Jaime Arroyo is a Lancaster City Council Member and Chief Executive Officer at ASSETS, a local non-profit helping women and BIPOC entrepreneurs start and grow their business by providing equitable access to training resources, capital, and impact consulting. As Chair of the Economic Development Committee, Jaime has advanced efforts such as the Small Business Relief Fund, fair and just housing rental and lead abatement ordinances, and leading the process to award $10 million in support of affordable housing projects and $5 million in community facilities projects. Born in Puerto Rico, Jaime is a graduate of J.P McCaskey High School, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Millersville University and a Master’s of Business Administration from Drexel University. For over a decade, Jaime worked in various positions within banking, driven to help clients reach their personal and business financial goals. During this time Jaime also built his own real estate business, investing in properties that provided quality housing for Lancaster City residents. He has served on Council since 2020.
Jennifer Blatz is Program Director for the Greater Pittsburgh Digital Inclusion Alliance, a grassroots coalition of 20 nonprofits in Allegheny County that are striving to align digital equity efforts in the region. She also serves as Manager of Senior Programming and Advocacy at the Persad Center in Pittsburgh. During her career, she has led organizing drives and political campaigns, and has extensive experience in volunteer and program management. Jen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Boston University.
Fran Bradley has served with distinction as the BCAP Board of Directors President for several terms. During his most recent tenure, the statewide trade association rebranded itself as the Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania. Fran first began his service with the organization in 1990 when the organization was known as the Pennsylvania Cable and Telecommunications Association. Bradley’s day job is Director of Government Affairs for Breezeline (formerly known as Atlantic Broadband), where he has been since 2015, but has held numerous positions within the industry with Adelphia and Comcast since the early 1970s. Bradley was inducted into the National Cable Pioneers Class of 2010, and was the recipient of BCAP’s PRIDE (Performance Representing Integrity, Dedication and Excellence) Award in 2001 and again in 2006.
Sean Brushett, Vice President of Technical Operations at Breezeline, leads the evolution and performance of the company’s network infrastructure to ensure that services are delivered reliably to its customers. He leads the plant modernization efforts as the company transitions to the next generation of technology, including Fiber-to-the-Home. He also works to ensure that construction, installation, dispatch, service, plant maintenance, and warehousing operations are contributing to an elevated customer experience. Sean joined Breezeline in August 2020 as Region Director Operations (Mid-Atlantic). Previously, Sean was President of Tide Cleaners at P&G, Chief Revenue Officer at Buckeye Broadband, and held regional vice president roles with increasing responsibility for Comcast in Washington, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Sean holds a degree in Political Science and English from Laurentian University (Ontario) and is a graduate of Yale University's Global Executive Leadership Program.
John Calhoon is Managing Director and Partner for Sand Cherry Associates, a business consulting firm serving clients in the cable, media, telecom, and broadband service industries across North America and Europe since 2001. Prior to his current role, John was Principal for Sand Cherry’s Product and Marketing Practice, where he oversaw high-speed data, broadband, and network technology programs for Tier 1 and Tier 2 network operators, including for clients in Pennsylvania. John has managed Sand Cherry work in the areas of broadband network expansion for underserved communities, digital equity, and state-level access to federal RDOF, CPF, and BEAD funding resources. Previously, John was Executive Director of Product Marketing for Inflow Managed Data Centers, and Director of Strategic Development for JATO DSL Network Services, and he led market strategy and product planning roles for AT&T Broadband, Media One Group and U.S. West Media Group. John began his career as Senior Policy Advisor to Colorado Gov. Roy Romer and holds a Master’s of Business Administration from Stanford University.
Carrie Cleary, is the Executive Assistant for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries. Within the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Office of Commonwealth Libraries is charged with coordinating library services and providing leadership in developing excellent and equitable libraries to support all learners. It also operates the State Library of Pennsylvania to collect, preserve, and connect state government, libraries, and residents with the information and resources needed for education, enrichment, and advancement. Carrie serves as the Secretary of Education’s designee to the Joint State Government Commission on Broadband (SR47). Prior to this role, Carrie served libraries and library users as executive director for a nonprofit using technology to enhance resource sharing, in outreach to homebound residents in WA, in a project for broadband deployment and technology education for PA public libraries, in library collaboration and consulting, in a law school library, and in rural libraries in Iowa.
Todd Eachus has led the Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania as its President for nearly two years. Prior to joining BCAP, he spent 25 years with several cable and broadband providers in various government and external affairs roles throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and Ohio. Prior to joining the cable industry, Eachus served as a press secretary and legislative aide in the U.S House of Representatives. He also spent 10 years in the U.S. Navy, flying in S-3 Viking aircraft and served in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Todd holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Communication from The George Washington University and is a graduate of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. He served on the Marple Newtown School Board for eight years (two years as President), is on the Board of Directors of the Spanish American Civic Association in Lancaster, The Pennsylvania Press Club, and is the Commodore of the Ocean City Marlin and Tuna Club in New Jersey.
