Mark Garner Joins SurgePays as Executive Vice President to Drive Growth

SurgePays Welcomes Mark Garner as Executive Vice President

Bartlett, TN – January 24, 2025 – SurgePays, Inc. (Nasdaq: SURG), a technology-driven telco company, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Mark Garner as its new Executive Vice President. Garner, who has amassed nearly three decades of operational experience in the telecom sphere, will play a crucial role in implementing the company’s ambitious growth strategy.

Since Garner's initial position as Vice President of Technology at SurgePays in 2019, he has made significant strides in enhancing the company's operational frameworks and technological capabilities. His promotion reflects the company's commitment to leveraging his extensive expertise to further solidify its market position.

In his new role, Garner will oversee the integration of various SurgePays platforms, including SurgePays, Shockwave, and ClearLine, fortifying collaborations with wireless and fintech partners worldwide. He will also work closely with internal teams spanning across sales, marketing, programming, and accounting to ensure alignment with both immediate and long-term objectives.

Brian Cox, Chairman and CEO of SurgePays, commented on Garner's appointment: "Mark's strategic vision and operational insights are essential as we scale our business and pursue transformative goals. His extensive experience—including the launch of prepaid wireless initiatives—makes him an indispensable addition to our leadership team. He will also spearhead our integration with AT&T and lead the debut of our prepaid wireless brand, LinkUp Mobile."

Before joining SurgePays, Garner held the position of Vice President of Operations at ECS Prepaid, where he significantly contributed to developing services for merchant partners, covering prepaid cellular top-ups and financial solutions. The acquisition of ECS Prepaid in 2019 expanded SurgePays' financial service capabilities for its network of independent convenience stores.

Garner described his business approach as hands-on and entrepreneurial. He aims to closely coordinate with his team on daily operations and swiftly adapt to market dynamics. "This role will empower me to engage deeply with our team’s ongoing efforts and significantly influence our outcomes and growth trajectory," he stated.

Educated at Missouri State University, Garner resides in Springfield, Missouri, with his wife, Sydney, and their son, who is currently in college. The family is active in their community and enjoys various outdoor activities, particularly boating and hiking at their lake house.

About SurgePays, Inc.

SurgePays, Inc. is dedicated to providing prepaid wireless and point-of-sale platform services in underserved markets through convenience stores, bodegas, and local retail venues. For more information, visit SurgePays.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements concerning SurgePays, its operations, and overall performance. While the company believes these statements are reasonable, actual outcomes may differ due to various risks and factors beyond its control, including market fluctuations and operational challenges. For comprehensive details, please refer to the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).