N. Edward Birchfield, Jr. is managing director and founder of Eton Partners, LLC. Mr. Birchfield is a successful entrepreneur with experience in founding and growing technology companies -- from early stage start-ups to emerging growth companies and more mature firms. This expertise and track record provides Mr. Birchfield a broad perspective when evaluating management talent.

Prior to establishing Eton Partners, Mr. Birchfield was a founder of Atlantis Technology, Inc., which assisted emerging technology firms with the formation of business, sales and marketing plans, strategic alliances, joint ventures, and the securing of OEM contracts.

Mr. Birchfield co-founded ADTRAN, Inc. (NASDAQ - ADTN), a designer and manufacturer of transmission equipment for the offering of digital data circuits, T1 data circuits, ISDN data circuits, and Switched 56 data circuits, to the Regional Bell Operating Companies and Independent Telephone Companies in the United States and Canada. Under Mr. Birchfield’s leadership, ADTRAN’s sales organization grew to more than $70 million. ADTRAN was recognized by Inc. magazine in 1992 and 1993 as one of the “500 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the United States.” ADTRAN had an initial public offering in August 1994 and currently trades with a market capitalization in excess of $2 billion.

Mr. Birchfield has an extensive background with telecommunications companies. He was responsible for all national account sales for Universal Data Systems, a subsidiary of Motorola, Inc. He also held management positions at Western Electric Co. / AT&T Network Systems and worked for Northern Telecom, Inc. in the Research Triangle Park, where he was involved in the U.S. design, manufacturing, sales and marketing of various central office switching equipment.

Mr. Birchfield earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia and a bachelor of science degree from Auburn University. He has served on the Board of the American Cancer Society, Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, and Rotary International.