Executive Management

Bernie Dancel Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

Bernie Dancel is chief executive officer and chairman of Ascend One Corporation, the parent company to a family of financial businesses that includes CareOne Services Inc. and 3C Incorporated and Amerix Corporation. Amerix is the nation's leading technology and service provider to the debt management industry. CareOne Services Inc. provides an umbrella of diverse services that benefit and help consumers save money and get out of debt.   Dancel has 17 years of experience in the debt management and debt education industry.   Prior to leading Amerix, Dancel started National Credit Counseling Services in 1992, a nonprofit credit counseling agency, which later became Genus Credit Management. Under Dancel's leadership, Genus Credit Management grew to be the largest non-profit credit counseling agency in the nation.   Dancel launched Amerix Corporation in 1997. Dancel left Genus to focus on developing Amerix's technology and service platforms to serve other credit counseling agencies. It is now the nation's largest provider of technology and processing to the debt management industry.   He is recognized for his innovative strategies in marketing, customer service and technology that have become standard in the debt management industry. Dancel was the first to raise national consumer awareness of alternatives to bankruptcy as well as offer multiple debt solutions to best fit consumers' various financial needs. His company was the first to offer 24/7 phone service and Internet based services to consumers. It was the first to provide technology applications, payment processing and data processing to non-profit credit counseling agencies, so that cost efficiency and scale could be shared by industry players. Dancel also oversaw the creation of the revolutionary Debt Repayment Program (DRP), which offers consumer services beyond a DMP.   Dancel has been recognized by the Howard County Economic Development Authority as one of the 50 largest employers in the area. He also received Maryland's Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise Award.   Ascend One Corporation employs nearly 400 team members and is recognized as one of the 26 Best Places to Work in Baltimore Magazine's July 2007 edition. The company also received this distinction in the magazine's March 2005 edition. The company also received the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Workplace Excellence Seal of Approval from The Maryland Work-Life Alliance, The Chesapeake Human Resources Association's 2003 James W. Rouse Diversity Award and the Howard County Public Schools' Superintendent's Award 2003.   Dancel has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Central Maryland, Howard Community College Educational Foundation, Columbia Festival of the Arts and the National Foundation of Credit Counseling.   Dancel currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Howard Bank and Howard County Public School Education Foundation.. He is one of the founding members of the Columbia Ravens and is the Chairman of the Dancel Family Foundation. Dancel is also a supporter of the YMCA of Central Maryland.

Mike Croxson President of CareOne Services Inc. President of Amerix Corporation COO of Ascend One Corporation

Mike Croxson was named president of CareOne Services Inc. in 2005. He joined Ascend One Corporation, parent company of CareOne Services Inc. and Amerix Corporation, in 1999 as chief human resources officer and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2000. Croxson was then named president of Amerix in 2002. He continues to serve in these roles.   With nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Croxson is responsible for all facets of day-to-day business operations, ensuring that the financial fitness coaching offered by CareOne Services Inc. truly provides the support and expertise consumers need to be successful. He is focused on direct consumer and business client services, technology and process management, human resources and organization development.   Prior to joining Amerix, Croxson worked at Synovus Financial Corporation in Columbus, GA, where he was senior vice president of human resources.   Croxson earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and completed advanced studies at Duke University.   Croxson currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Maryland Works. He is Chairman of the 2008 Start! Howard County Heart Walk. Croxson is also a Trustee of the Columbia Foundation and serves on the Investment Committee. He is a member of the Board of Directors for St. John's Parish Day School and is Sr. Warden of St. John's Episcopal Church.

Bob Miller Chief Financial Officer

Bob Miller is chief financial officer of Ascend One Corporation. Miller spent eighteen years at AT&T, the last eight of which were at AT&T Universal Card Services (UCS), a credit card issuer. At UCS Miller held the positions of vice president and treasurer and vice president of finance. He was responsible for all treasury and controller functions.   Miller developed the credit card company's original business case in the late 1980's. In addition, he led the company's initial public securitization program. As a founding member of Universal Card, he was instrumental in the development of quality initiatives, which contributed to its Malcolm-Baldridge award selection in the early 1990s.   With a MBA in finance from Columbia University and a BA in economics, Miller brings career experience to Ascend One from positions in manufacturing, telecommunications and financial services.   Bob served on the Board of Directors for Humanim from May, 2001 through June, 2006. He is currently a member and volunteer of Mended Hearts, a non-profit all volunteer cardiac support organization.

