The Leader in Branded Communication

First Orion

We’re one of the fastest-growing telecommunications technology providers, with over 300 employees worldwide building our industry-leading communication solutions. People First is more than just a catchy phrase – it’s how we’ve built our culture from the inside out.

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First Orion

Our Mission and Core Values

Ever-evolving since 2008, our mission remains the same – we’re here to provide an exceptional mobile experience and protect consumers from bad actors. To us, the phone is a way to connect. As a leader in mobile communications technology, we take the worry out of picking up your device and deliver confidence in every call.

People First

We are committed to creating a great workplace.

Trust & Transparency

We value an open, honest environment.

Make It Happen

We have a deep passion to excel.

Innovation Wins

We develop world-class, kick-ass solutions & products.

2008

First Orion is founded as PRIVACYSTAR

2010

PRIVACYSTAR is the #1 source of scam complaints to the FTC (Federal Trade Commisson).

2012

Carriers ask for help with scam. First Orion creates white label apps.

2015

First Orion aquires Accudata.

2016

November

First Orion Opens London office.

T-Mobile and First Orion team up to create an in-network scam solution, "SCAM LIKELY".

October

Great Places to Work top 50.

2017

First Orion delivers an enhanced call experience and branded calling is born.

2018

April

First Orion launches calltransparency.com.

August

First Orion celebrates 10 years and counting!

2019

First Orion opens Dubai office.

2020

First Orion opens new headquarters in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

2021

The first richcall data proof-of-concept with T-Mobile is completed.

2022

First Orion launches the developer portal.

First Orion launches the customer portal.

2023

Launched SENTRY spoof protection solution.

First Orion

Makes History

We have been in the calling business for over a decade – but it hasn’t always been about mobile calls. We started this company to make it easier for consumers to report unwanted landline calls to the Federal Trade Commission. Our entire purpose was to hunt the bad actors – which is why we chose the name First Orion, based on “Orion the Hunter.”

Orion served several roles in ancient Greek culture – not only is he the personification of the winter constellation of the same name, but he was also revered as a hero. We took on that hero mentality because we’ve always been focused on protecting both consumers and businesses from scammers and spammers.

Around the World

Making a Global Impact

What started as a tiny office in small-town Arkansas is now a full-scale, international enterprise effort. First Orion is headquartered in North Little Rock with offices in Seattle, London, and Dubai.

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Awards & Accolades

First Orion is a recognized leader not only for our industry leading technologies, but as a great place to work. Now that is a killer combination.

CUSTOMER Product of the Year award image

Meet the Team

Executive Leadership

Learn more about First Orion’s Executive Leadership Team and Board Members below:

Scott Hambuchen

Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Stalnaker

President and Chief Financial Officer

Libbi Dixon Whitehurst

Chief People Officer

Sam Baxter

Chief Legal Officer

Ash DuttaChowdhury

Chief Information Security Officer

Tiffany Childers

Chief Accounting Officer

Mark Himelfarb

CTO & Ukraine Managing Director

Mike Lloyd

Chief Information Officer

Kevin McKenna

Chief Sales and Client Officer

Susan Nichols

General Counsel and Privacy Officer

Lucie Pathmann

Head of Marketing

Josh Whitehurst

Head of Product

BK Smith

Head of Prepaid Solutions

Allison Owen

VP, Client Success

Mike Coleman

VP, Channel Sales

Temim Nawaf Adwan

Managing Director – EMEA

Board Members

Charles Morgan

Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee

Jim Womble

Board Member

Tim
Baxter

Board Member

Tom Reilley

Board Member

In The News

First Orion Announces Leadership Changes and Promotions Following CEO Transition

LITTLE ROCK, AR - November 6, 2024—First Orion, a leader in branded communication and call protection solutions, announced a leadership change today. The company’s CEO, Joe Stinziano, will depart from his role effective November 5. This mutually agreed-upon departure...

First Orion Announces Partnership with AVANT Communications

Leading branded calling provider expands access to product suite by adding leading technology services distributor as a channel partner   NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark., September 9, 2024 – First Orion, the leading provider of branded calling solutions for enterprises,...

