Who We Are
We are a company grounded in Christian values with a strong sense of social responsibility. Our goal is to create eternal value by striving to honor God in all we do. This is reflected in how we conduct our business and care for others.
Our Story
Founded in 1986, Pay Tel Communications began by servicing payphones across the southeastern U.S. By 1989, we shifted our focus to inmate telephone services, quickly establishing ourselves as the leading provider in the region. Over time, our commitment to innovation and service excellence propelled us to expand nationwide.
Today, we offer a comprehensive suite of secure communication options for confinement facilities, including phone calls, messaging, video visitation, mail scanning and the latest detention center grade tablets.
In addition to our communication services, we invest substantial time and resources into restorative initiatives that support our clients, their incarcerated populations, and the surrounding communities. Our Pathway to Achieve™ educational program provides access to educational and life skills content, while our Pathway to Faith™ app offers faith-based, inspirational resources. Additionally, our Rise4Me™ website connects individuals with vital reentry resources. All available at no cost! Together, these initiatives are designed to enhance post-release outcomes and uplift communities.
In 2024, Pay Tel transitioned to being a 100% employee-owned company. Pay Tel’s employee-owners have a rare opportunity to share in the success of our company and a vested interest in providing exceptional client care. This ensures the values that have allowed us to prosper will continue unchanged while the mission that drives individual efforts remains steadfast.
With almost four decades of proven performance, Pay Tel stands as a stable and dedicated partner in communications and technology, continuously evolving to meet the needs of individuals, clients, and communities.
Our Mission
Why we exist, what we are passionate about…
To serve those impacted by incarceration in a way that honors God.
Our Vision
Where we are going…
By 2030, we will surpass 750k learners empowered by our life-changing resources, with clear evidence of positive community impact.
Our Core Focus
What we do better than anyone else…
Deliver exceptional communication services, and life-changing resources to those impacted by incarceration.
Our Core Values
Humble
-
Not above any job or anybody
-
We serve without ego and learn continuously
-
We seek feedback, listen with an open mind, and take positive steps to grow together
Transparent
-
Be genuine and candid
-
We share openly, collaborate across teams, and connect the ‘why"
-
We align our actions and words, speak honestly, and readily communicate with our peers and the people we serve
Solution-Oriented
-
We take initiative, think ahead, and move quickly toward solutions
-
We simplify problems, execute with purpose, communicate with clarity, and
deliver on time
Accountable
-
We take ownership of our actions, decisions, and outcomes
-
We do our homework, stay prepared, and deliver on our commitments with excellence
Compassionate
-
We treat everyone with dignity and help others grow
-
We show empathy, uplift and support each other, and stay mission-focused on improving lives, strengthening families,
and lifting communities
Leadership Team
Vincent Townsend
President and Founder
Mr. Townsend holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He founded Pay Tel in 1986 after 15 years in the marketing and distribution sector, leading the company through 34 years of growth in inmate telephone services for jails across the U.S.
As a long-time Board member of the American Public Communications Council, he has represented the industry before regulatory agencies and Congress for over 20 years. Recently, he participated in FCC workshops and meetings, initiating nearly 100 filings to promote competition and advocate for consumer interests in the inmate calling service market.
About Me
Suzanne Haffner
VP of Business Development
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2010
Suzanne brings over 30 years of telecommunications experience in the corrections market. She excels in proposal development, financial analysis, and regulatory compliance, offering valuable expertise to Pay Tel. In her current role, Suzanne oversees proposal development, detainee educational products, market research, and regulatory compliance efforts.
About Me
Rene DeLaricheliere
VP of Sales
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2021
Rene brings over 25 years of success in sales leadership, customer success, marketing, and product management, with extensive experience in telecommunications at Lumen-CenturyLink, FairPoint, and Verizon. At Pay Tel, Rene leads the Sales team, defining strategy, guiding Regional Account Managers, and focusing on client retention and growth to achieve company goals.
About Me
Zach Koning
Director of Human Resources
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2025
Zach brings over 10 years of progressive human resources experience, partnering closely with executive leadership to align people strategies with business objectives. His background includes leading HR initiatives across multi-site operations, with a strong focus on culture, engagement, compliance, and organizational effectiveness. He holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Human Resources Management from Grand Valley State University. At Pay Tel, Zach leads the Human Resources function, supporting leaders and team members while advancing strategies that promote performance, engagement, and sustainable growth.
About Me
Alan Mullis
Chief Financial Officer
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2021
Alan brings over 25 years of accounting leadership experience, having served as Controller, Corporate Controller, and VP of Finance across diverse industries. He holds degrees in Accounting and Management (BBS) from Valdosta State University, a Master of Accountancy from the University of North Florida, and a Master of Science in Technology Systems from East Carolina University. As part of Pay Tel, Alan oversees accounting, facilities management, and tax teams, ensuring accurate reporting, efficient operations, and compliance with tax regulations.
About Me
Chris Turner
VP of Client and Customer Service
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2019
Chris brings over 25 years of experience in delivering exceptional customer and client services across multiple markets, including directing operations in the US, UK, and Philippines. With expertise in recruiting, HR, training, sales, and operations, he excels at process improvement, team building, and performance measurement. He holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Catawba College. At Pay Tel, Chris leads the Client Services, Implementation, and Customer Service teams, ensuring exceptional service for clients and end users.
