James “JB” Brannan is the Director of Cisco Validated at Cisco Systems. He leads a team that is responsible for designing, installing, testing and documenting validated solutions across the portfolio of Cisco products. With over 30 years of industry experience, JB has been active in market segments of Wireless, Cable and Information Technology. His background is in sales and marketing of access products in global markets, and his passion is to evangelize new technologies for his customers. Prior to Cisco, he worked as the Director of International Sales for a technology startup based in Atlanta, Georgia. JB got his start as a Hardware Engineer for Hayes Microcomputer products, maker of the famed Hayes Modems. JB holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA in International Business from Georgia State University. JB currently resides in Gainesville, GA with his wife and eight (yes, eight) children. When he is not working, he enjoys coaching youth athletics and brewing beer, though not at the same time.