Let's Get Digital with Carrie Charles

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles talks with Angus Ward, CEO of Beyond Now about the intersection of AI and Communication Service Providers (CSPs), exploring how AI can transform the telecom industry. He reveals that only 15% of companies currently derive significant value from AI, mainly due to fragmented experimentation across business units. To address this, Ward suggests priori...

In this episode, Carrie Charles speaks with Rich Berliner , CEO of Fifth Gen Media , to talk about the evolving opportunities in telecom and related sectors like EV charging. They discuss the transferability of skills from the wireless industry to new fields such as EV infrastructure and satellite communications, emphasizing the strong relationship between wireless connectivity and EV charging. Ri...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles welcomes Ruby Koleski , CEO of Joyous , to discuss her inspiring professional career and the innovative work of Joyous. Ruby shares her journey from growing up in South Africa with dreams of becoming a comedian, to becoming a software engineer. After excelling in engineering and gaining international experience, Ruby joined Joyous, a company founde...

In today's episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles is joined by Raghav Sahgal , President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia . Raghav shares his journey from software developer in India to global business leader, highlighting his focus on translating technology into real-world impact.  Raghav dives into the current state of 5G, now deployed by over 260 operators in more than 100 countries. H...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles interviews Seth Buechley, owner of Cathedral Consulting. Seth shares his journey in telecom, which began in the late 1980s when his father built cell sites, and later evolved into owning spectrum and focusing on public safety communications in buildings. He co-founded the Safer Buildings Coalition to improve communication systems for first responde...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carries Charles speaks with Michelle Boexley , Chief Growth Officer of Pilot Global Technologies . Michelle shares her journey into the telecommunications industry, which began unexpectedly in IT sales during the Y2K era. Despite initially lacking a tech background, she launched Von Technologies in 2006 after becoming frustrated with corporate life. Her company g...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles sits down with Brian Stading , CEO of Lumos Fiber , to discuss his journey and the story of Lumos Fiber. From his start as a telecom technician, Brian shares how taking calculated risks has shaped his career path and influenced his leadership philosophy. He also discusses the history of Lumos Fiber, formed as the combination of two legacy telephone...

In this episode of "5G Talent Talk," host Carrie Charles interviews Kimberly McKinley , the Chief Marketing Officer of Utopia Fiber . Kimberly shares her unique career path, starting in healthcare accounting and moving through various marketing roles before joining Utopia Fiber in 2010. Utopia Fiber, founded in 2004 by 11 cities in Utah, is now the largest and most successful open access network i...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk with Carrie Charles, we explore the industry journey and leadership principles of Gary Ervin , founder and executive chairman of Ervin Cable Construction . Founded in 1980 as a small cable TV business, Ervin Cable Construction (ECC) has expanded into one of the leading telecommunication service providers in the nation. Today, over 40 years later, the ECC founding...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles interviews Scott Woods , President of Public Private Partnerships at Ready.net. They discuss Scott’s transition from a private practice attorney to a key figure in telecommunications, emphasizing his work at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Scott explains the NTIA’s role in managing the Broadband Equity and Acc...

In this special episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles welcomes industry experts Cesar Ruiz , President & CEO of Learning Alliance Corporation ; Deb Bennett , VP of Apprenticeship for the Wireless Infrastructure Association ; and Deborah Kish , VP of Research & Workforce Development for the Fiber Broadband Association , to explore innovative strategies and initiatives for developing the...

In this episode of "5G Talent Talk," Carrie Charles interviews Chad Tuttle , CEO of B+T Group. Chad shares his journey in the telecom industry, which began with his grandfather’s construction company in the 1950s, building radio and early AT&T towers. This influenced Chad to pursue engineering. He co-founded B&T Group in 2000, initially focusing on structural engineering. The company has s...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles speaks with Ken Schmidt, President of Steel in the Air, Inc. Steel in the Air provides guidance to thousands of clients across the United States on cell tower and cell site leases. Ken’s many years of experience has led him to become a pivotal thought leader in the industry, using his knowledge to guide hundreds of municipalities through the comple...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles welcomes Jim Tracy , co-founder of Legacy Telecommunications , author, speaker, and host of " The Grampion " podcast. Jim shares his incredible journey from a small-town welder in rural Minnesota to a prominent figure in the telecommunications industry. Jim shares the ups and downs of growing Legacy Telecommunications, emphasizing the importance of...

