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Company: Stage 2 Networks
Entry Submitted By: Melissa Sones Consulting
Company Description: Stage 2 Networks provides customized, scalable voice and data communications solutions to businesses throughout the U.S. Founded in 2004, it is a fast- growing leader in hosted business phone systems, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and premium Internet services with world-class customer service. Its cutting-edge network provides built-in redundancy, security, and disaster recovery.
Nomination Category: Sales Awards Department Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Sales Department of the Year - Telecommunications

Nomination Title: Stage 2 Networks

Tell the story about what this nominated department achieved since the beginning of July 2012 (up to 525 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

It may be the telecommunications industry’s best-kept secret: Beyond the "big guns" (Verizon, AT&T, etc.), most businesses are clueless about what's available … or that what's available works better, more efficiently and more securely (anything can trip up your Internet or phone connection--and does whether you know it or not) … or that customer service can be miles ahead of what we’ve come to accept.

Then there’s Joe Gillette, Chairman and CEO of Stage 2 Networks.

A pioneer in telecom innovation and excellence - and well-known telecom sales superstar - this “serial entrepreneur” built two companies that received $100 million-plus buyout offers before starting Stage 2 Networks. Stage 2 offers a full suite of “cloud”-based Internet, data and telecom services faster and cheaper than the nationals can — with a level of end-to-end, ongoing customer support the "big guns" can’t even consider. And sales stats that are the envy of small to medium telecoms the country over.

And if Stage 2’s early accomplishments raised flags (and eyebrows) throughout the industry, July 2012 on was another record-breaking sales period. With Gillette’s eye for talent as keen as his business vision, he began by tripling the size of the department, bringing in sales superstars with the same high standards he sets for himself: 20-plus years’ experience including in the technical side of the business.

Under Gillette’s leadership, that department then unveiled Strategic Initiatives that will transform telecommunications by ensuring that businesses of every size can get the best, most secure connections beginning with The Lit Building Initiative (SLB). Years ago, Gillette led the development of Building Local Exchange Carriers (BLECs, an industry term he coined). This cutting-edge concept combines telecom with real estate, and since July 2012 it has paid off big-time: Forging innovative agreements with alternate fiber access providers, Stage 2’s team of sales superstars snagged access to over 6600 buildings in the New York metropolitan area and approximately 55,000 nationally already fitted with the fiber optic cable needed to offer powerful, bundled telecom services at super-high speeds, permitting faster turn-ups and more reliable service. With inexpensive phone system upgrades - and Stage 2’s Triple Fault security and turnkey service — A-list businesses poured in.

The department then partnered with Stage 2’s new Chief Technology Officer Thomas Faherty to drive a second Initiative: the company’s “Triple Fault Tolerance” Initiative (STFT) of network services, including voice, Internet and cloud-based phone system capabilities to small, medium and large businesses (the latter two a key growth focus since July 2012) that far surpass anything from the "big guns."

Result: Three layers of fail-safe redundancy, ensuring that voice and data communications switch seamlessly from location to location. Now every click is solid, every call is stable, every Stage 2 client is free from the crashes that continually rob American businesses of time, money and productivity. Plus a medium and big business sign-up to rival the “big guns.”

On the heels of the Initiatives, sales doubled. Even bill collections top the industry. 98.7% of customer service calls are answered within 60 seconds.

Stage 2’s superstars know its next big payday is ahead.

Provide a brief (up to 125 words) biography about the leader(s) of the nominated sales organization:

A telecommunications innovator and entrepreneur for 25 years, Joe Gillette continues to raise the bar for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) and Building Local Exchange Carriers (BLECs) with “cloud-based” solutions for companies across the country. Beginning in sales at Executone Information Systems, he rose to the top of their ranks before founding his first company, Gillette Global Network, in 1995. GGN later merged with Eureka Broadband to form Eureka Networks, where Gillette served as CEO until starting Stage 2 Networks in 2004. A founding member of the Cloud Communications Alliance, he holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.