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Darrell J. Mays

Managing Partner | SPAC Operations Group

Navigation Capital Partners

Atlanta, GA, USA

Darrell Mays

RockWood Advisory Partners

Darrell’s Biography

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Darrell J. Mays is a Managing Partner of the SPAC Operations Group at Navigation Capital Partners. He is a highly respected investments and telecommunications executive and, through an expertise developed over more than two decades, has emerged as a leader in investing in the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) industry.

The SPAC Operations Group makes equity investments in Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs). The Group employs an innovative 'SPAC-in-a-Box' approach, which reverses the SPAC process by seeking out CEOs and business opportunities independent of the IPO process. Also, with its 'SPAC-on-the-Shelf' approach, investments are created and ready for implementation when a management team is identified to pursue a transaction. This simplifies the process and allows the team to move forward immediately after acquisition.

Darrell also serves as CEO & Chairman of AVCtechnologies, a company he co-founded. AVCtechnologies is a leading cloud communications provider that develops innovative and manageable cloud-based UCaaS, Cybersecurity and IT solutions for... Darrell J. Mays is a Managing Partner of the SPAC Operations Group at Navigation Capital Partners. He is a highly respected investments and telecommunications executive and, through an expertise developed over more than two decades, has emerged as a leader in investing in the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) industry.

The SPAC Operations Group makes equity investments in Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs). The Group employs an innovative 'SPAC-in-a-Box' approach, which reverses the SPAC process by seeking out CEOs and business opportunities independent of the IPO process. Also, with its 'SPAC-on-the-Shelf' approach, investments are created and ready for implementation when a management team is identified to pursue a transaction. This simplifies the process and allows the team to move forward immediately after acquisition.

Darrell also serves as CEO & Chairman of AVCtechnologies, a company he co-founded. AVCtechnologies is a leading cloud communications provider that develops innovative and manageable cloud-based UCaaS, Cybersecurity and IT solutions for enterprise customers.

Prior to AVC, Darrell founded nsoro, LLC, a provider of turnkey telecommunications infrastructure services. He oversaw rapid growth as CEO, with revenues reaching approximately $70M in under five years. In 2008, nsoro was acquired by MasTec, Inc., with Darrell appointed as President. By 2016, his final year with MasTec, revenues increased to over $2.3B.

In 2005, Darrell founded the nsoro Foundation, which provides resources to young adults aged out of the foster care system to pursue a postsecondary education. To date, nsoro has raised more than $4.4M in scholarships for 346 students. In 2019, the foundation was named Foundation of the Year by Rising in Community Excellence (RICE), a group that honors individuals and organizations that work to improve lives throughout Atlanta.

Darrell holds a BA in Business Administration from Georgia State University. moreless

Darrell’s Newsfeed

Simply Buckhead

Starfish Ball Boosts College Goals of Nsoro Foundation

The nsoro Educational Foundation, founded by Darrell Mays, is gearing up for its 16th annual Starfish Ball, which will be held on January 22nd at the St. Regis Atlanta. All proceeds from the event will benefit the foundation’s scholarship program.

AVCtechnologies Announces Strategic Realignment in Senior Management and Planned Debt Reduction

Current AVCtechnologies’ Director and Navigation Capital Partners Managing Partner, Darrell Mays, will become the CEO of AVCtechnologies. Mr. Mays is deeply familiar with all aspects of the company’s strategy and operations, as co-founder and former CEO.

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Darrell’s Background

Navigation Capital Partners

Managing Partner | SPAC Operations Group

2019 - Present

Atlanta, GA, USA

The SPAC Operations Group at Navigation Capital focuses on generating outsized risk-adjusted returns by making equity investments in Special Purpose Acquisition Companies ("SPACs").

AVCtechnologies

Co-founder & CEO

2016 - Present

Houston, TX, USA

AVCtechnologies is a leader in developing comprehensive and innovative cloud-based UCaaS, Cybersecurity and IT solutions. It was born out of the completion of a 2020 merger between Pensare Acquisition Corp. and Stratos Management (Computex). Darrel previously served as CEO of Pensare since 2016. Darrell served as CEO from 2016-2020, and again assumed the role of CEO in 2021.

Pensare Acquisition Corp.

Chief Executive Officer

2016 - Apr 2020

Atlanta, GA, USA

Pensare Acquisition Corp. was a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, acquisition or similar business combination in the telecommunications, media, and technology (TMT) industries. After a business combination with Stratos Management (Computex), Pensare changed its name to American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Inc.

