Jason Adkins
CEO
Bluebird Fiber
Jason W. Adkins joined Bluebird Fiber in March 2024. He is 30-year fiber industry veteran and previously served as CEO of Unite Private Networks. He has held leadership roles with Windstream, Kentucky Data Link (KDL), Level 3 Communications, TelCove, Conterra Networks, and KMC Telecom. Jason earned a B.B.A. in Marketing with a minor in Economics from James Madison University and an M.B.A. from Radford University.
Seth Arndorfer
CEO
Dakota Carrier Network
Seth Arndorfer is the CEO of Dakota Carrier Network (DCN), a North Dakota fiber optic network owned by the state’s 13 independent broadband companies. He leads a team that provides business technology solutions, including dedicated internet, private mesh networks, cybersecurity services, cloud computing, and co-location at its tier III data centers in Bismarck and Fargo. Arndorfer’s passion for the telecommunications industry started in 1997 while working in sales at Consolidated Telcom in Dickinson, N.D. He joined DCN in 2002 and gained experience in nearly every aspect of the business, including business development, marketing, sales, and management, before taking the helm as CEO in August 2013. He has served on the INDATEL Services Board of Managers since 2021 and is currently president of the board. He has also been involved in other national committees including the NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association’s Futures Task Force and the FCC Precision Ag Connectivity Task Force, examining connectivity demand for precision agriculture. Arndorfer earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Dickinson (N.D.) State University, an Executive MBA from the University of Mary (Bismarck, N.D.), and his Telecom Executive Certificate from the NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association.
Taylre Beaty
State Broadband Director
Tennessee Economic and Community Development
Taylre Beaty started as the State Broadband Director at Tennessee Economic and Community Development (TNECD) in September 2021. In her almost five years at TNECD, Taylre has been leading an effort to invest and administer over $1.45 billion in state and federally funded broadband projects across the state of Tennessee, with the mission of getting all unserved and underserved Tennessee households and businesses connected to high-speed internet by 2028. She is also working to ensure all Tennesseans are positioned well to not only adopt to broadband technology, but also have the resources needed to connect to a broadband-enabled device. Prior to joining TNECD, she worked on Broadband Initiatives at USDA Rural Development in Washington, D.C. She earned a Master’s in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor’s in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She’s originally from East Tennessee.
Toni Broberg
Vice President, External Affairs
Gigapower
Toni Broberg serves as Vice President of External Affairs at Gigapower, where she leads strategic engagement with local, state, and external stakeholders to support the company’s broadband infrastructure expansion and public policy initiatives. Prior to this role, she was the President of the Desert Southwest Region for AT&T, where she oversaw operations and external affairs across Arizona and New Mexico. Her earlier roles at AT&T included serving as Director of External and Legislative Affairs, where she championed community partnerships and advanced key policy objectives in telecommunications and infrastructure. Toni brings a wealth of public sector experience to her corporate leadership, having served in the White House as Deputy Associate Director for Communities at the Council on Environmental Quality, where she helped drive environmental justice initiatives. She also held the role of Senior Advisor for Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and has extensive experience navigating complex government affairs at the local, state, and federal levels. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Liberal Studies from Arizona State University.
Danielle Burt
Partner
Morgan Lewis
Danielle Burt counsels on communications regulatory issues, including transactions, licensing, and telecommunications, media, and technology rules and policies. She advises clients before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), all 51 State Public Utility Commissions (PUCs), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and local and municipal county governments. Her clients include domestic and international voice and data carriers; cable television, open video system, and other multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs); financial institutions; and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), wireless, and broadband service providers. Danielle’s practice involves counseling on transaction issues and securing necessary FCC, State PUC, DOJ, and local government approvals for mergers, transfers of control, assets sales, reorganizations, and financing transactions, including those involving foreign investment; and assisting clients to obtain FCC and state PUC licenses to provide domestic and international long distance service, competitive local exchange service, wireless service, and satellite service. She also advises and represents clients on FCC and State PUC compliance and enforcement issues; advises on federal government broadband funding programs rules and policies; counsels on rights-of-way, pole attachment, and franchise agreements for construction of telecommunications and MVPD network and facilities; and advocates for pro-competitive regulatory rules and policies at the FCC and State PUCs. Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Danielle was part of the corporate practice at another international law firm.
Ron Del Sesto
Partner
Cooley
Ron Del Sesto is a Partner with Cooley, where he represents technology and communications companies on a broad range of issues, including corporate, financial, regulatory, cybersecurity, and issues related to telemarketing, email and Short Message Service (SMS) marketing. Ron also advises financial institutions, private equity firms and venture capital funds with respect to investments in the telecommunications, media, and technology (TMT) sectors, and he negotiates commercial agreements in the cloud services and computing space for service providers and enterprise users.
