OSP EXPO International Summit

OSP EXPO International Summit
November 15, 2012  |  10:30 AM

Despite turmoil in the global economy, the telecommunications industry continues to show impressive growth.  In fact, the world may look to telecom to help fuel global economic recovery.  As a result, international communications providers are working to meet unprecedented demand for fixed and mobile broadband while dealing with a mix of varied and outdated technologies.  Join OSP’s Editorial Director as she welcomes these six network executives who will share how their organizations are stepping up to the challenges and opportunities of evolving international telecommunications networks for the future throughout our very global village. Moderated by Sharon Vollman, Editorial Director of OSP magazine and featuring:

Paula L. Doublin
Assistant Vice President Antenna Solutions Construction & Engineering, AT&T
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Martin G. Travers
President – Telecommunications Division and Executive Director, Black & Veatch
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Andrew Dugan
Senior Vice President, Network Architecture & Engineering, Level 3 Communications
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Michael Wheeler
Executive Vice President, NTT Communications Global IP Network, NTT America, Inc.
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Greg Meister
Vice President of Customer Services – Operations, SaskTel
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Thierry R. Sender
Director – Content Delivery Technologies and Americas Network Planning, Verizon
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Paula L. Doublin
Assistant Vice President Antenna Solutions Construction & Engineering
AT&T

Paula L. Doublin is the Assistant Vice President Antenna Solutions Construction and Engineering for AT&T. Paula has responsibilities for enterprise-wide strategies, tactics and deployment relating to the engineering, construction and installation of Distributed Antenna Solutions (DAS) network infrastructure across AT&T’s national footprint, including Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. She was appointed to her current position in March 2010.

Previously, she served as the Director – National Access Network Field Deployment/Build for AT&T’s premier video offering, AT&T U-verseSM TV, and expanding AT&T’s fiber-optics network deeper into neighborhoods to deliver AT&T U-verse TV, voice and high-speed Internet access services. This fiber expansion enables AT&T U-verse TV to be delivered over a 100 percent pure IP platform. This IP platform delivers a better entertainment experience to AT&T customers through its ability to easily integrate and deliver new features. AT&T companies expect to pass approximately 30 million households by the end of 2011 as part of the initial deployment, using fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) and fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) technologies.

Doublin has also completed an international assignment where she was the majority Strategic Equity Partner for Performance Development with SBC International, Inc. and the Executive for Human Resource Strategies, Telkom-South Africa and was based in South Africa for a number of years. She was responsible for all performance development and training operations involving Information Technology, Network Planning and Engineering, Construction, Installation, Maintenance, Transmission, Data, Switching, Network Surveillance and Control, Remote Testing and Telemetry, Service Assurance, Health and Safety, Adult Basic Education, and Professional Leadership and Development for Telkom's more than 54,000 employees.

Doublin's extensive experience in the communications industry has been built upon a number of widely varied positions within the communications arena including Installation, Maintenance, Engineering, Construction, Information Technology and Human Resource Development. She began her career with Southwestern Bell Telephone in 1982 in Dallas, Texas. Doublin received a Liberal Arts degree with emphasis in Industrial Technology, Human Performance, and Industry Accounting. Prior to joining Southwestern Bell, Doublin was involved in her family's agricultural interests in Missouri. She remains a silent partner. She also holds interest in a skincare company in South Africa.

Martin G. Travers
President, Telecommunications Division and Executive Director
Black & Veatch

Martin G. Travers is the President of Black & Veatch's Telecommunications Division, an infrastructure, engineering, and construction services business focused on deployment of wireless and wireline networks and facilities. In this capacity, he is responsible for the overall financial performance, client satisfaction, and strategic direction of the division. The Telecommunications Division provides vertically integrated solutions to both public and private network clients around the world. In addition to his role in the Telecommunications Division, Mr. Travers is a member of the Black & Veatch Board of Directors. Mr. Travers has an extensive background in the engineering and construction of infrastructure facilities. With more than 30 years experience in projects such as electric power generating stations, transmission lines, substations and telecommunications networks, he has a thorough understanding of the key issues that influence successful project development deployment and performance.

