Meet our Leadership Team
at Fuse.Cloud
GARY WATTS
- Bio
MICHAEL FOWLER
- Bio
CHRISTOPHER GOOLSBY
- Bio
BEN SIMS
- Bio
OLIVIA KUHN
- Bio
DUSTIN LASSITER
- Bio
WALTER DONALD
- Bio
NIC CARPENTER
- Bio
LEAANN DEAVOURS
- Bio
COLLIN HURT
- Bio
TAYLOR BERRY
- Bio
GARY WATTS
CEO and Founder
Bio:
Gary serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Fuse.Cloud, where he sets the strategic vision and long-term goals for the organization. A graduate of Mississippi College with a degree in Business Administration, he brings a wealth of entrepreneurial experience to the helm from his time as a small business owner and a VP of Sales in the telecom industry. While Gary is responsible for the company’s trajectory, he finds his greatest motivation in the professional development of his team, finding true fulfillment in watching employees grow and thrive in their roles.
When he is off the clock, Gary prioritizes time with his wife, Gay, their daughter, Olivia, and their two grandchildren. He is a dedicated supporter of Mississippi State Athletics and can often be found in Starkville attending basketball games at The Hump. Deeply committed to his community, Gary is also the founder of Covered, a benefit concert series that raises money for various local nonprofits. When he isn’t at a game or on stage, he is an avid reader with a lifelong love for classic literature.
MICHAEL FOWLER
Chief Revenue Officer
Bio:
Michael has spent two decades at Fuse.Cloud, evolving from a sales representative into the Chief Revenue Officer. A graduate of The University of Alabama with a degree in Business Administration, he brings a deep, foundational understanding of the company’s history and a passion for creating a culture of empowerment. Michael views his primary impact not just in the business grown, but in the leaders he has helped build.
When he is off the clock, Michael prioritizes time with his wife, McKenna, and their two children, Caden and Sarah Chandler. An avid traveler and a die-hard Alabama football fan, Michael is also known around the office as a dedicated prankster who believes that a well-timed joke and a little humor are essential to building a team that truly enjoys working together.
LAURA JOHNS
Chief Strategy Officer
Bio:
Laura Johns serves as Fuse.Cloud’s Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) and has been with the company since 2014. Johns has nearly a decade of experience in the study and practice of integrated marketing. She has nine years of expertise driving marketing efforts for the utility and telecommunications industries, and extensive background in marketing strategy and implementation for technical products. As CSO, her responsibilities include marketing, human resources, customer success and corporate culture. She oversees the execution of all relationship-affecting strategies within the company to ensure success in reinforcing relationships as one of the company’s core values.
Prior to joining Fuse.Cloud, Johns drove marketing efforts for the electricity business line at Itron, a global utility technology provider based in Liberty Lake, Washington. Johns also served as the advertising manager for the Unversity of Alabama campus newspaper, The Crimson White.
CHRISTOPHER GOOLSBY
Chief Financial Officer
Bio:
As Chief Financial Officer, Christopher is responsible for the financial health and operational efficiency that fuels Fuse.Cloud’s mission. Having been with the company since the start of his career, he offers a deep, foundational understanding of the business and a passion for helping the organization scale. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Mississippi College, as well as a Master of Divinity from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
When he’s off the clock, Christopher prioritizes time with his wife, Alletta, and their three children: Mackenzie, Avery, and Hudson. He is a dedicated outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and fishing. While his workday is spent managing the numbers, he also enjoys diving into hobbies like gardening and woodworking.
Ben Sims
Chief Operations Officer
Bio:
Ben serves as the Chief Operations Officer for Fuse.Cloud, where he leads day-to-day operations and oversees technical implementation for the company. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Construction Engineering Technology, he brings a unique foundational background in construction management and low-voltage audio/visual systems. Since joining the team in 2008, Ben has been instrumental in driving product development and strategic growth, finding his greatest daily motivation in designing the precise technical solutions that solve our customers’ most complex challenges.
When he is off the clock, Ben prioritizes quality time with his wife, Sara, and their son, Hampton. He is an avid sports fan who loves traveling, hunting, and cheering on the New Orleans Saints. Backed by a deep well of technical expertise and industry credentials, Ben combines an engineer’s eye for detail with nearly two decades of operational leadership to keep Fuse.Cloud running smoothly.
Olivia Kuhn
Director of Sales
Bio:
Olivia leads the Fuse.Cloud sales team, working closely with both account managers and new logo representatives to build lasting client relationships. A graduate of Mississippi State University with degrees in Business and Sports Administration, she focuses on identifying the specific technology solutions that meet the unique needs of each industry. Olivia’s background in sales prepared her for the fast-paced world of tech, where she finds her greatest motivation in the daily collaboration with her team and her clients.
