Experience

Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation

• United States
• Utilities
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Mar 2022 - Present

  Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States



empower, delivered by Craighead Electric

• United States
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Mar 2022 - Present

  Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States

• GM / COO

  • 2017 - Mar 2022

  Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States Built a brand-new, state-of-the-art technology organization, taking from startup to 30 employees, 10K customers, and annual revenues in excess of $15M. Defined strategic plans, developed corporate policies and business processes, negotiated highly competitive agreements, and achieved positive operating margins nearly 3 years ahead of initial forecasts. ➤ Drafted white paper responses, led subcommittees, and provided mission-critical testimony resulting in the unanimous AECC-Board… Show more Built a brand-new, state-of-the-art technology organization, taking from startup to 30 employees, 10K customers, and annual revenues in excess of $15M. Defined strategic plans, developed corporate policies and business processes, negotiated highly competitive agreements, and achieved positive operating margins nearly 3 years ahead of initial forecasts. ➤ Drafted white paper responses, led subcommittees, and provided mission-critical testimony resulting in the unanimous AECC-Board approval of an $80M communications upgrade across the state of Arkansas. ➤ Provide targeted leadership to the sales, marketing, and operations teams, deploying services resulting in $25M in additional cash flow, 1.25x initial revenue projections, and double-digit CX and efficiency improvements. ➤ Cultivated productive relationships with two Board of Directors, successfully deploying $87M in infrastructure to build a company to serve more than 10K Cooperative members in desperate need of broadband services. ➤ Led subsidiary and Cooperative Boards through a $4.8M M&A, doubling both employee and customer counts, championing the alignment of product portfolios, and operating platforms 3 months ahead of schedule. ➤ Serve as a member of the Diamond State Networks Board of Directors, representing Empower and CECC and working with 26 Cooperative and subsidiary CEOs and GMs to achieve DSN successes and identify $200M in opportunities. ➤ Engaged as anchor tenant and bid sponsor for federal support programs, leading a consortium of 8 Cooperatives in achieving the assignment of $100M; led internal team in applying for and earning $3.6M in federal support funds.



Craighead Electric Cooperative Corporation

• United States
• Utilities
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Fiber Assets Manager

  • 2017 - 2020

  Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States Led a team of 50+--including employees, subsidiary staff, vendors, contractors, and consultants—in building nearly 5K miles of fiber in less than 36 months, negotiating 10+ contracts to deliver project 2 years ahead of schedule and $14M under budget. ➤ Played a key role in the development of $100M communications infrastructure design plan, creating a 100% digital construction environment, automating processes, doubling efficiencies, and preventing the necessity to hire 3 FTEs. ➤… Show more Led a team of 50+--including employees, subsidiary staff, vendors, contractors, and consultants—in building nearly 5K miles of fiber in less than 36 months, negotiating 10+ contracts to deliver project 2 years ahead of schedule and $14M under budget. ➤ Played a key role in the development of $100M communications infrastructure design plan, creating a 100% digital construction environment, automating processes, doubling efficiencies, and preventing the necessity to hire 3 FTEs. ➤ Achieved 30% cost savings by converting 200K+ data points into state-of-the-art database. ➤ Assessed technology readiness and risks, mitigating deployment of $5M in non-compliant assets, and providing the expertise and leadership to align hybrid fixed wireless, coaxial, and fiber-optic network need with design requirements.

• Engineer

  • 2016 - 2017

  Gained broad-based exposure to mission-vital business processes within the Cooperative, leading multimillion-dollar infrastructure deployment projects, expanding technology capabilities, and leading teams in achieving strategic objectives. ➤ Oversaw initial construction of a $2M+ critical infrastructure site and complex double and triple circuits, increasing capacity, expanding member service, and accelerating the Cooperative’s ability to compete in a saturated market. ➤ Led key… Show more Gained broad-based exposure to mission-vital business processes within the Cooperative, leading multimillion-dollar infrastructure deployment projects, expanding technology capabilities, and leading teams in achieving strategic objectives. ➤ Oversaw initial construction of a $2M+ critical infrastructure site and complex double and triple circuits, increasing capacity, expanding member service, and accelerating the Cooperative’s ability to compete in a saturated market. ➤ Led key stakeholders through a 7-month feasibility and due diligence process, resulting in Board commitment for the $100M design and deployment of a communication system to meet smart grid, SCADA, and member broadband needs. ➤ Mitigated risks to the accomplishment of strategic objectives, not only charting the departmental response to the #1 risk and opportunity—technology—but also executing a rate analysis to prevent rate subsidizations and margin loss.



United States Air Force

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• ROTC Recruitment & Training

  • 2013 - 2016

  Lexington, Kentucky, United States Oversaw leadership development training for elite group of future officers engaged in ROTC programs at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville; instructed 200+ students—over 3 years—and executed a $350K+ instructional contract. ➤ Evaluated existing programs and created new curriculum, maintaining leading-edge awareness of generational needs and opportunities for development, and providing the USAF with emerging leaders ready for service.

• Developmental Engineer

  • 2010 - 2013

  Hanscom AFB, MA Defined long-range strategic plan to ensure rapid deployment of new technologies, leading diverse teams through adversity, championing mission-critical projects and programs, and driving the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies and systems. ➤ Mitigated $5M in program spend—on a $36M budget—and saved 2 months of development time through rapid deployment of new technologies; readied the organization for adoption and expert change management.