Mastec Network Solutions

President

2008 - 2016

Coral Gables, FL, USA

MasTec Network Solutions is a global leader in telecommunications infrastructure services and solutions and a leading specialty contractor for communications, utilities and governments.

nsoro, LLC

Founder & CEO

2003 - 2008

Atlanta, GA, USA

nsoro, LLC was a turnkey telecommunications infrastructure services company specializing in wireless infrastructure management and construction. In 2008, nsoro was acquired by MasTec Network Solutions.

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Darrell’s Gallery

Darrell Mays receives an award at nsoro event

Darrell Mays and Jerome Bettis during an interview

Darrell Mays accepting an ward at nsoro fundraiser

Darrell Mays and nsoro win foundation of the year at the RICE awards

Darrell Mays giving a talk at a charity event

Current Board Positions

AVCtechnologies

Chairman

2020 - Present

Houston, TX, USA

AVCtechnologies is a leader in developing comprehensive and innovative cloud-based UCaaS, Cybersecurity and IT solutions. Darrell also previously served as Executive Vice Chairman.

Previous Board Positions

Loyola School

Board of Trustees

New York, NY, USA

Loyola School is an independent co-educational Jesuit school located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Its mission is to foster an environment where learning is a transformative process and where individual talents are used both to grow in personal worth and to serve others.

Philanthropy

The nsoro Foundation

Founder & Chairman

2005 - Present

Atlanta, GA, USA

The nsoro Foundation was established to ensure that all young adults who have aged out of the foster care system have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive and become educated, confident, self-sustaining, and contributing members of society.

The Carter Center

Board of Councilors

Atlanta, GA, USA

Founded in 1987, the Board of Councilors is a leadership advisory group that serves to advance the understanding of and support for The Carter Center and its activities among private-sector opinion leaders in Atlanta and Georgia.

Media

AVCtechnologies Announces Significant Projected Revenue Growth of Kandy, its Cloud Communications Platform

Quoted

Dec 2021

Darrell Mays, CEO of AVCtechnologies, is quoted in this article about growth projections for Kandy, as well as AVC's ability to gain market share as a premier white-label cloud communications provider, notably its ability to provide services direct to enterprise capabilities.

Transforming the Investments Industry

Feature

Jan 2021

Atlanta, GA, USA

Darrell Mays, along with fellow Navigation Capital colleagues Jack Sawyer, Lawrence Mock, David Panton and Robert Willis, were featured by Atlanta Magazine in its Atlanta 500 issue for their work in the Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) space. The featured article also discussed the creation of the SPAC Operations Group at Navigation Capital Partners and its early investments.

Closer Look: NFL Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis Lends Support To Foundation Providing Educational Resources To Youth

Interview

Feb 2020

Atlanta, GA, USA

Darrell Mays, founder of The nsoro Foundation, NFL hall of famer Jerome Bettis, and Riheem Jefferson, a nsoro scholar, join “Closer Look with Rose Scott” to discuss the mission of the foundation.

The nsoro Foundation Raises $1.3 M For Scholarships

Profile

Feb 2020

Atlanta, GA, USA

Darrell Mays was on hand for the celebration of nsoro Foundation's 15 years of service and raising of $1.3 million for aspiring collegians aging out of the foster care system. The distinguished guests were nsoro's twenty-nine college graduates from ten states across the country.

How I Did It: A Discussion about Building & Selling a Business with Darrell Mays

Interview

Nov 2016

Atlanta, GA, USA

In this interview with Trusted Counsel, Darrell Mays talks about his background in telecommunications, the process of founding nsoro, LLC and its eventual sale to MasTec, and his experience at the helm of MasTec.

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Awards & Endorsements

The RICE Awards

Foundation of the Year

2019

Atlanta, GA, USA

The Rising in Community Excellence (RICE) Award is given to individuals, businesses, and charities that demonstrate a keen awareness about community needs and step into the fray, lending a hand and making things better.

Press Releases

‘Super Soaker’ Inventor Joins Rare Quadruple Play in SPAC Market

Jun 2021

New York, NY, USA

Navigation Capital Partners unveiled plans for a quartet of new blank-check companies, in the latest sign that repeat issuers’ enthusiasm for the SPAC market remains unabated.

AVCtechnologies Completes Strategic Acquisition of Ribbon's Kandy Communications

Press Release

Dec 2020

Ribbon Communications Inc. and AVCtechnologies, Inc. announced they have completed the previously announced acquisition of Kandy Communications by AVCtechnologies. Kandy complements AVC's April 2020 acquisition of Stratos Management Systems, Inc. (dba Computex Technology Solutions) by providing a full suite of UCaaS, CCaaS and CPaaS products to serve the growing cloud communications market.

Darrell’s Education

Georgia State University

BA | Business Administration