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                                                                   Exhibit 10.16

                            MCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.


                                January 11, 2001


Glenda Davis
Joliet, Illinois

Dear Glenda:

     On behalf of MCK Communications, Inc. (the "Company"), I am pleased to
confirm our employment offer to you for the position of Chief Executive Officer
and President. In that position, you will be responsible for day-to-day
operations, as well as strategic direction, of the Company, reporting to the
Board of Directors. In that position, you will be responsible for the strategic
vision of the company and creating increasing value for the company's
shareholders, customers, business partners, and employees. You will be
responsible for directing growth and managing all aspects of the company. This
includes the development of both short and long range business plans which
address goals, objectives , strategies and operational expectations You will
also be appointed to the Board as a Director. In connection with your
appointment, I would assume the role of Chairman of the Board.

     Your start date will be January 15, 2001. Your starting annual base salary,
to be paid bi-monthly will be $300,000. You will also be eligible for a first
year annual cash bonus of up to $225,000, one-half of which would be guaranteed
based upon one full year of service and the remainder of which will be payable
based upon criteria to be determined with the Compensation Committee. Your
maximum annual cash bonus for your second year of service would be set at
$300,000 based upon criteria to be determined with the Compensation Committee.
You will also receive a $75,000 signing bonus, payable upon commencement of
employment as well as reimbursement of all reasonable, out-of-pocket relocation
expenses. The Company would also pay for two round-trip, economy class airline
tickets to Chicago, Illinois per month during your employment.

     You will also be eligible to participate in the Company's benefit programs
available to employees generally from time to time, including medical, dental,
group life, long- and short-term disability insurance, 401k plan, vacation and
company-paid holidays. You will be entitled to 4 weeks of vacation per year. In
addition to these, the Company will provide life insurance at 3 times base
salary as well as Director and Officers Insurance to protect against shareholder
lawsuits of $15 million.

     In addition, you would receive grants of 100,000 shares of restricted stock
and 500,000 nonqualified options. The awards would vest over four years with an
initial one-year cliff and monthly vesting thereafter. The company will permit
you to pay the


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Glenda Davis
January 11, 2001
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exercise price for the restricted shares by use of a secured partial recourse
promissory note in favor of the Company. Upon any Change in Control of the
Company (as defined in our incentive plans), all unvested shares and options
would accelerate in full if within one year thereafter you were terminated
without cause or quit as a result of any material reduction in your salary or
target bonus or your duties and reporting position constituting a de facto
demotion (other than changes to reflect the integration of the Company into the
acquiror's organization). The per share exercise and purchase price for the
awards will be the closing price for the Company's stock as of your start date
as a regular, full-time employee.

     To indicate your acceptance of this employment offer, please sign, date and
return to my attention one copy of this offer letter. Please note that your
written acceptance also constitutes your representation and guarantee that your
employment by the Company will not conflict with, breach or otherwise violate
any of the terms of any employment, non-competition, confidentiality or similar
agreements that you may have with any third parties. In addition, your execution
of our employee agreement regarding confidentiality, non-competition and
proprietary rights is a condition to this employment offer. Finally, please note
that this letter does not constitute an employment contract and you will at all
times remain an employee-at-will; meaning that you retain the right to terminate
your employment at any time and the Company retains a similar right. It is
further understood that this "at will" employment relationship may not be
changed by written or oral statement, conduct or implication unless such change
is specifically acknowledged in writing (which must clearly state "employee is
not an at will employee") by the Board of Directors. However, in the event that
your employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than gross
misconduct (or what ever the appropriate term is that addresses), you will be
entitled to six months of salary continuation as a severance, which will
increase to one year following the first anniversary of your start date.

     For purposes of this letter, "Cause" shall mean: (i) dishonesty, breach of
fiduciary duty or material breach of the terms of any agreements between you and
the Company which is not or cannot be cured within 10 business days; (ii)
commission by you of any act of embezzlement, fraud, larceny or theft on or from
the Company; (iii) substantial and continuing neglect or inattention by you of
duties of your employment which shall continue for 30 business days following
written notification by the Board of Directors; (iv) willful misconduct or gross
negligence in connection with the performance of your duties; or (v) commission
by you of a felony or any acts of moral turpitude which are injurious to the
Company or its business reputation.


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Glenda Davis
January 11, 2001
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     I am confident that you will make a strong leader for the Company as it
continues to grow and mature and look forward to welcoming you on board and
working through the transition with you. Should you have any questions, please
feel free to contact me at any time.

                                        Sincerely,


                                        Woody Benson
                                        Chief Executive Officer
                                        MCK Communications, Inc.


Agreed and Accepted:

/s/ Glenda Davis                        January 11, 2001
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Glenda Davis                            Date