Corporate Leadership

Pat NolaPresident and CEO

Pat Nola is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sorenson Communications, Inc. He is responsible for the strategic direction of the company and oversees all departments. Previously, Mr. Nola was Chief Operating Officer (COO) and was instrumental in creating and guiding the exponential growth of Sorenson Communications from its beginnings in 2003.

Mr. Nola also served as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing where he successfully built key OEM partnerships and launched the first consumer-based videophone. Prior to joining Sorenson Communications, Inc., Mr. Nola held various marketing and sales positions at General Electric within the Medical Systems Division. He then joined Evans & Sutherland as a marketing executive.

Mr. Nola also led Engineering Animation Inc.'s marketing and business development efforts for visual collaboration, providing the company with strong revenue growth and the industry leading position, resulting in a sale to EDS.

Mr. Nola holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University.

Scott K. SorensenChief Financial Officer

Scott K. Sorensen joined Sorenson Communications in August 2007 as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Sorensen has served as the senior financial executive for several companies, including two New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listed enterprises. Prior to joining Sorenson Communications, Mr. Sorensen served from 2005 through 2007 as the Chief Financial Officer of Headwaters, Inc. (HW - NYSE), a diversified company with leading positions in the building materials and alternative energy industries. Headwaters has more than 4,500 employees and $1.2 billion in revenues.

In addition, Mr. Sorensen was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. Mr. Sorensen currently serves on the Board of Directors of Wabash National Corporation (NYSE - WNC) with assignments on both the Audit and Compensation committees. Mr. Sorensen previously served on the Board of Directors of two privately-held companies: GMP Companies and Pliant Corporation.

Mr. Sorensen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting with high honors from the University of Utah and a Master’s of Business Administration degree from the Harvard Business School.

Paul B. KershisnikChief Marketing Officer

As the Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Kershisnik leads the marketing efforts for all Sorenson services and communication products including Sorenson videophones. Mr. Kershisnik is responsible for marketing strategy, tactics, messaging, branding, regulatory and oversees press/community relations, events, eMarketing campaigns, internal and external marketing communications and all marketing operations.

During his career, Mr. Kershisnik has worked in both the communications and food sectors. In communications, Mr. Kershisnik spent 10 years with Sprint, domestically and internationally, including serving as Vice President of Whole Sale Services and serving as the CMO for Intelig, a joint venture with France Telecom in Brazil. In the food sector, he has worked for General Mills, Pizza Hut and Mrs. Fields. Most recently, Mr. Kershisnik served as CMO for Wendy’s International in Dublin, Ohio where he had overall responsibility for all marketing areas at Wendy’s.

Mr. Kershisnik holds a Bachelor of Science in education from the University of Utah and a Masters of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Marketing from Brigham Young University.

Dave JohnsonVice President, Outreach

As Vice President of Outreach, Dave Johnson oversees the national Sorenson Video Relay Service (SVRS) outreach strategies and organization for Sorenson Communications. Mr. Johnson has played a critical role in developing and implementing the company-wide initiatives that began SVRS and have grown Sorenson Communications’ revenues by tenfold. With more than 20 years of sales experience, Mr. Johnson has helped cultivate a customer base that continues to grow exponentially.

Prior to joining Sorenson Communications in early 2001, Mr. Johnson served as Senior Vice President of Games for the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee, where he managed International Relations and Operations.

Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Utah.

Grant A. BeckmannVice President, Engineering

As Vice President of Engineering, Grant A. Beckman leads his team in developing the most advanced and innovative communications products and services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Prior to joining Sorenson Communications in 2010, Grant was Executive Vice President of Engineering at Move Networks, where he integrated engineering teams in the United Kingdom and in the United States to accelerate development. Grant also served as Vice President and General Manager of Logitech's video security products group. There he directed product management, software and hardware engineering, documentation, quality assurance, manufacturing and support.

Grant also held executive positions at NextPage, Inc., Mainstream Data Systems Inc., TenFold Corporation and Folio Corporation. Grant began his career at Boeing in the Advanced Systems Division, building stealth aircraft after receiving his B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from Brigham Young University.

Chris WakelandVice President, Interpreting

Chris Wakeland oversees the Sorenson Video Relay (SVRS) interpreting operations for Sorenson Communications as the company’s Vice President of Interpreting. Under Mr. Wakeland’s direction, SVRS has become the largest video relay interpreting service provider in the country. Prior to joining Sorenson Communications, Mr. Wakeland served as a liaison for the Governors task force of Utah to develop a master plan for statewide interpreting services. During his time with the task force, he played an instrumental role in passing into Utah state law the Interpreter Act and the ASL as a Second Language Act. Following this, Mr. Wakeland became the President of the Utah Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Affiliate Chapter, where he established the foundation to build a Utah statewide RID interpreter membership base.

