It is my honor to write this message on my first day as CEO of NTCA.
As I shared with many of you at RTIME last month, I owe huge thanks to those who have meant a lot to me and placed their trust in me to get to this point: the NTCA Board of Directors, our terrific members, the NTCA staff, and my family. And then there is Shirley Bloomfield. I can't begin to thank Shirley enough. From when we first connected in 2010, she took a chance on me in the belief that I could be an effective partner in her work on behalf of all of you. Through the amazing journey that followed, we made a terrific team, and I will always treasure that and be grateful for it.
How does one succeed someone like Shirley? The best answer I can come up with is to take it one day at a time, working harder and smarter each day. So, now I'm committing to all of you what I’ve committed to her over the last 15-plus years: that I will work each day to re-earn the trust you've placed in me with this role. Why did I want this position so badly? For three reasons: cause, connection and challenge. I still feel such a deep commitment to our cause, and a deep connection to all of you, as well, that keeps building over time. It's unique to find that in a job in Washington, D.C. I'm so glad to continue to be a part of this wonderful organization, and I'm excited about what’s ahead.
And to be clear, there will be great opportunities and challenges alike to come. I joined NTCA in the middle of the National Broadband Plan, and we’ve worked since then through multiple Universal Service Fund (USF) reforms and even court challenges. Today, we aren't just looking at regulatory challenges either. The marketplace is changing too. Competition and technology are evolving, offering promise while also creating new pressure points. But your resilience, your creativity, your commitment, and our partnership have seen us through challenges before, and I'm confident they will again. Our “Building Block Strategy” – taking wins where we can while also positioning thoughtfully for what might come next – has paid off time and again. And this requires careful planning paired with flexibility to adapt as needed.
This leads to the vision I presented to the NTCA Board during the search process, and which I will carry forward in leading NTCA: embracing change, pushing for innovation and helping members help themselves. Washington and the entire world are changing. We can't duck our heads in the sand or wish change away. We must take it head-on. Both NTCA and our members must be willing to do things differently and strive for workable outcomes that may not look like what came before. We need to push for innovation. This is not just about a mindset. This is evolving in the approaches we take to solving problems. We need to consider new alliances and new arguments. We need to evolve in our relationships and in our business plans. And then NTCA must build both foundations and launching pads for members to help themselves. We must advocate for policies that enable you to grow your business and serve your communities well. And we must educate your teams, give you employee benefits, and provide you with tools to position your companies for success in your markets and in serving your communities and customers.
Coming back to where I started, I commit to you that I'll look to re-earn this position every day, and I am honored to serve in this new role for you and the communities you serve. I hope to see many of you at the Telecom Executive Forum later this month or the Legislative and Policy Conference later this spring. I am also always available for a quick chat or email about how NTCA can help you succeed, and I will continue to provide regular updates through emails like this, blogs and member webinars.
Thank you, and I look forward to working for you and with you going forward.