Our Leadership Team

The Corente executive team combines world-class technology and networking industry expertise, gained at companies like AT&T, MCI, Lucent Technologies, IBM and Intel, with a wide range of experience gained at new and innovative companies.

 

James L. Zucco, Jr.
Chairman & CEO
Jim has over 20 years of executive experience in the software and telecommunications industries. His broad-based industry experience includes senior executive roles in two of the most prominent global telecommunications providers, a successful turnaround of a public company, active board and investment roles with leading emerging growth companies, and CEO of a start-up. Prior to joining Corente, Jim was a General Partner with Blue Rock Capital and an active investor and board member. He has served as Executive-in-Residence at Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers. Jim was the independent board member of two leaders in the emerging market for VoIP technologies and services—Dynamicsoft and NetSolve—that became key components in the evolution of Cisco Systems' voice portfolio when Cisco acquired them both in the fall of 2004. He is currently on the board of uReach Technologies, a leader in the converged messaging marketplace. Jim's executive experience includes Senior Vice President and CIO of the MCI Corporation, where he led product development and systems engineering. At AT&T, he served as VP and General Manager of the Business Communications Group and led the launch of their Internet business activities, including AT&T's first IP network and WorldNet, their ISP. At Lucent Technologies, he served as Vice President and General Manager of the North American carrier business unit. As CEO of Shiva Corporation, Jim executed a turnaround strategy that returned profitability within 18 months and, under his leadership, concluded a successful sale of Shiva to Intel Corporation. Jim received his BA from Western Maryland College and his MBA from Loyola College.

 

Don Yount
President & COO
Don is responsible for business operations and corporate development at Corente. Don brings over 20 years of executive operations and finance experience as well as a diverse set of experiences in corporate development and venture portfolio management. Don joins Corente after serving as Executive Vice President and COO of TVI Corp., a publicly-traded company supplying decontamination and respiratory protection technology. Prior to TVI, Don was an Operating Partner at Mid-Atlantic Venture Funds (MAVF), where he marketed the firm, worked closely with portfolio companies and managed internal operations for the firm's partnerships. Previous to MAVF, Don has held executive positions in corporate strategy and finance at several high-tech firms including Advanced Telecom Group, Inc. ("ATG"), Cambridge Technology Group, Versatility, Inc. and Primedia, Inc.. He has also held positions at The Chase Manhattan Bank, Deloitte Haskins and Sells, and Peat Marwick Mitchell and Co. Don received his BS in Business Administration and an MBA from the University of North Carolina, where he won the Richard H. Jenrette Fellowship. Don is a CPA and has been recognized by the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Pennsylvania for his contributions to technology companies in those regions.

 

Sam Bendinelli
SVP Engineering and Operations
Sam is responsible for engineering and network operations at Corente.  He is a founding member of Corente's management team. Sam has more than 20 years of experience developing networking products and services. Sam came to Corente from Lucent Technologies, where he served as a manager in Lucent's Bell Labs Research, heading the Network Access Research Department. In that role, Sam was responsible for turning leading-edge technology into products in the broadband access and telecommunication systems spaces. At Lucent Technologies, he also led development efforts for IP-PBX and cable modem systems as well as the integration of TCP/IP protocols across a wide variety of product platforms. Sam received his BS in Electrical Engineering from The College of New Jersey and his MS in Computer Science from Monmouth University.

 

Joanne P. Wacker
SVP Marketing, Customer and Partner Operations
Joanne (Jody) is responsible for leading Corente's marketing, partner and customer operations. Jody brings over 20 years diverse executive experience in the software, communications and professional services industries. Prior to joining Corente, Jody was a founder and managing partner of RVA, a business and technology consulting company that was acquired by TMNG Global (NASDAQ: TMNG) . Immediately prior, she was a founding member of the executive team at Apropos Technologies, a leading provider of CRM software and services. As senior vice president of marketing, Jody helped transform Apropos (NASDAQ: APRS) from an early stage start-up to a successful IPO. Jody spent the earlier stages of her career as an executive in the Business Communications Services organization with AT&T, holding executive positions in marketing, product management, operations, and software development. Jody received her BS in Mathematics from Montclair State University and her MBA from Farleigh Dickinson University.