Mr. Travers is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a BS Civil Engineering and a Registered Professional Engineer in Kansas.

Andrew Dugan
Senior Vice President, Network Architecture & Engineering
Level 3 Communications

Andrew is senior vice president of Network Architecture & Engineering for Level 3 Communications. Under his leadership, the organization is responsible for establishing a long term strategy and evaluating and selecting technologies for Level 3's transport, data, voice and video networks.

Andrew has 24 years of experience in building telecommunications networks, switching platforms and services platforms. Prior to joining Level 3, Andrew worked for MCIWorldcom, designing and building transport network support systems, enhanced voice services platforms and architecting next generation switching networks. Prior to MCIWorldcom, Andrew worked on building switching systems for Lucent Technologies.

Andrew holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado as well as an M.S. Degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Michael Wheeler
Executive Vice President, NTT Communications Global IP Network
NTT America, Inc.

Mr. Wheeler brings 20 years of sales management and operational experience in the Internet/data communications industry to NTT America.  In February 2012, after serving 3 years in his current role Mr. Wheeler was promoted to Executive Vice President within NTT America.  Prior to that in 2009, Mr. Wheeler was appointed to the position of Vice President, Global IP Network (GIN) Business Unit where he is responsible for all financial, engineering, operational and customer relationship activities for the business unit.  Previously, Mr. Wheeler led the sales and business development organization for the Global IP Network Business Unit of NTT America, including direct sales, account management, indirect channel sales, sales engineering, marketing, product management, and business development activities.  Mr. Wheeler was part of the original start up team with Verio in 1997, where he led several different sales organizations.  He transitioned to a leadership role at NTT America following the acquisition of Verio by NTT America’s parent company, NTT Communications, in August of 2000.

Previously, Mr. Wheeler served as a principal at StreamGroup where he was responsible for strategic alliance and business development for the firm’s consulting and business incubator practice.  Additionally, Mr. Wheeler served in a senior management role with Expotel Corporation, as well as being a co-founder of Cyber Mortgage, which was acquired by IndyMac Bank.
 

Greg Meister
Vice President of Customer Services – Operations
SaskTel

Greg Meister, Vice President of Customer Services – Operations is responsible for building and operating SaskTel’s networks and for ensuring SaskTel’s Customers receive a positive installation or repair experience.

Greg began his career in SaskTel in 1993 and has enjoyed several positions within Marketing, Sales and most recently Operations. Greg is currently SaskTel’s representative on Saskatchewan’s Provincial Emergency Management Committee.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan where he focused on the areas of Finance and Marketing. Greg has also received certifications for extension programs from the University of British Columbia and Queen’s University.

In addition to his career and family, Greg has previously devoted time as Director for the Battleford’s United Way, the Saskatchewan Skeet Shooting Corporation and the Prince Albert Pistol & Rifle Club. Greg currently enjoys contributing to Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers Board as a Director.

Thierry R. Sender
Director – Content Delivery Technologies and Americas Network Planning
Verizon

Thierry R. Sender is the Director of Content Delivery Technologies and Americas Network Planning, a position he has held since June 2011 at Verizon. He is responsible for the architecture and deployment planning of the network infrastructure in support of global content distribution and the Americas carrier access network planning for voice, public IP and private IP.

Prior to his current position, Thierry was Director of Video Network Planning, where he was responsible for planning the network deployment for the FiOS Video platform and Content Delivery Networks, with additional accountability for the network construction capital program.

Thierry began his career with Verizon in 1995 as an Area Network Planner with New York Telephone and joined the Data Network Planning organization as a Manager in 1998, where he had responsibility for Network Evolution and Edge Routing.

Thierry received a M.S. degree in Engineering from Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, New York.