In order to meet our mission, Pay Tel has assembled a top-notch team of corporate leadership personnel who lead the company. This team enables Pay Tel to maintain its status as an industry leader, staying at the forefront of corrections industry issues such as technical advancements, regulatory changes and evolving service needs.
VINCENT TOWNSEND – PRESIDENT
Owner/Founder
BS in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Building on fifteen years of success with his own marketing/distribution business, Mr. Townsend founded Pay Tel in 1986 following the breakup of AT&T. He is actively involved in all aspects of the business, leading the company through 34 years of consistent growth and innovation. Pay Tel provides inmate telephone service and related technology to jails throughout the United States.
Mr. Townsend is a long-time Board member of the American Public Communications Council and a member of its legal committee. In this capacity he has served as an industry spokesman before State and Federal Regulatory Agencies and members of Congress and has been actively involved in regulatory proceedings impacting the inmate calling service market for over 20 years. For the most recent FCC Rulemaking proceeding, Mr. Townsend participated in two public workshops, attended numerous meetings with FCC members and staff and initiated nearly 100 regulatory filings focused on preserving competition in the industry, protecting the interests of consumers and advocating for essential cost recovery for the nation’s jails.
AMANDA JARRELL – CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2017
Amanda has over 20 years of experience with successful team leadership development. Her talent for understanding, developing, following, and enforcing policies, procedures, and solution-based ideas provides a results-driven focus to the teams she leads. Amanda’s current role at Pay Tel includes integrating the major functions of the Company by overseeing the operations of multiple departments. In her role, Amanda works with the Executive Team and Department Managers to continually manage progress toward company objectives and maintain compliance with key deliverables, milestones and timelines.
ALAN M. MULLIS – CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2021
Alan has over 25 years of accounting management experience. He has held Controller, Corporate Controller, and Vice President of Finance positions at companies in various industries. He earned BBS degrees in Accounting and Management from Valdosta State University, a Master of Accountancy degree from The University of North Florida, and a Master of Science in Technology Systems from East Carolina University.
Alan’s current role at Pay Tel includes leading the accounting, facilities management, and tax teams. Among other goals, these teams strive to provide timely and accurate information to company stakeholders, to maintain the building, facilities and automotive fleet, and to properly record and timely pay the correct federal, state and local taxes due.
SUZANNE HAFFNER – VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2010
Suzanne has over 36 years professional experience in telecommunications, 31 of which have been focused specifically in the corrections market. She has a proven history of leadership in the areas of proposal development, pro forma financial analysis, and regulatory compliance. Her knowledge of the industry together with her analytical abilities and writing skills provides a valuable resource to the Pay Tel team.
Suzanne’s current role at Pay Tel includes management of the teams responsible for proposal development, education/training and market research as well as coordination of essential regulatory compliance directives.
RENE DELARICHELIERE – VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2021
Rene joined Pay Tel with over 27 years of proven success in sales leadership, customer success, marketing and product management. He has worked extensively in telecommunications with numerous leadership roles for Lumen-CenturyLink, FairPoint and Verizon.
Rene is responsible for directing Pay Tel’s Sales team. Duties include defining the sales strategy for Pay Tel and providing leadership to the Regional Account Managers team to ensure exceptional client support. He will be focused on retaining and growing the client base to meet company objectives and financial targets.
CHRIS TURNER – VICE PRESIDENT OF CLIENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2019
Chris joined Pay Tel with over 25 years of experience in managing the delivery of exceptional customer and client services across multiple vertical markets; During those years, Chris directed business operations in the US, UK, and Philippines. Chris’ breadth of experience encompasses the entire scope of business from recruiting, human resources, training, and sales with a focus on operations. His effectiveness is in mapping out processes, placing the right people in the right positions, and creating key performance indicators to gauge performance against company and individual goals. Chris attended Catawba College in Salisbury, NC and received a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.
Chris is responsible for leading Pay Tel’s Client Services, Implementation and Customer Service teams to ensure that Pay Tel continues to deliver outstanding service to our clients and end user customers.
RICK LUBBEHUSEN – SENIOR DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS INNOVATION AND PROMOTION
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2012
Rick brings over 25 years of success in telecommunications sales and marketing. He is a results-driven leader directing technical product sales and has been assisting the corrections industry with their communication and service needs since 2003. His focus includes the development of strategic relationships with industry suppliers offering services that enhance Pay Tel’s Inmate Telephone solution. Rick works proactively to stay abreast of new technologies applicable to the corrections industry. His duties also include continuing education for the Sales Team in new technologies and trends, assisting Regional Account Managers with client support, and the branding of Pay Tel products and services.
ERIC BROWN – DIRECTOR OF IT
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2017
Eric has over 20 years of experience in IT and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a minor in Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University. Eric’s current responsibilities include overseeing product development team to deliver the latest innovations to our clients and customers; overseeing the Infrastructure Team whose duties include maintaining our server and storage environment in multiple data centers, managing computer equipment and software, network management and security as well as tablet configuration and security. Eric also oversees the Technical Support Group which is responsible for providing 24/7 technical assistance to Pay Tel client facilities for all products.
CARRIE SUMNER – DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Pay Tel Team Member Since 2016
Carrie brings over 10 years of experience in a manufacturing environment managing Human Resources-related functions and offering unique organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills. She is proficient in administering initiatives, providing a broad level of counseling on recruitment, employee relations, retention and training programs and handling complex situations with professionalism and confidentiality. Carrie attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration concentrating in Human Resources.
Carrie is responsible for leading Pay Tel’s Human Resources team in adhering to state and federal guidelines, recruitment, employee relations, benefits, and acting as an advocate for both the employees and the business while ensuring that everyone adheres to the Pay Tel mission, vision, and core values.