How did you get to your current position? What was your path?

I began my current position at Twin Lakes as Marketing and Sales Manager in 2015 but have been in the telecommunications industry 15+ years. I have had the opportunity to serve in various roles, including as a Competitive Services Representative (Business and Phone System Sales), Marketing Representative, and Product and Marketing Manager outside of my current position.

I have always been truly passionate about living out the last statement typically found on any job description, “other duties as needed”. I have swept floors, cleaned toilets, washed outdoor signs, etc. and none of those were in my job description but are proof that hard work does pay off.

Additionally, I have been very fortunate to work with some of the best Tennessee leaders in the industry (Jonathan West, Carrie Huckeby, Levoy Knowles, and Trevor Bonnstetter), all of whom are intentional about leading from the front and being the example where their actions of kindness, compassion, leadership, behavior, and attitude speak louder than words. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities that each of them has extended to me.

What is an accomplishment you are proud of?

My team. They are amazing and I love watching them grow! When one of us celebrates, we all celebrate. They show up every day always ready to give 110% to their team members, projects, and our customers.

What is one thing industry related or not you learned in the last month?

There are way more features in Microsoft 365 than I will ever remember.

How do you define success?

The rent on success is due every single day. I love to celebrate small and large successes alike, but I do not unpack in those celebrations. Success comes with its fair share of challenges as well, but to me, obtaining it is a lifelong ambition and simply means becoming better at something today than you were yesterday. Growth is success.

Who inspires you?

Personally, my son, Jake. He inspires me daily to be a better person. He reminds me to take a deep breath, to color outside of the lines, to believe in myself, and to love hard and to forgive quickly.

Professionally, those that I mentioned previously but Carrie Huckeby specifically. She is honest, humble, and incredibly driven. She has been a wonderful example and mentor for me throughout my entire telecommunications career.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a woman starting a career in fiber, tech, or construction?

Do all the work no one else wants to do – “other duties as needed”. Be a thought leader and do not shrink yourself to make others more comfortable – you will find a place you are appreciated for it. And last, but not least, (my department will chuckle reading this because I preach it often 😊) every day is an interview – dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

How did you get to your current position? What was your path?

I started my career in telecommunications right out of college as an Account Executive for a small CLEC in Charlotte NC.    This was right after the Telecommunications Act of 1996 when CLECs first emerged and competition flooded the marketplace.

I continued my journey in sales for many years and found that I really enjoyed learning about the technology and had a knack for delivering complex technical concepts in a sales environment.  At one point my colleagues were asking me to go on appointments with them to answer technical questions, so when the opportunity to transition to Sales Engineering arose, I knew it was the right move for me.  I started my career at Segra as a Sales Engineer supporting our Charlotte sales teams.  Eventually, I was promoted to lead the NC Sales Engineering team and then a year later was promoted to the Director of Sales Engineering.  In my current position, I am leading a team of 40 SE’s across our Direct, Carrier, Government, and Indirect Channels.

What is an accomplishment you are proud of? 

I am most proud of my  perseverance during the global pandemic.  I am a mother of two school-aged girls who were sent home for almost 2 years while I was at a peak transition period in my career.  I had recently been promoted; taking on a lot of new responsibilities and learning how to become a leader all while trying to maintain some sort of stability for my two girls.  There were days when I felt I was failing on all fronts and I wanted to give up, however, I decided to lean in, adapt, and persevere.

What is one thing industry related or not you learned in the last month?

I am currently reading “How Women Rise” by Marshall Helgesen and Sally Goldsmith.  There are a lot of stories in this book that resonate with my personal experience of feeling “stuck” in my career.  We as women often shy away from communicating our accomplishments to leadership to advance our careers…instead, we think that our work should speak for itself.   I have been very guilty of this in the past and still struggle to communicate my accomplishments but I am working on it.  I am learning that unless you are promoting yourself internally others may not know your desire to advance.

How do you define success?

I have a real passion for Sales Engineering and personally think it is an amazing career.  I define success by being an effective coach and mentor to others so they can become better SE’s.  I experience a tremendous amount of pride when I see my SE’s being recognized for their excellence and advancing in their own careers.

