For more than two decades, Stephen Howard has embodied the spirit of strategic leadership in the technology and telecommunications industries, building a career defined by innovation, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to growth. With over 22 years of professional experience, Stephen has mastered the art of transforming potential into performance—leading teams, scaling organizations, and developing market strategies that drive consistent and measurable success. His journey from early beginnings in sales to executive leadership as Director of Sales at Level365 reveals not only a dedication to business excellence but also a deep passion for developing people, processes, and partnerships that endure.
Stephen’s career began in the early 2000s, a period of rapid technological change and emerging connectivity. Starting as a Real Estate Agent with Carpenter Realtors, Stephen learned firsthand the value of communication, persistence, and client trust—skills that would become central to his leadership ethos. He soon transitioned into telecommunications, joining Allsource Telecom in 2003. There, Stephen honed his ability to identify market opportunities, align client needs with innovative solutions, and consistently exceed revenue goals. This experience became the foundation for a career characterized by upward mobility and impact across multiple companies in the evolving world of unified communications and managed IT services.
During his tenure at Cincinnati Bell and its acquired company, Evolve Business Solutions, Stephen served as Regional Channel Sales Manager, where his leadership contributed to an impressive 500% sales growth and a recurring revenue portfolio exceeding $10 million annually. His capacity to cultivate trust-based relationships with partners and internal teams distinguished him as both a strategist and a motivator. By maintaining a strong pulse on partner performance and fostering collaboration across departments, Stephen demonstrated how visionary leadership paired with operational discipline can redefine market success.
In 2011, Stephen brought this expertise to River Networks as Vice President of Sales and a key member of the executive team. At River Networks, he transformed the company’s sales infrastructure, implementing direct and indirect channel strategies that drove sustainable growth. He also introduced new marketing initiatives, oversaw the launch of a new website, and developed SEO and email campaigns that broadened the company’s visibility. His success in driving recurring and one-time revenue growth reflected not only his skill as a sales leader but also his understanding of market evolution in the voice, data, and cloud sectors. Under his leadership, River Networks became a model for agile adaptation in a competitive telecommunications environment.
Stephen’s trajectory continued upward when he joined InterVision Systems in 2020 as a Client Director. In this role, he worked with CIOs and IT leaders across Fortune 5000 companies to design and execute technology roadmaps aligned with long-term strategic outcomes. By leveraging partnerships with global technology leaders like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Stephen helped clients optimize cloud adoption and digital transformation initiatives. His success at InterVision was a testament to his ability to blend technical understanding with executive-level strategy, enabling organizations to realize the right technology, the right premises, and the right operational model for success.
In late 2021, Stephen assumed his current role as Director of Sales at Level365, a Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) provider. His leadership at Level365 has been transformative. He established a standardized sales process rooted in the SPIN Selling and MEDDIC frameworks, introduced a vertical focus on government and education markets that generated over $1 million in annual recurring revenue, and grew the partner channel network from 59 to 166 partners nationwide. Stephen’s data-driven approach to sales and his emphasis on consistent engagement—through webinars, quarterly reviews, and collaborative initiatives—reflect his belief that sustainable growth comes from empowerment and communication, not pressure and metrics alone.
Beyond revenue figures, Stephen’s impact at Level365 is evident in the culture he has cultivated. He is a leader who believes that success begins with people—those who build, sell, support, and advocate for the product. His leadership style combines entrepreneurial agility with structured mentorship, inspiring his team to innovate and perform at their best. By promoting collaboration and transparent communication, Stephen has elevated not only his department’s performance but also the organization’s reputation in the UCaaS industry as a trusted and responsive partner.
Stephen’s professional expertise spans market expansion, revenue growth, compensation planning, and channel sales—yet his real strength lies in connecting strategy with execution. Whether developing channel programs, structuring compensation models, or refining go-to-market strategies, he approaches challenges with both analytical rigor and creative foresight. His AWS Cloud Certification reflects his commitment to continuous learning and technological literacy, ensuring he remains aligned with industry evolution and client expectations in the era of digital transformation.
Outside of his corporate endeavors, Stephen is passionate about mentorship and professional development. Having guided numerous professionals throughout his career, he now seeks to extend that mentorship into board service, where his experience in sales strategy and software models can inform and elevate emerging businesses. He finds fulfillment in helping organizations refine their approach to recurring revenue and in coaching leaders to balance innovation with execution. His thoughtful approach to mentorship reflects both his intellectual curiosity and his belief in giving back to the business community that has shaped his own journey.
Stephen’s personal interests—reading in history, finance, and economics; golfing; and financial trading—reveal a mind that values both precision and perspective. Whether exploring market trends or perfecting his golf swing, he approaches every pursuit with the same discipline and curiosity that define his leadership. For Stephen Howard, success is not a destination but a continuous process of growth, reflection, and reinvention.
Character:
Stephen Howard exemplifies integrity, resilience, and humility in every professional engagement. He leads by example, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to ethical leadership and team empowerment. His character inspires loyalty, respect, and trust among colleagues, clients, and partners alike.
Knowledge:
Stephen’s 22 years in the technology and telecommunications sectors have endowed him with a deep understanding of sales ecosystems, market dynamics, and customer behavior. His expertise bridges traditional and emerging technologies, ensuring that strategic decisions are always informed and forward-thinking. He continuously expands his knowledge base through professional certifications, mentorship, and engagement with evolving market trends.
Strategic:
Stephen’s strategic mindset enables him to see the full picture—balancing short-term objectives with long-term sustainability. His ability to identify opportunities, build scalable processes, and align teams around shared goals has consistently driven measurable success. At every stage of his career, he has demonstrated that effective strategy is not just about planning—it’s about disciplined execution and visionary leadership.
Communication:
Stephen’s communication style is grounded in authenticity and clarity. He fosters open dialogue, ensuring that teams remain connected, informed, and inspired. Whether presenting to executives, mentoring colleagues, or negotiating with partners, his ability to articulate complex ideas simply and persuasively remains one of his defining strengths.
