Name: Catalena, Cody
Title: Chief Executive Officer of NetNearU
Texas A&M Class: 1997
Inducted: 2014
Cody Catalena is a Bryan-College Station native. He graduated from Texas A&M University with an Agribusiness Bachelor of Science degree in 1992. During his time at Texas A&M, Cody was involved in several different clubs and organizations including the Agricultural Economics Club, the Brotherhood of Christian Aggies, and Bonfire. While at A&M, Cody was mentored and advised by two influential professors who taught him to maintain his positive outlook and to inspire others to do the same while continuing to strengthen himself within his field of interest. These men also mentored Cody as he developed a financial model for what would become his own successful business.
During his senior year of college, Cody saw an opportunity for huge growth in the technology and software fields. He pursued a heavy academic course load each semester, allowing him to graduate in three years and jumpstart his entrepreneurial career. Cody and his dad Pete, assisted by a Brazos Valley entrepreneur/venture capitalist, developed their initial internet communications product in 1996 and the company NetNearU (NNU) was born. NNU is a vibrant, industry-leading technology firm headquartered in Bryan, TX. From when the company started in 1996 to 2000, Cody held several different positions and assumed many responsibilities. From 2000 to 2002, he was the Chief Technology Officer of NNU and oversaw product development. In 2002, Cody took another step up in the company and became the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and was in charge of day-to-day operations. He spent five years as COO before becoming Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2008. In its 18 years of operation, NNU has grown to employ more than 80 people. In 2013, NNU received an Aggie 100 award, a prestigious honor given annually to the top 100 fastest-growing Aggie-owned businesses. NNU was ranked number 46 with a 54% growth rate over a two-year period. NNU now delivers software services that enable companies such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Sprint, and the United States Navy to deploy publicly- used Wi-Fi networks across the country and around the world. NNU’s software technology is used to manage more than 75 percent of the public access Wi-Fi networks in the country. In 2014, NNU became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ViaStat, a 2.5 billion dollar publically-traded company that provides leading-edge satellite communication services. Cody has been retained to run the NNU business unit with the title of Vice President of Wireless Services for ViaStat and General Manager of NetNearU.
Cody is a life-time member of the Association of Former Students. He regularly contributes to the 12th Man Foundation and is an avid Aggie sports enthusiast. He has also been a guest lecturer for entrepreneurial classes at Texas A&M. Cody is also involved in a number of local organizations. He spends much of his time coaching youth sport teams including baseball, seven-man football, girls’ softball, Little League, soccer and a number of other teams. Cody works closely with a not-for-profit baseball team that he co-founded and has served on the College Station Little League board. Cody is an active member of his church where he serves as an usher and has been a member of several committees, including the Stewardship Committee and Capital Campaign Committee.
Cody met his wife, Lorin ‘97, during his time at A&M and they were married in 1998. They have two children, Cole ‘23 and Kate ‘27. Cody and his family live in College Station.
