Wireless Tech & Policy Summit Speakers and Moderators

Keynotes

Brendan Carr
Title: FCC Commissioner
Presenting: Keynote - 1:05p to 1:25p

Commissioner Carr has led the FCC’s work to modernize its infrastructure rules and accelerate the buildout of high-speed networks. His reforms cut billions of dollars in red tape, enabled the private sector to construct high-speed networks in communities across the country, and extended America’s global leadership in 5G. Commissioner Carr is also focused on expanding America’s skilled workforce—the tower climbers and construction crews needed to build next-gen networks.

Jim Bugel
Title: President, FirstNet and Public Safety
Company: AT&T
Presenting: Keynote - Fireside Chat 9:05a to 9:25a

For over 20 years at AT&T, Jim has provided cutting-edge communication tools and solutions to first responders across the nation through the FirstNet network, a nationwide mobile broadband network. He's worked with his team at AT&T to support legislation to create the First Responders Network Authority. In 2017, he and his team played a pivotal role in winning a 25-year contract with the FirstNet network to build a network dedicated to public safety needs. As President of the FirstNet program at AT&T, he's committed to building upon our partnership with the First Responder Network Authority and continue delivering America's best and highest-performing public safety network. These tools provide life-saving connectivity for public safety heroes, from hurricane recovery in Florida to wildfire response on the West Coast.

Seth Buechley
Title: SBC Founder, CEO, Cathedral Holdings, President, Cathedral Partners
Company:  | SBC, Cathedral Holdings, Cathedral Partners
Presenting: Moderator

Seth founded the the Safer Buildings Coalition in 2012 and continues to provide guidance and direction to this day. Seth brings Cathedral entrepreneurial leadership gained through board and senior executive experience with public, private, family-owned, and nonprofit organizations. Prior to his role at Cathedral, Seth was a client of the firm for 6 years, developing a close friendship with Cathedral’s founder, the late Phil Clements.

Today, Seth is active as a board-level strategist, investor, and advisor to CEO’s in the telecom sector.

Most recently, Seth co-founded and led the US and Canadian operations of SOLiD USA. overseeing a team of industry leaders responsible for developing and distributing innovative wireless communications products. Upon achieving revenue of nearly $60 million, and with counsel from Cathedral, the company was sold to its venture partner in early 2016. Under Seth’s leadership, SOLiD earned wide industry recognition for delivering cellular coverage inside of some of the world’s most prestigious venues including the New York subway, The Empire State Building, Nike World Headquarters and Daytona International Speedway.

Seth began his career as a co-founder of family-owned CORD Communications, a turnkey network implementation company acquired by publicly-traded WesTower Corporation in 1998. He was then a founding investor and Vice Chairman of Washington Oregon Wireless (WOW), a Sprint PCS affiliate. In 2001, Seth co-founded Tri-Power Group, a leading DAS integrator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2008, he co-founded and became President of SOLiD USA. He is also the founder of the Safer Buildings Coalition which seeks to ensure coverage for public-safety communications services inside buildings.

Seth is the recently-published author of Ambition: Leading with Gratitude, a leadership manifesto highlighting the necessity of gratitude in the lives of driven leaders. An experienced keynote speaker and emcee, Seth is an active member of Young President Organization (YPO) and serves several nonprofit Christian ministries. Seth is also the host of the Business Done Right podcast and is a popular keynote speaker at corporate and non-profit events.

Seth lives in Southern Oregon with his wife of 27 years where they are in the process of raising their four children. When he is not at one of his son’s sporting events, Seth enjoys snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, motorcycles, and spending time at his family home in Costa Rica.

Speakers

David Adams
Title: Director Of Business Development
Company: PCTEL
Presenting: Panelist - Noise and Interference in PS and Cellular Comms: Are networks at risk? 2:25p to 3:05p

My career has focused on solutions for Service Quality and Performance Management of Mobile Networks. Working closely with the leading US mobile operators to understand their unique needs and requirements led to the creation of patented concepts and approaches. As solutions architect and product manager, I managed the design and deployment of a number of ground breaking solutions, continuing close cooperation with the operators to determine effective application of the solutions, thus driving high penetration rates of the solutions across the industry.

Recent concentration has been on the Public Safety Networks, both legacy P25 and FirstNet LTE technologies. The critical nature of properly performing service to first responders means test solution in new and more rigorous requirements. A special focus is on in building coverage and performance, delivering a cost effective solution to ensure buildings comply with national and AHJ standards.