Who inspires you?

I am inspired by the women of Afghanistan who have been stripped of their rights to education, work, healthcare, and protection from violence and banned from public life.  In spite of the possibility of detainment, death, and further oppression they are protesting and fighting to regain their rights.  This inspires me to be a better advocate for my two girls and other women that I can have a direct impact on.  We need to cherish our rights, learn to advocate for each other, and give back to those who are facing adversity.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a woman starting a career in fiber, tech, or construction?

Form a network of sponsors. Having other people in your life that believe in you and want to help you achieve your goals is priceless. I have had many people help me learn and grow along the way and I wouldn’t be where I am now without their support and advocacy.

The fiber broadband industry is shaped by the remarkable achievements of women leaders and contributors of all levels over several decades. For the month of March, the Fiber Broadband Association’s Women in Fiber (WIF) Committee is honored to recognize the strong leadership, work ethic, and commitment to the fiber industry of Wanda Tankersley, Chief Operating Officer at Matanuska Telephone Association.

Before becoming COO in 2017, Wanda served as the company’s CFO for eight years. Since her appointment, the company experienced remarkable levels of growth, witnessing assets grow 25%; equity grow 23%; EBITDA grow 37% and operating income to operating revenue grow 7%. In 2017, Wanda led a top down initiative to adopt the Pragmatic Marketing “outside-in” problem solving framework, and attained all six of its certifications, alongside several members of her key leadership team. In 2018, Wanda oversaw the restructuring of the residential and business teams to be better aligned and more responsive to MTA’s member-owners. This involved conflating the company’s call center and retail teams into a single hybrid team with improved protocols in place to adapt to market demand. Wanda led the charge in unveiling a myriad of innovative tech solutions, including Managed Wi-Fi, Migration out of end of life products, VoIP and the suite of three cybersecurity and privacy apps called MTA Shield. Wanda also created a new Commercial Solutions team focused on creating bespoke product solutions for MTA’s Wholesale and Enterprise markets.

As a C Suite executive for a telecommunications provider, Wanda has become a beacon of hope for women in the industry, especially in Alaska. A multi-year volunteer for the Girls Who Code camps, Wanda is always first to make time to share her knowledge with young women in our community. In 2021, Wanda was the keynote speaker for the Girls Who Code Camp in her area. Wanda is also a fierce advocate for more women and girls in the esports industry. She encourages participation from women in Alaska’s largest esports tournament, put on by MTA. Through her leadership at MTA, Wanda has pioneered one of the most impactful internship programs in Alaska, creating more opportunities for young women to experience roles within telecommunications and technology.

By using a pragmatic method of leadership, Wanda empowers the executive and leadership teams at MTA to work on the projects that propel our industry forward. She gives each member of her team the tools they need to succeed, both inside and outside their careers. Wanda is fiercely passionate about the economic development of our area in Alaska. She is constantly focused on finding opportunities to pioneer small business development, women entrepreneurship, and more technology utilization and education all across Alaska. Serving on several boards and dedicating much of her time to the work of the MTA Foundation, Wanda always makes time for her community.

We believe that Wanda is an excellent example of what is possible for women in this industry. We are pleased to recognize Wanda for the leadership, expertise, mentorship and professional values that set her apart as the March Women in Fiber Spotlight honoree. We look forward to following her career and supporting her at every step.

This page is dedicated to providing resources for women in order to advance their careers. Below you will find lists of organizations that benefit women and their professional development as well as books and literature that empower women to take their careers and lives to another level. If you have suggestions to add to this page please submit them through the link below.

Organizations that Benefit Women

Women In Technology (WIT) – No matter where you are in your professional development, or what technology-related field you’re in, the WIT community offers a broad range of support, programs, and resources to advance women in technology from the classroom to the boardroom. Visit their event calendar for a complete list of events relevant to women in technology.

