Hayes Fountain’s career reflects a steadfast commitment to helping people and organizations through excellence, innovation, and visionary leadership. A veteran of the First Gulf War, he made history as the first graduate of a Hampton University, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to serve as a nuclear-qualified engineer officer in the U.S. Navy. His service exemplified discipline, technical expertise, and strategic problem-solving, laying the foundation for his impactful career in technology and media operations.

Transitioning into the corporate world, Fountain brought his leadership and technical acumen to Turner Broadcasting, where he served as Vice President of Network Operations, overseeing Traffic Operations and ensuring seamless content delivery. His expertise continued to shape the industry when, as Senior Vice President of Technology and Chief Information Officer for ION Media Networks in 2012, he played a pivotal role in leading the migration to a cutting-edge, state-of-the-art data center. His ability to drive large-scale technological advancements solidified his reputation as a visionary in the field.

Fountain’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. His entrepreneurial success and dedication to business excellence earned him the prestigious Veteran-Owned Small Business Person of the Year Award for South Florida from the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC). As a leader, innovator, and veteran, Hayes Fountain continues to inspire and drive transformative solutions across industries.

Don Williams is a distinguished leader whose career spans military excellence, engineering expertise, and strategic leadership in the corporate sector. He began his journey serving in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate, specializing as a Jet Engine Technician and ensuring the reliability and performance of high-powered aircraft engines. His keen attention to detail and technical proficiency led him to become a Collateral Duty Inspector, granting him the authority to sign off on the airworthiness of aircraft—a role that required both trust and precision. Additionally, he earned full qualifications as a Naval CH-46 Crew Chief, Rescue Swimmer, and Collateral Duty Inspector, showcasing his versatility and commitment to operational excellence.

Williams’ expertise extended beyond standard aviation roles, as he became one of an elite few trained, certified, and qualified as a Space Shuttle Rescue Swimmer, a testament to his exceptional skill and physical endurance. His passion for continuous learning propelled him to Hampton University, where he earned his undergraduate degree, followed by a Master’s of Engineering Science from Penn State and a Master’s of Science in Engineering from the Wharton School of Business. His academic achievements reflect his deep technical knowledge and strategic thinking, positioning him as a leader in both engineering and business innovation.

Transitioning to the corporate sector, Williams leveraged his expertise in multiple leadership roles within Vanguard’s Information Technology division. His ability to drive technological advancements and optimize IT operations has made a lasting impact, reinforcing his reputation as a forward-thinking leader. With a career rooted in discipline, technical mastery, and visionary leadership, Don Williams continues to shape industries through his expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Garrett Mullins is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in commercial and federal contract citizen engagement, customer experience, strategic outsourcing, and contact center operations. Known for his expertise in both the creation and optimization of contact center solutions, Garrett has a proven ability to take contact centers from initial concept to full operational maturity. He excels in building high-performing teams and consistently achieving key project goals, KPIs, SLAs, and ROI targets.

Specializing in strategic outsourcing, Garrett’s work spans a diverse range of operations—from 400-seat centers for FedEx to large-scale, 8,000-agent global operations for IBM. He brings a keen focus to employee and site selection, as well as the integration of cutting-edge technology. His programs leverage a mix of internal and vendor-provided resources, with teams working in center or in hybrid environments, utilizing both premise-based and cloud-based omnichannel solutions, including conversational analytics. Throughout, Garrett prioritizes quality, compliance, performance, and employee satisfaction for his clients.

A forward-thinking innovator, Garrett has also been at the forefront of deploying generative AI within contact center operations. He has successfully implemented large-scale language model solutions, delivering significant technology ROI, reducing operational costs, enhancing employee satisfaction, and improving overall customer experiences across multiple organizations.