First Orion and Hiya Join Neustar and TNS to Unify Enterprise Call Vetting and Authentication Practices Across Largest Mobile Carriers

Industry-wide vetting and authentication standards establish secure foundation for branded calling RESTON, Va.— December 13, 2022 — First Orion and Hiya join Neustar, Inc., a TransUnion company, and Transaction Network Services (TNS) to form a strategic partnership...

Charles Morgan

Chairman of the Board & Executive Committee

As the Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Charles is actively shaping the company’s future. His significant contributions to the business world were exemplified during his tenure as CEO of Acxiom Corporation, where he drove growth to achieve $1.4 billion in annual revenue. Beyond his extensive experience in data services, Charles is known for his strategic insight and hands-on approach to technology development at First Orion. Committed to fostering innovation, he regularly engages with technology leaders to nurture both current and emerging tech advancements, including AI. While not involved in daily operations, Charles plays an active role in employee and executive advancement, contributing to compensation strategies and incentive programs. His work with the Arkansas Center for Data Sciences exemplifies his dedication to the tech industry, and his Lifetime Achievement Award from Marketing EDGE underscores his lasting impact. A seasoned executive and a race car driver, Charles’s dynamic leadership and vision continue to drive First Orion to new horizons.

BK Smith

Head of Prepaid Solutions

Bryan (BK) Smith is the Head of Prepaid Solutions and drives First Orion’s Go-To-Market strategies and Product Positioning at First Orion. BK has 25+ years of Product Marketing and Development experience, which includes leadership roles in Telecom & Health & Fitness such as Alltel Communications, Cricket Wireless, AWCC (Alltel) and ABC Fitness prior to his time at First Orion. BK is passionate about building products from the ground up that solve problems and deliver impactful results to the market.

BK attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, is a proud Veteran of the United States Army National Guard, and a self-proclaimed ideas geek! BK’s superpowers are rooted in helping good people accomplish extraordinary things and has never met a stranger!

Lucie Pathmann

Head of Marketing

Lucie Pathmann is the Head of Marketing for First Orion and is in charge of the company’s marketing and communication efforts. In her 25-year career, Lucie has consistently driven brand growth and developed strategic marketing initiatives across multiple industries. Before joining First Orion, Lucie helped run teams and direct brand management at Westrock Coffee, Stone Ward, and Verizon Wireless. Her penchant for insight and practical execution has made her a respected leader in the marketing and communications field.

Lucie attended the University of Arkansas. In her spare time, you can find Lucie cooking, spending time with family and friends, or cheering on the Razorbacks.

Joe Stinziano

President & Chief Executive Officer

Joe Stinziano is President and CEO at First Orion and has a strong track record in the consumer electronics sector. At First Orion, Joe has built on this foundation, focusing on transparent communication solutions. He has played a key role in expanding INFORM solutions and introducing PAIRED and SENTRY, initiatives that protect against brand and call spoofing. Through partnerships with all major U.S. mobile carriers and global expansion, Joe has been actively broadening First Orion’s impact in the field of communication, aiming to create a safer and more trustworthy environment for consumers and businesses alike. Previously serving as the Corporate Executive Vice President for Samsung Electronics America’s Consumer and Enterprise Business Division, Joe was instrumental in positioning Samsung as a leader in technological innovation. His efforts significantly contributed to delivering top-tier technology that has enhanced consumer and business experiences.

Jeff Stalnaker

President and Chief Financial Officer

Jeff co-founded First Orion — employee #1! — and was instrumental in gaining our first carrier app-based business (MetroPCS) and our first network implementation (T-Mobile). Prior to First Orion, Jeff was CFO and later President of the Financial Services Division of Acxiom Corporation. Jeff is a great juggler—of things, places and priorities!

Jim Womble

Board Member

Jim helped mold the future of tech in Arkansas, now home to huge global tech companies. After graduating from the University of Arkansas, Jim started his career at IBM, not using his degree in civil engineering, but as a tech guy and systems engineer. After eight years at IBM (which he credits for producing many great tech leaders in Arkansas), Jim teamed up with old friend Charles Morgan to transform then-small company Acxiom into a billion-dollar company. He’s credited as a founder and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for over 30 years. Now at First Orion, Jim oversees the Calling Solutions side of the business, as well as sales and sales enablement as EVP.

