Fiber Broadband Association Expands Leadership Team to Support Boom in Broadband

New staff includes seasoned leaders in research, marketing, membership, and operations

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced it has strengthened its core staff of marketing and membership leadership to support the association’s growing initiative to advocate for the entire fiber ecosystem and advance fiber-based broadband deployments everywhere. This team of experts will help expand FBA research, build member resources and drive awareness of the impact and superiority of fiber in the broadband network. The FBA core team now includes Gary Bolton, President and CEO; Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Marketing; Edna Preuss, Manager of Industry Affairs, LATAM Chapter; Trish Ehlers, Senior Director of Membership, Industry Affairs and Operations; and Jennifer Vassil, Administration and Operations Coordinator.

“Broadband usage metrics from 2020 have been staggering, and the projection of increase in usage over the next decade only climbs higher. I am thrilled to welcome new members to the core team, as they will be instrumental in building the best education, tools and opportunities to enable the industry to best support this broadband boom,” said Bolton. “These new team members have already immersed themselves in the Fiber Broadband Association ecosystem and are ready to engage and provide the right expertise to support informed decisions in building better broadband with fiber.”

Deborah Kish is a former Gartner analyst, where she spent more than 21 years advising telecom carriers, technology suppliers and investors on emerging technologies, applications, target markets, competitive landscapes and business models. At the Fiber Broadband Association, she directs marketing strategy and leads the development of research and survey programs. Kish also drives the creation of education, training and certification programs to advance the FBA’s workforce development efforts.

Trish Ehlers has a strong history and track record in the industry with experience from SBC/Ameritech, ISE and with non-profits. At FBA, she is responsible for membership, member engagement, managing events and industry affairs, and overseeing the association’s operations. Working closely with Ehlers is Jennifer Vassil who is responsible for administration, the coordination of member communications and assisting in the management of key FBA initiatives.

Overseeing the Fiber Broadband Association Latin America Chapter is Edna Preuss. Edna is a veteran of the organization and is responsible for managing LATAM member services, including training, marketing, conference management, member development and support. The extended Fiber Broadband Association advisors include CPA Jeff Kavadias of Kavadias Hall PLLC; regulatory counsel Tom Cohen of Kelley Dry and Warren; legislative lobbyists Steve Perry and Kim Bayliss of Perry Bayliss; the public relations team at Connect2 Communications; as well as the Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) staff which includes Mark Uncapher, executive director, and Joy Molony, director of membership.

The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in the Americas, LATAM, Europe, MENA and APAC.

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association in the Americas dedicated to the pursuit of all- fiber-optic network infrastructure to the home, to the business and to everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better broadband networks with fiber optics while working with its members to lead the organization forward, collaborate with industry allies and propel the deployment of fiber networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build a better broadband future here and around the world. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.