(CTO Emeritus)
(COO Emeritus)
Blue Ridge Networks, Borderguard, Linkguard, CyberCloak and other marks are trademarks or service marks of Blue Ridge Networks, Inc.
Chairman and CEO
John Higginbotham brings over three decades of high technology executive leadership to Blue Ridge. He is the manager of the USVC investment group, the founder and managing Member of SpaceVest investment management group, formerly the senior partner of SpaceVest Capital, a co-founder and former senior executive of International Technology Underwriters (Intec), and was the Product Manager for HP’s first microcomputers. Higginbotham has served on the Boards of Directors and as a senior executive of several public and private information technology, aerospace and defense, space industry, and other high technology growth companies. He has actively supported several prominent professional and community service organizations throughout his career. Higginbotham holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
Mark Palomba currently serves as Chief Commercial Officer responsible for go-to-market strategy, marketing, sales, strategic partnerships, and business development. Mark joined Blue Ridge Networks as a Board Advisor.
Before joining Blue Ridge Networks, Mark served as SVP, WW Partner Sales and Ecosystems at Citrix, where he led the global partner and ecosystems team after serving as Chief Operating Officer, Global Sales and Services, responsible for go-to-market strategy, plans, operational execution, strategic sales, pre-sales, field marketing, partnerships and enablement. Mark is an accomplished senior executive and global leader with a proven ability to execute across companies of all sizes. Prior to joining Citrix, Mark held senior executive positions at SAP, General Dynamics, Critical Path, Vastera, Baan, and IBM totaling over 30 years of experience in information technology across all industries.
Mark has gained exceptional expertise leading global teams in the areas of sales, marketing, services, development, operations and M&A, as well as extensive international experience establishing operations, teams and partnerships in more than 30 countries spanning all major geographies around the globe. He is a graduate of Union College in Schenectady, NY with a Bachelor of Science in Economics/Computer Science and a Master of Science in Computer Science.
Chief Partner Manager
Scott oversees the management, development, and success of Blue Ridge Networks’ channel partners and strategic alliances. He works closely with marketing, operations, and product development teams to ensure partners and customers have the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive. With over 18 years of experience delivering IT and OT solutions to both commercial and federal markets, Scott brings a deep understanding of the technology landscape and a proven ability to drive business growth. Prior to joining Blue Ridge Networks, he held key sales and business development roles at ESI (a Xerox Company), TechTrend, Logicworks, and Verizon. Scott holds a degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Director of Finance & Administration
Leonard is responsible for overseeing the financial and administrative operations of Blue Ridge Networks, Inc. ensuring strong operational efficiency between all departments. Throughout his 13+ year tenure with Blue Ridge, Leonard has continued to contribute his financial and operational expertise to manage and develop processes to drive efficient collaboration, quality forecasting & budgeting, and other enterprise resource planning. Leonard has brought dedication and diligence to his multi-faceted role, taken a deep understanding of Blue Ridge’s technology, working in close concert with all executive leaders to optimize the company’s strategic plans. He received a BS from St. John’s University Peter J. Tobin College of Business.
CFO
In his role as Chief Financial Officer, Jeff brings extensive hands-on expertise in all facets of accounting, financial management and financial analysis within small and medium-sized businesses. He brings extensive skills in restructuring business practices to effect improved operation. Instrumental in streamlining and improving processes, enhancing productivity, and implementing technology solutions. Jeff effectively structures tactics and strategies to align with corporate goals and objectives. He constructs financial models integral to raising debt and equity capital, and employs strong communication skills with all levels of management. Jeff contributes his intuitive approach to business, which matches his exceptional analytical skills to create resolutions for critical issues.
SENIOR SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT (CONSULTANT)
With over 27 years of experience across various industries including Finance, Oil and Gas, Healthcare and Manufacturing, Paul has been actively working within the Nation’s critical infrastructure, addressing challenges, providing guidance, insight and innovation in Operations Technology, Industrial Controls, IoT, IIoT, SCADA cyber security knowledge, expertise, and education. Paul currently holds the CISSP, CISM, and CRISC certifications, and serves on several boards, including the local Minnesota chapters of InfraGard, the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), and the International Society of Automation (ISA).