 In this episode of 5G Talent Talk with Carrie Charles, we explore the remarkable journey and company culture of Great Plains Communications (GPC) with Joe Pellegrini, President and COO. With a 113-year legacy, GPC leads the telecom industry by providing essential services to underserved communities. Joe shares insights into GPC's diverse business model, which includes six business units for a res...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, host Carrie Charles chats with Tonya Stopke, Senior Vice President at World Wide Technology (WWT). Tonya shares her inspiring journey from humble beginnings to a leadership role, emphasizing perseverance, authenticity, and community support. Tonya discusses WWT's evolution into a global tech leader, their pioneering work in AI, and their significant investments i...

Explore the world of telecom leadership with Carrie Charles on the latest episode of 5G Talent Talk. Joining her is Lynn Whitcher, the President of the Women's Wireless Leadership Forum (WWLF) and General Counsel for MD7. Lynn shares her remarkable journey from litigator to telecom industry leader, offering insights into the evolving landscape of wireless infrastructure and the crucial role of wom...

Step into the dynamic world of wireless infrastructure with Carrie Charles on 5G Talent Talk as she sits down with Patrick Halley , the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) . Discover Patrick's unexpected journey into telecommunications and his pivotal role in shaping connectivity for all.  Patrick shares insights into WIA's mission to advocate for...

Join Carrie Charles on this episode of 5G Talent Talk as she engages in an insightful conversation with Donna Johnson, the Chief Marketing Officer of Cradlepoint. Donna shares her remarkable journey to the C-suite, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and adaptability in career growth. As an expert storyteller, Donna eloquently narrates Cradlepoint's evolution from revolutionizing cellular conn...

Join us as host Carrie Charles sit down with Christos Karmis, the visionary US CEO of Boldyn Networks, for an exclusive peek into the world of cutting-edge network connectivity solutions. From combining six global companies to leading the charge in various market segments, Karmis unpacks Boldyn's journey and unveils the company's strategies for staying ahead of the curve. Discover why 5G private n...

In this episode, Trent Edwards, the President of Mears Broadband, discusses his journey in the telecom industry and highlights the unique approach of Mears as a contractor. He emphasizes the importance of building partnerships and trust with customers, and the value of a diverse and empowered workforce. Trent also shares his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges facing the industry, the nee...

Stacey Thompson, the current Chief Operating Officer of ADB Companies, joins us today to share her journey and insights on women in leadership, work-life balance, and the future of the telecommunications industry. ADB Companies is a turnkey provider in the telecommunications industry, with a focus on customer-centricity and the growth, safety, and well-being of team members. This episode dives int...

Step into the future of AI with Ajay Malik , CEO of secomind.ai , in today's episode of 5G Talent Talk with Carrie Charles. Ajay shares his passion for AI, drawing on his extensive 30-year career, which includes stints at major tech players like Motorola, Google, and Cisco. Secomind.ai, focused exclusively on AI for five years, empowers businesses in three key areas: enhancing products, providing...

Innovative solutions are shaping the future of connectivity, and today's featured company tackles things like enhancing RF awareness and tackling challenges in private wireless optimization and dynamic spectrum sharing. In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, host Carrie Charles sits down with the visionary Fernando Murias, Chairman and CEO of Digital Global Systems. Fernando takes us on a captivating...

Technological innovation is happening nonstop. You need to keep learning to stay on top of things and avoid getting left behind. In this episode, Carrie Charles sits down with  Steve Gleave , Marketing Director in the Strategic Missions and Technologies Group at  Microsoft . He talks about Microsoft’s Azure for Operators and how it helps service providers navigate the intersection of AI, cloud net...