Note: The following is a professional history in detailed storybook format. If you’re interested in a summarized work resume please read and connect at my public LinkedIn profile. To discuss opportunities or for detailed resume information please contact me with your request.
I began my ambitions as an entrepreneur in early second grade, where my marginal artistic abilities and creative origami-like paper folding experiments led to a small self-standing figurine. I posted an “order form” next to the classroom door and sold them to my classmates, each with a custom “face” drawn on it. And so it began…
Statistics have shown that many of the most successful business owners and wealthy Americans are either immigrants or one of their children. My father always had the spirit and enthusiasm for a business of his own. They never really panned out, however his hard work and inspirations were contagious.
After testing out of High School at 16-years old, I began working and assembling my plans for college and career. Instead LIFE happened, it wasn’t until I turned 19 that my father gave me a small loan that I used to launched a Dish Network sales and installation company in Wisconsin. I learned that running a business is not for the faint at heart!
After arriving in Denver (2001) I opened the doors on a fledgling industry – Wireless Broadband. Wi-Fi was in its infancy (wasn’t even called Wi-Fi yet) and I found more and more people across the USA and World taking this technology to broadband-starved rural markets, and deploying community-wide wireless broadband systems. I assisted nearly 1000 of these upstart providers over the next four-years.
This company went rapidly from its first million-dollar year in over 25 years to being one of the dominant distributors of wireless technology today, and are experiencing consecutive tens of million dollar years. During this time one of my customers who operated a WISP (Wireless ISP) in Aspen, Colorado invited me up to be co-interviewed with him by Pui-Wing Tam of The Wall Street Journal. The article was originally supposed to publish the week of September 11, 2001, but on December 7th came the first true realization of Wireless Broadband as something truly amazing.
Later 2001 Jim Selby and I set out to build a WISP geared to be the first major regional player, unfortunately the investor made bad judgment calls and Jim and I left prior to its unfortunate demise. The silver lining at the time was a new concept that was brought to realization by a team of us in Aspen known as National Broadband. National was to be the first nationwide wireless broadband provider, with our unique approach of delivering Tier-1 fiber bandwidth to Tier-2 and 3 markets wirelessly.
With $28 Million in private investment and fiber rights spanning 18,000 miles across 38 states, this was an amazing and ambitious project in 2003. We were successful in deploying 10% of the overall network, including deploying a community-wide fixed wireless system (e.g. wireless DSL or WiMAX) and ubiquitous Wi-Fi system – before any metro/muni systems were ever conceived. Relationships with Intel, IBM, and Microsoft were forged, however due to investor setbacks the company lost its founders and vision.
This led me back to my roots; I began a wireless product distribution company, Defacto Wireless, in 2004. Jim Selby assisted me in this venture where we launched with only starvation capital; within only 6 months of sales activities we grossed $1.4 Million in revenue. Relationships with industry leading companies like Orthogon (acquired by Motorola in 2006), Redline, Dragonwave, Aperto, and Senao. We also created our own product line known as AirMatrix, featuring one of the industry’s first outdoor Wi-Fi mesh radios, deployed in over 20 countries. WiMAX standards were now being debated, and 802.16d-2004 was ratified.
In late 2005 Jim and I sold our interest to pursue other ventures in a rapidly growing market. Shortly thereafter we began a professional services firm in Portland, Oregon. With two of the largest and most prominent wireless/internet shows coming up, ISPCON and WiMAX World, we worked fast and hard to launch our company from scratch in only 45-days. In front of an audience over 6,000 from over 50 countries in the world, ours was one of the top 3 busiest booths at both events.
During 2006 one of my side-ventures in VoIP was funded, and we are currently in the process of launching this service. This service is not a “me-too” VoIP play, but rather is uniquely target-marketed at various loyal groups and demographic meccas. Additionally, this VoIP service is not simply voice. We have added many additional features and functions to this service, and have even more planned for the future. This one bets on SIP, not just VoIP. ELABORATE HERE TOO!
Also during 2006 Jim Selby and I under Aspen Wireless Technologies were hired to write a response to provide Muni Wi-Fi service in Vail, Colorado. With Town of Vail being a Qwest territory, it was a strategically competitive move to implement “edge-out” broadband. I authored the RFP response based on collaborative vision of technology and business by Jim Selby, Bob Stone and myself. This unique combination of tech and business approach successfully won against other bidders such as Google, Earthlink, AT&T and Qwest. Jim Selby, Warner Butler and I deployed the entire network in under 4 months with amazing support of local CenturyTel personnel!!! This included over 350 network devices covering 9 miles of mountainous terrain. We brought 100Mbps connectivity to the Town of Vail (Municipal), businesses and a mobile 6Mbps to the entire area.
CenturyTel continued to make wireless a priority to address broadband in rural “Small America” by leveraging Wi-Fi (muni, hotspot), Broadband Wireless Access (BWA)/Fixed Wireless, and Point to Point Backhaul technologies. My work included engineering and business analysis for; a national ubiquitous hotspot deployment, various fixed wireless deployments, additional Muni Wi-Fi opportunities, and significant wireless backhaul/PtP opportunities. The fever spread CenturyTel continued its pursuits by participating in the spectrum auctions, where CenturyTel won $150M of 700MHz spectrum.
The most unique opportunity of my career presented itself along with my move to Hood River, OR. Across the river a small unmanned aircraft innovator was making waves in their industry, which also transitioning to digital communications – which is a specialty of mine! Although I can not go in to great detail, I work on various elements related to the communications systems of the aircraft (to ground) for Command and Control, Payload, Video, and other data. In September 2008, Insitu was acquired by Boeing for $400M and continues to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary to preserve the innovative and entrepreneurial culture and environment.
Media interviews include a co-interview with Jim Selby by The Wall Street Journal in 2001, in 2004 by the Christian Science Monitor with Jim Selby, and recently in the High Country Business Review.
Through these years I have been involved significantly at various industry conferences. Some of the events that I have had the honor of speaking at are; WCA, PFF, four-time returning at WISPCON (seen in picture at top of page), Telluride Technology Festival, and the FCC’s “Rural WISP Showcase”. Spending time with friends in Washington D.C and networking became a passion during this time. Being able to provide information and inspiration to make positive changes or establish tech policies in the 21st Century American government has been excellent, and it became a priority again for the 2008 Presidential Campaigns – joining the Technology/Media/Telecom Policy committee of Barack Obama. More on that shortly.
My efforts in working with Washington D.C. and and government departments such as the FCC are long and wide. I have contributed to influential groups like Wireless Communications Association (WCA), Progress and Freedom Foundation (PFF), Part-15.org and others, as well as directly with the government in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) including Chair Michael Powell and commissioners such as Policy Director Robert Pepper (both seen in picture at top of page) which lead to many favorable changes in spectrum, telecom, and Internet policy in the early years of that commission.
During 2008 I became an active member of Barack Obama’s 2008 Tech/Media/Telecom Policy Committee. This group was tasked with creating, bolstering and defending (as if it needed it) the “Technology and Innovation Policy” so many tech leaders adamantly supported. My primary points of interest in the policy are; broadband proliferation (USF reform, rural access, broadband wireless, and redefine “broadband”), wireless spectrum policy, public safety access and interoperability, education, healthcare and general innovation.
Thank you for reading. Please connect with me at LinkedIn and read my summarized work resume in my public profile. To discuss opportunities or for detailed resume information please contact me with your request.
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