When she is off the clock, Olivia prioritizes quality time with her husband, William, their two daughters, Anne Love and Reese, and their dog, Cosmo. She is an avid supporter of her alma mater and can often be found in Starkville cheering on the Bulldogs. Olivia has a lifelong passion for sports that goes beyond the bleachers; she worked in recruiting for the 2014 Mississippi State football team, the first team ever to be ranked #1 in the College Football Playoff era.
Walter Donald
Director of Project Management
Bio:
Walter serves as the Director of Project Management at Fuse.Cloud, where he ensures every customer enjoys a smooth and seamless transition during the onboarding process. A graduate of Mississippi State University with both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Accounting, he brings a disciplined, analytical background from his previous career in the accounting and banking industries. Walter is a natural problem-solver who thrives on navigating the complexities of technical transitions to deliver an enjoyable experience for our clients.
When he’s off the clock, Walter prioritizes time visiting with his family or hanging out with his dog, Petey. He is an avid traveler and adventurer who can often be found SCUBA diving in his spare time.
Dustin Lassiter
VP of Technical Operations
Bio:
Dusty leads the technical operations team at Fuse.Cloud, where he is responsible for driving MSP product growth and creating the scalable processes that power the company’s expansion. With over 15 years of experience in the Managed Services industry, he brings a deep-seated expertise in technical efficiency and high-level operational strategy. Dusty thrives on the challenge of building and maintaining strong relationships with both employees and clients, and he is particularly dedicated to the professional development of his technical team.
When he is off the clock, Dusty prioritizes quality time with his wife, Natalie, and their two children, Henry and Diana. He enjoys building Legos and spending time outdoors working on his home’s landscaping. Managing a high-performance technical team comes naturally to Dusty; he grew up as one of eight children, including three sisters and four brothers, giving him plenty of early experience in navigating a busy, fast-paced environment.
Nic Carpenter
Director of Product Management
Bio:
Nic Carpenter brings over eight years of dedicated service to Fuse.Cloud. Nic started out as a Voice Project Manager and steadily climbed the ranks to assume the role of Director of Product Management. As the overseer of day-to-day voice operations, Nic maintains the voice platform, spearheads new product development initiatives, and ensures seamless customer onboarding experiences.
Nic is a proud graduate of Mississippi State University, where he earned a dual major in Business Information Systems and Marketing in 2018. Originally from Holly Springs, MS, he currently resides in Madison with his wife, Hannah, their son, Grady, daughter, Campbell, and rescue dog, Coco.
Beyond his professional commitments, Nic showcases his culinary skills as the designated Company Cookout Chef, delighting colleagues with his smoked barbecue during company events. In his free time, Nic finds joy in perfecting his smoking techniques, a testament to his dedication and attention to detail in all aspects of his life.
LeAann Deavours
Director of Employee & Vendor Relations
Bio:
LeaAnn serves as a vital bridge between our team and our mission, overseeing employee onboarding and fostering a positive, cohesive company culture at Fuse.Cloud. With over 30 years in the telephony and tech industries, she has navigated everything from the paging business to complex network consolidations during major corporate mergers. LeaAnn is driven by the ever-changing nature of technology and finds true fulfillment in the daily problem-solving required to keep a modern workforce thriving.
When she’s off the clock, LeaAnn prioritizes quality time with her family and friends, including her wife, Margaret, their two daughters, two granddaughters, and their rescue pup, Jasper. She is also an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast who enjoys cycling, hiking, and camping. A die-hard football fan, she grew up a massive Terry Bradshaw fan and remains a devoted follower of both professional and collegiate games.
Collin Hurt
Director of Marketing
Bio:
Collin oversees the marketing strategy and implementation for Fuse.Cloud, bridging the gap between high-level brand vision and the technical execution of campaigns. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, he brings a background in both agency and in-house environments with experience ranging from Digital Media to Marketing Operations. Collin is driven by the fast-paced nature of the technology industry, utilizing his expertise to stay nimble in an ever-changing landscape.
When he is off the clock, Collin prioritizes time with his wife, Audrey, and their two kids, Olivia and Carson. He enjoys playing golf, watching movies, and cheering on the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.
TAYLOR BERRY
Customer Experience Manager
Bio:
Taylor ensures that both our customers and our internal team feel fully supported, leading our team of engineers to keep operations running smoothly. With a background in military service and years of experience across retail and business sales, she brings a disciplined yet adaptable approach to solving complex problems quickly. Taylor thrives on the collaboration of her role, enjoying the “best of both worlds” by working alongside some of the brightest technical minds in the industry while directly assisting our clients.
When she is off the clock, Taylor prioritizes time with her husband, Ben, and their two daughters, Adlee and Birdie. She is at her happiest near the water or cheering on the Ole Miss Rebels. While her professional role requires managing high-level technical support, Taylor has a natural inclination for order that extends beyond the office; she is a lifelong organizer who finds a sense of calm in cleaning and streamlining whatever environment she is in.