James Galliford is the Director of Research and Development at Blue Ridge Communications in Palmerton, PA. Since joining Blue Ridge in 2021, some of his focuses have included working on the company’s fiber rebuild, establishing mobile workflow programs, and working with the team to design new networking infrastructure. A telecom industry veteran of 24 years, James has worked for multiple service providers across the region in various capacities. He has held roles including Network Engineer, Director of IP Operations, and Senior Director of Enterprise Systems. Broadband technology has always been an interest and he helped launch one of first channel bonding HFC broadband systems in the U.S. A life-long learner, he is a graduate of Misericordia University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology and a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
Mike Giobbi, President/Founder of Broadband Technologies Consulting Group, LLC, recently retired from Armstrong after more than 45 years. Mike began in Armstrong’s Fayette/Westmoreland County cable system as an installer/service tech in 1977 after graduation from Penn State Fayette Campus with an ASEET. Mike progressed to system maintenance technician and then in 1990 returned in evenings to Penn State New Kensington Campus in the BSEET program duplicated from Penn State Harrisburg. After graduation Mike and his family moved to Butler County as Mike began his Corporate Engineer career. He was elevated to Vice President of New Technologies in 1999 and then Chief Technology Officer in 2006. Mike has recently created his own firm, Broadband Technologies Consulting Group, LLC, with the mission to consult with cable, telephone, and all communications service providers on all technologies and network architectures to support the growing demand for faster broadband speeds and lower latency.
Scott HoppelScott Hoppel is the Director of Commercial Sales for PenTeleData and is responsible for leading a team of sales and sales support personnel who promote the full suite of PenTeleData services across the entire service area . The PenTeleData Commercial Sales and Wholesale Sales Teams focus their efforts on the areas serviced by the PenTeleData partners Blue Ridge Communications, Service Electric Cablevision, Service Electric Cable TV and Communications, and Ironton Telephone Company. For 23 years, Scott has worked closely with PenTeleData's partners and other industry professionals to design, sell and build solutions for Internet solutions and Wide Area Networks with unsurpassed reliability and scalability. Scott, an avid NFL fan and technology hobbyist, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Muhlenberg College and resides in Lehighton, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.
Alicia Hughart is the Director of Marketing/Projects at Blue Ridge Communications. She is responsible for managing Blue Ridge’s marketing strategy, digital advertising, brand strategy, community engagement, website and eCommerce development, process changes, product launches, and more. She oversees the marketing and project management teams and serves as the liaison for their digital marketing agency. Alicia earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Kutztown University. She began her career at Blue Ridge in 2012 as a Customer Service Representative and followed her passion for teaching by advancing into the Learning and Development Department as the Lead Technical Trainer for four years. Alicia then transitioned into the role of Project Coordinator, then Project Manager, and helped Blue Ridge develop strategic project management practices throughout the organization. Alicia has also played a pivotal role in Blue Ridge’s digital transformation, brand strategy development, and CX strategy development over the past five years.
James J. Kail has been employed by the Laurel Highland Total Communications, Inc. since 2002 and currently serves as the company’s President and CEO. During his tenure with LHTC, Jim has overseen the construction of the company’s fiber-to-the-premise project covering the territories of the company’s four local exchange carriers, which provide telephone, video, and broadband services in the southwestern and northeastern Pennsylvania. Jim is also currently the CEO of Western PA Fiber Network, LLC. Prior to joining LHTC, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Bentleyville Communications Corporation and was on its Board of Directors from 1998-2002. A graduate of Robert Morris University, Jim earned his CPA license and worked for several public accounting firms. He also served on OPASTCO’s Board of Directors and the NTCA Board of Directors. He is also a founding member of the Small Company Coalition, which was established in 2012 to educate and empower small rural communications service providers on methods to influence and eliminate harmful regulations and legislation. He has been actively involved in the Pennsylvania Telephone Association and has served as a member of its Board since 2009.
Stephanie Kosta is Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs and Community Impact for Comcast’s Freedom Region.Joining Comcast in 2016, she leads a team who supports key advocacy and compliance initiatives in New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Northern Delaware. Stephanie is also responsible for Comcast’s regional community investment partnerships and programs, including Internet Essentials, Leaders & Achievers Scholarships, and Comcast Foundation grants. In doing so, she supports strategic planning and management of the multistate region. Prior to Comcast, Stephanie was a partner at the law firm Duane Morris, LLP and before that, an attorney at WolfBlock. Stephanie sits on a number of nonprofit boards, volunteers with multiple charitable groups, represents Philadelphia children who were adjudicated dependent or delinquent. She graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and earned her Juris Doctor at Georgetown University Law Center.