Michele C. Farquhar
Partner
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
Years of government, industry, and law firm service have shaped Michele Farquhar into an influential advisor, advocate, and thought leader for the technology, media, and telecoms industry. She helps clients with a range of global and U.S. communications policy initiatives, spectrum auctions, licensing and compliance matters, and regulatory strategy involving M&A transactions as well as litigation. Michele obtains regulatory approvals, waivers, and other licenses for many new and cutting-edge technologies. And she leads teams advising major global companies on regulatory strategy issues involving a range of international jurisdictions. As a legal authority in her industry, she also speaks and writes extensively on a range of communications issues. Michele joined the firm in 1997, after serving as Chief of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. While at the FCC, she led the agency's new spectrum auction initiative and held primary responsibility over several major auctions and spectrum policy initiatives, as well as the bureau's implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Previously, Michele served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. She played a lead role in developing the administration's positions on telecommunications reform as well as spectrum, international, electronic commerce, and other policy issues. As Vice President for Law and Regulatory Policy at the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, she gained industry knowledge and regulatory advocacy experience while representing cellular carriers on regulatory, policy, and legal issues before the FCC. Michele also served as senior legal advisor to FCC Commissioner Ervin Duggan and as the mass media advisor to two FCC general counsels.
Justin Forte
President & CEO
INDATEL Services
Justin Forte is President and CEO of INDATEL Services, the nation’s largest independent fiber network. INDATEL unites independent network providers across the country to simplify connectivity and compete for national opportunities that would be difficult to capture individually. With nearly three decades of experience in telecommunications, software, and technology leadership, Justin brings a unique perspective on the future of fiber infrastructure, network investment, and the growing demand from businesses, communities, data centers, and emerging technologies. Under his leadership, INDATEL has expanded beyond its traditional carrier business into enterprise, federal, and technology driven solutions. Justin is passionate about elevating independent networks on the national stage while preserving the agility, local expertise, and personal service that differentiates them in the marketplace.
Craig A. Gilley
Partner
Venable LLP
Craig Gilley is a trusted advisor for companies operating at the intersection of telecommunications, technology, regulation, and business strategy, including service providers, media companies, technology firms, digital infrastructure companies, industry associations, and investors. Craig guides clients through complex regulatory and business challenges across the full spectrum of emerging technologies—from traditional telecom and broadband to cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI), data centers, internet of things (IoT), and cloud services. Craig maintains strategic relationships with regulatory authorities at all levels, including Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), state public utility commissions, and international regulatory bodies. His ability to navigate these challenging government landscapes enables clients to achieve compliance while pursuing aggressive growth strategies.As primary regulatory counsel to broadband and internet service providers, video programmers, satellite companies, technology vendors, and wireless telecommunications operators, Craig helps his clients' companies secure critical government authorizations, shape public policy, and structure sophisticated commercial agreements involving network assets and technology services. His counsel encompasses fiber access rights, rights-of-way negotiations, utility pole and conduit attachments, and compliance frameworks for financings and transactions. Craig also develops and prosecutes comprehensive public policy campaigns involving broadband, wireless, and communications technology issues, advocating directly before various state and federal agencies. He also represents companies and organizations in communications- and technology-related trial and appellate litigation, including matters before federal circuit and district courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. Craig has successfully led clients through dozens of mergers and acquisitions, complex technology transactions, intellectual property matters, and high-stakes litigation. Drawing from his extensive background advising companies in the technology sector, Craig also provides comprehensive legal support to information technology (IT) and educational technology companies. He also collaborates closely with investment firms and private equity companies, ensuring their technology sector acquisitions and portfolio investments satisfy regulatory requirements while maximizing value creation opportunities.
David J. Grain
CEO and Founder
Grain Management LLC
David Grain is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Grain Management, LLC. Prior to founding Grain Management in 2007, Grain led Pinnacle Towers (later renamed Global Signal), transforming it into one of the largest independent wireless communication tower companies in the world. He previously served as Senior Vice President of AT&T Broadband’s New England Region and was an Executive Director in the High Yield Finance Department at Morgan Stanley. He is an Independent Director of Dell Technologies, Director of New Fortress Energy, and member of the Southern Company’s Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Advisory Council of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Board Chair of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, member of the Dartmouth Board of Trustees and of The Museum of Modern Art’s Board of Trustees. He was appointed as a member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council in 2011 and again in 2024, is a Lifetime Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. David holds an M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a B.A. in English from the College of the Holy Cross, where he served for eight years as a Trustee.
Bill Greenlaw
Director, Regulatory and Governmental Affairs
Sonic
Since 2024, Bill Greenlaw has served as Director of Regulatory and Governmental Affairs for Sonic, a rapidly growing facility-based CLEC and broadband provider focused on delivering next-generation fiber connectivity. He supports regulatory compliance, government affairs engagement, utility and carrier coordination, and the fulfillment of state and local permitting and right-of-way requirements needed to expand broadband infrastructure into new communities. Bill is a telecommunications industry veteran with more than three decades of both contributory and leadership experience across regulatory, operational, and wholesale telecommunications functions. Before joining Sonic, he built a distinguished 30-year career at AT&T, where he held positions in regulatory relations, wholesale contract negotiation, product management, marketing, account management, and wholesale business operations that navigated the impacts of the inception and continuing evolution of the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. During his career, his experience includes representing company positions before state regulatory commissions and courts, leading teams responsible for wholesale carrier relationships, supporting large-scale copper retirement and network modernization initiatives, and negotiating complex commercial and regulatory agreements. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Oklahoma and lives (or dies) a little bit every college football Saturday in the fall depending on how the Sooners do.
