As with any successful businesses, experience and determination are two of the key building blocks. At American Internet Services (AIS) our success has come from combining those two critical elements with a third – a love of the business. It’s simple human nature - if you can combine something you enjoy (technology) with your career, success will naturally follow. AIS' management team enjoys this synergy. With years of business & Data Center operations experience at the ready, AIS’ leadership team continues to deliver top quality Data Center and Colocation solutions year after year.

Alessandra Lezama, CEO of AIS, has worked in the telecommunications and data center technology sector for more than 17 years. She is responsible for overseeing the operation of the business, which includes sale of services, channel development, and customer support to all of AIS’ corporate customers. Prior to joining AIS, Lezama was a sales director for a colocation subsidiary of Allegiance Telecom. She was also the western regional sales manager for Advance Radio Telecom (ART); a director of global sales and marketing for Comsat International and held various business development positions with Alcatel Telecom. Lezama received her bachelor’s degree and a Masters of Business Administration, specializing in high technology, from University of El Escorial in Madrid, Spain.

As AIS’ Chief Technology Officer, Richard Sears manages all technology aspects of AIS’ data centers. His responsibilities include supervising network engineers, programmers and the technical support department, as well as identifying and implementing the latest technologies to keep AIS on the cutting-edge of data communications and Internet technology. His work ensures AIS colocation clients receive maximum uptime, reliability and network speed. In addition, Sears manages AIS’ internal voice and data networks and assists the CEO in evaluating acquisitions from an engineering and technical standpoint. His engineering Cisco certifications include CCNA, CCNP, CCDA, CCDP, CWLSS, CWLDS, and is certified in Asterisk dCAP and F5 Systems. A retired US Marine, Sears has a Commercial Pilots license, is a certified flight instructor and has a private pilot’s helicopter license. Sears founded WebCC, an Internet Service Provider, in 1994 and was the President of the company until it was acquired by AIS in 2000.

Joining AIS in 2009, David Jefferis brings over twenty years experience in technologies and telecommunications. Prior to AIS, Jefferis served nine years as Vice President of Finance at Telecom New Zealand, an ISP and New Zealand's second largest mobile operator, where he worked closely with the board of directors and their international finance group. His financial controls and analysis supported TNZ's growth from $103 million to $250 million. In addition, Jefferis was the chairman for the National Telecommunications Credit Group, a forum of over 40 telecommunications companies throughout the United States. Jefferis’ previous experience also includes over 12 years at Media One, a cable modem technology provider.

Frank Gaff brings over thirty years of experience in IT data center and telecommunication operations experience to AIS. Prior to joining AIS, Gaff held IT leadership positions at Intuit, Inc., including responsibility for day-to-day colocation operations, Change Management, Network Operations and Engineering of Intuit’s major data centers in San Diego, Plano, TX and Reno, NV. In addition, Gaff was responsible for coordinating the strategic direction and design of Intuit’s Quincy, WA high density data center. Prior to Intuit, Gaff held various IT leadership positions including Vice President, IT Operations and Telecommunications for the American Broadcasting Television Network and Vice President, Distributed Systems for First Interstate Bank. Gaff holds a BS in Business Management from Farleigh Dickinson University and an MBA from Fordham University.