Girls Who Code – Girls Who Code was founded with the single mission of closing the gender gap in technology by creating a pipeline for future female engineers. Already, the group is on track to achieve gender parity in computer science by 2027.

Built By Girls – Built By Girls is dedicated to increasing the number of girls in STEM fields. The organization hosts events and helps students land internships at tech companies.

WriteGirl – WriteGirl is a Los Angeles-based program that matches girls with writing mentors to develop their creative writing abilities. In 2013, the program received the National Arts and Humanities Youth Award, the highest national award available to such programs.

She Should Run – Ever wondered why there aren’t more women running for office? Well, that’s what She Should Run is trying to change. The organization has prepared more than 21,000 women to run for office by offering programs like the She Should Run Incubator and virtual and regional cohorts to prep women for the campaign process.

Care.org’s Women Empowerment Fund – The website Care.org accepts donations to help fund a variety of international, women’s empowerment programs. It currently works in 94 countries and supports more than 1000 programs that fight poverty and aid in humanitarian efforts.

Heifer International – Heifer International works on furthering economic opportunities across the globe. Its various programs help local, small-scale farmers to achieve a stable income that allows them to financially sustain their families.

National Organization for Women – Since its founding in 1966, the National Organization for Women has focused on grassroots efforts to further women’s rights issues like, “feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate discrimination, and achieve and protect the equal rights of all women and girls in all aspects of social, political, and economic life.” Think: eliminating harassment in society, reproductive rights, and ending violence against women.

UN Women – As part of the United Nations, UN Women serves as a global champion for women’s causes. It works to ensure the equal participation of women in governing systems, and the economy, that they are free from violence, and are part of the conversation to build sustainable peace.

Center for Reproductive Rights – The Center for Reproductive Rights focuses on using the legal system to champion reproductive rights as fundamental rights. They take on court cases that go before national courts and work with policymakers to promote progressive measures.

Books that Empower Women

• Dare to Lead
• Emotional Intelligence 2.0
• The Art of War for Women
• The 10 Habits of Highly Successful Women
• The Making of a Manager – What to Do When Everyone Looks to You
• Lead from the Outside
• The Likeability Trap
• Power Moves: How Women Can Pivot, Reboot, and Build a Career of Purpose
• Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World
• The Confidence Code
• My Own Words – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Start With Why

This form is currently closed for submissions.

This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) describes how the Fiber Broadband Association (“FBA,” “us,” “our,” or “we”) collect, use, and share information about you when you: visit this Website; use other platforms we maintain to facilitate our management of the services we provide to you (e.g., conference registration sites); and engage in email, text, other electronic messages or by telephone or other communications between you and us, or (if you are a member) between you and other members through the Website (collectively, our “Services”). This Privacy Policy also explains how FBA may use and disclose such information, as well as your ability to control certain uses of it.

Please note that FBA is domiciled exclusively within the United States, and we provide resources and education to companies in this region.  If you are located in the European Union, or elsewhere outside of the United States, please be aware that any information you provide to us may be stored on servers in the United States. If you have questions or concerns regarding this policy, we welcome you to contact us at privacy@fiberbroadband.org.

1. Acknowledgement of this Privacy Policy

Your use of any of our Services signifies that you have read and understand all of the terms of this privacy policy, and agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy, and agree to the Terms of Service which are incorporated by reference.  If you do not agree, please do not access or use any of our Services.

2. Information We Collect

There are several ways we may obtain information about you, including through (A) information you provide to us directly; and (B) information that we automatically collect.  This includes data that identifies you personally whether directly (e.g., your name) or indirectly (e.g., information about your online use).

A. Information You Provide

We collect information from you when you choose to share it with us.  This may include when you use our Website; sign up as a FBA member; attend one of our conferences, events, or educational programs; sign up for newsletters or our email list; participate in an online forum; engage in certification or accreditation activities; participate in one of our volunteer activities; purchase products or services, engage with our career services; fill out a survey; or otherwise request that we contact you via mail, e-mail, or telephone to provide information, updates, or promotions.

