By Cara Sievers

On-demand unified communications service provider PanTerra Networks recently announced Andrew Pryfogle has joined the company as vice president of sales. Pryfogle, most recently vice president of channel sales for Covad Communications, has been tasked with running the sales organization and introducing the companys SaaS unified communications services portfolio to the SMB market.

Pryfogle says PanTerra, which sells exclusively through the channel, has been selling through channel partners, but its programs needed significant overhaul. “Bottom line, our programs are now designed to give partners an aggressive recurring revenue stream, sales and ordering automation that makes PanTerra the easiest to do business with,” he said.

Pryfogle has more than two decades of sales leadership experience with expertise in next-generation communications services. He joined his previous employer, Covad, from the acquisition of GoBeam, where he launched the hosted IP companys channel distribution model. Prior to that, Pryfogle held senior-level sales leadership positions at New Edge Networks, Oasys Telecom, Phoenix Fiberlink, North Star Telecommunications and MCI Telecommunications.

Pryfogle says his departure from Covad, which preceded the companys acquisition by Platinum Equity, was driven by PanTerras transformational SaaS technology platform for the SMB market.

“Andrew has demonstrated the ability to successfully build and manage highly productive teams for communications services companies with channel-oriented business models in the SMB market. We are extremely excited to have him join our management team,” says PanTerra President and CEO Arthur Chang. “We are entering a crucial period of expansion at PanTerra Networks. With Andrews proven track record of driving sustained revenue growth through the channel, combined with our unique SaaS technology platform, we anticipate rapidly expanding our customer base.”

“My background has always been in helping startup companies who have highly differentiated value propositions, scale to volume by building world-class channel programs. It is what I am passionate about,” says Pryfogle. “My objective now is to combine that passion with PanTerras revolutionary SaaS technology and a growing base of raving fan partners to go build the next big thing in on-demand unified communications.”

PanTerra actively is recruiting agents, VARs and wholesalers across the country. “We are not interested in adding companies that view us as just another vendor/supplier,” explains Pryfogle. “If someone is truly ready to invest time and energy into a partnering relationship, then we will put a ton of resources behind their efforts.”