Board of Advisors

 

Glenn Lurie is the former President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Synchronoss Technologies. Lurie joined the Synchronoss team in November, 2017 with nearly 30 years’ experience in the telecommunications and wireless industries.

Prior to joining Synchronoss, Lurie was President and Chief Executive Officer of AT&T’s Mobility and Consumer Operations where he successfully grew the nation’s leading wireless and consumer business. During this time Lurie managed sales and distribution, customer care, operations, home entertainment and video services. Lurie and his team were also responsible for the integration of AT&T’s Direct TV and the company’s digital business.

After starting his career in the early days of the wireless industry at McCaw Cellular, Lurie helped usher in the modern smartphone era by leading AT&T’s negotiations with Apple to introduce the first iPhone and iPad. He built three groundbreaking businesses for AT&T: IoT business – bringing wireless connectivity to tablets, cars and consumer electronics; Digital Life – AT&T’s home automation and security business, and finally the launch of Aio Wireless – now Cricket Wireless, the companies’ industry leading prepaid flanker brand.

In 2014, Lurie was named as one of just 10 “MobileGameChangers” by Russell Reynolds Associates for his mobile-first approach to developing innovative services that enhance the way people live. Lurie was named to the Global Telecom Business “Power 100” multiple times, awarded Wireless Week’s Telecom Leadership Award in 2010, and presented the Atlanta Telecom Professional of the Year Award in 2009 from the Atlanta Telecoms Professionals Association.

Lurie is active in industry associations and within the community. He currently serves as a Venture Partner at StormBreaker Ventures, is on the Board of Directors Avis Budget Group, Inc., Pivotal Commware, Inc., Teal Communications, Inc., and Blue Link Wireless, Inc., and serves on multiple companies advisory councils. 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business/Marketing from Seattle Pacific University. An avid soccer player, Lurie was a three-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) National Champion at Seattle Pacific University. He was also a 1st Round Draft pick in the Major Indoor Soccer League and went on to play professionally for teams in Cleveland, Atlanta, Milwaukee and Portland.

Melinda (Mel) Coker is the former Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations for AT&T Services, Inc. She was employed in the Telecom, Media and Technology industry for over 30 years before retiring from AT&T in December 2019.

During her career, Coker led strategy, consumer research, business analytics and operations for $110B+ Consumer line of business with 135M customer connections, spanning 50 states and Puerto Rico. She led the transformation of the consumer wireline business from legacy to next generation products while driving overall revenue growth across a $22B line of business. She directed the initial strategy assessment and planning that led to a 25-year FirstNet agreement yielding 20 MHz spectrum and 1M+ connections and she led the premier connected car product strategy and development resulting in 30M+ connected cars at the time of her retirement.

At AT&T, Coker served in a variety of senior leadership roles, including Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations for AT&T services in 2019, Chief Strategy Officer for AT&T Communications from 2017-2019, Senior Vice-President of Strategy for AT&T, Inc. from 2015-2017, and Chief Marketing Officer for AT&T’s Home Solutions business unit from 2012-2015.

Coker currently serves on the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Electrical and Computing Engineering Advisory board, the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Electrical and Computing Engineering Diversity and Inclusion Council, and the Norcross First United Methodist Church Creation Kids Preschool board. She has served on the Engage Ventures board, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA) Strategy board, the Jasper Wireless board and has been inducted into the Georgia Tech Council of Outstanding Young Alumni.

Coker is an avid runner, running 19 marathons and counting. She enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family and being active in the community. She works with the Toco Hills Community Alliance weekly helping those experiencing food insecurity and serves in her church where she teaches youth Sunday School. She has also co- developed a pilot program coaching underrepresented students on soft skills.

Coker holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University. She is also a licensed electrical engineer in the State of Georgia.