Previously, performed engineering and system level design of products and solutions for the telecommunication market, with a focus on system solutions for Wireless Service Providers, in the areas of Performance Management, Network and Service Quality, Revenue Assurance, Labs, and Operations

Served in strategic marketing, product planning, and product development roles creating business plans, and developing new business opportunities and alliances

Accomplished in the management of marketing and engineering teams and internal support groups developing and deploying system solutions

Specialties include wireless technologies (LTE/WCDMA/GSM/GPRS/EDGE, CDMA/EV-DO) and network architectures; Development methodologies (Agile); Investigating customer needs/product requirements; Team management; budgets and P&L management; Executive and technical presentations for customers and management; Product specifications and design documentation; Authoring of articles and conference presentations; Problem resolution and teams building.

Jonathan S. Adelstein
Title: Managing Director, Head of Global Policy and Public Investment
Company: DigitalBridge
Presenting: Panelist - Broadband Infrastructure Funding – 9:25a to 10:05a

Jonathan S. Adelstein is a Managing Director and Head of Global Policy and Public Investment at DigitalBridge Investment Management.  In this role, Mr. Adelstein works with all DigitalBridge portfolio companies on public policy and strategic regulatory matters and reviews policy impacts on potential investments.

Prior to joining DigitalBridge, Mr. Adelstein was President and CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), where he represented over 200 businesses that build, own, and operate wireless infrastructure, including infrastructure owners, developers, carriers, and professional service firms.

Rich Berliner
Title: CEO
Company: Digital Locations Inc
Presenting: Panelist - PROPERTY OWNERS: In-Building Wireless Coverage Imperative –3:05p to 3:45p

Tim Bransford
Title: Partner
Firm: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Presenting: Panelist - How will we use 4.9GHz and 6GHz? 10:05a to 10:45a

A regulatory attorney with a technical background, Tim represents clients with complex wireless and satellite based networks before the FCC and foreign administrations.

Specialties: Areas of expertise:

Space Station Licensing

• Geostationary
• Non-geostationary (low, elliptical, mid-earth orbits)
• Knowledgable regarding all RF bands allocated for space operations, including C-, Ka- and Ku-band.

Earth Station Licensing

• Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)
• Earth Station On-Board Vessel (ESV)
• Satcom-On-The-Move (SOTM)

Terrestrial Wireless

• STA and experimental licensing
• Microwave
• General RF compliance

David Bronston
Title: Special Counsel, Telecommunications Practice Team Leader
Firm: Phillips Lytle
Presenting: Panelist - Broadband Infrastructure Funding –  9:25a to 10:05a

Created telecommunications practice with emphasis on transactional, regulatory and operational aspects of wireless, broadband, broadcasting and cable companies. Extremely experienced with telecommunications network licensing and the intersection of telecommunications infrastructure with real estate. Represented public and private property owners nationwide in license agreements, right of way agreements and other access agreements with telecommunications service providers (including military bases, Class A commercial properties and large residential and retail complexes). Represented telecommunications service providers in transactions where they are seeking access to public rights of way or private property (including franchises for access to NYC lightpoles for wireless facilities, franchises and right of way agreements for fiber optic and wireless networks, and leases and licenses for in building DAS and fiber telecommunications networks).

James Brunson
Title: VP, Advanced Solutions, 5G Innovation, & Public Sector
Firm: Nokia
Presenting: Panelist - Broadband Infrastructure Funding –  9:25a to 10:05a

Brendan Delaney
Title: Director, In-Building Wireless
Firm: ANS
Presenting: Panelist - Noise and Interference in PS and Cellular Comms: Are networks at risk? 2:25p to 3:05p 

Over a more than 16 year career at ANS Advanced Network Services, LLC I have had the opportunity to learn and grow from an entry level sales and marketing role, to developing a line of business, and managing our customer relationships. I carry through my hard working attitude to many DIY projects at home and with my family.

At ANS I drive in-building wireless offering from aligning our strategic partnerships relating to the 24x7 NOC and customer platform, driving the CBRS / OnGo Private Networks strategy, managing key accounts, or assisting our team in developing solutions for customers who have public safety or wireless carrier coverage needs in their building or on their campus.

We start with the initial review of the in-building coverage needs, to identification of the appropriate Distributed Antenna System (DAS) or Small Cell solution, carrier coordination, installation, and commissioning. We have provided end-to-end in-building solutions to the wireless carriers, enterprises, and campuses on the East Coast and Midwest.

