Our People Are Our Power & Purpose

Leadership Team

• 

  Chris McGugan

  CEO

  x

  

  Chris McGugan

  CEO

  Chris McGugan is the CEO of Televerde, a global sales and marketing company that provides inside sales, demand generation, and customer experience solutions to B2B businesses around the world. The company’s unique business model provides career opportunities to individuals in disempowered communities, specifically incarcerated women.

  Chris boasts more than 30 years of experience in technology development and leadership, with an emphasis on contact center management and innovation, customer service, operations, and software architecture and design. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President & General Manager of Oracle CX Service where he led the development of the next generation of customer service tools. Prior to Oracle, Chris held various leadership roles at industry-leading companies including Avaya, Sears, Saffron, Symbol, and Cisco. He has a demonstrated range of enduring leadership capabilities such as conviction, compassion, curiosity, and confidence, which are all essential to keeping up with the future of work.

  As the CEO of Televerde, Chris finds fulfillment in using the leadership skills he’s developed over the years to drive business growth and long-term stakeholder value while supporting Televerde’s purpose-driven mission to embrace intentional hiring practices and provide career development opportunities to people who otherwise have limited prospects for sustainable employment.

  Chris holds board advisory positions with Clearfly Communications and Orium. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.

  Chris is actively involved in his community. He is the president-elect of the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council, Boy Scouts of America organization, and an advisor to Parents Helping Parents, a non-profit organization that helps special needs children and adults receive the support and services they need to reach their full potential. He’s also an advisor to Televerde Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides women impacted by incarceration with the personal and professional development programs necessary to successfully join and advance in the global workforce.

  Chris lives in San Jose, Calif. with his wife Allison and their three school-age children.

• 

  Vince Barsolo

  Chief Strategy and Growth Officer

  x

  

  Vince Barsolo

  Chief Strategy and Growth Officer

  Vince is responsible for driving the company’s growth strategy through acquisitions, strategic partnerships, investments, co-development, and innovation. Vince, who began his career with Televerde in 1995, previously led our call centers in Perryville and played a critical role in the creation of our sales networks, expansion of our contact centers, and key account relationship management. Vince has a degree in Journalism from Northern Arizona University. Vince enjoys escaping to his cabin in Prescott, Arizona, teeing off at new golf courses around the globe, and supporting his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.

• 

  Michelle Cirocco

  Chief Social Responsibility Officer

  x

  

  Michelle Cirocco

  Chief Social Responsibility Officer

  Michelle Cirocco is the Executive Director of Televerde Foundation and the Chief Social Responsibility Officer for Televerde. She joined Televerde in 1999 and has held several leadership positions including Chief Marketing Officer. Michelle was recently named a World-Changing Woman in Conscious Business by Conscious Company magazine. Her journey of transformation was also featured by Forbes in a two-part interview. Michelle is a strong customer champion with a tireless commitment to using business as a force for good. Michelle earned her MBA from Arizona State University where she also serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Center for Services Leadership (CSL). The globally-recognized CSL strives to improve the business and academic understanding of the distinctive and growing role of services in organizations. She holds multiple certifications from SiriusDecisions. Michelle is an avid TED fan and organized and hosted TEDxPerryvilleCorrectional, the first TEDx to be held in an Arizona prison. The event looked behind the curtain of incarceration to show the potential that exists in providing second chances. Michelle dedicates a significant amount of her free time giving back to her local community by volunteering for the Phoenix Rescue Mission and Athena International. She is a member of the National Association of Female Executives and MBA Women International.

• 

  Alicia Rasta

  Vice President and Head of Sales

  x

  

  Alicia Rasta

  Vice President and Head of Sales

  As Vice President and Head of Sales, Alicia thrives on architecting bespoke programs for clients that deliver tangible ROI, partnering with Fortune 500 companies across all industries.

  Additionally, Alicia is an advocate for the Televerde business model. Her work ethic and passion for her clients’ success is only matched by her drive and determination to provide meaningful work opportunities for the incarcerated women who come after her.

• 

  Kellie Walenciak

  Head of Marketing and Communications

  x

  

  Kellie Walenciak

  Head of Marketing and Communications

  Kellie Walenciak is the head of Marketing and Communications for Televerde. In this role, Kellie is responsible for developing and executing a marketing strategy and brand image that sets Televerde apart in the market while building long-lasting relationships with customers. She oversees all aspects of internal and external digital marketing, brand messaging and management, content marketing, media relations, and employee communications.

  Previously, Kellie spent 14 years at Avaya, where she last served as global head of Employee Engagement and executive communications partner to the CMO, head of HR, and General Counsel. Prior to Avaya, Kellie held marketing and communications roles at Prudential Financial and PSEG Energy Technologies.

  Having built a career in communications that spans more than two decades, Kellie has developed a high tolerance for ambiguity, contradiction, and subtlety. She’s a proven grammar stickler and wields a heavy red pen–two traits that are greatly appreciated by her colleagues and underappreciated by her closest friends and family. Kellie gives back to her community by volunteering for the Televerde Foundation in Phoenix, AZ, and Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York. When she isn’t working, you’ll find Kellie spending time with her husband Matt and their three children, binge-watching a Netflix true-life crime series, hiking, playing tennis, and traveling. She also enjoys vegan cooking, weekends in Manhattan, and the occasional political debate.

• 

  Yolanda Slan

  Head of Human Resources

  x

  

  Yolanda Slan

  Head of Human Resources

  Yolanda Slan is Televerde’s head of Human Resources. She is an experienced human resources and employment leader with a record of success building and enhancing HR programs in both the private and non-profit sectors.

  Yolanda joins us from Southwest Center, where she last served as director of HR, managing all HR activities and enabling the organization to function at its highest level through the recruitment, development, and retention of high-performing, mission-aligned employees. She is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and she has a deep understanding of talent management strategies which has enabled her to create a positive impact in all of her past positions.