In 1991, while working for the family electrical contracting business, Betscher earned a B.S. in Industrial Technology from Morehead State University. Betscher continued to work for the family business until 1998, when his father took ill and decided to close the business. In March of 1998, Betscher began a new career at Cincinnati Bell as a Construction Splicer. He held that position for 5 years before accepting the position of ADSL Splicer, working that position for another 5 years. Working as an ADSL Splicer, Betscher was given an opportunity to join management as a Team Leader for the FTTH group (FiOptics). Those previous positions prepared Betscher for the position he holds today as Senior Specialist for Field Operations.

Explain what you do for a living in 20 words or less.
Introduce new hardware and tools for the OSP. Serve as Field Operations liaison between other Cincinnati Bell (CBT) departments and outside vendors.

What is the favorite part of your job?
Working with the dedicated people at CBT.

When do you feel the most frustrated professionally?
When people make promises and don’t keep their word or commitment.

Fiber or Copper for the future?
Fiber. But we cannot overlook the potential copper has with new technologies.

What is the quality you most like in a colleague?
Honesty.

What treat do you keep hidden in your office/desk/truck that helps you through an OSP day?
Jelly beans and oyster crackers.

Where would you vacation if money were no object?
Australia.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
At times, I overanalyze things when I need to make a quick decision.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Dishonesty.

If you had only ONE OSP tool, what would it be?
A technician who has vast copper and fiber experience, and who educates him/herself and strives to be the best.

If you could change one thing about the OSP, what would it be?
I would change the OSP from copper to fiber.

Where and why do you read OSP magazine?
At home. To educate myself about the latest technologies and the new products hitting the industry.

When do you feel the most satisfied professionally?
When I’m recognized by my peers for my hard work and dedication.

What is the quality you most admire in a colleague?
Determination. It can be contagious.

What’s your favorite quote?
“Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.”

Tell us the most extraordinary/unusual experience you’ve had out in the field.
The most unusual experience I had out in the field was when lightning hit a light pole near the manhole I was working. It caused the grounding ribbon in the manhole to shoot molten copper everywhere -- definitely one of the scariest experiences of my life.

Tell us the funniest customer experience you’ve experienced, or seen, in the field.
There have been many, but I think the older woman showing me how she could put her legs over her head was by far the funniest.

Tell us how you got into telecommunications. By chance or plan?
By chance. A friend working at CBT asked me for my resume, and fortunately, the rest is history.

If you could have your perfect job in telecom, what would it be?
I feel that my current position is my perfect job. I get to work with many different departments at CBT, meet new vendors and learn from my peers in the industry. Hopefully, this experience will allow me to evolve to my next perfect position.