financial officer, Chris brings a wealth of accounting and governance experience from his senior financial roles at KPMG, PwC, Turner Broadcasting and Wolters Kluwer. A CPA with an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Southern California and a master's in finance from Georgia State University, Chris is adept in overseeing BlueAlly's financial accounting, human resources and legal operations. Known for his approach to hiring and empowering talented individuals, Chris is committed to developing a world-class organization with a special emphasis on enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation. His management, which is underpinned by extensive professional experience and a solid educational background, steers BlueAlly towards financial and operational excellence.
Jason Schroeder
As senior vice president of services, Jason has been a vital part of BlueAlly for over 16 years, with previous roles as a consultant, practice lead, presales solution architect leader and vice president of managed services. Jason’s numerous networking accreditations and CISSP certification are integral to his direct oversight of BlueAlly’s robust portfolio of service offerings. Notably, he was instrumental in developing the company’s first managed services offerings 10 years ago. His managerial style is centered around placing talented individuals in roles where they can thrive and empowering them to achieve both their individual and organizational goals while working to turn customers into raving fans.
Vijay Tanamala
Vijay, the founder of BlueAlly, now serves as its executive chairman, having previously held the position of CEO. His current role focuses on company growth through mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning and establishing best-in-class governance. As a technology entrepreneur and trailblazer, Vijay holds an executive MBA and a bachelor’s in engineering. His notable achievements include leading companies in IP generation and spearheading initiatives that have been recognized as innovation-led best practices by prominent industry analysts. He has also been instrumental in developing processes for the rapid valuation, acquisition and integration of operations and business delivery. Known for his hands-on, collaborative, yet decisive and forward-thinking leadership style, Vijay's vision for BlueAlly is to sustain a company culture that prides itself on high standards of conduct at every level and is committed to innovation and IP creation.
Maria Will
Maria, senior vice president of telecom and broadband at BlueAlly, has dedicated six years to the organization, previously serving as its vice president of technology solutions. In her current role, Maria is responsible for driving growth and strategy in the telecom and broadband division, expanding hardware and professional services solutions across diverse markets. With over 30 years of leadership in technology solutions, she has played crucial roles in various companies across the U.S., specializing in selling and implementing cutting-edge optical and network technology solutions. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing, her leadership philosophy revolves around empowering individuals to take ownership and drive organizational growth. Her current priorities include integrating advanced IT solutions with sales strategies to achieve a 20% revenue growth, solidifying BlueAlly’s position as an industry leader.
Meet Our Management & Senior Leadership Team
Shaffeel Ahmed
Shaffeel has been an integral part of the BlueAlly team for over nine years starting as a team lead/network architect, quickly ascending to the role of regional manager and currently serving as associate vice president of consulting services where he oversees a team of experts delivering high-quality IT services across diverse geographical regions. Shaffeel holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering, along with certifications in CCIE and PMP and has a strong background as a network engineer for federal clients like the Department of Defense and Department of Justice. His style is characterized by leading by example and empowering colleagues to achieve success. Notable achievements include growing the service delivery business, contributing to revenue exceeding $4M annually, developing business across verticals and building a robust team of consultants.
Patty Apple
Patty, a dedicated member of the BlueAlly team for over 18 years, has contributed significantly in various capacities, currently holding the position of vice president of marketing for the past decade. Throughout her tenure, she has played pivotal roles as the marketing manager and director of marketing and her prior background includes co-owning a promotional advertising company. In her current position, Patty focuses on increasing brand awareness and sales opportunities through the development and implementation of strategic partner marketing plans with a goal of elevating demand-gen programs and creating memorable client experiences. As a member of the Women of the Channel, Patty actively participates in managerial and self-evaluated webinars to stay ahead in her field; and her leadership style can be best described as agile—pivoting quickly, adapting and overcoming obstacles while maintaining trust among her teams.
Jim Bartis
Jim is responsible for growing and managing key vendor relationships as BlueAlly’s vice president of alliances and boasts an impressive 10-year tenure that includes roles progressing from sales rep and account executive to sales manager, VP of sales and SVP of managed services and sales. Jim, who holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business management from UNC Greensboro, is acknowledged for crafting a world-class team that excels in collaboration with its vendor partners. His leadership style focuses on hiring exceptional professionals and fostering a productive environment conducive to their success. Jim' vision is to position BlueAlly as a top vendor for industry-leading OEMs by consistently delivering value to clients.