The information that we collect may include, but may not be limited to, name, telephone number, email address, employer, professional title, date of birth, home or business and mailing address, gender, details regarding your entity and business, your job title, username and password, company contacts for corporate members, photographs, and education level.

B. Information We Collect Automatically

Whenever you visit or interact with our Website, we may use a variety of technologies such as cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, log files, clear gifs, or other technologies to automatically or passively collect certain information your online activity, or to make such information available to third parties.

Please note that the following information may automatically be collected about you:

• Computer or Device Information. We may automatically collect your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address or other unique identifier or information from the computer, mobile device, tablet or other device you use to access the Services, including but not limited to your browser type, device type, operating system, software version, phone model, phone operating system, and the domain name from which you accessed the Services.
• Usage Information. We may collect information about your use of the Website, including the date and time you visit the Website, the areas or pages that you visit, the time spent on each web page or area of the Website, the promotions or advertisements that you click on, and other actions that you take while using our Website.
• Our Third Party Service Providers. We may use third parties to support our website.  Some of these third parties may use technologies such as cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, log files, Flash cookies, or HTML5 cookies to receive, collect, and store information.
• Use of Third Party Analytic Technologies. We may use third parties’ analytics and tracking tools to ascertain the effectiveness of our product and service campaigns and marketing programs, allow us to customize the services offered on or through our Website, and help determine the best use for Website content, and product and service offerings. The technologies may use cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and clear gifs, or other technologies to automatically collect and store certain information. They may also combine information they collect from your interaction with the website with information they collect from other sources. We do not have access to, or control over, these third parties’ use of cookies or other tracking technologies

C. Combination of Information

We may combine the information we receive from and about you, including information you provide to us and information we automatically collect through our Services, as well as information collected offline, across other computers or devices that you may use, and from third party sources.

3. Our Use of Your Information

FBA may use the information that we collect from or about you to:

• Provide information about our services and affiliate partnerships;
• Fulfill your member benefits;
• Facilitate your attendance/participation at our conferences and events (both in person and virtual);
• Track your attendance at conferences and trade shows (including exhibitor spaces);
• Prepare invoices and process payments;
• Respond to any of your questions or requests or other communications you send to us;
• Present our Services and provide our business effectively to you, including as a way to personalize the Services, maintain and improve their functioning, and protect the security or integrity of the Services or our users or employees;
• To review the usage and operations of our Services, develop new products or services, and conduct analysis to enhance or improve our Services;
• To contact you with advertisements (including advertisements that are tailored to your interests), information, newsletters, and promotional materials from FBA or on behalf of our partners and affiliates;
• To use your information in an aggregated non-specific format for analytical and demographic purposes; or
• For other purposes disclosed at the time you provide your information or otherwise with your consent.

4.  Our Disclosure of Your Personal Information to Third Parties

We may share your information with the following categories of recipients:

• Service providers: We may share your information with service providers who provide (without limitation) administrative/operational services; data processing; membership services; marketing & communication services; meeting management services; website hosting services;  membership database services; credit card processing; conference registration; conference mobile applications; conference/event hotels and venues; or who otherwise process personal information for purposes that are described in this privacy policy or notified to you when we collect your personal information;
• Other Fiber Broadband Association members: Other members may receive certain items of your personal information as part of a membership directory or through collaboration portals. In addition, if you sign up to attend a member meeting or other Fiber Broadband Association sponsored event, all other Fiber Broadband Association members who sign up for the event will be notified of your intended attendance at the event and may be given your full name, address, company name, and email address. We are not responsible for other members use or misuse of your personal information;
• Affiliates and Co-Branded relationships: Affiliated partners, such as exhibitors, sponsors and advertisers, may receive membership lists or event attendance lists that include your full name, address, company name, and email address. We are similarly not responsible for the use or misuse of your personal information by our affiliated partners;
• Advertising partners.  We may share your information with third-party partners who help us deliver advertising that is targeted to your interests.
• Legal Matters; Safety: We may also disclose your information as is necessary to: (a) comply with a subpoena or court order; (b) cooperate with law enforcement or other government agencies; (c) establish or exercise our legal rights; (d) protect the property or safety of our company and employees, contractors, vendors, suppliers, and customers; (e) defend against legal claims; (f) help with internal and external investigations; or (g) as otherwise required by law or permitted by law;
• Sale or Transfer of Business or Assets: We may disclose your information in connection with the sale or merger of FBA or any transaction that involves the sale or assignment of some or all of our assets;
• Aggregate or Anonymous Non-Personal Information: We also may share aggregate, anonymous, or de-identified non-personal information with third parties, including for their marketing or analytics uses;
• Other: We may also share your information as disclosed to you at the time of collection.

