Our Management Team
Under the guidance of a management team headed by David Barksdale, CEO of Spread Networks, we have brought together industry leaders with specialized expertise in areas ranging from financial services to fiber optics.
David Barksdale, Chief Executive Officer
David Barksdale brings significant legal expertise to the management team of Spread Networks, which has enabled us to successfully address the challenges of building new infrastructure across five states. Prior to joining Spread Networks, he served as an attorney in the New York office of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton LLP, where he specialized in private equity and mergers and acquisitions. David received his BA from Tulane University, Magna Cum Laude and his JD from New York University School of Law. David is also a trustee of Tulane University, the National World War II Museum and the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
Dan Spivey, Founder and President
Before Spread Networks, Dan Spivey engineered and managed equity derivatives strategies. As a derivatives strategist, Dan engineered buy-side solutions for off-model risks and spread capture. As a market maker, he made two-sided markets in SPY and QQQQ on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Dan's background gives him a trader's appreciation for high quality, low latency infrastructure. Seeing, first hand, pent up demand for a solution, Dan Spivey sought the visionary leadership of Barksdale Management to set a new standard for New York - Chicago trading latency.
Drake Livingston, Senior Vice President, National Accounts
Drake brings a wide variety of experience in telecommunications from the past 14 years which enables him to help Spread customers achieve their goals. He began his career at Alcatel in R&D. Drake then quickly transitioned from systems engineering to sales with Glimmerglass Networks. Prior to joining Spread Networks, Drake was at Ciena Communications helping fortune 100 companies implement new communication networks and strategies. Drake holds a BS from Texas A&M University and an MS in Physics from the University of North Texas where he taught undergraduate courses and used optical technologies for basic research. His background helps him bring cutting-edge networks to a diverse and demanding customer base.
Bruce Deer, Chief Administrative Officer
Bruce brings over 30 years of experience in the communications industry in a variety of roles in engineering, information technology, operations, sales and customer care to Spread Networks. His previous executive experience as COO and CEO in SkyTel, a nationwide wireless messaging provider, brings valuable expertise to organization. His broad and varied background in telecommunications provides invaluable knowledge and expertise in all aspects of operational requirements and processes required in a communications and service company. He also has an extensive knowledge and experience in deploying and operating robust systems for support of highly available and robust communications networks, back office, and enterprise support systems. Early in his career Bruce previously worked for Lockheed Martin in various roles in research and engineering with wireless communications and avionics systems.
Bruce received his BS from Mississippi State University, Special Distinction and his MS of Engineering from Southern Methodist University. Bruce is also a member of several industry and non-profit boards.
James Booth, General Counsel
Jim brings more than 20 years of legal experience in the telecommunications industry, providing services to telecommunications carriers and to enterprise companies that manage their own telecommunications networks.
Before joining Spread, Jim was the General Counsel for OnFiber Communications, a competitive telecommunications provider, and was the sole attorney for Qwest Communications International in support of its construction of an 18,800 mile fiber optic network spanning the United States. Earlier he was lead counsel for U S WEST in its wireless and cable television ventures in the United States, Europe and Hong Kong.
Timothy L. Goff, Senior Vice President, Operations
Tim is a proven executive with over 25 years of leadership experience. He brings an extensive working knowledge of field operations, with a particular strength in high-speed networks. Combining an expert understanding of optical fiber/cable technologies and applications with significant hands-on experience in the design, construction and operation of leading-edge DWDM networks, Tim directed large service organizations in the delivery of world class operational excellence for customers around the globe. Tim also served as Head of Quality in multiple organizations, successfully achieving and maintaining ISO and TL 9000 certifications.Tim was most recently Vice President Customer Service at ADVA Optical Networking. Previously, he held VP-level responsibilities in Operations and Quality at Ciena and LTS. He led the Quality organization at Focas, Ltd., now AFL. He began his telecommunications career in the Cable Division at Siecor, now Corning, with positions in Engineering, Operations and Quality.
Tim is heavily involved in many education-focused civic organizations, including having served as an elected member of the Catawba County Board of Education in North Carolina.Tim is a meritorious graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He served 9 years on active duty as a Navy Pilot. He is authorized to wear the Naval Aviation Pilot Insignia, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (3 awards), Battle Efficiency Award and many other ribbons and commendations.
Michael Strickland, Senior Vice President, Technology and Engineering
Michael has spent the last 15 years engineering and deploying advanced DWDM networks for telecom carriers.
Michael began his career with Alcatel in the early days of WDM technology. He left Alcatel in 1998 to become one of the original architects for the Level 3 Communications Long Haul network where he evaluated fiber, DWDM and SONET technologies. Michael later served as Director of Network Engineering and Deployment where he was responsible for implementing Level 3's network design. In 2005, Michael joined Broadwing as Director of Network Planning and Optimization. When Level 3 acquired Broadwing in 2007, he ran the Transport Network Integration Team responsible for combining all the acquired networks into a single cohesive network - Long Haul, Metro and physical infrastructure.