Brian Gregory
Senior Director, Product Marketing
Intermedia Intelligent Communications
Brian Gregory is the Senior Director of Product Marketing at Intermedia Cloud Communications. He has responsibility for guiding Intermedia’s service provider marketing initiatives, including product strategy, content development, business analytics, and go-to-market execution. Brian has held various roles in marketing and product management at communication service providers and technology concerns, including Ribbon, Metaswitch and Sprint.
Greg Henrich
Senior Vice President, Transmission
Tennessee Valley Authority
Greg Henrich is the Senior Vice President of Transmission at TVA. This organization is responsible for the planning, design, maintenance and real-time operation of TVA’s transmission system – the largest public power system in the country. This business unit also has responsibility for TVA’s generation unit commitment and dispatch and power trading, as well as reliability coordination services for six electric utilities in parts of eleven states. He previously served as Vice President of Transmission Operations and Power Supply at TVA. In this role, he was accountable for the real-time operation of TVA’s bulk transmission system and power supply for the 10 million people of the Tennessee Valley. He also led a continuing grid modernization effort to prepare TVA for the grid of tomorrow. During his 23 years with TVA, Greg has served as a leader setting direction for the 20-year asset strategy, planning the transmission system, overseeing transmission maintenance, developing telecommunication planning and maintenance strategy, and as a NERC certified system operator. He is a member of the NERC Operating Committee; TVA member representative for the North American Transmission Forum (NATF); member of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Executive Council; and serves on the boards of the SERC Reliability Corporation (SERC); Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM); and the Eastern Interconnect Data Sharing Network, Inc. (EIDSN). Greg received his B.S. in Computer Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and his M.B.A from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.
Jason Hill
Managing Director & Co-Head of U.S. Technology, Global Head of Digital Infrastructure
Houlihan Lokey
Jason Hill is Co-Head of Houlihan Lokey’s U.S. Technology Group and Global Head of Digital Infrastructure. He is based in the firm’s Boston office. Prior to joining Houlihan Lokey, Jason was a Managing Partner at MVP Capital, an independent firm that provided a range of advisory services to clients in the technology, media, and telecommunications sector before being acquired by Houlihan Lokey in 2020. While there, he co-founded the Telecom/Digital Infrastructure practice and led the Telecom/Digital Infrastructure and Technology group. Jason has advised on M&A and capital-raising transactions throughout the digital infrastructure sector for more than 20 years, including working with clients in the fiber/broadband, fixed wireless, towers, spectrum, wireless services, data center, and landline sectors. He has worked with companies of all sizes and at all stages of development. With more than 25 years of investment banking experience, Jason often speaks at industry conferences. In 2019, he was named as one of TMT Finance’s Top 10 M&A Comms Dealmakers. Jason began his investment banking career at Goldman Sachs, where he worked as an Analyst in the Energy and Power group. Jason holds a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Boston College.
Olivia Igbokwe-Curry
Head, Political Strategy
Amazon
Olivia Igbokwe-Curry is a seasoned government affairs and public policy leader who brings a global perspective to the intersection of technology, policy, and community. Born and raised in Nigeria, where she witnessed firsthand how resource scarcity shapes communities, Olivia developed an early understanding of the power of policy to transform lives—a conviction that has guided her career ever since. Olivia currently leads Political Strategy for Amazon, where she shapes the company's political engagement and federal affairs agenda. In this role, she navigates the complexities of Congress and Presidential Administrations, working with policymakers to shape the future of U.S. federal policy, digital governance, and technology regulation. She also serves as a key voice on political affairs, offering firsthand insights into how companies work with policymakers, respond to regulatory challenges, and engage in the discussions that define the future of innovation. Prior to her current role, Olivia served as Director of AWS Federal Affairs and Federal Artificial Intelligence Policy, where she led the cloud giant's engagement with federal policymakers and government officials on issues ranging from data center infrastructure investment to AI governance. In this capacity, she represented AWS alongside senior leaders in engagements with members of Congress and community stakeholders across the country, helping to advance AWS's mission of protecting customer choice and preserving flexibility in the use of cloud infrastructure and services. Before joining Amazon in 2019, Olivia spent five years leading federal affairs at Xerox Services (now Conduent), where she honed her expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments and building bipartisan relationships on Capitol Hill. Earlier in her career, she held government affairs roles at Four Points LLC and the Natural Products Association, building a foundation in advocacy, coalition building, and legislative strategy.
