Staff Bios

Larry Treas

Founder and President

Larry has a diverse background and extensive knowledge of the telecom industry, which affords him the unique ability to assist companies in obtaining the maximum results in the shortest time frame. His knowledge in the areas of local, long distance, wide area network and wireless services has saved clients millions of dollars per year, as well as recovered additional millions in billing errors. His analytical expertise and problem solving ability allows him to see all aspects of a problem or situation and find solutions that others cannot. Treas uses “Return on Investment” procedures and methodology to ensure sound business decisions are made by his clients.

Background:
Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) from Oklahoma State University and has been a member of the EET Industrial Advisory Council at OSU since 1996.

Experience:

Four years with Centel Business Systems in Oklahoma City where he performed the duties of a sales engineer, including systems design, pricing and engineering, installation, and technical management functions

Installation Manager, overseeing new installation of key and PBX systems. While at Centel, Treas was also certified in applications engineering and traffic engineering by Northern Telecom and Siemens/Rolm

After founding The Michael Group, Treas served as Interim IT Manager for a major client with revenues of approximately $100 million. During this time, he began developing a strategic plan as well as supervising development of a technical training process for the IT staff, including individualized testing to determine the specific training needs of each employee

Leadership:

Active member and past Vice-President and Treasurer of the Society of Telecommunications Consultants (STC)

Active member on the ISM (Information Systems Management) Program Advisory Committee at Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Recent member of the Consumer Advisory Committee of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) where he serves on the Consumer Complaints Education Sub-Committee, the Outreach Working Group Sub-Committee and the Truth-in-Billing Sub-Committee

Kim Fitzgerald

TEM Specialist/Accounting

Kim has experience in multiple areas of the telecommunications industry. Her twenty-six years of contract analysis, telecom consulting, commitment and bias for action provide a key component to The Michael Group’s success.

Background:
Kim has been a member of The Michael Group’s telecom consulting team since 1999. She is responsible for managing the implementation and conversion process of a client’s TEM solution, as well as the management plan for daily operations. She works closely with the client’s accounting team, information technology team and vendors to ensure an accelerated and successful implementation of the TEM solution.

Experience:

Management of 300+ monthly invoices for one client across multiple countries

Optimizing the telecom management infrastructure

Creating and managing an inventory of telecom services

Invoice management, including processing, auditing, validating and reconciliation

Identifying errors in telecom billing, obtaining refunds or credits

Standard and ad-hoc reporting

Cost savings research and analysis

Assisting with implementation of recommended services

Maintaining business processes and controls for telecom long distance, wide area network, and wireless/cellular services

Megan Gibson

Business Analyst/Client Liaison

Megan's main focus is analyzing a client's telecommunications services to ensure accuracy and efficiency; she also assists clients in developing better relationships with their service providers. Her extensive work in wireless telecommunications and customer care enhances her ability to negotiate the best rates for clients, identify savings opportunities, and resolve billing issues quickly and efficiently.

Background:
Prior to joining The Michael Group, Megan served as an Associate Director with AT&T Mobility, formerly Cingular Wireless. She spent three years in the Carrier Billing department before she was promoted to Lead Financial Analyst, earning numerous recognitions for outstanding service, training, and management. Megan received her bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and went on to teach a course at the Tulsa Community College over basic computer applications.

Experience:

Analyzing a client's billing against contracts, tariffs, and pricing schedules to identify billing errors

Working with the carrier(s) to obtain refunds for clients

Benchmarking pricing for various services

Negotiating the best rates for clients

Providing financial reports to regional for budget to actual analysis

Coordinating vendors and clients when overseeing implementation of new services and/or contracts

Raj Pathmanathan

Communications Consultant

Raj has over fifteen years of experience in the telecommunication industry. He has a rounded background in the areas of telecommunications systems and sub-systems hardware and software, along with local area network hardware and software, all of which provide him a unique ability to understand and manage clients’ billing in the areas of local, long distance, wide area network and wireless services.

Background:
Raj is a 1989 graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. He is certified as a Novell CNE, and participates in Confidential Product Briefings and Continuing Education Seminars with CISCO Systems and Microsoft.

Experience:

Analysis of billing against contracts, tariffs, and pricing schedules to determine billing errors

Working with the carrier(s) to obtain refunds for clients, in excess of hundreds of thousands of dollars

Benchmarking pricing for the various services

Negotiating the best rates for clients

Working with both in-house and outside attorneys to obtain the best terms available

Coordinating vendors and clients when overseeing implementation of new services and/or contracts

His experience with clients ranges from those with one location to those having multiple locations worldwide, and from 100 employees to tens of thousands of employees.