VP, Engineering
As Vice President of Engineering at Blue Ridge Networks, Paul FitzPatrick brings over 30 years of experience in product development and engineering management. He has a proven track record of leading diverse, agile teams to deliver innovative products and solutions that meet both schedule and revenue goals. Paul has deep expertise in software development, systems integration, problem analysis, data networking, and systems engineering—skills he has applied extensively to cybersecurity challenges across enterprise environments and at the edge. Prior to his current role, Paul served as Principal Software Architect at Blue Ridge Networks, where he led the development of the enterprise-focused LinkGuard Management System and its successor, LinkGuard Express. Before joining Blue Ridge Networks, Paul was Lead Software Engineer at Momentum Systems, where he developed customized OpenText Livelink solutions to support knowledge management integration for various clients. Earlier in his career, he worked at CACI, Inc., designing and implementing technologies in support of the U.S. Navy’s Readiness Based Sparing initiative. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT MANAGEMENT AND TEST
Zaherr Kamal, a seasoned expert at Blue Ridge Networks since 2011, has significantly shaped the company’s technological advancements. Zaherr is committed to fostering innovation and driving excellence. At Blue Ridge Networks, he has taken a versatile approach, engaging with multiple departments and applying himself to various roles. His adaptability and eagerness to learn have greatly enhanced his understanding of the company’s operations and objectives. Zaherr’s specialized skills in testing network solutions and malware protection facilitated his advancement to leading the testing department, where he collaborates with developers to enhance product reliability and performance. As a product manager, Zaherr is a key player in the dialogue between marketing, sales, and management teams. He plays a crucial role in defining and executing a strategic roadmap. His ability to forge and maintain partnerships, navigate complex organizational structures, and position Blue Ridge Networks favorably in the industry has been valuable to the company’s sustained success and market leadership. A testament to Zaherr’s vision and innovation is his pivotal role in conceiving “LinkGuard Express”, an innovative solution safeguarding critical infrastructure. This product, which achieved significant success in its launch year, has become a cornerstone of Blue Ridge Networks’ product lineup, significantly contributing to the company’s market position and growth.
Director of Customer Operations
With over 20 years of experience in network operations and customer support, Dave brings deep technical expertise and strategic leadership to his role as Director of Operations at Blue Ridge Networks. Since joining the company over nine years ago, he has been instrumental in streamlining processes, enhancing customer experience, and driving operational efficiency. Dave’s extensive background in managing complex network environments positions him as a key asset in delivering reliable and secure solutions to our clients.
Chief Scientist
Combining the education of an astrophysicist, experience at research and development, and expertise at assembling and managing knowledge teams, Ken Hardwick has earned his place as a leader and visionary in the technology industry. Hardwick independently envisioned and was the first person to market several key technology services, including a VPN product using cryptographic tunneling, Virtual LAN (VLAN) technology for segregation of customer networks, multiprocessor architectures for Internet routing, and packet filtering. He has also developed network-based cryptosystems that remain the technique of choice in major federal intelligence agencies.
In 2005, Hardwick was one of only five individuals named as “Ones to Watch in 2006” in InfoWorld magazine’s Innovators Awards. “By abandoning business as usual, these honorees are striking new paths to efficiency and reliability across the board,” InfoWorld stated. “We are pleased to honor those who are leading the way with their ingenuity.”
Prior to Blue Ridge Networks, Hardwick was a fellow and director of advanced software development at Network Systems Corporation where he led the development of the comprehensive cryptography and packet filtering system that is used today in Blue Ridge Networks products and services. Among other patents, Hardwick holds a software patent for virtual routing. He received a Bachelor of Science in astrophysics and Bachelor of Arts in applied math from the University of Rochester.