Steve Devine
Title: Lead Strategist – Public Safety Communications, 9-1-1, & Emergency Management 
Company: FirstNet built with AT&T
Presenting: Panelist - User Equipment Evolution – 11:15a to 11:55a

Stephen Devine is a Lead Market Strategist within the FirstNet Market Strategy & Development team supporting FirstNet initiatives and development.  In his current role, Stephen curates market strategies, influences specific market segments, and helps shape the overall market development strategy that contributes to FirstNet’s success at the Federal, State and Local levels of government. 

Charles F. Dowd
Title: Assistant Chief (Ret); Vice President and Treasurer
Organization: NYPD & PSBTA
Presenting: Panelist - How will we use 4.9GHz and 6GHz? 10:05a to 10:45a

Seamus Dowdall
Title: Associate Legislative Director – Telecommunications & Technology
Company: National Association of Counties (NACo)
Presenting: Panelist - School Safety and Wireless Communications – 1:25p to 2:05p

Seamus is the associate legislative director for telecommunications & technology on NACo's government affairs team. In this role, Seamus serves as the liaison to NACo's Telecommunications & Technology Policy Steering Committee and advocates directly to federal partners in the Administration and on Capitol Hill to advance policy priorities on issues including broadband deployment and accessibility, wireless technology siting, and emergency communications policy. Seamus also works with county officials from across the country to set organizational priorities and policies for telecommunications & technology issues through hosting regular webinar programming and providing technical assistance resources.

Bob Escalle
Title: Director, New Business- Enterprise, Public Safety,
Company: Samsung
Presenting: Panelist - User Equipment Evolution – 11:15a to 11:55a

John Foley
Title: Managing Director
Company: Safer Buildings Coalition
Presenting: Moderator - Noise and Interference in PS and Cellular Comms: Are networks at risk? 2:25p to 3:05p

John serves as Managing Director of the Safer Buildings Coalition. John serves the SBC mission through policy, regulation, and code development, by solidifying member services and value, and by establishing a strong operational and financial base as tools to propel SBC’s mission.

John has held key business development, operations, engineering, and executive roles at telecom service companies such as Level 3 Communications, MFS, and MCI. John was a co-founder of XO Communications where he was VP of Operations and Engineering, and later VP of International Network Development. John led dark fiber provider City Signal Communications in the position of President and CEO. John served as Capture Director for specialty construction firm Henkels and McCoy, a leading DAS Integrator. John also spent several years in television and video production services with PMTV, developing and managing complex video production projects including sports and corporate simulcasts and broadcasts. John participates on the TIA Smart Buildings Working Group and Public Safety Sub Group, and the Smart Cities Council/WIA City Networks Task Force.

John comes from a family with a tradition of first-responder service, with his grandfather, great uncle, brother, and son all serving in the Philadelphia Police department.

Michelle Geddes
Title: Chief Information Officer
Organization: San Francisco Department of Emergency Management
Presenting: Panelist - PROPERTY OWNERS: In-Building Wireless Coverage Imperative –3:05p to 3:45p

Michelle is a public servant and public safety advocate with experience in both public and private sector. She is passionate about creating and leading teams and working through complex government and technology issues to solve problems - especially those that impact the lives and safety of San Francisco residents.

Her team is responsible for ensuring that San Francisco's 9-1-1 system works at all times, and that the first responders and emergency managers have the tools they need to do their jobs.

Donny Jackson
Title: Editor
Company: InformaTech | IWCE’s Urgent Communications
Presenting: Moderator - User Equipment Evolution – 11:15a to 11:55a

Donny Jackson is editor of IWCE's Urgent Communications, generating content about the critical-communications arena for almost two decades and contributing to the annual IWCE conference program. Jackson won the 2013 Jesse H. Neal Award in the "Best Subject-Related Series" category for public-safety broadband coverage associated with the establishment of FirstNet. Before joining Mobile Radio Technology--the previous name for IWCE's Urgent Communications--in 2003, he covered telecommunications for four years as a freelance writer and as news editor for Telephony magazine. Prior to that, he worked for suburban newspapers in the Dallas area, serving as editor-in-chief for the Irving News and the Las Colinas Business News in the 1990s.

