Management Team
MEET OUR TEAM.
With decades of experience across many key industries and sectors, the 1623 Farnam leadership team is represented by some of the most respected and trusted leaders in the industry.
Bill Severn serves as CEO and President of 1623 Farnam and Executive Vice President of the BERKS Group, where he has spent 25 years shaping the company’s leadership in broadband and digital infrastructure. With a career spanning fiber networks, cable operations, cloud services and mission-critical data centers, Bill is known for building high-performing organizations and guiding them through transformational growth.
He spent more than 20 years leading broadband operations, most notably as COO of NPG Cable, where the company earned Cable Operator of the Year in 2009. Bill was also named one of the industry’s Top 35 Leaders in 2010.
Shifting into the data center space 14 years ago, Bill developed and operated two facilities in Northwest Missouri through Echo Cloud Solutions with a successful exit in 2015. He led a M&A acquisition of Online Tech in 2012 and a subsequent exit in 2018. At 1623 Farnam, Bill led strategic M&A initiatives that expanded the BERKS Group’s digital infrastructure portfolio.
Bill is also deeply committed to community leadership, having served on more than seven nonprofit boards, including as chair of the Chamber of Commerce and United Way. He currently serves on a regional bank board and the Board of Governors for Missouri Western State University. He is also a recognized industry speaker and contributing author of the Greener Data book series.
Eric Flock has over 15 years of telecommunications and data center experience. Eric’s responsibilities include oversight of data center infrastructure and performance, as well as project management for customer transitions and service orders. Eric brings a wide variety of skills to 1623 Farnam and to our customers, including networking equipment installation, fiber optic services, and UPS and generator back-up systems. Our clients work directly with Eric to ensure that all technical needs are addressed promptly and accurately. Eric has achieved CDCTP certification.
Matt Reed has more than 20 years of leadership experience in the telecommunications industry in operations, network engineering and wholesale carrier sales. At 1623 Farnam, his focus is educating businesses on the strategic value of connecting to the facility and how its assets can enhance their operations. Matt’s hands-on field work, including network installation and engineering, gives him an insider’s perspective and understanding of the technology and how customers can leverage it to meet their needs. Prior to joining 1623 Farnam, Matt had a long, prosperous tenure with Great Plains Communications, where he most recently served as senior account director for wholesale carrier services.
Matt is a proud parent of five children, and while not at work, he enjoys spending time doing all things outdoors, including hunting, fishing and golf.
Sue Debenito has a diverse range of managerial and financial accounting experience with the past 10 years in accounting for Data Centers. As Chief Accounting Officer of 1623 Farnam, Sue has implemented the Accounts Receivable and Purchasing Functions, accounted for the acquisition and sale of entities, accounted for the major construction of data facilities, including the record keeping for sales tax incentives. Sue holds a BSBA in Accounting from Missouri Western State University and an MBA from Baker University.