Management
Kenneth Smith - President and CEO
Kenneth Smith is an expert in Internet hosting and data communications with over 20 years of software development, data communications, and telecommunications experience. He is currently a founding partner of Core NAP, L.P., and President and CEO of Core NAP Operating Inc., its general partner.
Prior to co-founding Core NAP, Kenneth was a Vice President at Allegiance Telecom (NASDAQ:ALGX). He joined Allegiance in December 2000 when the company he cofounded (Jump.Net, Inc.) was acquired by Allegiance. Jump.Net was started in January 1995 as a business quality Internet Service Provider (ISP). During Jump.Net's six years of independent operations, Kenneth acted as CEO, President, and CTO. Within months of commencing sales Jump.Net was cash flow positive. In 1999, Jump.Net saw the opportunity to rapidly expand in the broadband and server colocation markets and raised its first round of venture capital with a minority investment from Alta Communications (Boston, MA) and Prime New Ventures (Austin, TX). This investment allowed Jump.Net to expand operations into the Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio markets as well as expand its colocation offering in Austin.
Prior to Jump.Net, Kenneth spent 5 years as a senior software developer for Silicon Valley-based startup HaL Computer Systems. At HaL, Kenneth designed and implemented the TCP/IP port to HaL's 64-bit SPARC processor and provided guidance to their international network and server infrastructure. Starting in 1988, Kenneth was a lead software developer in UNIX-based data communications for Dell Computer Corporation. Prior to Dell, Kenneth developed data communications and network security software at IBM for their RT/PC and RS6000 line of UNIX-based workstations and servers.
Kenneth earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science at the University of Oklahoma in 1984 with post graduate work in 1985 in the areas of compiler theory and data communications.
Frank Bieser - Vice President and CFO
Frank Bieser is a founding partner in Core NAP, L.P., and currently serves as Vice President and CFO of Core NAP Operating, Inc., its general partner. Frank has over 20 years of experience in the software development and computer networking fields. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with Bachelor degrees in Communications and Computer Science, Frank helped found Jump.Net (originally Jump Point Communications) along with Kenneth Smith in the spring of 1995. Responsible for the financial and information needs of the company, Frank created the accounting and customer service systems. He also guided the establishment of the most consistently praised ISP technical support team seen in the state of Texas.
At a time when competing ISPs looked to provide the cheapest service possible (which equated to poor service), Frank believed Jump.Net should buck the status quo and pursue an Internet market needing quality Internet service. This belief paid off as Jump.Net succeeded in delivering a premium service year after year, winning a large and appreciative customer base.
Prior to Jump.Net, Frank was a senior software developer for HaL Computer Systems, a Silicon Valley-based startup. During his 5 years at HaL, Frank designed and implemented X.25 driver and protocol stack for HaL's 64-bit SPARC processor. He also ported various Unix commands (such as mail, sendmail, and others) to the HaL platform. The most fun he had was developing the MIME handling backend to Ishmail, one of the first graphical, MIME capable email readers for Unix.
Before joining HaL, Frank worked as a Unix contract programmer at IBM developing network drivers for AIX v3, as well as worked for Cimpoint, developing factory program management applications.
Brian Achten - Vice President of IDC Operations
Brian joined Core NAP in 2003 as Data Center Manager with an extensive background in computer, network, and electrical experience. Brian was instrumental in preparing the Core NAP data center for operations as well as hiring the initial tech support team. He was promoted to Director of IDC Operations in 2007, and then to Vice President of IDC Operations in 2012. Prior to joining Core NAP, Brian was responsible for the operation of the data center built by Jump.net, and continued in that capacity for Allegiance Telecom.
Shane Painter - Director of Cloud Infrastructure
Shane Painter is Core NAP's Director of Cloud Infrastructure responsible for developing Core NAP's cloud services division. Shane has 15 years of experience in IT management, solution architecture, consulting, design and delivery. He has served customers in many sectors ranging from enterprise to education, always providing exceptional value and outstanding results.
