Wright Thurston - California

Chairman of the Board

California

Telecommunications

Greater Good Foundation

21-50

Wright Thurston currently works as founder and Chairman of the Board of Elevate, Inc., an integrated broadband, entertainment, security, and mobile services provider. As a member of the San Clemente, California, firm\'s executive team, Wright Thurston notably led Elevate\'s 2011 transition into a publicly traded company. In addition to connectivity services, the firm offers customers access to dedicated technical support through its \"Nerd Alert\" subscription packages.

Wright Thurston began his entrepreneurial career at age 18 with the global firm Melaleuca, Inc. Combining strengths in marketing and business operations, he successfully recruited and led a team of 1,000 distributors in direct sales activities. From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Thurston served as President and cofounder of the retail wireless phone distributor TW Wireless, a company that he rapidly expanded to include several retail locations and approximately 120 independent contractors throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Selling TW Wireless to OmniServe-Wireless in late 1999, Mr. Thurston next established Future Phones Inc., an Internet-based direct fulfillment cellular firm that operated in 36 states across the country. He recruited and employed a sales staff of nearly 2,000, with the firm representing the largest independent outside sales force for VoiceStream Wireless (now T-Mobile USA, Inc.).

In 2002, Wright Thurston entered the home security sector, establishing Firstline Security. The firm expanded rapidly, earning distinction from the National Alarm Computer Center as Fastest Growing Alarm Company in the Nation in 2002 and 2003. Three years later, Firstline qualified for the Inc. magazine top 500 listing, earning a number-11 ranking in the security sector and reaching 280 overall. The firm maintained a staff of 1,200 full time employees and independent sales representatives at the time. These achievements gained Mr. Thurston 2007 recognition as a finalist for Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Since founding his current company in 2008, Mr. Thurston has assisted in building an extended network of customers throughout California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Minnesota, Utah, and Arizona. With a focus on family and community in his personal life, he enjoys basketball, tennis, and surfing in his free time.