Jonathan Berger
Previously CMO, Jonathan has played a pivotal role in BlueAlly’s growth since joining its C-suite in 2021. Bringing a wealth of experience as the former CEO of Saicom Voice Services and COO of Virtual Graffiti, Jonathan holds an MBA along with a master’s and bachelor’s in electrical engineering. In his current role, he has been instrumental in strategically directing and executing the company’s 2023 rebranding efforts, crafting a comprehensive digital commerce strategy and transforming the organization into a leading digital marketing entity. Known for his collaborative and empowering leadership style, Jonathan aims to unify the organization’s continued acquisitions under a cohesive brand and culture, establishing BlueAlly as a respected and dynamic name in the industry.
Matt Blaziewske
As vice president of finance, Matt has been spearheading financial planning, operations, analysis, reporting, forecasting and budgeting at BlueAlly since 2022. A CPA with a master’s in professional accountancy and a bachelor's in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Matt delivers comprehensive financial expertise to his executive role. His management style is characterized by leading by example, fostering relationships built on trust, respect and open communication, and emphasizing teamwork and partnership. Matt actively contributes to the establishment and reinforcement of BlueAlly as a world-class entity by ensuring the company’s financial strategies and operations seamlessly align with its overarching goals and values.
Paul Burkitt
BlueAlly’s vice president of sales for the mid-Atlantic region, Paul brings over 25 years of experience in technology and consulting sales. Formerly the head of sales at NetCraftsmen (now a BlueAlly company), Paul has a proven track record of driving significant deals for high-growth organizations in diverse sectors and has been instrumental in restructuring and integrating NetCraftsmen’s sales team into BlueAlly and exceeding its 2023 gross profit target goals . A graduate of Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), Paul is known for his commitment to building enterprise value while accelerating revenue by directing his dispersed, high-performance team toward continued market share expansion and profitability.
Todd Bushnell
Todd, the vice president of DevOps & Cloud Operations Services at BlueAlly, brings over 25 years of expertise to his role. Having joined BlueAlly through the Strata acquisition, where he served as a senior partner and vice president of DevOps, Todd has seamlessly transitioned into leading the development and implementation of DevOps, CloudOps and automation strategies for clients. His career journey, evolving from a helpdesk technician to leadership roles in network engineering, information security management and DevOps engineering, is marked by accomplishments such as building Strata’s DevOps practice from the ground up. Todd’s leadership philosophy is grounded in ideas such as discipline equals freedom, systems enable goals, trust over micromanagement, outcomes over methods and integration to improve. His philosophy aligns with his goal of enabling clients to achieve business success through robust DevOps principles. As a proud U.S. Army veteran, Todd is dedicated to creating strong, reliable frameworks for success through the application of core DevOps principles and serving as a mentor to his two daughters.
Dianne Callies-Prohaska
Dianne Callies-Prohaska has dedicated four years to BlueAlly and currently serves as its assistant vice president of alliances. Her 13-year background in distribution—including roles at GE Access, Avnet and Tech Data—span various departments and responsibilities including marketing, sales and client acquisition. In her current role, she serves as the lead liaison between BlueAlly and its vendor partners, focusing on identifying new opportunities and negotiating mutually beneficial agreements. She has laid the foundation for BlueAlly’s alliances with some of the organization's top vendor partners and aspires to make BlueAlly their go-to across eCommerce, regional and federal markets. Grounded in the principle of "trust but verify," her leadership philosophy fosters an environment where her team can operate with autonomy, while she provides guidance and support to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of their endeavors.
Bobby Cherneski
Vice President, Business Development
Thomas Chongo
As Associate Vice President of Managed Services, Thomas Chongo brings over a decade of experience in providing managed services, working with small, medium, and enterprise businesses across the private and public sectors, including federal agencies. Since joining BlueAlly, Thomas has held key roles including Senior Solutions Architect and Director of Operations Support, and was instrumental in developing the company’s Managed Services practice. His leadership approach emphasizes empowering employees to excel in their roles, fostering a culture of collaboration and service excellence. With a strong focus on client satisfaction, he is dedicated to turning customers into loyal advocates through exceptional service delivery.
Michael Ellison
Mike, senior vice president of sales overseeing the small business and mid-market units at BlueAlly, brings an impressive 25 years of dedicated service to the industry. Leading BlueAlly’s velocity business unit, Mike oversees three distinct pillars: Account management, renewals and eCommerce. His prior background includes a remarkable 16-year tenure at Virtual Graffiti Inc. and recognition as a multi-year President’s Cup winner at Arrow ECS, where he managed a large book of business and earned certifications from industry leaders such as SonicWALL, Cisco, HPE, Dell and more. Mike's leadership philosophy centers around empowering his team, fostering autonomy and instilling accountability for salespeople to take ownership of their business. In his current role, his vision is focused on achieving year-over-year growth by providing more managed and professional services. He encourages collaboration across business units and emphasizes proactive customer engagement through renewal and account management. The depth of his experience and commitment to excellence positions him as a key asset in driving BlueAlly's success.
