The Freedom Staff
Over 30 years of experience and acute global market awareness.
Gerardine Gonzalez-Lugo
Administrative Assistant
Ext: 226
DID: 1-727-835-1428
JOSHUA DEHOET
Manager, Business Development A&D
Ext: 261
DID: 1-813-692-7743
Nicholas Van Burk
Software development manager
Ext: 220
DID: 1-727-835-1425
CARL DEPAOLO
CEO/President
Carl founded Freedom in 1999, along with his partners, following a successful career in sales and management at two of the world’s largest independent distributors of their time. Today, Carl has the benefit of 37 years as one of the industry’s top performers in sales and management, and two and half decades as CEO/President of Freedom. He believes in surrounding himself with excellence and experts in their field, as well as the simple philosophy of always putting the customer, the employee, and the company before profit. “The biggest perks of this job is all the people whose lives I get to be a part of, customer or employee. Suddenly realizing the person you’re talking with, you’ve been talking to since the early 1990’s, is a big deal! Says something. I take that very seriously. Having the benefit of taking part in a young employee’s journey towards success is more rewarding then any paycheck.
CRYSTAL DEPAOLO
Chief Marketing Officer
One of the Founders of Freedom, Crystal started her career in Electronics Distribution in 1992 in Sales and Purchasing. Crystal plays many roles at Freedom, most importantly as our marketing expert. From Special Client Services and Customer, Public, & Employee relations, to promotional supplies and Branding, Crystal ensures everyone involved with Freedom’s success is left with a genuine and lasting impression. Crystal goes above and beyond to make certain our customers, employees, and business partners know they are part of the Freedom Family.
JOHN MAGEE
President of Sales & Operations
As President, John is responsible for sales and operational initiatives that are meant to enhance customer engagement, position Freedom for long term profitable growth, and support the success of Freedom’s customers worldwide. His experience in developing sales professionals and sales management is important to Freedom’s continued growth strategy. Mr. Magee brings over 30 years of electronics distribution experience from both the franchised and independent segments. He has serviced customer and supplier relationships throughout his career and brings a flexible, customer service attitude to all Freedom’s constituents. Mr. Magee is a graduate of Rutgers University with a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Philosophy. He was a resident of the Philadelphia area until re-locating to Tampa in 2015.
andy barnett
VP of business development
Andy joins Freedom USA as Vice President of Business Development, where he is responsible for driving revenue growth, forging strategic partnerships, and identifying new market opportunities. With over 15 years of experience leading high-performance teams at Arrow Electronics, Andy is adept at developing and executing business strategies that align with client objectives, leveraging emerging technologies and industry trends. A passionate advocate for the impact of technology, Andy is driven by his desire to help clients bring innovative solutions to market that positively affect lives around the globe.
Christopher Depaolo
Vice President of Sales
Christopher DePaolo serves as Vice President of Sales for Freedom, where he oversees the company’s purchasing and excess initiatives. Since joining Freedom in 2015, Chris has played an integral role in expanding the company’s customer base, strengthening supplier relationships, and helping customers navigate an increasingly complex global electronics supply chain. As Vice President of Sales, Chris is responsible for driving sales strategy, developing the next generation of sales professionals, and ensuring Freedom continues to deliver exceptional service and supply chain solutions to customers worldwide.
blake payne
Director of Finance
Blake joined Freedom in 2021, bringing extensive expertise in streamlining operational processes, implementing internal controls, and introducing new financial process software’s. He believes that the accounting department’s customers include both internal team members and external clients.
Jason Appleby
Director of Sales Operations
Jason Appleby is the Director of Sales Operations at Freedom, where his mission is to drive initiatives for our company’s continued growth and evolution. Throughout his 19-year career at Freedom, Jason has held every major sales role, giving him a unique perspective on every stage of the customer and sales experience.
Today, Jason focuses on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Freedom’s sales organization. He leads initiatives that streamline processes, develop innovative tools, and enhance the speed, accuracy, and overall value delivered to customers. Passionate about continuous improvement, Jason is always looking for ways to help Freedom anticipate customer needs, solve challenges before they arise, and create a better experience for both customers and employees.
Rich Bailey
Director of Warehouse Operations
Rich Bailey is the Director of Warehouse Operations with over a decade of experience in operations management. He joined the company in 2022, bringing with him seven years of prior ops management experience that has informed his approach to building structured, accountable, and high-performing teams. In his current
role, Rich oversees day-to-day warehouse operations across inspection and testing functions, with a strong emphasis on team development, process
improvement, and ensuring the quality and integrity of electronic components moving through the distribution pipeline.
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I absolutely love working with Freedom USA. Katelynn has been a saving grace with helping get material delivered immediately to help avoid line shortages. Katelyyn has been very quick and responsive on every single request submitted. We will continue to send more business. Keep up the Superb Work!!
Freedomsales support very well for Supply Chain Management (including cost-saving, short lead-time with good quality)
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- 813-855-2671
- sales@freedomusa.com
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