Joe McGuinness is Director, Enterprise Sales, at DQE Communications. In this role, Joe is responsible for day-to-day oversight of the outside Sales T, Residential Sales, along with Sales Engineering and Support. His expertise includes 20 years as a telecommunications veteran, bringing industry knowledge and direct sales practice with various services including Fiber Optics, Colocation, Cloud and Security Service. Prior to joining DQE Communications in 2014, Joe held various sales roles at Level 3 and MCI Communications. Joe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Cambridge State University and an RN degree from Carlow College.
Ed McKay is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Shentel and is responsible for leading the company’s integrated broadband business, including the Shentel and Glo Fiber brands. He joined Shentel in 2004 and has more than 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Prior to his current role, he served as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations. He played a key role in the growth and success of Shentel’s former wireless business, led the expansion of the fiber-rich network supporting the company’s cable and wireline business, and was responsible for delivering on Shentel’s broadband Fiber First growth strategy for Glo Fiber. Ed began his telecommunications industry career in 1996, including previous management positions at UUNET and Verizon. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Electrical Engineering, and he represents the company on the Board of ACA Connects.
Alex Minard is Vice President and Lead Legislative Counsel of NCTA – The Internet and Television Association. Alex is responsible for NCTA’s federal and state legislative portfolio and for the association’s advocacy and partnerships with various national intergovernmental organizations. Previously, he was at the Federal Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, and Telecommunications Access Policy Division, most recently as Deputy Division Chief managing the high-cost universal service program. He is a graduate of William and Mary Law School and Kenyon College.
Alka Patel currently serves as Vice President of Government and External Affairs for Comcast’s Keystone Region. Her focus is advancing digital equity in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland through partnerships with nonprofits and city and business leaders to help provide tools and resources low-income families need to shape the future in an increasingly digital world. Alka has more than 20 years of experience working at the intersection of technology, business, and law, across private, academic, and government sectors. Prior to Comcast, Patel was employed as the inaugural Chief of Responsible AI for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (and across the federal government) where she led strategic creation, development, and implementation of an enterprise-wide Responsible AI program, providing key leadership and support to drive AI innovation, and advancing national and foreign policy for Responsible AI in defense. Patel holds a Juris Doctorate and Masters in Business Administration from Duquesne University, and a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
Kristin Phillips-Hill, the Senate Majority Caucus Chair, was elected to serve York County residents in the Pennsylvania Senate in 2018 and 2022. A former small business owner and school board director, Kristin serves as the vice chair of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee and is a member of the Senate Aging and Youth, Appropriations, Banking and Insurance, and State Government committees. In addition to being a member of the PA Broadband Development Authority, she co-chairs the Manufacturing Caucus and the YMCA Caucus. Kristin earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Policy from Rutgers University.
Deanna Richter is the Marketing Manager at LHTC Broadband in Donegal, PA. Deanna graduated from PennWest California in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations. She joined LHTC Broadband in 2007 as the Marketing Representative and has now held the position of Marketing Manager since 2016. Some of the things Deanna oversees as Marketing Manager include company branding, advertising, social media, internal and external events, cable TV network contracts, new product launches, fiber-to-the-home rollouts, and community contributions. Deanna is the President of the local Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of a community service scholarship organization.
Ray Roundtree was named earlier this year as Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Keystone Region in Pittsburgh, overseeing the organization’s operational, strategic, and financial performance across areas serving western, central and northeastern Pennsylvania; eastern Ohio; northern West Virginia; and the Maryland panhandle. Roundtree joined Comcast in 2000 as Director of Business Operations for Chester and Lancaster counties and has since served in several financial management leadership roles at Comcast during his 22 years at the company. He most recently served as Vice President of Finance for Comcast’s Beltway Region, based in Baltimore. Roundtree holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master’s in Business Administration from Penn State University, where he was a wide receiver for the 1986 national championship Nittany Lions.
Danene Sorace was elected to serve as the City of Lancaster’s 43rd Mayor in 2018, the second woman to hold this post. Before serving as Mayor, Danene served on City Council, chairing the finance committee. Her first taste of local government came while serving as executive director for an environmental organization that was actively partnering with the City of Lancaster to launch the city’s first-ever green infrastructure plan. Danene brings more than 20 years of non-profit and philanthropy experience to the role of Mayor. She has a proven record of developing and implementing strategies to advance shared goals among public/private partners. Now in her second term as Mayor, she has set forth a vision to build a stronger, more equitable Lancaster, block by block. The city, under her leadership, is laser-focused on creating strong neighborhoods, safe places, sustainable economy, and sound government. Danene spent her early years in Lancaster County and later moved to Juniata County, where she graduated high school. She graduated from Albright College and received her master’s in Public Policy from Rutgers University.