John W. Kuzin
Title: Vice President – Spectrum Policy & Regulatory Counsel
Company: Qualcomm Inc.
Presenting:  Panelist - User Equipment Evolution – 11:15a to 11:55a

Michiel Lotter
Title: CEO
Company: Nextivity
Presenting: Panelist - Noise and Interference in PS and Cellular Comms: Are networks at risk? 2:25p to 3:05p

The CEO of Nextivity, Michiel Lotter, has 25 years of experience in the field of wireless communication. Michiel joined Nextivity in 2007 as CTO and became CEO in 2021.  Prior to joining Nextivity he was the Senior Director responsible for platform development in the Mobile Communications BU at Broadcom, which he joined as part of the firm’s acquisition of Zyray Wireless where he was a co-founder and Vice-President, Engineering. Prior to Zyray he spent 8 years with Alcatel Networks. Michiel holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pretoria in Electrical Engineering. Additionally, he has authored and co-authored a number of journal and conference papers as well as two books on wireless communications. He’s also the named inventor or co-inventor on 40 issued patents with several more pending.  

Doug McElroy
Title: Senior RAN Engineer
Company: AT&T
Presenting: Panelist - Noise and Interference in PS and Cellular Comms: Are networks at risk? 2:25p to 3:05p

Specializing in:

• Wireless Design and Implementation
• Vendor Management
• Network Planning and Deployment
• Project Management
• Telecommunications Management
• Technology Development

Prince Niyyar
Title: CEO
Company: Commdex
Presenting: Moderator - Broadband Infrastructure Funding –  9:25a to 10:05a

Prince Niyyar is the CEO of Commdex. Since founding Commdex in 2001, Prince has led the company from a startup to a recognized national leader in public safety communications technology, with current operations in over 23 states.

He has spoken as an invited guest at FCC Headquarters and on talk shows like “Thrive America” and “Business Leader Radio” and he frequently presents at business conferences. He was honored by Georgia’s Lt. Governor Casey Cagle as the “Small Business Person of the Year”. Prince was also Gwinnett Chamber’s “Business Person of the Year”, and was honored with the “Pinnacle Award.

Prior to founding Commdex, Prince served many years as a consultant for Fortune 100 telecom companies like Motorola, AT&T and Sprint. Prince holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from University of Cincinnati and is a registered Professional Engineer and Certified Professional Manager.

Louis Peraertz
Title: Vice President of Policy
Organization: Wireless Internet Service Provider's Association (WISPA)
Presenting: Panelist - How will we use 4.9GHz and 6GHz? 10:05a to 10:45a

Louis Peraertz is WISPA’s Vice President of Policy. Louis has served in this role since July 2019. In this role, Louis works to advance WISPA's successful track record before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and other federal agencies.

 Prior to WISPA, Louis worked in several capacities at the FCC. Notably, for more than seven years, Louis served as legal advisor to former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn in the areas of wireless, satellite, public safety, and international policies. In this position, Louis worked to achieve many of Commissioner’s top policy priorities to bridge the digital divide, such as: increased spectrum for unlicensed services in the TV White Spaces, CBRS, C-band, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, and spectrum bands above 24 GHz; dynamic spectrum access management policies in the 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz, and 37 GHz bands; design of geographic area licenses and competitive bidding policies to enhance the ability of small wireless companies to acquire spectrum at auctions; and reform of universal service policies for commercial wireless services, among others. Before the FCC, Louis worked as a federal appellate court litigator for the U.S. Department of Justice, and also served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps. He holds a BA from Princeton University and a JD from Harvard Law School.

Alan Perdue
Title: Executive Director
Company: Safer Buildings Coalition
Presenting: Moderator - School Safety and Wireless Communications – 1:25p to 2:05p and PROPERTY OWNERS: In-Building Wireless Coverage Imperative –3:05p to 3:45p

Chief Perdue began his fire service journey as a volunteer firefighter with the Pinecroft-Sedgefield Fire Department and was employed by Guilford County Department of Emergency Services in 1979. He progressed through the ranks and was appointed Emergency Services Director in 2003 and after 34 years of service he retired in 2013. Chief Perdue is credentialed as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and Fire Marshal (FM) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence Commission for Professional Credentialing.

In addition to serving as the Executive Director of the Safer Buildings Coalition, Chief Perdue currently serves as a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Telecommunications and Technology Policy Steering Committee, a member of the International Accreditation Services (IAC) Technical Advisory Council for Regulatory Code Programs, Underwriters Laboratories Standard #2525 Standards Technical Panel and The Center for Public Safety Excellence’s (CPSE) Appeals Committee. He is also an Elected County Commissioner in Guilford County, NC.

