Women of Fiber Connect Luncheon Brings Cross-Industry Leaders to Fiber Connect 2026

"Strong Minds, Strong Bodies, Strong Communities” luncheon to highlight leadership, mentorship and impact across industries

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced details for its annual Women of Fiber Connect Luncheon, taking place during Fiber Connect 2026. This year's luncheon, themed “Strong Minds, Strong Bodies, Strong Communities,” will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026.

As fiber deployment accelerates nationwide, the industry faces a growing need for skilled talent and strong leadership. Events like the Women of Fiber Connect Luncheon reflect a broader push to expand the talent pipeline, elevate diverse voices, and ensure the workforce building tomorrow’s networks reflects the communities it serves.

The program will feature a keynote address from Abby Farris Rogers, Executive V.P. and Chief Development Officer at YMCA of the USA, titled “Creating Connected Communities in a Digital Age.”

“Fiber is about more than infrastructure. It’s about connecting individuals and families to opportunities for growth, positive relationships, and belonging,” said Rogers. “We know that communities are strongest when everyone has access to the tools they need to succeed, and connectivity is one of those critical tools.”

The keynote will be followed by a Fireside Chat discussion with Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging, in conversation with Ash Brown, Chair of the FBA Board, about navigating leadership and longevity.

"We’re living longer than any generation before us, thanks to advances in medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle, and that gives us something powerful: more time to shape how we live and lead,” said Alwin. “In this age of longevity, it’s not just about rising, but about adapting, leaving a legacy, and bringing others along. Aging well is living well."

The luncheon is part of FBA’s broader commitment to fostering inclusion, professional development, and leadership across the fiber broadband ecosystem. By incorporating perspectives from leaders outside the broadband industry, the luncheon offers attendees a unique opportunity to gain fresh insights on leadership and community impact that extend beyond traditional industry boundaries.

"As the fiber broadband industry continues to grow, it’s critical that we are just as intentional about developing leaders as we are about building networks,” said Trish Ehlers, Staff Liaison for the Women in Fiber Committee and Vice President of Operations at the Fiber Broadband Association. “The Women of Fiber Connect Luncheon highlights the importance of mentorship, representation, and bringing new perspectives to shape the future of our industry.”

Beyond the luncheon, all Fiber Connect 2026 attendees can engage with industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators shaping the future of connectivity, with programming spanning workforce development, emerging technologies, and critical applications such as AI, telehealth, and precision agriculture.

For more information on Fiber Connect 2026 or the Women of Fiber luncheon visit, fiberconnect.fiberbroadband.org. To stay up to date on all events and research subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here.

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is the voice of fiber, helping providers, policy makers, and communities make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. FBA is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists. Since 2001, FBA and its members have worked to advance fiber broadband deployment to accelerate innovation and increase quality of life by enabling every community to leverage the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MENA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.