Tiffany Childers

Chief Accounting Officer

Tiffany oversees all finance, facility and legal teams for First Orion, providing financial leadership and guidance to the entire organization. Her vast experience in the finance field includes executive positions with both Leisure Arts and Acxiom Corporation where she served multiple top tier clients across the insurance, media, retail and automotive industries. Tiffany is loyal, hardworking and determined—all traits that encompass her working, playing golf, travelling, or supporting the Ozark Mission Project. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, whether that’s on a beach, in her church, or on a soccer field watching her son!

Allison Owen

VP, Client Success

Allison Owen is the vice president of client engagement at First Orion, where she oversees the client and partner experience. She has over 25 years of CX experience, which includes leadership roles at industry-leading data marketing companies such as Merkle and Acxiom. She attended the University of Central Arkansas and earned a Bachelor of Science degree.

Libbi Dixon Whitehurst

Chief People Officer

Positive, passionate, and committed, Libbi is our resident cheerleader, leading all people and culture programs that make First Orion a “Great Place to Work.” With over 30 years’ HR experience in the technology industry, Libbi is focused on creating and nurturing a high-performance culture with a People First approach. She is a founding member and executive champion of the First Orion Women in Tech employee resource group. Before joining First Orion, Libbi was VP of Human Resources for Acxiom Corporation, where she was the HR business partner to senior leadership across multiple global business groups.

Scott Hambuchen

Chief Executive Officer

Scott serves as First Orion’s CPO, leading all of First Orion’s product, technology and solution development activities. Prior to joining First Orion, Scott was President of Gryphon Networks, a leading provider of business communication risk management products and services. Scott also enjoyed an 18-year career at Acxiom as a senior executive, living in London for several years as the managing director of Acxiom’s European operations.

Sam Baxter

Chief Legal Officer

Sam’s roots with First Orion go back to 2008, where he served as legal counsel for both FO and Charles Morgan for many years. So it was a natural progression when he joined full time as Chief Legal Officer. He’s one of the top lawyers in Arkansas (you can check the lists!), a founding member of Baxter, Jewell & Dobson, P.A., and a proud Razorback alum. Sam is an outdoorsman at heart – he loves spending time with his family at the lake and manning the grill.

Kent Welch

Advisor

Our “Data Dog,” Godfather of data, humble data guru. Kent oversees design, creation, and management of First Orion’s data products and data-driven solutions, including data access, data usage, data science and data analytics activities. (Did we mention data?) Over 26-years, Kent designed and implemented large-scale marketing databases for top tier clients at Acxiom Corporation where he was one of the company’s leading B2B experts. Kent will freely jump into any lake – data or water – but he’s most passionate about boating with family because “a man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man” (quoted from The Godfather, of course!).

Sherri Schwartz

Chief Marketing Officer

Sherri Schwartz is the Chief Marketing Officer at First Orion, previously serving as the company’s VP, Communications & Product Marketing. With over 15 years of experience in sales, corporate communications, product marketing, and leadership, Sherri is responsible for creating and accelerating the company’s marketing strategy and brand recognition across the globe.

Sherri started her career in sales, selling to the DOD and Federal government with ADS, Inc. Following a successful career in sales, Sherri obtained over a decade of B2B SaaS fintech experience scaling for growth and global expansion. No stranger to the SaaS startup environment, Sherri established and built multiple new marketing functions and teams across her previous roles at FHN Financial, nCino, Opendorse, and Zafin. She has strong cultural competence in developing and leading global teams. As part cheerleader and change-maker, Sherri has demonstrated success in recognizing and maximizing individual and cross-functional team strengths and creating a winning environment.

She earned a B.A. in Communications from George Mason University with an emphasis in journalism and business administration. She also volunteers her time as the VP of Communications with Sycamore Elementary School. Sherri resides in Collierville, Tennessee, with her husband and two sons.