Dean Stoneback, Senior Director of Engineering and Standards at SCTE, is responsible for the development of standards and operational practices for the broadband communications industry. Specific targets include assuring that networks are ready for DOCSIS 4.0 deployments; enabling advanced and IP video services and digital advertising; developing Internet of things (IoT) deployment methods; enabling telemedicine and aging in place technologies, supporting the migration of networks from coax to fiber delivery; and reducing energy usage and increasing sustainably awareness through the Energy 20/20 program. Prior to joining SCTE in 2014, Dean spent 26 years with the Jerrold division of General Instrument, Motorola, and ARRIS. During his career he has focused primarily on fiber optic, RF and PON transmission systems and has experience in systems engineering, hardware design, and system integration and test. Dean received degrees from Geneva College in Beaver Falls and Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Grant Spellmeyer oversees the daily operations and affairs of ACA Connects-America’s Communications Association. Prior to joining ACAC in June 2022, Grant was Vice President – Government Affairs for US Cellular, where his primary duties included directing the federal and state legislative and regulatory efforts across the company’s 21-state operating territory on all policy matters. Grant joined U.S. Cellular in 2006 from ACA Connects Member company, TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS). As part of the TDS enterprise, Grant served in a variety of wireless and wireline legal and regulatory roles for more than 20 years. Prior to that, Grant was an attorney in private practice in Madison, Wisc. Grant is a 1988 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, he holds an Master of Arts degree in Public Policy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School. He also holds an Master’s of Business Administration from Northwestern University.
Mark Walter is Senior Vice President at Service Electric Cablevision, a successor corporation to the first community antenna television business (later known as cable television and now known as broadband). Service Electric Cablevision, Inc. (SECV) is a leading Pennsylvania provider of residential and business Internet, TV, and phone services celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. A Service Electric veteran, having joined the company in 1996, Mark is a graduate of the University of Richmond, and received his Master’s in Business Administration from Lehigh University. Under Mark’s leadership, SECV continues to deliver new and improved content and products to its customers. The company offers Internet download speeds up to 2 Gig, Plume Whole-Home Wi-Fi 6e, IPTV with Cloud DVR powered by TiVo, Fiber-To-The-Home, and more.
Greg Wells' Comcast career started in 2000 when he joined the company immediately after the purchase of Suburban Cable. For 22 years, he’s seen the evolution of Comcast’s Xfinity products to include broadband, tv, phone, security, and mobile to help deliver an exceptional customer experience. Through the years, he’s worked on product launches ranging from the first fiber system in the region to landline service to Xfinity Mobile. His telecommunications career has taken him from sales to marketing to business operations to management, where he currently serves as Comcast’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Keystone Region. The region spans from Wilkes-Barre to Steubenville, giving him responsibility for residential sales throughout a region that includes Reading, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Morgantown, and Wheeling. Greg holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts.
Nicole Ugarte Nicole Ugarte currently serves as the Federal Program Officer for Pennsylvania within the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). In this role, she coordinates efforts among federal, state, local, and community leaders to ensure reliable, affordable, high-speed internet for all Pennsylvanians. She has over a decade of experience focusing on stakeholder outreach and engagement, facilitating policy and strategic planning discussions in emergency communications, interoperability, natural resource planning, and governance across Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments. Nicole holds a master’s degree from the Jimmy and Roslynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Seattle University.
Sara Winegardner is a voice on the rise, becoming a trusted voice for the cable community through her analysis and storytelling in Cablefax Daily. Receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism from American University, Sara has covered everything from the merger of Warnermedia and Discovery to the creation and release of the FCC’s revamped broadband availability maps. In the months ahead, she’ll continue diving into every step of the NTIA’s BEAD program and hopes to see it make a meaningful dent in the digital divide. She loves investigating how cable operators can hyper-serve specific audiences, whether those are gamers and tech enthusiasts or those that have never been connected before. In addition to her coverage in Cablefax Daily, you can find Sara’s work in Cablefax’s industry-leading magazines: The 100, Most Powerful Women, the Diversity List and Top Ops. She also helped create the publication’s inaugural Pride List, an awards program dedicated to lifting up and highlighting LGBTQ+ individuals.
Nicole Wininger is the Director of Customer Care Operations at Blue Ridge Communications. She is responsible for Blue Ridge’s Contact Center Operations, Retail Center Operations, Work Force Management, Inbound/Outbound Sales and Retention Initiatives, Quality Assurance and Control Teams, Employee Onboarding, and Learning and Development Strategy. Nicole’s passion is developing future leaders within the organization and being involved in projects related to CX Strategy so their team can deliver exceptional experiences. Nicole attended Lehigh Carbon Community College for Business Administration. She is a Certified Professional Coach who is also an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner through the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching. She is also a Six Sigma Master Black Belt through Villanova University. Nicole is an active participant in the Cable Center’s “C5” Customer Centric Consortium Group.