Brian Watterson
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Brian Watterson was born in 1968 in Philadelphia, PA, and is the third child of Dr. Samuel and Margaret Watterson. In 1970, Brian’s father accepted a residency in a newly founded family practice in the tiny coal mining town of Boswell, PA where both of his parents became focal members of the medical community. Once living the western PA life, he participated in 4H livestock programs, fishing, swimming, and hiking, while faithfully following the Pittsburgh sports scene. In June of 1986, he graduated from Johnstown Christian School and later that year started his college education at the Pennsylvania State University, graduating in 1992 with a degree in economics (BS).
Between his freshman and sophomore college years, Brian enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. As he desired to become an officer, he enrolled in the Officers Candidate School (OCS) in the summer of 1988. Brian then graduated as a commissioned officer in the engineering branch in 1990, where he remained for the next twenty years, retiring with distinction as a major in 2007. During his distinguished career, he participated in numerous deployments, most notably as part of KFOR in Kosovo and as part of the disaster relief mission in support of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In 1992, Brian began his civilian career, initially working in sales for ClearComm, Inc. before starting at Network Connections, Inc. (NCI) in 1993 where he assumed the role and title of President in 1997, then Chief Executive Officer in 2015. Under Brian’s leadership, NCI has grown to over $15 million per year in gross sales with over 75 full-time employees. As NCI approaches its thirtieth anniversary, the company continues to establish business excellence as it maintains its true core values of loyalty, integrity, service, and team. As an organization continually cited for its strong values and ethics, NCI has established itself as a go-to solutions-based technology partner.
In addition to leading NCI, Brian, and his wife, Jessica, maintain a strong community presence in both eastern and western PA. As first lady of NCI, Jessica plays an active role in company morale and serves as leader of the company’s charity partner, the Arkadia Triangle Fund. In its first few years, this charity has already raised nearly $100,000 for local causes. In the summer of 2019, Brian and Jessica welcomed their first child, Murphy, into the world!
Mary
Maust
President & Chief Sales Officer
Mary Maust, President & Chief Sales Officer
Mary Maust joined Network Connections in March 2019 as a Business Development Coordinator focusing on outside sales. At the beginning of 2020, Mary was promoted to Senior Relationship Manager, with a shift of focus to key accounts, product development for end users, and the marketing and communications strategy for sustained company growth. At the end of 2021, Mary was promoted to Director of Sales and Business Growth. In this role,
she implemented a CRM platform and created a sales support cell to better meet client expectations, be scalable for growth and prospect new partnerships based on accurate data. As the corporate strategy evolved into a diversified client base, Mary was promoted to President and Chief Sales Officer in 2023. This new role emphasizes the evolution of our vision to deliver the best NCI offers to a diverse customer base.
Before Network Connections, Mary worked in the Wine industry, selling wine for The Wine Merchant from an extensive, curated wine portfolio to restaurants in the Western Pennsylvania region. She developed a large client base over the 10-plus years she worked with The Wine Merchant and still covets the significant relationships formed from this work. While at the Wine Merchant, Mary received the WSET level 3 certificate and was in many tasting groups. Mary was fortunate to travel to many wine regions domestically and abroad, developing a valuable, global perspective on business production, logistics, and people. Mary is a 2000 graduate of Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, where she earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Communications and Philosophy.
Mary lives outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, two sons, and a dog. She loves being in the Appalachian Mountains with all the outdoor activities to be shared with family and friends, especially skiing and floating on the water. She is passionate about cooking for family and friends and sharing great conversations. She complements this with travel and trips to the city to get her food and wine fix. She values quiet time to read and spend with her family.