About Me
Rick Lubbehusen
Senior Director of Business Innovation
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2012
Rick brings over 30 years of telecommunications sales and marketing experience, with a focus on the corrections industry since 2003. He oversees innovative solutions from both a hardware and software perspective. Rick develops strategic supplier relationships and oversees research, design and development for specialized projects. He manages Pay Tel’s patent portfolio and intellectual property, always staying abreast of industry trends to enhance Pay Tel’s solutions.
About Me
John Richardson
IT Director
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2025
John Richardson has over 20 years of experience in technology leadership and software engineering, with deep expertise in system architecture and Agile practices. He is known for building high-performing teams and delivering secure, scalable, and cost-effective technology solutions across complex environments.
At Pay Tel, John leads the company’s information technology strategy and operations, ensuring systems are scalable, secure, and aligned with Pay Tel’s mission. He partners closely with cross-functional teams to support innovation, reliability, and long-term growth.
About Me
Sales Team
Mike Bronson
Regional Account Manager
Serving the North Eastern and Mid-Atlantic States
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2010
Mike has over 25 years of achievement in sales, marketing and business development in U.S. based markets, highlighted by success in outside sales working with scientific and technological product lines. He boasts over 15 years of success in the communications and technology sector for incarcerated persons. Mike has extensive experience winning contracts and supporting client needs and concerns. Mike’s duties include new client prospecting, marketing Pay Tel’s entire product suite and client support for existing clients in our northern regions from Virginia and northward.
About Me
Leigh Setzer
Regional Account Manager
Serving Georgia
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2014
Leigh has over 20 years of experience serving the corrections industry, including nearly a decade with the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association. Her career has been built on understanding the needs and expectations of law enforcement in the corrections industry. Since joining Pay Tel in 2014, she has focused on sales growth and client support for detention facilities in Georgia. Her responsibilities include new client prospecting, marketing Pay Tel's product suite, and providing dedicated service to her clients.
About Me
Kelly White
Account Manager
Serving the Midwestern States
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2024
Kelly has over 20 years of corrections industry experience, including roles in jail management systems and commissary sales. His background also includes work with the Boy Scouts of America, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell’s staff, and as Deputy Commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Corrections. At Pay Tel, Kelly focuses on new client prospecting, marketing the product suite, and supporting clients in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan.
About Me
Regional Account Manager
Serving North Carolina
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2017
Megan comes from a family with a long history of law enforcement service. This background allowed her to be successful in serving the corrections industry for both the commissary and healthcare markets prior to joining Pay Tel in 2017. Megan’s previous and current experience with Pay Tel provides her with a unique perspective on communication and technology services for incarcerated persons as well. Megan’s duties include new client prospecting, marketing Pay Tel’s entire product suite and client support to our existing clients in North Carolina.
About Me
Micheal Rasar
Account Manager
Serving South Carolina and Tennessee
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2023
Micheal is a lifelong correctional professional with almost two decades of experience in law enforcement. Prior to joining Pay Tel in 2023, Micheal served as the Jail Administrator for Barnwell County Detention Center in South Carolina for 6 years. He was a recipient of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy’s Distinguished Graduate Award and the J.P. Strom Award. Micheal’s duties at Pay Tel include new client prospecting, marketing Pay Tel’s entire product suite, and client support to our existing client accounts in South Carolina and Tennessee.
About Me
Montreal Greene
Account Manager
Serving the South Eastern States
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2025
Montreal is a U.S. Army Veteran with 23 years of dedicated experience in the corrections communications industry. His extensive background in service, installation, maintenance, and training enables him to effectively support both our clients and internal teams in meeting evolving operational needs. At Pay Tel, Montreal plays a key role on our support team by assisting Regional Account Managers in meeting the day-to-day needs of our clients. In addition, he actively leads prospecting efforts and promotes Pay Tel’s full suite of products to prospective clients across new markets and regions.
About Me
Jordan Strong
Regional Sales Ambassador
Serving Georgia and Alabama
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2021
Jordan joined Pay Tel in 2021, bringing several years of proven experience in sales, account support, and contract management, along with 12 years of law enforcement service as a Sergeant and Instructor with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office in Georgia. His strong understanding of facility operations, paired with his positive, solutions-focused approach and unwavering integrity, enables him to deliver exceptional service to our clients.
At Pay Tel, Jordan is responsible for prospecting new clients and providing dedicated support to a portfolio of key client accounts across Georgia and Alabama.
About Me
Tracy Smith
Senior Client Account Manager
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2022
Tracy joined Pay Tel in 2022 with over 18 years of telecom and customer support experience. She has a proven track record for building strong client relationships, dedication to customer satisfaction and a passion for building relationships on honesty, trust, and responsiveness. Her duties include proactively and consistently monitoring and engaging with client accounts and working with Regional Account Managers to provide ongoing client support for Pay Tel’s entire product suite.
About Me
Megan McCooey
Client Account Manager
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2024
Megan joined Pay Tel in 2024 with 8 years of law enforcement experience and more than 15 years of customer support experience. Her background serving the corrections industry as a probation officer as well as in the commissary market has provided her with a unique understanding of client needs and perspectives. She has proven experience building solid relationships grounded in teamwork and integrity. Her duties include proactively and consistently monitoring and engaging with client accounts and working with Regional Account Managers to provide ongoing client support for Pay Tel’s entire product suite.