Chief Perdue’s past service includes serving as; the International Director representing Fire & Life Safety on the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Board of Directors , the Governor’s fire service appointee to the North Carolina State Building Code Council, a Commissioner on the Center for Public Safety Excellence’s Commission for Professional Credentialing, a member of the International Accreditation Services Technical Advisory Committee for Fire & Life Safety Departments and a member of the International Code Councils Codes and Standards Council.

Additional career highlights to local, state and national fire service organizations include Director at Large, Vice-Chair and Chair of the IAFC Fire & Life Safety Section, four terms as a member of the International Code Councils Fire Code Hearing Committee, Vice-chair and Chairman of the North Carolina Fire Code Revision Committee, President of the North Carolina County Fire Marshal’s Association and as an advisory board member for the Guilford Technical Community College Fire Science Curriculum Program.

Ross Pierson
Title: Owner
Company: Pierson Wireless
Presenting: Panelist - School Safety and Wireless Communications – 1:25p to 2:05p

Pierson Wireless is an industry-leading telecommunication systems integrator specializing in cellular enhancement (distributed antenna systems, distributed radio systems, small cells), private broadband networks (CBRS, EBS, GlobalStar, MulteFire, and Wi-Fi), Public Safety DAS, and wireless network maintenance and monitoring to customer industries like health care, education, commercial real estate, manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, mining, public safety, sports, entertainment, utilities, and transportation.

Mike Richey
Title: Former Police Asst Chief, Assistant Superintendent, School Safety and Emergency Management
Organization: Guilford County Schools
Presenting: Panelist - School Safety and Wireless Communications – 1:25p to 2:05p

Ruynard Singleton
Title: Executive Director
Organization: U.S. Border Patrol 
Presenting: Panelist - Broadband Infrastructure Funding –  9:25a to 10:05a

Ruynard Singleton is the Executive Director of the Program Management Office Directorate (PMOD), overseeing individual acquisition program offices within the PMOD that procure goods and services in support of U.S. Border Patrol’s operational needs and requirements.

Previously, he served as a member of the Acquisition Management Branch, at Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where he led efforts to provide technical assistance to acquisition program offices in the areas of program management, systems engineering, and cost estimation and analysis. Prior to joining FEMA, Mr. Singleton led the Distributed Engineering Plant Program at the Naval Sea Systems Command, overseeing a team that provided detailed analysis in support of naval strike group interoperability certification assessments.

Mr. Singleton completed a national priority assignment in Baghdad, Iraq, serving as the Deputy Program Manager for a mission to train, assist, equip, and modernize the Iraqi Army. In addition, he managed multiple foreign military assistance cases to ensure mission success. He served with the Iraq Training and Advisory Team, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Operation New Dawn.

Mr. Singleton is a graduate of the Naval Sea Systems Command Commander’s Development Program. His assignments included rotations, at the Pentagon, with the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Ships) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Acquisition Technology and Logistics.

Mathew Theisz
Title: RF Engineering
Company: DC Office of Unified Communication
Presenting: Panelist - Noise and Interference in PS and Cellular Comms: Are networks at risk? 2:25p to 3:05p

Alan Tilles
Title: Attorney
Firm: Alan Tilles Law
Presenting: Panelist - How will we use 4.9GHz and 6GHz? 10:05a to 10:45a

Pat Tillman
Title: County Commissioner
Organization: Guilford County Board of Commissioners
Presenting: Panelist - School Safety and Wireless Communications – 1:25p to 2:05p

Pat Tillman was first elected to the Guilford County Board of Education as the District 3 representative in 2016, and re-elected in 2020 for a second term.

In 2022, Tillman was elected to the Guilford County Board of County Commissioners. Guilford County is the 3rd largest County in North Carolina. He also serves as Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors for The Heroes Center, a non-profit dedicated to healing, helping and hiring our Veterans. In 2019, Pat was appointed by the Governor to serve on the NC Safer Schools Task Force, helping to ensure our schools provide a safe and healthy learning environment for all school children.

He is the father of three children, two of which are in Guilford County public schools. Tillman is currently the Director of Sales & Marketing for Friends Homes and recently helped launch a start-up business with two other local entrepreneurs in 2019.

Tillman served as a combat United States Marine with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, with two tours of duty. He served as a staff non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Marines serving in multiple leadership capacities including platoon sergeant, platoon commander, instructor/trainer and as a long-range military planning liaison. Tillman is now serving with the NC National Guard helping train Officers once a month and two weeks out of the year.