Laura Johns
Founder and CEO
The Business Growers
Laura Johns is the founder and CEO of The Business Growers, a leading marketing firm specializing in helping Managed Services Providers (MSPs), IT companies, and telecommunication providers grow revenue. The company was named one of Inc.'s Fastest Growing Companies in the Southeast earlier this year. With a team of seasoned experts and decades of industry-specific experience, The Business Growers delivers a full suite of done-for-you marketing services tailored to the unique needs of these industries. For 20 years, Laura has managed marketing efforts for companies ranging from tech startups to global, multi-billion dollar businesses. She spent nearly half her career serving as a corporate marketing executive in the telecommunications industry before starting The Business Growers. Laura won the 2024 Gold Stevie® Award for Best Female Entrepreneur (Small Business) and the 2025 Silver Stevie® Award for Achievement in Developing and Promoting Women, one of her life's greatest passions. In her home state of Mississippi, she has been honored as “Top 50 under 40” and “Top 50 Leading Women in Business.” Laura graduated cum laude from Mississippi College and earned a Master of Arts from the University of Alabama.
Hank Kelly
Partner
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Hank Kelly has spent over 30 years advising telecommunications, broadband, wireless, and infrastructure clients on the regulatory and compliance challenges that shape business strategy. He represents clients before the FCC, state public utility commissions, and in federal and state courts on enforcement actions, interconnection disputes, and public policy matters. Hank is recognized for helping companies navigate high-stakes regulatory proceedings and emerging technology risks while protecting market position. His practical approach to risk management and regulatory strategy has guided clients through evolving compliance landscapes and complex transactions across the telecommunications sector.
Alex Kozak
Managing Director, Telecom and Digital Infrastructure
Guggenheim Securities LLC
Alex Kozak is a Managing Director in the Telecom and Digital Infrastructure group at Guggenheim Securities. Alex joined Guggenheim Securities in September 2023 with the goal of expanding the firm’s Telecom and Digital Infrastructure practice with a specific focus on both commercial and residential Bandwidth Infrastructure. Alex has over a decade of investment banking experience advising clients across the Digital Infrastructure ecosystem. Alex has successfully executed more than 50 M&A advisory and capital markets transactions. Alex’s transaction experience represents over $25 billion in aggregate value across a number of subsectors, including: commercial fiber, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), diversified carrier, managed network services, data center, wireless infrastructure and IT Services, among others.
Jim Lennon
Senior Director, Product Management–Access Services
Inteliquent Inc., the U.S. voice affiliate of Sinch
Jim Lennon serves as the Senior Director of Product Management – Access Services for Inteliquent, Inc., the U.S. voice affiliate of Sinch. Inteliquent is the nation’s largest independent provider of voice interconnection services. Joining Inteliquent nearly a decade ago, Jim has over 30 years of telecommunications industry experience, with a focus on switched access services, intercarrier compensation issues, and regulatory strategy. Having navigated both the buy-side and sell-side of wholesale network interconnection during his career, Jim offers a balanced, market-tested perspective on the complex operational, financial, and structural considerations inherent in transitioning legacy access charge models to a framework that supports all-IP connectivity. In his current role at Inteliquent, Jim oversees the company’s Access Service related products. In this position, he has been a key architect of the company’s commercial and regulatory strategy for its voice interconnection and switched access services, including evolving approaches to all-IP interconnection.
Casey Lide
Partner
Keller & Heckman LLP
Casey Lide is a Partner in the Washington, D.C., law firm Keller & Heckman LLP. He represents clients on a wide range of issues involving broadband, telecommunications, and related infrastructure and service matters. Casey counsels public- and private-sector clients on contract development and negotiation, including fiber optic IRUs and leases, franchises, attachment agreements, ISP service agreements, public-private partnerships, and strategic MoUs; provides due diligence counsel for communications industry mergers and acquisitions; and advises clients on state and federal regulatory compliance matters. He frequently collaborates with multi-disciplinary teams of legal, financial, engineering, and other technical experts, assisting clients in the development of state-of-the-art communications systems.
Andrew D. Lipman
Partner
Morgan Lewis
Andrew D. Lipman practices in most aspects of communications law and related fields, including regulatory, transactional, litigation, legislative, and land use. Andy’s clients in the private and public sectors include those in the areas of local, long distance, and international telephone common carriage; Internet services and technologies; conventional and emerging wireless services; satellite services; broadcasting; competitive video services; telecommunications equipment manufacturing; and other high-technology applications. Additionally, he manages privatizations of telecommunications carriers in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. To open the U.S. local telephone market to competition, Andy has been involved in most new legal and regulatory policies at the Federal Communications Commission, at state public service commissions, in Congress, and before courts. He helped shape crucial provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and used similar approaches to promote the opening of foreign markets. He also obtained one of the first competitive local service and interconnection agreements in continental Europe and the first competitive fiber network application in Japan. Andy’s practice includes strategic analysis of companies’ telecom user agreements, renegotiating existing agreements, and negotiating new, more favorable telecom user agreements. For nearly a decade, Andy served as senior vice president, legal and regulatory affairs, for MFS Communications, the nation’s largest competitive local services provider. One of the founders of MFS, Andy helped guide the company from startup to its eventual sale for $14.4 billion to WorldCom. Andy served as general counsel to the International Teleconferencing Association and as legislative/regulatory counsel to the International Satellite Users Association. He sits on the board of directors of five public companies trading on the NYSE, NASDAQ, and Toronto Stock Exchange. Additionally, he co-founded the Association of Local Telecommunication Services (ALTS)—the national trade association for competitive telecommunications carriers—and served as its first chairman. Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Andy was a partner in the corporate practice of another international law firm, where he was also a member of the executive board and leader of the telecommunications, media and technology practice. Before entering private practice, he participated in the legal honors program at the US Department of Transportation and served in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation. He also served as an extern law clerk to Judge Raymond Sullivan of the California Supreme Court.