Jeff
Garvin
Chief Operating Officer
Jeff Garvin, Chief Technology Officer
Jeff Garvin was born in 1965, grew up in the Greater Lehigh Valley area of Eastern PA, and graduated
from Lehighton Area High School in 1983. Jeff continued his educational pursuits by attending Penn
State University where he studied structural design and construction engineering. While at Penn State,
he enrolled in the US Army ROTC program in which he earned a 3-year academic scholarship. Upon
graduation in 1987, Jeff was commissioned a 2 nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Jeff spent the next thirteen years in the US Army on active duty, serving in various command and staff
positions, in both engineering and logistics organizations stationed state-side, and in Europe. In addition
to the standard military officer leadership development schools, he is a graduate of the US Army’s
Associate Logistics Executive Development Course. In 2000, Jeff departed the US Army at the rank of
Major and embarked on his civilian career with NCI.
With 20+ years of service under his belt at NCI, Jeff fondly looks back on his career progression where
he started as a Field Technician, then Operations Manager, on to Vice President of Technology &
Logistics Operations, and landing in his current position of Chief Technology Officer. Jeff’s sees his
greatest contribution to NCI as providing both operational and strategic leadership in the evolution from
a regional telecommunications structured cabling company to a national solutions-based technology
implementation entity.
Gregg Rodgers
Chief Services Officer
Gregg Rodgers, Chief Services Officer
Gregg Rodgers, Chief Services Officer, joined Network Connections Inc in 2005. He graduated from Elizabethtown College with a BS in Business Administration/Management in 1989.
While at Elizabethtown College, Gregg worked as a Resident Assistant and played Division III Basketball as a member of the Blue Jay’s Basketball Team. Early in his career he gained management experience working with Pizza Hut of America and Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. As General Manager of Cracker Barrel located in South Carolina, he managed restaurant sales in upwards of $6 million, and retail sales in upwards of $1 million. In addition to Gregg’s strong employee management experience he has a strong background in the retail/lease to own industry managing the day to day operations, marketing, merchandising, financials and collections.
In 2005 Gregg accepted a position with Network Connections. He started out working in the field and traveling nationwide providing services for Network Connections customer base. Eventually moving into the position of Operations Manager and later becoming Vice President of Field Operations and now serves as the Chief Services Officer for Network Connections. He was an integral part in growing the company from a small business to a mid-sized business it is today. Staff levels have increased from 10 in 2005 to 65 in 2023. In addition to overseeing the day to day field service operations, he is involved in the development of many of the company procedures and policies. Actively involved in multiple national rollouts, development of additional departments within Network Connections, Sales, and strategic planning for the ongoing success of Network Connections
Jeremy Deaner
Chief Administrative Officer
Jeremy Deaner, Chief Administrative Officer
Jeremy Deaner joined Network Connections in November 2019 as the Director of Service Operations. In July 2021, Jeremy was promoted to Chief Administrative Officer, with responsibilities including organizational structure, staff function and collaboration, staff development, human resources, and corporate culture. During his time at Network Connections (NCI), Jeremy has overseen vast improvements in the company training program, organizational morale profile, interdepartmental cohesion, and employee engagement. In the spring of 2020, Jeremy played a critical role as part of the NCI Action Team, a small group tasked with leading the company through the COVID 19 pandemic crisis.
Prior to Network Connections, Jeremy worked in residential care - juvenile justice and rehabilitation – and held the position of Director of Residential Services at Outside In School of Experiential Education, where he spent nearly 16 years. While there, he helped grow the company from a 36 to 72 bed facility, while overseeing day-to-day operations. Jeremy is a 2001 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology.
Jeremy lives in western Pennsylvania with his wife and two sons, where he passionately follows the local Pittsburgh sports teams. Jeremy also enjoys exercise, travel, and spending time with family and friends on the small lake where he resides. Jeremy values community involvement in the workplace, and he actively supports the operations of Network Connections’ charity partner, the Arkadia Triangle Fund.
James Thompson III
Senior Director, Technology
James Thompson, Senior Director, Technology
James Thompson started working at Network Connections, Inc in September of 2006. Over the course of his career, he worked in many different positions leading up to Senior Director of Technology. At the beginning of his career he traveled the states and in the early months of 2011 he started developing a support team to handle network remote support. The work in the field gave him the ability to see almost 40 states plus Puerto Rico. His expertise includes most technology-oriented hardware/software, and his strengths include business management, personnel management, and all levels of networking. When he is not working he enjoys spending time with his daughter and wife playing games, hiking/walking, and exploring nature.