Thomas Fou
Thomas, vice president of compliance services, brings more than 25 years of executive acumen from his former roles as CEO of Strata Consulting, LLC. He possesses extensive expertise in IT and technical operations management and holds key certifications in CISSP, CISM and CRISC. Since joining the company in 2023, Thomas has played a formative role in growing BlueAlly’s compliance practice through strategic brand management, vendor relationships and practice service development. Recognized for fostering high-level teamwork within his department and a win-win-win leadership approach, Thomas is dedicated to building a world-class compliance practice at BlueAlly and empowering clients with expert guidance and innovative solutions.
James Hansen
James, vice president of accounting at BlueAlly since December 2022, leads the company's accounting department with a focus on producing accurate financial statements, maintaining internal controls and ensuring compliance with audit and tax regulations. With a decade of professional experience at Ernst & Young (EY) and Tupperware Brands Corporation, James brings extensive expertise in auditing, consulting and accounting to his role. He complements this experience with a master's degree from the University of South Florida and a CPA license. Known for leading by example and insightful questioning, James has implemented multiple automation technologies to support BlueAlly’s accounting team and is currently focused on transforming the company’s finance function into a valuable business partner, providing insights while supporting sales and delivery efforts to ensure seamless interactions with both customers and vendors.
Raqibul Huq
With an impressive 24-year career history, Raqibul currently serves as the vice president of telecom and broadband practice at BlueAlly. His journey began with a 19-year stint at JMA Information Technology, before transitioning to BlueAlly where he held the role of chief information officer until 2023. In his current position, Raqibul leads the organization’s telecom and broadband services, overseeing development, implementation, engineering and optimization. As a network engineer, Raqibul has played a vital role in architecting data networks for tier 1 service providers and has held key leadership positions in corporate IT, systems and cybersecurity. With a master’s in management information systems and multiple industry certifications, he has contributed significantly to the growth and success of BlueAlly. Raqibul’s leadership style revolves around mentorship and inspiring teams through vision, adaptability, decisiveness and effective communication.
Bill LaVeck
Associate Vice President Cisco Alliances
Robert Levy
As associate vice president of e-commerce, Robert Levy has spent more than 13 years with BlueAlly marked by significant positions in accounting, marketplace and e-commerce strategy. With a bachelor’s in accounting from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a finance degree from California State University, Fullerton, Levy has played an integral role in elevating the company's Amazon presence, generating over $44 million in annual revenue and establishing BlueAlly’s leading brand portfolio. With an emphasis on teamwork and innovation paired with a passion for e-commerce collaboration, Levy’s expertise has been significant in fostering vendor relationships and optimizing brand visibility to deliver effortless customer integration and IT infrastructure growth.
Patrick McConnell
Patrick brings a decade of experience from n2grate (now a BlueAlly company) and an impressive background in sales, particularly within the federal government sector to his role as vice president of sales at BlueAlly. With a solid foundation that spans 20 years at Verizon and high-level roles at WWT and Iron Bow Technologies, Patrick boasts a proven track record of consistent revenue expansion. He holds a degree in marketing and finance from the University of Maryland and has completed a management course at Rutgers University. Patrick’s management philosophy centers on hiring top-tier talent and providing robust support to his team with a deliberate focus on mutual success.
Hooman Mohajeri
Hooman assumed the role of vice president of security services in 2023, having co-founded Strata Consulting and served as its chief security officer before BlueAlly's acquisition of the company. Bringing a robust 20+ year background in IT, which began in during his time in the Air Force and has since been applied across multiple prominent Silicon Valley companies, Hooman specializes in security architecture, risk management and aligning security with business objectives. With a bachelor’s in computer science and key certifications including CISSP and CISM, Hooman's executive direction is marked by clear communication, collaboration and a results-driven approach. His vision is to foster trust-based customer relationships and establish BlueAlly's security division as a sales driver and leading innovative solutions provider within the industry.
Mike Murray
Mike is the vice president of field sales for the central region at BlueAlly. He brings over 26 years of experience in IT sales and more than 12 years in sales leadership, making him a valuable asset to the organization. During his nearly four years with the company, Mike has significantly impacted the region, leading a team of enterprise and commercial client executives to triple sales profits. With a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing, his leadership style is rooted in servant leadership and his current goal is to continue to expand the region—driving profits to over $20M.