Richard S. Lukaj
Senior Managing Director
Bank Street Group LLC
Richard Lukaj has nearly 30 years of investment banking experience having originated, structured and executed hundreds of deals totaling over $100 billion of transaction value. Rich is a founder and Managing Partner of Bank Street and aspires, with his colleagues, to create a premier investment banking franchise focused on growth sectors of the global economy. Rich has executed transactions over the course of his successful investment banking career, ranging in variety from mergers and acquisitions, underwriting of debt, equity and derivative securities, restructurings, exclusive sales, and other financial advisory mandates. Although heavily weighted towards the Media, Communications and Technology industries, he also has a very broad industry experience in Industrial, Consumer, Retailing, Energy, Aerospace, Specialty Finance, Real Estate and Natural Resources arenas.
Matt Marino
CEO
Ezee Fiber
Matt Marino has led Ezee Fiber since 2023 and joined the company with extensive experience in the fiber optic industry. An accomplished telecommunications industry veteran, Matt spent the past 15 years in senior operations, sales, marketing and finance roles at Altice USA, Charter Communications, Time Warner Cable and Insight Communications. Prior to joining Ezee Fiber, Matt served as Altice USA’s Executive Vice President of Consumer Services, where he led the company’s residential business. This included oversight of the sales, marketing, brand, product, customer experience, and digital teams supporting Altice’s Optimum and Suddenlink-branded broadband internet, TV, and home phone services, as well as the Optimum Mobile wireless service. A graduate of Washington and Lee University, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and later completed the Harvard Business School Cable Executive Management Program. He has been recognized by Cablefax as one of the industry’s “100 Top Power Players” and has served on both the CTAM Board of Directors and the CTAM Educational Foundation Board. Marino has also served as a mentor for the Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) Prime Access Program, which develops and empowers women in media, entertainment and technology.
Patricia Martin
CEO
Dobson Fiber
Patricia Martin serves as CEO of Dobson Fiber where she leads the company’s continued expansion of its regional fiber network and overall operational performance across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. She brings more than 25 years of experience leading large-scale telecommunications operations, with a focus on network expansion, integration, and customer delivery. Prior to joining Dobson Fiber, Patricia served as CEO of Point Broadband and spent more than 18 years at Cox Communications. She served as Senior Vice President of the Integration Management Office, where she led pre- and post-investment business acquisition activities, including the integration of new acquisitions that aligned with Cox’s growth trajectory.
Joy Milkowski
Partner
Access Marketing Company
Joy Milkowski is a marketing strategist and revenue growth advisor who helps executives, marketers and sales teams turn bold ideas into measurable wins. As Partner at Access Marketing Company, she develops go-to-market strategies that boost visibility, engage customers, and drive growth. She’s known for generating smart ideas and turning them into clear, actionable marketing and sales tactics that deliver results. Joy is the creator of the GIVE Method, a value-first framework that moves teams beyond traditional marketing and sales playbooks into strategies that win attention, trust, and market share. Known for her authentic, no-nonsense style, she works with leaders who want to challenge the status quo, create customer-centric messaging, and turn strategy into action. In her sessions, Joy blends high-impact marketing principles with innovative uses of data and AI to give professionals an edge, particularly in complex sales cycles with crowded, competitive markets. Attendees leave with ready-to-use frameworks, tools, and tactics that help them stand out, drive more pipeline, and dominate as “the human in the loop.”
Ilissa Miller
Founder and CEO
iMiller Public Relations
Ilissa Miller is Founder and CEO of iMiller Public Relations, host of NEDAS Live!, and Editor-in-Chief of Data Center POST. With nearly 30 years of digital infrastructure experience, she advises companies on strategy, messaging, market growth, and community-risk communications through iMPR’s Groundswell™ program. Ilissa is a former two-term elected Trustee in Westchester County, N.Y., and chairs OIX’s Digital Infrastructure Framework Committee.
Zenji Nakazawa
Bureau Chief, Public Safety & Homeland Security
Federal Communications Commission
Zenji Nakazawa leads the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, where he oversees efforts to protect the Nation’s communications infrastructure and ensure reliable connectivity for first responders and the public. His work focuses on strengthening 911, emergency alerting, network reliability and security, and emergency preparedness and response. He brings a mission-first approach to safeguarding life, property, and critical infrastructure, working closely with partners across government and industry. Previously, he served as Associate Bureau Chief for National Security, leading efforts to address risks in the ICT supply chain, including development of the FCC’s Covered List. Zenji also served as Legal Advisor to FCC Chairman Ajit V. Pai, supporting initiatives to secure 5G networks, maintain communications during the COVID-19 pandemic, enhance emergency response capabilities, and combat illegal robocalls. He holds a B.A. from Bucknell University and a J.D. from the University of Richmond.