Bob Riess Chief Information Officer

Bob Riess has served as chief information officer for Ascend One Corporation for the past six years. His duties include responsibility for all technology-related activities, including software development, network engineering, data base administration, telecommunications and helpdesk, as well as oversight of the enterprise Project Management Office.   Before joining Ascend One, Riess served as President of Global Capital Markets Corporation, a technology consulting company delivering software and services to developing capital markets around the world.   Prior to that, Riess served the NASD and Nasdaq for nearly 15 years in a variety of positions in product development, software engineering, systems architecture, and international market operations. At Nasdaq, his career culminated in the establishment of Nasdaq International Market Initiatives (NIMI), providing assistance to developing markets and serving as President of NIMI, a corporate subsidiary of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.   Riess is a graduate of New York University, and holds a patent as co-inventor of an automated bond trading system.   Bob is a founding member of the Baltimore CIO Board. He also is a member of the Howard/Montgomery County Technology Executives Forum.

Steve Fragapane Chief Marketing Officer

Steve Fragapane joined Ascend One Corporation in November 2000. He currently serves as executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Ascend One Corporation and president/director of 3C Incorporated.   Before joining Ascend One, Fragapane worked as an auditor with Coopers and Lybrand where he earned his CPA license. He then spent twenty years with PHH Corporation exclusively in its relocation services division. At PHH, he held various roles in accounting, planning, product development, marketing, operations and general management. Fragapane eventually became executive vice president of the worldwide relocation division and a member of the parent company's executive committee reporting directly to the CEO.   In 1995 he left PHH to pursue a career as a CEO coach and worked with several area CEOs including Raul Fernandez of the very successful internet consulting firm, Proxicom, in Reston, VA.   Fragapane is a graduate of Pace University in New York.   Steve is a member of the World Presidents' Organization, Chesapeake Chapter. He served as Chapter Treasurer from 2002 through 2006.

Jennifer Realo Executive Vice President

Jenny Realo joined Ascend One in February 1999 as Vice President and Managing Director of Quality. She has held a variety of positions within the organization including Vice President/Senior Director of Human Resources, Vice President/Senior Director of E-Commerce, Vice President/ Senior Director of Amerix Corporation's Operations and CareOne Services's Market Management. In her current role, Realo's responsibilities include overseeing product development, online channel management, customer experience, brand management and customer communications.   Before joining Ascend One, Realo was employed by the St. Paul Companies in Baltimore, MD for nearly seven years. She served as the Manager for Technology & Business Development for the Family and Business Insurance Group and was also a member of the Acquisition Task Force. Prior to that, Realo served as a senior auditor for the Commercial and Finance Division of Arthur Andersen & Co. in Washington, DC.   Realo attended the University of Richmond and received a B.S., B.A. in Accounting. She earned an MBA from Loyola College. Realo is a Certified Public Accountant. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Caroline Center for three years.

John Mill CFO of CareOne Services, Inc. Treasurer of Ascend One Corporation

John Mill has managed business and financial strategies for Ascend One for nearly 10 years. He is responsible for leading the corporate financial planning processes, analysis, accounting, cash management, financing, purchasing, and risk management functions.   Before joining Ascend One, Mill served as Senior Financial Director for AT&T Universal Card Services for seven years. In this capacity, he provided financial leadership and managed financial processes within the multi-billion dollar credit card organization that won the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award.   Prior to that, Mill worked at AT&T for 10 years. He held several positions in financial management in various corporate and manufacturing divisions.   Mill earned his undergraduate degree in Accounting from Muhlenberg College and completed an MBA at Lehigh University. He served on the Board of Directors for the Howard County Academy of Finance from 2002 to 2006. Mill currently serves on the Board of New Life Community Church in Columbia, MD.