Mr. Wakeland has also served as Vice Chair and Evaluator for the Utah Interpreter Certification Board, where he worked closely with the Utah Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. From 1995 to 2003, Mr. Wakeland worked as Coordinator of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services for Brigham Young University. Mr. Wakeland has been interpreting professionally for more than 14 years. He is RID certified with a Certificate of Interpretation and has a Utah Master Level Interpreter certificate from the Utah Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing.

Mr. Wakeland holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in History and a Master of Public Administration from Brigham Young University.

Ronald C. BurdettVice President, Community Relations

Ronald C. Burdett is Vice President of Community Relations at Sorenson Communications. Mr. Burdett’s responsibilities include building and maintaining positive relationships with key organizations within the deaf community as well as working extensively with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other government agencies to ensure that Video Relay Services (VRS) are mandated to benefit the deaf community.

Prior to joining Sorenson Communications, Mr. Burdett worked in various educational positions including Professor and Dean of Deaf Studies and Special Services at Ohlone College in Fremont, California. Also, Mr. Burdett served as president of the California Association Post-Education of the Disabled which oversaw 107 community colleges, eight California State Universities, and three Universities of California. Recently, Mr. Burdett worked with the Southern Utah Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing program under the Division of Services to the Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing.

Mr. Burdett holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Studies and Accounting from Gallaudet University in addition to a Master’s degree in Special Education and Rehabilitation from California State University, Northridge.

James Locke Vice President, Information Technology

As Vice President of IT for Sorenson Communications, Mr. Locke is charged with developing and refining the company’s infrastructure as it adds additional services and customers. Mr. Locke and his committed team of IT professionals ensure that all of Sorenson Communications’ services are operational, stable, and scalable at all times. With more than 10 years of high-level experience in information technology, Mr. Locke offers tremendous expertise to benefit Sorenson Communications’ offerings for the deaf and hard-of-hearing market.

Previously, Mr. Locke served as the President and founder of a successful wireless Internet service provider. He has also held several executive positions including Chief Technology Officer for iDeal International and Vice President of Technology for Promedix.

Mr. Locke holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Colorado.

Janice Barson Vice President, Human Resources

Janice Barson is Vice President of Human Resources at Sorenson Communications. Working in a variety of executive Human Resource positions, Mrs. Barson brings 28 years of experience to Sorenson Communications. Mrs. Barson is chiefly responsible for all Human Resource functions. She oversees recruiting, hiring, career development, benefits and has assisted with the growth of more than 1,700 Sorenson Communications’ employees. Prior to joining Sorenson Communications, Mrs. Barson held the positions of Director, Senior Director and Vice President of Human Resources at companies such as Promedix, Baxter Health Care and Clark Financial Corp. Within these positions, Mrs. Barson designed and administrated benefit plans, handled public relations and managed the career development for property management teams at more than 100 privately-owned commercial and residential properties across the United States.

Mrs. Barson is a long-time member of the Salt Lake and national Society for Human Resource Management organizations. Having lived in England and traveled extensively throughout Europe, Mrs. Barson brings a uniquely balanced perspective to Sorenson Communications. In private life, Mrs. Barson has served her community as a member of the local Community Council. Mrs. Barson’s education emphasis is in Business Administration and Employment Law.

Reed Steiner Vice President, Finance

Reed Steiner is Vice President of Finance for Sorenson Communications. Previously he held the position of Controller at Sorenson Communications for more than five years. Mr. Steiner is responsible for all financial information and reporting including the administration of credit agreements. He oversees all functions of the finance department and reports directly to the CEO.

Mr. Steiner has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of Utah and more than 16 years of experience in the accounting industry as a licensed CPA. He began his career at Deloitte & Touche LLP in Salt Lake City. He has also worked as a controller for Healthrider Corp., a subsidiary of Icon Health & Fitness, and Magellan Technology, Inc., a small, publicly-traded company.

Jason Dunn Vice President, Operations

As Vice President of Operations, Jason Dunn oversees all Sorenson Video Relay Service (SVRS) and Sorenson IPRelay (SIPRelay) operations for Sorenson Communications. Mr. Dunn and his team are responsible for forecasting, staffing and maintaining a sound and consistent operation. He directly oversees the international operations team as well as the business and management of the SIPRelay team.

Prior to joining Sorenson Communications, Mr. Dunn held FAA compliance and management positions with American Airlines. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Utah as well as an Associate of Science degree from the College of Eastern Utah.