Melissa Newman
Senior Vice President, Government Affairs
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
Melissa Newman has over 20 years of experience as a seasoned Executive in telecommunications companies with expertise in government affairs, public relations and legal. Recently, Melissa worked at Transit Wireless as Vice President of External Affairs and Senior Legal Counsel in New York City where she oversaw contract negotiations, human resources (legal) and external affairs for the company. Prior to this position, Melissa worked at Wilkinson Barker Knauer, a premier telecommunications law firm in Washington, DC. Melissa spent 18 years at CenturyLink/Qwest/US West as Vice President, Federal Policy and Regulatory Affairs responsible for developing and implementing the company’s federal regulatory advocacy before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), other federal agencies and the Administration. Melissa served as Deputy Division Chief of the Policy Division in the Common Carrier Bureau of the FCC, and as Legal Counsel to the Common Carrier Bureau Chief. Prior to these positions, Melissa was an associate at the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher where she practiced communications law. Melissa was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Exchange Carriers Association (NECA) from 2011-2016, serving on the Audit and Compensation Committees. She was recognized in Fierce Telecom Magazine — Women in Wireline 2014: Leaders shaping telecom services, innovation, and policy. She has served on the Federal Communications Bar Association Executive Committee and was a Federal Consumer Advisory Committee Member at the FCC. Melissa received her B.A. from the University of Minnesota and her J.D. from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri.
Chip Pickering
CEO
INCOMPAS
Chip Pickering has been CEO of INCOMPAS since January 2014. During that time, INCOMPAS has achieved significant growth with leading internet, backbone, business broadband, wireless, and international companies. Under his leadership, INCOMPAS has led numerous public policy campaigns promoting competition through an open internet and in the business broadband market. Pickering was a six-term Congressman representing Mississippi’s Third District. During his time in the House, he served on the Energy & Commerce Committee, where he was vice chairman from 2002 to 2006 and a member of the Telecommunications Subcommittee. He also was co-chairman and founder of the Congressional Wireless Caucus and an assistant minority whip of the House. Previously, Chip worked for Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and served as a staff member on the Senate Commerce Committee, where he helped shape the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Because of his role in drafting the 1996 Act, he became well known as a Congressional leader on telecommunications issues. While in Congress, Chip served as chair of the subcommittee overseeing the transition to the commercial internet, the establishment of domain names, registries, and internet governance. He also successfully led a bipartisan legislative effort to codify net neutrality principles through the House in 2006. Prior to joining INCOMPAS, Chip was a partner with Capitol Resources LLC, a public affairs and government relations firm, where he represented an array of telecom clients, including wireless, cable and competitive broadband providers, as well as non-profits and companies specializing in education, energy, technology and defense.
Staci Pies
Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Policy
INCOMPAS
Staci Pies is an innovative executive with decades of experience in public policy, technology, and business. She is recognized for her ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, transforming them into growth opportunities by shaping policies that reduce barriers, unlock funding, and drive innovation in digital infrastructure. With deep expertise in broadband, AI-driven networks, and telecommunications, Staci has consistently delivered measurable, long-term impact for organizations and communities. As Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs at Crown Castle, Staci launched the company’s first Washington, D.C. office and public policy team. Her efforts positioned Crown Castle as a key player in digital infrastructure deployment, creating long-term regulatory improvements and securing federal funding. Staci’s leadership also led to the development of national advocacy strategies that streamlined broadband infrastructure permitting, reducing regulatory burdens, and lowering deployment costs. Previously, Staci served as Senior Policy Counsel at Google, where she expanded market opportunities by ensuring regulations supported the deployment of digital infrastructure and minimized barriers to broadband expansion, thereby safeguarding YouTube’s profitability and influencing Google’s hardware standards. She led policy initiatives for alternative access technologies, advancing 5G spectrum strategies and contributing to the U.S. Government’s National Spectrum Policy, which generated $500 billion in U.S. economic value. Additionally, Staci developed and implemented public policy strategies to integrate cybersecurity and privacy protections into connectivity and telecom products, enhancing digital security and regulatory compliance. At Microsoft and Skype, Staci secured support from business champions and the Speaker of the House to implement a rule change allowing Skype usage in Congress. She collaborated with the House and Senate Committees on Administration to educate members on Skype’s security protocols, ultimately securing full endorsement. Staci also developed an action plan featuring technology demonstrations, an educational initiative, and customized user agreements for Congress and federal agencies. Staci holds a Juris Doctorate from Washington College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Pepperdine University.
Greg Rogers
Head, Global Policy & Regulatory Affairs
Bandwidth
Greg Rogers is head of Global Policy and Regulatory Affairs for Bandwidth Inc., where he leads Bandwidth’s regulatory and public policy matters. Bandwidth’s software-enabled communications platform (CPaaS) powers a wide-range of innovative VoIP and Messaging services. Bandwidth is also a leading industry provider of VoIP 9-1-1 routing services across the country. Bandwidth’s nationwide Internet Protocol-based network incorporates its wholly owned facilities-based CLEC with an interconnection footprint that spans the 48 continental states. Greg has been leading Bandwidth’s regulatory and public policy efforts since 2010. Prior to joining Bandwidth, he managed state and federal regulatory matters at Level 3 Communications. Greg is an alumnus of The Colorado College and the University of Colorado School of Law.