5. Your Choices

A. Cookies and Tracking Options

Certain parts of our Site and Services require cookies. You may adjust your device or Internet browser settings to limit certain tracking or to decline cookies, but by doing so, you may not be able to use certain features of the Service or take full advantage of all of our offerings. Please refer to your device’s settings or your Internet browser’s “Help” section for more information on how to delete and/or disable your device or browser from receiving cookies or controlling your tracking preferences.

B. Interest-Based Advertising

To understand your choices for receiving more relevant advertising provided on the Service or across other websites and online services, please review the information below:

• • To learn more about such interest-based advertising, and to opt out of such collection and use for interest-based advertising by the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) participating companies, please visit http://optout.aboutads.info.
  • To opt out from the use of information about your online activities for interest-based advertising by Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) member companies, please visit http://optout.networkadvertising.org.

Even if you opt out, you still may receive advertising from us that is not customized based on your Service or usage information, or advertising from other parties that are not DAA or NAI participating companies.

C. Unsubscribing from Our Marketing Communications

You may be offered the opportunity to subscribe to and receive additional information about FBA’s products and services, special events, promotions, or other offers. If you would like to opt-out from receiving marketing communications from FBA, you may click on the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email, or email us at privacy@fiberbroadband.org. It may take up to 10 business days to process your opt-out requests.

6. Data Security

We have taken certain physical, administrative, and technical steps to safeguard the information we collect from and about our customers and Site visitors. However, we cannot guarantee our security measures. You should take care with regard to how you handle and disclose your personal information or any username or password that you are required to use to access our Services.

7. Children’s Privacy

Our Website is not directed to, and we do not knowingly collect information from, children under the age of 13. If we become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, we will use reasonable efforts to remove such information from our files.

8. Third-Party Content, Links, and Plug-Ins

Our Website may have links to third-party websites or digital forums, which may have privacy policies that differ from our own.  We are not responsible for the practices of such sites.  Please remember that any information disclosed in these areas becomes public information, and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose information through these areas of the Website.

The Website also may offer you the ability to interact with social plugins from social media sites, which may allow us and/or the social media site to receive data from or about you. In some cases, we may know that you clicked on a social plugin, such as a Twitter Follow button, or receive other information from the social media sites. Similarly, if you have previously provided personal information to a third-party operating a plug-in on this Website, then such third-party may recognize you on this Website. Your use of social network plugins is subject to each social media site’s privacy policy, which may be different from ours, so please read these policies carefully to understand their policies and your options. As with linked sites, we have no control over the information that is collected, stored, or used by social network plugins, and are not responsible for the practices of such sites.

9. Revisions to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, and you should take the time to review it each time that you visit our Website.  If we change the Privacy Policy in a material way, we will provide appropriate notice to you.

10. Questions; Contact Us

If you have questions or comments about our efforts to protect your personal privacy, or if you require additional information about our privacy commitment, please contact us at privacy@fiberbroadband.org.

Effective Date: July 13, 2022

With 50+ sessions, 7 industry-specific tracks, an interactive exhibit hall & numerous networking opportunities, attendees at Connect (X) will explore next-generation technologies, connect with new partners and learn about eh future of connectivity.

The FTTH Conference 2023 is the event not to be missed if you work in the telecom industry. Make new contacts from the FTTH/B world and increase your network, learn more about the latest fiber enabled technologies, solutions & services, and access the latest FTTH Market intelligence, trends, investments and policies.