Wright W. Thurston
Mr. Thurston is a successful, serial entrepreneur who began his career in 1996 with the formation of Future Phones, an independent direct sales company in the emerging cellular phone industry.
Future Phones achieved acclaim as one of the fastest growing and largest independent direct sales organization in the cellular phone industry. Beginning in 1997 through 2001 the company recruited, trained and deployed more than 2000 independent sales representatives throughout the United States.
The company was one of the first to offer an e-commerce Web site focused on direct sales of wireless phones during the transformational period from analog to digital phones. Mr. Thurston sold Future Phones in 2001 to OmniServe Wireless when he was just 24 years of age. Future Phones also entered into a strategic relationship with BIG Planet Inc.(owed and operated by Nu Skin Enterprises Inc.(stock ticker - NUS) to sell cellular phones through the BIG Planet network marketing distributor sales force. In just a few short years
Future Phones transformed the industry by introducing a direct to consumer business model and selling thousands subscriber accounts across the United States. Mr. Thurston has developed a proprietary recruiting and training methodology, which made a lasting impact on the entire mobile industry.
In 2002 Mr. Thurston recognized an emerging opportunity the subscription-based monitored home security industry. A technology transformation was beginning to happen, as security systems connected to a central station through a traditional land line would be replaced by cellular communications. Mr. Thurston seized the opportunity to make monitored home security available to a previously underserved market by devising a new go-to-market strategy combined with innovative pricing and provisioning options which would make monitored home security accessible for middle-income and low-income families.
As CEO of Firstline Security, Inc., Mr. Thurston directed its expansion to more than 200,000 subscribers and more than $100MM in revenue. The company was recognized as the fifth largest homes security company by SDM magazine and was listed on the Inc. 500 in 2006. In the fall of that year, Mr. Thurston was recognized as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.
During his tenure at Firstline, Mr. Thurston began to perceive a shift in technology, which would have impact on virtually every digital service, from voice and data to security and automation. In 2006 he stepped aside as CEO and continued to serve on the Board of Directors and also continued to help manage the nationwide recruiting + sales force. In 2010 Firstline sold their nationwide home security customer base to an Albany, New York based Hedge Fund.
In 2008 Mr. Thurston founded Elevate. Elevates main goal was to be one of the first cloud based digital service providers in the United States.
Elevate, Inc. is the only publicly traded Digital Services provider that is meeting customer demand for affordability, variety, and service by leveraging a network of independent, licensed connectivity specialists to sell and service the residential and small business solar, data, voice, video, mobile and security markets.
Through its carrier-level agreements with many of the Nation's major infrastructure providers, Elevate, Inc. is able to offer technologically agnostic product ‘Stacks’ – product configurations that aren’t limited to a single delivery infrastructure. Elevate Certifiable Geniuses can choose component products from among all locally available carriers or infrastructure technologies to create cost-effective, custom product packages that meet the unique needs of each of their customers. Independent Elevate owners bring made-to-order digital services to their local communities, one living room at a time. Elevate can provide digital services to all 50 states. Elevate Solar footprint is limited to our Solar installation network coverage area.
Mr. Thurston has recruited, trained and deployed more than 20,000 independent reps over the past decade. His visionary approach to sales training and keen insights into market behavior has led to thousands of subscriber activations for digital services across the United States. Mr. Thurston is the author of the proprietary compensation plan at Elevate, which compensates sales representatives for both new customer acquisitions as well as long-term loyalty, a concept that is revolutionizing the customer experience with digital service providers. His pioneering spirit and attitude is a source for inspiration and motivation throughout the enterprise. Mr. Thurston is a hands-on leader who often is found in the field and on the streets as he engages with Elevate sales representatives, vendors and partners and Elevate subscribers.