Kristen Sanderson
Senior Vice President
Duos Technologies Inc.
Kristen Sanderson is a senior technology and infrastructure executive with more than 20 years of experience navigating the full data center ecosystem, from hyperscale AI environments to edge and modular deployments in supply-constrained markets. As Senior Vice President at Duos Technologies, Inc., she leads strategic growth initiatives across North America, advising customers on resilient procurement strategies, data center deployments, and execution models that mitigate manufacturing delays, labor shortages, and supply chain volatility. Throughout her career, Kristen has built deep working relationships with leading AI hyperscaler and data center vendors across power, cooling, fiber, switchgear, networking, and enclosure platforms. Her vendor-agnostic approach enables organizations to preserve basis-of-design integrity while activating pre-approved alternates based on lead time, availability, or cost—without compromising reliability, performance, or standardization. This expertise is particularly critical as AI infrastructure demand competes for constrained manufacturing capacity with hyperscalers. Prior to joining Duos Technologies, Kristen spent more than a decade at Accu-Tech Corporation as Director of Data Center Solutions, where she led enterprise and multi-tenant deployments spanning white space infrastructure, high-density power and cooling systems, custom enclosures, fiber and network architecture, DAS, security, and integrated services. She regularly partnered with hyperscaler-grade manufacturers while tailoring solutions for smaller operators who cannot absorb 50–70 week component lead times. Kristen is widely recognized for her expertise in supply chain resilience for AI and edge data centers, including dual sourcing frameworks, creative procurement alternatives, and materials management strategies that reduce onsite labor requirements. Her experience with kitting, labeling, phased delivery, and construction-aligned logistics has helped eliminate 20%-40% of onsite labor hours on complex deployments. She is a strong advocate for modular data center strategies that future-proof AI infrastructure—enabling phased capital deployment, shorter lead times, reduced power and water dependencies, and faster execution compared to large hyperscale builds. Kristen is especially focused on empowering mid-market operators, regional clouds, enterprises, and public sector organizations that are often crowded out of the supply chain by hyperscalers. A multiple-time recipient of Accu-Tech’s President’s Club and the Staples Sales Excellence Award, Kristen is known for translating complex ecosystem dynamics into practical decision frameworks for IT leaders, engineers, and procurement teams. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Christopher L. Shipley
Executive Director of Public Policy
INCOMPAS
Chris Shipley was named Executive Director of Public Policy in 2023, and will lead the association’s efforts to expand its advocacy on behalf of members. He joined INCOMPAS in 2015, serving as attorney and policy advisor responsible for representing INCOMPAS on wireless, universal service, disabilities access, media, and competition issues. Before joining INCOMPAS, Chris was an associate with LMI Advisors, advising clients in the satellite and wireless industries on regulatory issues related to experimental licensing and international market access. Earlier in his career, Chris completed a legal internship with Harris Corporation, a telecommunications equipment manufacturer, and served as the legal fellow for Rep. Anna Eshoo, the Ranking Member of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Chris graduated from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America with a Juris Doctor in 2013 and also earned a certification from the Institute for Communications Law Studies. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 2000, Chris served for three administrations as a policy analyst and grant administrator at the Arizona Governor’s Office.
Jill Springer
Principal Consultant
Quadra Partners
Jill Springer is an expert in federal infrastructure permitting, specializing in communications deployments. Prior to joining Quadra Partners as Principal Consultant, Infrastructure and Permitting, Jill developed and led permitting strategy and reform at NTIA, serving as both the Chief Environmental Review and Policy Officer (CERPO) and Federal Preservation Officer (FPO). In this role, Jill collaborated with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council and Council on Environmental Quality to develop permitting technology innovations including the Environmental Screening and Permitting Tracking Tool (ESAPTT) for BEAD, an AI Agent (pilot) to streamline environmental assessments, and several GIS based permitting tools and applications. Jill previously served as a policy advisor in the FCC’s Office of Native Affairs and Policy and was the FCC’s FPO and an Associate Division Chief in the Wireless Bureau. In addition to holding a Master of Law from Washington University of St. Louis School of Law, Jill has a Master of Heritage Preservation degree from Georgia State University, and a B.A. in political science from Agnes Scott College.
Justin Suhr
Vice President, OSP Engineering
Rightfiber
Justin Suhr serves as Vice President of OSP Engineering for Rightfiber, where he oversees the planning, design and execution of the company’s strategic fiber network expansion. He leads both engineering and construction teams, driving efficient, high-quality network growth across Rightfiber's footprint. With nearly two decades of experience in telecommunications and engineering, Justin has a strong background in fiber design, construction management and strategic infrastructure development. His leadership plays a key role in ensuring Rightfiber delivers cutting-edge, reliable connectivity to customers and communities.
