As Chief Executive Officer of Vernonburg Group, he directs the firm’s mission to close the digital divide globally through scalable broadband infrastructure planning and digital opportunity initiatives. He has worked with small Internet service providers (ISPs) on US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)-funded feasibility studies in India, South Africa, and Nigeria. Prior to founding Vernonburg Group, Paul created and led Microsoft’s Airband Initiative, a multi-stakeholder program that expanded Internet access to underserved communities in over 30 countries, combining fixed wireless and fiber broadband deployment with enabling policy and investment partnerships.

Paul’s expertise spans regulatory reform, rural connectivity models, spectrum policy, and broadband funding strategies. He has advised governments, multilateral development organizations, and telecommunications providers on designing inclusive broadband strategies that unlock public-private investment and deliver measurable digital inclusion outcomes. A frequent speaker and recognized thought leader in broadband development, Paul brings deep technical acumen and high-level stakeholder management experience that strengthen Vernonburg Group’s strategic engagements, including his leadership in National Telecommunications and Information Administration and U.S. Department of  Agriculture-funded broadband initiatives across the United States and abroad.

Over the past decade, Caroline has worked across sectors and geographies with government agencies, institutional investors, multilateral institutions, startups, and multinational corporations. Her experience spans blended finance, strategic partnerships, impact investing, and digital infrastructure across emerging markets.  Caroline holds an MBA from the University of Vermont.

She leads the firm’s client services related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies, policy analysis, grant management, and program management. She has assisted ISPs in India and South Africa scale their operations through USTDA projects. Breese brings 15+ years of experience in designing and implementing global strategies and programs at the nexus of technology and social impact to tackle intractable problems of poverty and inequity. Prior to joining Vernonburg Group, Breese worked for Microsoft’s strategic initiative on digital opportunity (Airband Initiative), managing a portfolio of grants to organizations focused on advancing access to affordable internet and computers across the US.

She also previously led partnerships and strategic planning at the Digital Impact Alliance at the United Nations Foundation, managed global digital health programs at PATH, and served as a trustee and treasurer of the Longview Foundation for US education in world affairs and international understanding. She has worked on initiatives across the US, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, India, and the Middle East, and is proficient in Spanish. Breese holds an MPA from the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, and a BA in International Relations from Tufts University.  

She has worked with ISPs in South Africa and India on USTDA-funded feasibility studies and produced various development and social impact reports as part of these studies.  

Nora has a BA in International Affairs from George Washington University with a concentration in International Politics and minors in Spanish and Political Science. Nora spent an immersive study abroad semester in Madrid, Spain where she was able to practice her cross-cultural skills and conversational Spanish.