Mark Himelfarb

CTO & Ukraine Managing Director

As First Orion’s Chief Technology Officer, Mark is responsible for ensuring that company stays on the cutting edge of the industry by bringing to life software and solutions powering company’s product line through innovation in both methodology and technology. Backed by his 20+ years of experience in leading software engineering and systems design teams in a variety of industries, such as financial technology, benefits industry and education, Mark takes his passion for language learning, both computer and human, and pours it into pioneering novel approaches for tackling problems that First Orion’s customers face.
Prior to joining First Orion, Mark has designed and developed advanced transaction authorization, real-time processing and fraud-detection solutions for credit and debit card industry as well as pioneered the use of VOIP technology for building self-service scalable Interactive Voice Response and fax image processing systems. He started his career while working on a telemedicine research project for NASA, an experience that he considers truly shaped his future interests.

Mark believes that all conceivable problems can be solved with software, and those that can’t, simply need to be restated in a different way.
In his free time, Mark enjoys travel to discover new countries, their culture and their history.

Jennifer Barrett Glassgow

Chief Privacy Officer & EVP

Jennifer leads all global public policy, privacy and compliance initiatives for First Orion. She spent over 40 years leading Acxiom Corporation’s privacy and government affairs programs and was the industry’s first-ever Chief Privacy Officer. Jennifer has esteemed relationships in Washington D.C., working with the FCC and FTC, and received the Vanguard Award—the highest recognition given—from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Always inspired by a challenge, it’s on her bucket list to travel to Antarctica!

Mike Lloyd

Chief Information Officer

As Chief Information Officer, Mike’s motto is simple: “Work hard, play hard.” When he’s not (hard at play) on the lake, he’s hard at work with his team providing excellent delivery and operational support for First Orion customers. With over 30 years of experience in data and technology, Mike’s main mission is to solve the problem of scam and make the phone call relevant again for clients across the globe. He’s also a proud UCA alum – Go Bears!

Temim Nawaf Adwan

Managing Director – EMEA

Temim is the Managing Director of First Orion’s EMEA region and works out of the First Orion Dubai office. Temim has operated in an executive role for more than 10 years, brokering deals in several sectors — energy, scrap metal trading, refined products—and has been involved in multiple Merger & Acquisition activities. His representation of companies in the Middle East and Africa has played a direct role in achieving success for their operations. Temim holds a BA in business administration from London Metropolitan University and an MBA From Ecole Superieure de Gestion in Paris.

Robert Baker

Communication Protection Managing Director, EMEA

Robert has been at the forefront of telecom technologies for over 30 years, creating a vision for open networks via APIs that is now widely adopted. He brings First Orion’s cool new applications and services to the European market. Robert believes in treating others and every living thing like you would like to be treated yourself, and empathizes with David Attenborough when he says, “I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored.”

Tim Baxter

Board Member

Tim Baxter is a results-oriented global leader with a successful track record of revenue growth and value creation spanning over 35 years in the consumer electronics, telecom, mobile, appliance and entertainment industries. Tim has excelled in managing and scaling businesses and teams, transforming organizations, handling crisis management, leading and launching innovative technology solutions, public speaking and giving back to the community. Tim is currently serving in senior advisory roles with three companies including McKinsey & Company’s Tech, Media and Telecom Practice. He is also an Operating Partner at PE company Centre Partners and Executive Chair of Tastemakers Inc, one of its portfolio companies. Tim most recently was the President and CEO of Samsung Electronics North America responsible for the more than 5000 employees and $30B+ in annual revenue. Prior to working at Samsung for 13 years, Tim spent 10 years at Sony Electronics and 13 years at AT&T.

Tom Reilley

Board Member

Tom has more than 25 years of experience as a successful investor and entrepreneur. He started his career with the investment bank Bear Stearns where he was a Senior Managing Director in both Boston and London and member of the International Executive Committee. He left in 2007 to become an active private equity infrastructure and growth investor and co-founded Orka Energy in partnership with Sinopec, which grew into the world’s largest geothermal district heating company. Upon his return to the U.S., Tom founded the biomass investment platform Highland LP in Arkansas to be a leader in developing sustainable infrastructure in the biomass value chain. Highland’s first operational asset was built on 200 acres in Pine Bluff, AR and sustains over 430 jobs between its plant employees and the loggers and truckers supplying it with sustainable fiber. It is one of the largest plants of its kind in North America and the first in a series of impactful biomass investments.