Prior to working at NCI, he was in restaurant management.
Amanda Makarevich
Senior Director, Marketing & Outreach
Amanda Makarevich, Director, Marketing & Outreach
Amanda Makarevich joined Network Connections in November 2016 as the Director of Marketing & Outreach. Her first major initiative was collaborating with the executive team to refresh and rebrand NCI’s online presence. In her role, she works hand in hand with the sales team to develop and manage the company’s marketing strategy, creates marketing assets, and oversees the planning & execution of employee morale events. Amanda also serves as Vice President of NCI’s preferred charitable entity, The Arkadia Triangle Fund, and manages NCI’s charity partnerships and fundraising events.
Amanda graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a BA in Film Studies, as well as a teaching certificate in Elementary Education. While attending classes, she also worked part-time as a retail manager. She then continued her career managing stores full time throughout Pennsylvania until joining Network Connections.
Amanda is an avid lap swimmer and runner. She also enjoys the outdoors, reading, and spending time with her dog, cats, and family.
Andy
Sprague
Director, Support Department
Andy Sprague, Director, Support Department
Andy Sprague joined Network Connections in January 2008 as a field technician. For three years, he traveled the country integrating new site builds and maintaining existing locations. His experience in the field led to an opportunity to work in a new department providing remote network support. During the next 12 years, Andy advanced within the team holding a variety of positions including Network Engineer, Senior Network Engineer, Supervisor, Manager, and Senior Manager where he supervised multiple teams. As Senior Manager, Andy’s teams achieved unprecedented growth in staffing, training, and revenue. This success recently earned Andy a promotion to Director, Support Department, where he will deploy his management strategies to affect similar improvements across four other teams within Network Connections.
Andy grew up in central Pennsylvania and graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor's degree in health policy and administration, and a minor in business management. Before Network Connections, he worked in the telecommunications industry for 10 years, in various positions of sales, management, and also owning his own business, before moving across the country to Washington and starting his career with NCI.
Andy currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife Jennifer. Andy and Jennifer’s roots are in Pennsylvania, and they enjoy traveling there as much as possible to see family, friends, and return to his alma mater, Penn State. Andy loves Penn State football and has been attending games for over 25 years. His other interests include home improvement projects, Pittsburgh Pirates baseball, cooking, and cars.
Carolyn
Labik
Director, Human Resources
Carolyn Labik, Director, Human Resources
Carolyn Labik joined Network Connections in July 2019 as the Staff Coordination Manager.
Since that time, Carolyn was promoted to the senior management level and in April 2024, was
promoted to Director, Human Resources, with responsibilities including employee engagement,
compensation and benefits, performance management, hiring and retaining talent, employee
development, risk management and legal compliance. During her time at Network Connections
(NCI), Carolyn has overseen revisions to the company’s employee benefit program, improved
the hiring and separation processes, coordinated with other teams to determine ongoing
employee needs, facilitated the employee review process, and worked on ensuring compliance
with state and federal laws.
Prior to Network Connections, Carolyn worked for the County of Somerset in Pennsylvania
within different social service agencies. During her time working for the county, Carolyn assisted
many individuals with disabilities ranging in age from infants to older adults and provided on-call
crisis services. Carolyn spent the last 17 years of her local government career working within
the Early Intervention Program coordinating services for developmentally delayed children and
eventually transitioned into assisting with running the day-to-day operations of the program
which included completing licensing and administrative work. Carolyn is a 1990 graduate of
Penn State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and
Family Studies.
Carolyn lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband and daughter. She has a passion for
animals and has rescued several dogs within the last ten years providing them with a safe place
to land. She enjoys visiting her alma mater and participating in the Penn State tradition of
tailgating to prepare for another exciting football game. She also enjoys being at the beach and
spending time with family and friends. Carolyn considers NCI’s core values to be essential to
the foundation of the company and enjoys engaging the community in charitable activities
through Network Connections’ charity partner, the Arkadia Triangle Fund.