About Us

Fenton, MO based Buzz Broadband seeks to become the leader in providing broadband access to residential, small and medium size businesses, government and other institutional end users in selected, regionally concentrated suburban and rural markets across the United States. Buzz is deploying licensed spectrum wireless platforms interconnected through a leased or managed terrestrial network.

Wireless is the only infrastructure with the potential to effectively serve rural markets. Today, Buzz actively serves four markets and has recently acquired spectrum in and around Peoria, Il; Topeka, KS; Texarkana, TX; Texarkana, AR; McAlester, OK; and Hays and Great Bend, KS.

The spectrum covers a population of 408,000 households and represents more than 30 million MHz/pops of spectrum availability, positioning the company to become one of the larger operational spectrum holders in the country. Using a combination of WiMAX and multiple back haul technologies in a variety of spectrum, the company plans to offer not only internet access, but a wide range of advanced services for both the residential and business customer.

Buzz has assembled a seasoned management team with more than 200 years of collective experience in the telecommunications space. This team's expertise is in developing and building organizations capable of rapid growth: deploying network, bringing advanced products to market, attracting a loyal customer base and providing superior customer service.

The confluence of technology and government interest and support coupled with a team of proven executives positions Buzz to take full advantage of an enormous opportunity to meet the demand for broadband access in under-served communities across the United States.

Management Team +

G. Michael Cassity President & Chief Executive Officer, Board Member Mike is a seasoned telecom executive with experience in operations, finance, corporate restructuring, re engineering, regulatory & public affairs, HR, technology management and integration. He has served as an Executive Officer at BellSouth and as CEO, COO, and Chief Integration Officer at multiple venture capital backed private companies. Prior to his involvement with Buzz Broadband, Mike was a consultant for TelePacific Communications as Chief Integration Officer, overseeing the combination of a public and private company with combined revenues of $460 million. Mike holds a BSEE from the University of Kentucky, MBA from the University of Louisville and attended the Program for Senior Executives at the Sloan School of Management, MIT.

Keith Coker, Chief Technology Officer Keith served most recently as Chief Technology Officer at super regional CLEC NuVox where he designed a network that efficiently brought services that were once designated solely for large enterprises to the small to medium business market. More recently, he managed the strategic shift from traditional switched circuit telephony to a 100% voice over Internet protocol system. His background also includes extensive experience in Internet security, IT infrastructure planning, operational support systems, web design and infrastructure and more. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University and a Masters of Electrical and Optical Engineering from Arizona State University.

Peggy Forrest, Administrative and Human Resources Officer Marguerite (Peggy) Forrest is a Human Resources Executive with more than 25 years experience in the telecommunications arena. Working in both the public and private sector, and serving as the senior officer for corporate administration and Human Resources in three telecom start up companies, she developed the Human Resources strategy from the ground up and led each respective organization during periods of organic growth, as well as the due diligence and integration processes for multiple mergers and acquisitions more than 20 over the course of her career. Prior to joining Buzz Broadband she served as Senior Vice President Administration and Human Resources for NuVox Inc ., and Brooks Fiber Properties and its subsidiaries: Brooks Fiber Communications and Brooks International. Peggy served as Managing Director for Brooks Investments LP from 1996 2000. She is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management and Women in Cable & Telecommunications. She holds a BA Degree in Psychology from Missouri State University.

Chip Gaskins, VP Corporate Development & Spectrum Planning Chip Gaskins is one of the most passionate and knowledgeable people with respect to wireless broadband and what it means to under served communities. Growing up in rural eastern North Carolina he understands first hand the importance that internet access provides. At Digital Bridge Communications (rural WiMAX ISP) he led Corporate Development and spent most of his time buying 2.5GHz spectrum and WISPs to build out rural WiMAX networks in Montana, Wyoming, Indiana, Idaho, Virginia and South Dakota. At Digital Bridge, Chip also participated in several USDA (RUS) application processes. Before Digital Bridge Chip managed broadband partnership deals at AOL. He negotiated deals with AT&T, Bellsouth, Charter and Clearwire. Earlier, he worked for Earthlink. He has a Masters degree in Engineering from North Carolina State University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Board of Directors +

Ray Kalinowski Jr. Mr. Kalinowski is Managing Partner, Royal Rock Capital LLC founded in 2008 as a Sino U.S. private equity investment and business development firm with offices in Shanghai, China and St. Louis, MO. Mr. Kalinowski previously served as Senior Vice President of the Mergers & Acquisition Group and Board member of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Managing Director Harbour Group, Managing Director, Corporate Finance A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., and Financial Analyst Eli Lilly & Company. He received his BA and MBA from The University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN and is a member of the board of Crosslink and the Center of Creative Arts (COCA).

Nick Niknejadi Mr. Niknejadi is Chairman of United Technologies Corporation, NJN Development, LLC, a Board member of World Trade Center/St. Louis County Economic Development, and a past Board member of Superior Bank and the America Israel Chamber of Commerce. United Technologies Corporation is a Missouri based information technology company specializing in IT consulting, Public Safety Homeland Security, and wireless technologies. Mr. Niknejadi is also involved in sports products development, banking, import/export businesses and real estate. He received his BS, and MSEE from Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

Brent St. John Chairman Mr. St. John is CEO of Hampden Holdings LLC which seeks to acquire minority and majority interests in promising new technologies that are poised for broad commercialization. He also serves as Chairman of Crosslink USA, a high tech polymers coatings company. Mr. St. John was previously CEO of Crosslink and a Sr. Operations Manager with The Pillsbury Company. Mr. St. John received his BSCE and MBA from Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

Andrew Kennard Mr. Kennard is the founder of Apex IT Consulting, a St. Louis based Managed Services Provider to small and medium sized businesses.