Donald Burns is an American entrepreneur, business executive, and philanthropist know for his activities in the telecommunications and real estate industries. After working as an executive for telecommunications companies such as ATX Communications, Inc. and Mid Atlantic Telecom, Inc. ("Mid Atlantic"), he co-founded Telco Communications Group, Inc. ("Telco") in 1993. Telco focused on providing long-distance phone service during Burns' tenure as president, also inventing and popularizing the 10-10 dial-around system for long-distance calls. Burns was appointed Telco's chief executive officer in 1996, and the following year Telco was sold to Excel Communications, Inc. ("Excel") for $1.2-billion in cash and equity. Retiring after the sale of Telco, in 2006 Burns and Dan Borislow founded YMax