Mike Coleman

VP, Channel Sales

As VP of Global Channels, Michael Coleman brings over 30 years of channel experience to First Orion. His number one objective is to build out a world class channel organization that harnesses the power of the channel in order to accelerate revenue growth.

Prior to joining First Orion in November of 2021, Mike spent 5 years as the Samsung Mobility Channel Chief. While at Samsung, he built a channel organization that grew the US channel business from $70M to over a billion dollars and was recognized as CRN Channel Chief of the year for three years in a row. Prior to joining Samsung, Mike spent 2 years as the Managing Director of the Cloud & Hybrid IT Business Unit for Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Prior to being recruited to HPE, he spent 5 years as the VP of Sales for SAP America’s. Before SAP, Mike was the VP of Sales for a Venture backed start-up in the forest inventory and carbon trading market.

Mike has a Business and Engineering Degree from Drexel University. He is married with three sons and lives on a small farm just north of Philadelphia. His hobbies include Hot Air Ballooning, Driving Draft Horses and Bee Keeping

Kevin McKenna

Chief Sales and Client Officer

Kevin McKenna is the Chief of Sales and Client Officer for First Orion, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. Prior to joining First Orion, Kevin served as EVP of sales for Adstra and spent 25 successful years at Acxiom Corp, where he held the position of Group VP overseeing sales and account management for the Communication, Media, Technology, and Travel industries. Kevin is known for his talent in revitalizing and scaling enterprise revenue organizations.

A proud graduate of Hendrix College, Kevin’s passion for the outdoors is as deeply ingrained as his commitment to professional success. Outside of work, Kevin can often be found trekking through the wilderness with a backpack, skiing the slopes, casting a fly line, or enjoying a quiet beach by the ocean.

Susan Nichols

General Counsel and Privacy Officer

As Privacy Officer and General Counsel at First Orion, Susan Nichols leads data compliance and privacy initiatives in addition to drafting and negotiating contractual agreements. She has 28 years of legal experience, with over ten years as in house legal counsel, and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional in the US. She received her J.D. and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Josh Whitehurst

Senior Director, Product Management

Josh has been instrumental in developing and overseeing First Orion’s most innovative solutions. His strengths lie in identifying and developing solutions needed in the marketplace and leveraging his innovative spirit to expand the ecosystem. Before joining First Orion, he co-founded a telemedicine startup and a marketing consulting firm. Whitehurst received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, where he was a founding father for the UCA chapter of Phi Gamma Delta International Fraternity.

Featured Content

The Leader in Branded Communication

First Orion

First Orion

Our Mission and Core Values

People First

Trust & Transparency

Make It Happen

Innovation Wins

2008

2010

2012

2015

2016

November

October

2017

2018

April

August

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

First Orion

Makes History

Around the World

Making a Global Impact

Awards & Accolades

Meet the Team

Executive Leadership

Scott Hambuchen

Jeff Stalnaker

Libbi Dixon Whitehurst

Sam Baxter

Ash DuttaChowdhury

Tiffany Childers

Mark Himelfarb

Mike Lloyd

Kevin McKenna

Susan Nichols

Lucie Pathmann

Josh Whitehurst

BK Smith

Allison Owen

Mike Coleman

Temim Nawaf Adwan

Board Members

Charles Morgan

Jim Womble

Tim Baxter

Tom Reilley

In The News

First Orion Announces Leadership Changes and Promotions Following CEO Transition

First Orion Announces Partnership with AVANT Communications

First Orion and Hiya Join Neustar and TNS to Unify Enterprise Call Vetting and Authentication Practices Across Largest Mobile Carriers

Charles Morgan

Chairman of the Board & Executive Committee

BK Smith

Head of Prepaid Solutions

Lucie Pathmann

Head of Marketing

Joe Stinziano

President & Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Stalnaker

President and Chief Financial Officer

Jim Womble

Board Member

Tiffany Childers

Chief Accounting Officer

Allison Owen

VP, Client Success

Libbi Dixon Whitehurst

Chief People Officer

Scott Hambuchen

Chief Executive Officer

Sam Baxter

Chief Legal Officer

Kent Welch

Tim
Baxter

CTO & Ukraine Managing Director