Telecommunications
10 fiber broadband buildout experts
These ten professionals have led or managed fiber broadband engineering and construction work at internet providers, telecom operators and utilities. A reader can learn from them how fiber-to-the-home builds are planned, designed and constructed and how teams and crews are managed along the way.
Professionals to explore
01—10Bob Padgett
LinkedInExperience: Director-Fiber Execution and Network Implementation · Brightspeed
Director-Fiber Execution and Network Implementation at Brightspeed since April 2026; his profile also lists him as Sr Manager Fiber Engineering and Construction at Brightspeed since August 2023. He was Manager of Network Engineering at LiveOak Fiber (2022–2023), and his profile describes driving fiber and network deployment from planning and engineering through construction and customer delivery.
David Gilmer
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director Engineering · Tillman Fiber
Executive Director Engineering at Tillman Fiber since April 2025. At Crown Castle he was Manager Fiber Engineering and Design (2021–2023), District Manager SC Design, Planning, and Regional Records - SFL (2023–2025) and Regional Manager (2024–2025). His profile says he has designed and planned over 10,000 miles of greenfield networks and turned brownfield fiber plant into planned, reliable networks.
Ervin Evangelista
LinkedInExperience: FTTH and Broadband Network Engineer Manager · CDE Lightband
FTTH and Broadband Network Engineer Manager at CDE Lightband since April 2010, and FTTH Broandband Network Manager Engineer at Morristown Utility Systems from 2006 to 2010. His profile says he has managed in the FTTH industry for 13 years at two separate municipal utilities, one where he was at the start of a new FTTH launch and one where he was hired to resolve technical issues the company was experiencing.
James Woodard
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Construction (FTTH) · Tillman Fiber
Former Director Of Construction (FTTH) at Tillman Fiber (2018–2021) and I&M Manager (FTTH) there (2024–2025). He was VP of Broadband Operations (FTTH) at Pulaski Electric System (2006–2017) and Senior Project Manager at Eastern Shore VA Broadband Authority (2003–2005). His profile lists specialties in FTTH, construction management and fiber design.
John Williams, P.E.
LinkedInExperience: Director of Erwin Fiber · Erwin Utilities
Former Director of Erwin Fiber at Erwin Utilities (2012–2020); he has been Director of Engineering at On Trac since June 2024 and was Engineering Program Manager at ENTRUST Solutions Group (2020–2024). His profile lists specialties in fiber to the home design and implementation and fiber outside plant design and engineering, and says he is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Noah Browne
LinkedInExperience: Director of OSP Engineering · Pavlov Media
Director of OSP Engineering at Pavlov Media since January 2024, and OSP Fiber Manager there from 2020 to 2024. His profile describes managing fiber to the home (FTTH), MDU and business installations and designing the outside plant for FTTH, MDU and B2B networks.
Paul Fowler
LinkedInExperience: OSP Project Manager · Metronet
OSP Project Manager at Metronet since November 2016, managing construction of FTTH facilities in Plainfield, Illinois as part of a large-scale FTTH and FTTP project. He was OSP Construction Manager at Pinpoint Services, Inc (2014–2016) and OSP Inspector FIOS Project (contract) at Verizon (2007–2011).
Robert Nickolson
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of Construction · Clearwave Fiber
Senior Director of Construction at Clearwave Fiber since April 2022, and Director of Construction at Metronet from 2021 to 2022. His profile describes construction management experience in fiber-optic network deployment, OSP construction and FTTP/FTTH infrastructure. He was also Regional Construction Operations Leader Washington State & Northern Idaho at Quanta Telecommunication Solutions (2019–2020).
Scott Covert
LinkedInExperience: OSP Engineering Manager · Glo Fiber
OSP Engineering Manager at Glo Fiber since May 2024. He was OSP Aerial Construction Manager (2021–2022) and OSP Engineer III (2020–2021) at Metronet and Sr Network Engineer at Shentel (2022–2024). His profile describes FTTH construction skills and managing as many as 30 crews on builds upwards of $60 million.
Tyler Thompson
LinkedInExperience: Senior Manager Engineering & Construction, Principal Network Engineer · Brightspeed
Senior Manager Engineering & Construction, Principal Network Engineer at Brightspeed since January 2023, leading FTTH engineering and construction teams to deliver 2.5 million households in three years, from start-up to scaled delivery. He was Principal Engineer at Consolidated Cooperative (2019–2023) and Engineering Manager at CenturyLink (2013–2019).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's part of the build, such as network design, outside plant engineering or field construction, to the decision you face. Also consider whether their experience comes from a large operator, a regional provider or a municipal utility, since funding, permitting and crew models can differ.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you sequence design, permitting and make-ready work to keep a fiber build on schedule?
- 02How do you choose between aerial and underground construction and manage contractor crews on each?
- 03Which metrics do you track to control cost per passing and the pace of customer connections?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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