Broadband and optical movers and shakers: Datadobi taps Natali to lead America sales; DxTEL enhances leadership team with broadband industry veterans
This week, the broadband and optical industry witnessed shifts as several companies made vital management changes in their top ranks. If you have an executive at your company who has joined or has been promoted to a new position, reach out to Sean Buckley, Editor in Chief of Lightwave+BTR at [email protected].
Datadobi names Denise Natali, VP of Americas Sales
Datadobi, a hybrid cloud data services provider, has appointed Denise Natali as the VP of Americas Sales, a role specifically created for her. Reporting directly to CRO and Co-Founder Michael Jack, Natali will be responsible for developing and executing revenue growth strategies, leading Datadobi’s high-performance sales team, and ensuring Datadobi customers remain the most highly satisfied across the industry. Natali brings a wealth of experience in organizational transformation and expansion, as well as cybersecurity, digital modernization, and cloud solutions. Her previous roles at Cox Communications, Lumen Technologies, FastPay, and her military service as a US Army Military Intelligence Officer, make her a great candidate for this position. She is also an award-winning cartoonist and a published author.
DxTEL enhances leadership team with broadband industry veterans
DxTEL, a broadband marketing software and services company, has added Brian Snider and John Sullivan to its leadership team. Snider, the founder and former CEO of Lit Communities, brings a wealth of experience and will serve as Chief Strategy Officer. Sullivan, former CIO of Lit Communities, will take over as Chief Revenue Officer, leveraging his extensive experience in revenue generation. Over 200 providers, ranging from rural cooperatives and municipal networks to family-owned or equity-backed startups, rely on DxTEL's platforms or consulting services.
Midwest Energy & Communications names Rubenthaler as new CEO
Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) recently selected Terry Rubenthaler as its next president and CEO. Rubenthaler, MEC's COO, takes over on October 1. He succeeds Robert Hance, who retires in September. MEC’s board decided on Rubenthaler in mid-June after working with EnerVision, a consulting firm for electric utilities, on recruiting and screening candidates. Rubenthaler is a registered professional engineer. He earned a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of Nebraska in 1990 and came to MEC in 1995.
Rubenthaler is hardly a stranger to MEC, having led the implementation of fiber optics on MEC’s electric grid to improve infrastructure monitoring and outage restoration and the construction of MEC’s retail fiber internet service. He also played a pivotal role in securing funding for MEC’s fiber expansion, including $37 million from the Federal Communication Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Finally, in 2023, he managed MEC’s partnership with roughly 40 townships and three Michigan counties on a State of Michigan grant to help fund a $56 million broadband project. Rubenthaler currently lives in Niles, Michigan, with his wife, Gina. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Start Campus names Rodrigues and Dunn to top management spots
Start Campus, a company focused on designing, building and operating a new generation of sustainable data centers, has immediately named Robert Dunn as CEO. Dunn, who has been serving as Interim CEO since November 2023, will continue to lead the company in developing SINES DC, a 495 MW data center campus in Portugal. Dunn joined Start Campus in 2022 and has over 15 years of experience across various senior roles within the data center industry, including managing the construction of data centers across Europe for top-tier data center developers. Start Campus also named Luis Rodrigues as Chief Operating Officer. Rodrigues, who joined Start Campus in 2021 as the Head of Data Center Operations, has over 15 years of experience heading operations and management for data center operators and developers.
Surf Internet’s McCauley assumes named to Indiana’s 811 board
Patrick McCauley, Senior Director of OSP Construction for Surf Internet, has been appointed to the board of Indiana 811. Indiana 811, which runs the statewide “Call Before You Dig” initiative, ensures the safety of excavation projects. Before any underground digging begins, individuals or contractors are required to contact Indiana 811. This crucial step helps prevent accidental damage to utility lines such as gas, electric, or telecommunications cables. As a newly appointed member of the Indiana 811 board, McCauley brings deep experience and expertise in infrastructure management. His role involves active participation in various committees focused on damage prevention, legislative matters, and overall infrastructure safety enhancement.
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Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.