Richard Taylor
Vice President, Construction
Greenlight Networks
Richard Taylor is Vice President of Construction at Greenlight Networks, where he leads all aspects of network construction and maintenance across the company's expanding multi-state fiber footprint. With nearly three decades of telecommunications experience and more than 20 years in technical leadership and vendor management, Rich has built a reputation for delivering large-scale infrastructure programs, driving operational excellence, and developing high-performing teams. Prior to Greenlight Networks, Rich held multiple executive leadership roles at Comcast, including Division Vice President of Construction Engineering and Division Vice President of Network Operations, where he led major network transformation initiatives across 13 states and managed organizations supporting millions of customers. Throughout his career, he has championed data-driven decision-making, financial discipline, and collaborative leadership. Rich is passionate about building sustainable organizations, advancing network innovation, and developing the next generation of industry leaders.
J. Ryan Thompson
Counsel
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
Ryan Thompson is a trusted advisor to leading technology and telecommunications firms, offering practical solutions to complex regulatory and policy challenges. His practice spans an array of cutting-edge policy and legal issues before lawmakers, the courts, and key agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Federal Trade Commission, and U.S. Department of Justice. Ryan’s clients include wireless carriers, prominent tech firms, satellite operators, trade associations, and startups. Ryan’s expertise covers many critical issues in the tech and telecom sector, including wireless and satellite spectrum policy and licensing, AI regulation and legislation, online platform governance and regulation, foreign ownership and merger reviews, and experimental licensing.
Jim Tyrrell
Vice President, Information Services, Communications Market
Transaction Network Services Inc.
Jim Tyrrell joined TNS in July 2018 as Senior Director of Product Marketing, before being promoted to Vice President of Enterprise Product Management in 2022, stepping into the role of Vice President of Global Product Strategy in 2024 and now as Vice President, Information Services. In this role, Jim takes the lead on TNS’s product positioning and go to market strategy for the Information Services solutions, including Routing, Registry and Gateway products, as well as industry relations and regulatory affairs, working closely with the wider product team and colleagues in sales, marketing and operations, among others. An innovative strategist, Jim’s focus is to drive the advancement of TNS’s go-to-market initiatives, refine the communication of its value proposition, generate thought leadership opportunities and ensure all activities support the company vision. Jim prides himself on being a creative problem solver and has more than 15 years’ experience in product management, development and marketing roles. Most recently Jim was Vice President of Product Management at Conduit Global where he helped the company to raise global brand awareness by 15% and increased EBITDA by 43% in one year by productizing its range of operational and technical solutions. A telecommunications industry veteran, Jim has also spent time in senior roles with Comcast Business, Siemens Enterprise Communications (now Unify), Verizon and XO Communications. Jim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Management Information Systems, both from The State University of New York (SUNY).
Jeff Wabik
CTO
DC BLOX
As CTO, Jeff Wabik is responsible for strategic, technical, and operational aspects across the DC BLOX business, as well as for innovation to advance the company’s Hyperscale, Connectivity, and Subsea solutions. For more than 38 years, Jeff has combined imagination, vision, and a deep technical acumen to create next-generation solutions for both start-up and mature organizations. Jeff’s experience includes data center and carrier network operations, embedded software development, information security, business development, the creation of L2 switching and L3 routing platforms including pioneering the world’s first multi-Gigabit router in 1993. Jeff has held senior technical management positions at Ciena, Ascend Communications, and Lucent Technologies. Jeff graduated from the University of Minnesota with dual BA degrees in Computer Science and Geology. In his free time, he is a fitness addict, a commercial and instrument rated pilot, an avid snowboarder and plays the drums in rock-n-roll bands.
Brendan West
Co-Founder and CEO
FiberCom Engineering
Brendan West is the Co-Founder and CEO of FiberCom Engineering and SkyWare, a vertically integrated infrastructure platform serving the broadband, utility and construction sectors. With nearly two decades in the industry, Brendan brings a field-first perspective shaped by hands-on experience across underground and aerial fiber construction, field engineering, permitting and regulatory compliance. He has worked in and led every phase of the infrastructure lifecycle – from build execution to engineering validation – experience that directly informs how his companies design technology and workflows for real-world conditions. Under his leadership, FiberCom and its subsidiaries have completed over 7 million feet of field collection in under two years. Brendan is known for challenging “marketing technology” with execution-driven solutions focused on engineering-grade accuracy, constructability, and compliance – delivering datasets and processes that utilities, regulators, and construction teams can trust. He regularly speaks on bridging construction, engineering, and modern technology without sacrificing rigor, accountability or field reality.
Robert Worden
President & CEO
Vision Net
Robert Worden is the President and CEO of Vision Net, Montana’s state-wide fiber optic network and largest data center operator. With over 35 years of telecom and technology experience he leads a team of technologists dedicated to infinite innovation in AI, data centers and Photonic Networks. He has held multiple leadership positions at U.S. and global telecom and technology firms over the past four decades. Recently his team at Vision Net launched the first AI Ready Network in the United States as part of its market leading Distributed Edge AI initiative. A thought leader and author of over 30 technology papers, he has been invited to speak to scores of industry events.