Management
Michael F. McGrail
Chief Executive Officer
Michael F. McGrail assumed the position of CEO at Natis Communications in 2006 and brings more than thirty years of chief executive leadership and management experience with companies that generate business from technology based products in global markets. Mike has had extensive involvement in software, telecommunications, video services and high-speed networks including a thorough knowledge of broadband communications and Internet technologies through such companies as ICTV, DST Innovis, Infotron, Gandalf, Plessey and Olivetti. His extensive experience includes more than thirteen years of supplying software and other technology products into the cable, water, gas and electric utility industries in the US and around the world. Other accomplishments include six significant mergers and acquisitions, two successful turnarounds and a major IPO with Cabledata.
Mike has an MS in Electronic Commerce, an MS in Management and a BS in Chemistry. During his spare time, Mike enjoys swimming, traveling, reading and relaxing with his family.
John L. Taft
Chief Operating Officer
John L. Taft joined Natis Communications in 2006 and assumed the position of COO. John spent the prior five years as the CFO for ICTV that provides the enabling infrastructure for broadband video services to network operators preceded by four years as the CFO for Condor Systems, a leading provider of signal collection and electronic countermeasure systems in the defense electronics industry. Previously, John spent more than thirty years in public accounting and consulting services principally at Coopers & Lybrand. As both a line and managing partner, John developed a well rounded industry experience in software, high technology, real estate and the utility industries. John’s clients included Sierra Pacific Power, Northern California Power Agency and a variety of municipal agency clients including San Francisco, Palo Alto and Santa Clara.
John has a BS in business administration and is a CPA. John enjoys seeing the world through the eyes of his twin three year-old boys, sipping fine wines before falling asleep from exhaustion stemming from his first joy and the occasional (unfortunately) game of golf.
Edee Harris
Chief Financial Officer
Edee was one of the founders of Natis Communications and has been actively involved with the Company since its formation in 2002. Edee has assumed the position of Chief Financial Officer. Edee has an extensive background in a variety of administrative roles having spent the four years just prior to Natis Communications providing human resource and other management consulting services through Harris Consulting to high technology and high growth companies such as Junglee, Elance, Impresse and Shopeaze Systems. Previously, Edee had spent more than twenty years in leadership and management positions that were responsible for directing, implementing and managing human resource and payroll functions and advising management on a variety of organizational issues at Hewlett-Packard, Aerotherm and Vadem as well as organizational changes to support the IPO process at 3Dfx Interactive and MIPS Computer Systems.
Edee enjoys music of all genres and frequently sponsors afternoon jam session in her backyard to the delight of the neighborhood. When not singing, Edee can be found anywhere near water where she can use her jet skies and kick back to relax.
Mitchell Freeman
Chief Information Officer
Mitchell was one of the founders of Natis Communications and has been actively involved with the Company since its formation in 2002. Mitchell has assumed the position of Chief Information Officer. Mitchell has an extensive background as an information technology specialist and managed the information technology department for a number of high technology and high growth companies such as Shopeaze Systems, Archistra and Impresse during the five years preceding Natis Communications. Mitchell developed a strong background in telecommunications (wired and wireless), Internet connectivity, high speed networks, co-location data centers, e-mail and security issues. Previously, Mitchell has a variety of educational, technician and analyst positions as K&A Software, Verity, Dataquest, Cadisys, Computer Attic and MicroAge.
Mitchell has an Associate Sciences in computer science, is a certified court reporter and currently holds two patents. When Mitchell is tired of working on computers, he switches to his favorite past time – playing computer games.
Mitchell S. Askenas
Senior Vice President, Sales
Joining Natis Communications in 2006, Mitchell S. Askenas assumed the position of Vice President Sales and Marketing. Mitch held a similar position at ICTV for six years where he was responsible for the Company’s sales in North America and South America, Advanced Product Development that included new product strategies, market research and technical sales support and the development of strategic relationships. Earlier, Mitch was the Vice President of Software Engineering for eight years where his responsibilities included the development of the overall system architecture, the product roadmap, the development of design standards and management of the release process. Previously, Mitch was the co-founder of Atlantis Technologies, a provider of health care software applications and Senior Software Engineer for Millennium Systems, a provider of point of sales systems.
Mitch has a BS in Computer Sciences and Mathematics and holds several patents. Mitch enjoys tennis (he has a strong backhand), a wide variety of music but especially jazz and early rock and roll and having the time to spend with his family.