David Birnbaum – Founder
David's experience with data and voice networking began in 1988 at New Mexico State University, an original ARPANET participant, where he worked in the University Computer Center as an undergraduate. Although ultimately receiving BS degrees in both Chemistry and Economics, David soon discovered that he preferred to spend his time either solving computer problems or using computers to solve other kinds of problems, instead of working in the chemistry lab. After graduating in 1990, David moved to New York City where he spent the next seven years in senior technical positions for several Wall Street firms, including Lehman Brothers, Morgan Stanley, and ING Barings Bank, as architect of their UNIX-based software distribution systems and Cisco networking solutions.
David left Wall Street in 1996 to start his own company, Chelsea Networks, specializing in software development, technical services, and networking operations. Chelsea Networks set up its technical operations within the network facility of what was then known as Public Interest, where he developed a strong relationship with Steve Gelmis, then the owner and CEO of Public Interest. David, through Chelsea Networks, developed the core billing, tax compliance, customer database, and network monitoring software currently used by PINS.
In 2002, David formally joined Public Interest as Steve’s partner in order to develop and deploy next-generation telephone and data services for the Public Interest client base and was named President and CEO of the company in 2005 when Steve retired.
Also under David's direction, in 2011 the "PINS" name and new logo were copyrighted, the website updated to reflect these changes, and the public face of the company known as "Public Interest" was changed to "PINS".
David is an accomplished chef and devoted Ultimate Frisbee league player, although laying out for the disc is becoming less and less attractive as he gets older. David and his wife, Jennifer, and two children live close to PINS in a Chelsea loft.
Michael Lavelle – Senior Vice President
Mike's phone career began in 1972 when he joined the old Bell System as a telephone operator while earning his BS degree at Villanova University. For the following thirteen years he held various positions with Bell and AT&T in customer service, sales, engineering, training and management, specializing in delivering complex telecommunications systems to large business clients.
After the break-up of the Bell System and a brief stint at Wang Laboratories, Mike came to New York to serve as the general manager of a not-for-profit telecommunications collective founded with seed investments from several foundations interested in making technology more accessible to their grantees. Thousands of organizations joined to take advantage of collective purchasing power and the technical expertise the staff provided in navigating the new competitive telecommunications landscape.
It was then that Mike started collaborating with Steve Gelmis at Public Interest on various projects for their joint clientele. In 1992, Mike joined Public Interest, providing support for their network customers and expanding the client base. Mike currently oversees network installations, client billing systems and is responsible for overall customer service.
Mike lives in the Tudor City neighborhood of Manhattan and truly loves life in New York City, where he can often be seen walking Max to work or to the dog run, or visiting his grandson William in Brooklyn.