Paul Normark
Paul, vice president of sales for the south and southwest regions at BlueAlly, leads with over 25 years of experience in the IT industry. Boasting an impressive career history that includes global management and oversight of business units at IBM, EMC and Dell Technologies, Paul compliments his professional achievements with a bachelor’s from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With a passion for building and leading high-performing teams, Paul focuses on enhancing customer experiences and driving client satisfaction. His executive vision is to create an inspiring selling environment that leverages BlueAlly’s capabilities, enabling team members to capitalize on market opportunities and drive profitable growth.
Tim Perry
Tim, the vice president of software engineering at BlueAlly boasts an impressive 30-year background in IT administration and software development, specializing in business and IT automation. Armed with an MBA in business administration, Tim actively leads transformative projects that set the stage for significant advancements in BlueAlly’s operational efficiency and customer engagement. A key endeavor is the launch of BlueAlly IQ, an innovative online shopping experience geared towards reshaping customer interactions. Under his guidance, the project is shifting user experiences through strategic tool selection, development, oversight and the integration of B2B features. Tim’s leadership philosophy is that of servant leadership as he believes in leading by example and fostering a collaborative, respectful and empowering work environment. His vision for the software engineering team is to be a trailblazer in developing cutting-edge software solutions, optimizing business operations and driving revenue growth for BlueAlly.
Joe Price
As associate vice president of alliances, Joe has been a key catalyst of BlueAlly’s continued advancement during his five-year tenure, with previous and highly successful positions as the company’s director of sales for the Georgia region and vice president of sales for the south. With a summa cum laude degree in mathematics and accounting and a notable 40-year professional background in solutions and technology sales, including time as an executive at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Joe brings a wealth of experience in enterprise, commercial, public sector and channel sales. Recognized for his transformational management tactics, he emphasizes leading by example and prioritizes an organizational culture of trust, respect and transparency. Joe’s long-term goal is to elevate BlueAlly to the highest partner tier while increasing business awareness and driving gross profit margins above 20 points.
Les Russell
Les, vice president of business development at BlueAlly, oversees the federal system integrator client market and key commercial accounts. With a background including roles as operations director at Cisco, consultant at Booz Allen and Hamilton and vice president of global channels at Kony, Les brings a wealth of experience to his role. His leadership style is consultative, focusing on long-term organizational success and maintaining a competitive edge. With an MBA in finance, Les has managed billion-dollar sales organizations and global channel teams. His current goal is to leverage the technical talent at BlueAlly to solve clients’ business challenges and support their strategic objectives, contributing to the company’s continued success.
Stephanie Skipper
Stephanie, vice president of human resources/people at BlueAlly joined the company in May 2023, bringing over 25 years of HR, business and leadership experience to her role. Stephanie strategically oversees all HR functions, contributing to the organization’s success by effectively managing and developing its growing workforce. With a comprehensive background spanning from nonprofit organizations to technology, consulting and distribution roles including experience with Michelin, Stephanie brings a wealth of knowledge to her position. In addition to her rich skillset, Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree from FSU and studied at Emory and Cornell in the areas of HR management/leadership, human capital and change management. She also holds certifications from leading industry organizations like SHRM and sHRBP. She has played a pivotal role at BlueAlly by shaping company culture, serving on executive teams and increasing employee engagement and retention. Stephanie’s leadership style is rooted in empowering team members to reach their full career potential. Her vision is to continue to help BlueAlly maintain a highly engaged workforce of top talent.
Matt Tinkler
As vice president of Microsoft Cloud services, Matt brings a rich professional background to his role, having worked as a developer at C&S Bank (now Bank of America), IT business analyst at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and assistant manager at American Software. Matt, who holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Georgia State University, is driven by a vision to infuse creative enthusiasm into his developers, practice managers and salespeople, ensuring every BlueAlly project is marked by dedication, excitement and excellence.
Joe Van Patten
AVP HPE & As-a-Service Solutions
Renee Wagner
Renee, vice president of business development at BlueAlly, boasts a dynamic career in technology and business expansion, including high-level roles with CCCI/Mentor Technologies, Booz Allen Hamilton and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She joined BlueAlly following its acquisition of NetCraftsmen, where she acted as a key driver in achieving substantial organizational growth. With a master's in computer science and several high-level Cisco certifications, Renee’s methodical client-centric approach is focused on delivering advanced IT solutions and professional services that solve business challenges and produce strong outcomes for BlueAlly’s expansive customer portfolio.
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