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OSP’s 2011 Thought Leaders Go to Bat for Rural CommunitiesWe have passionate representatives from both ILECs, CLECs, IOCs and Rural companies who WANT to make a difference for those who are without broadband at home in rural America. That’s why this year’s Thought Leaders Series is so critical. We invite you to follow them in print AND at OSP EXPO 2011 where they will take questions from you during our Thought Leaders Live Panel Discussion on Wednesday, September 14, 2011. The only thing that’s left for you to do is to get involved! Send your editor, Sharon Vollman, questions you have for them, debate topics you’d like to see addressed. Don’t sit on the sidelines – use this Forum to get your thoughts out in the open. Email your comments/questions/insights to: svollman@pracom.com today!
2011 OSP Thought Leader Participants
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Joe DiMelis |
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Joe began his career at Pacific Bell in 1986 in the Network Planning and Engineering (NP&E) Organization as a Network Design Engineer. In April 2006, Joe was named the Vice President of Construction & Engineering with AT&T Services, Inc. Joe has responsibility for the planning, engineering, and construction of the Outside Plant (OSP) facilities used to serve the voice, data, and video needs for all AT&T Customers (Wholesale & Retail) in the AT&T Midwest Region. In February 2008, Joe picked up the additional responsibility for mobility operations (cell site growth and maintenance) in the AT&T Midwest Region. |
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Darrick Zucco |
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Darrick Zucco is the VP & GM of the Consumer Market for Cincinnati Bell. He has over 15 years of experience in telecommunications with Cincinnati Bell and City of Lebanon, Ohio. While at Lebanon, Darrick was responsible for running the municipal cable TV, phone, and broadband operations as a competitive option for residential and business customers. He has held various positions within Cincinnati Bell including business sales, marketing, product management, and various General Manager roles in the organization. To contact Darrick, email darrick.zucco@cinbell.com. |
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Randall Frantz |
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Randall Frantz, Director Telecommunications and LBS Solutions, Esri, has more than 27 years of global telecommunications management experience. For more information on Esri and GIS-based telecommunications solutions, e-mail rfrantz@esri.com or visit esri.com/osp. |
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Brian Peterson |
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Brian Peterson, Frontier Communications' West Region Vice President Engineering, began his 21-year career in telecommunication with Contel in June of 1989 as an Associate Engineer. He then worked for GTE and Citizens Communications (now Frontier Communications) holding the positions of Network Engineer, Operations Supervisor, OSP Engineering Manager, and then Engineering Director from May 2000 to January 2005 when he was promoted to his current position where he is responsible for all aspects of the engineering and construction function for the West Region of Frontier Communications. Brian can be reached at email Brian.Peterson@ftr.com. |
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Gary Evans |
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Gary W. Evans, president and CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Communications, joined the company in 1998. One of two people who performed the study in 1992 that led to the creation of Luminet (HBC’s predecessor), Evans is a long-time Winona resident. He served as Winona State University’s vice president of university relations from 1987 until 1998 after spending 30 years in the newspaper business. Evans is married. He and his wife, Ellen, are the parents of two children. Gary can be reached at email gary.evans@hbci.com. |
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Delbert Wilson |
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Delbert Wilson, General Manager of Hill Country Telephone Cooperative, Inc., has more than 32 years experience in all phases of the telecommunications industry, ranging from major outside plant and wireless projects to exchange acquisitions and building distance learning networks. Testifying 4 times before Congress on behalf of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), Delbert has been deeply involved in its Grass Roots Advocacy Program, working to protect the interest of rural telephone cooperatives and its members. Delbert can be reached at email bfischer@hctc.coop. |
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Jay Stewart |
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Jay Stewart is Director of Ethernet Solutions for JDSU in the company’s Communications Test and Measurement business segment. He is an industry expert in the data/IP and services testing field with over 18 years of experience. Jay’s contributions in areas of Ethernet, IMP and fixed-mobile convergence strategy are behind some of JDSU’s top service assurance solutions deployed by providers today. For more information, visit www.jdsu.com. |
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Joe Blanchard |
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Joe Blanchard has served as ReliOn’s Chief Operating Officer since May 2011, having held the position of Vice President of Product Line Management since 2005. Blanchard spent the previous 18 years with Fujitsu in Richardson, TX. During his tenure at Fujitsu, he held various management positions in development, product management, product support and services. Prior to Fujitsu, he worked in product development for Rockwell/Wescom and for GTE Automatic Electric. For more than 27 years, Blanchard has been involved in the design, development, marketing and support of products spanning DLC/DSLAMs and FTTx systems, telecom cabinets and power systems, optical transport, DWDM systems, Class 5 switching and PBX systems. Joe can be reached at email jblanchard@relion-inc.com
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Moderator: |
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Sharon Vollman is Vice President, Editorial Director of OSP. She oversees all editorial processes and staff for OSP magazine, the OSP enewsletter, www.ospmag.com and leads the educational content development for the OSP EXPO and several roundtable events. Vollman has created educational partnerships with the major LECs including AT&T, BellSouth and Qwest. She has covered the telecom industry since 1996, when she joined OSP magazine as editor. Prior to that she worked in advertising with Ogilvy & Mather and CME. Vollman has a bachelor's degree in journalism/advertising from the University of Iowa. |
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