Gary Bolton serves as president and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association — the largest trade association in the Americas dedicated to all-fiber-optic broadband. With more than three decades in the telecom industry, Bolton joined the Fiber Broadband Association as president and CEO in 2020 after serving on the association’s board as vice chairman, treasurer and vice chairs of public policy and marketing committees.

Prior to taking the leadership role at the Fiber Broadband Association, Gary spent 11 years at ADTRAN serving as vice president of global marketing and government affairs. ADTRAN is a top three global provider of broadband infrastructure solutions. At ADTRAN, Gary was responsible for all aspects of marketing for the company worldwide as well as regulatory and government affairs. Gary has been highly involved in Washington, particularly on FCC and Congressional proceedings and international trade issues.

Prior to ADTRAN, Gary held executive management positions at two successful venture-backed high-tech start-ups as well as at large publicly traded companies in marketing and product line management. Gary served as the chairman at the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, co-chairman of BITAG (Broadband Internet Technology Advisory Group), a board member at Huntsville Botanical Garden and at the Chamber Foundation, president for SORBA-Huntsville and an MIT CEO mentor at Hudson Alpha, Leadership Alabama, Leadership Huntsville and serves on the University of Alabama in Huntsville college of business executive advisory board.

Gary is currently an adjunct professor in business administration and management science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and he holds an MBA from Duke University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University.

Ariane Schaffer serves as Head of Federal & State Policy for Google Fiber and has worked for the company since 2018. In this role, she focuses on broadband public policy, state and federal government relations, digital equity efforts and business expansion. Prior to joining Google Fiber, Ariane was Executive Briefer to the Governor of New York. Ariane holds a bachelor’s degree from American University’s School of Public Affairs in Washington, DC and currently lives in New York City.

Gregg Logan is truly a telecommunications pioneer. After attending the University of Mississippi, he joined C Spire’s affiliate, Franklin Telephone Company, as an equipment installer and technician in 1982. Gregg has risen through the ranks and has accomplished several telecommunications milestones throughout the years including the first fiber optic interconnection from an independent telephone company in Mississippi. During his tenure, Gregg has served in various leadership positions for Telapex, Inc. – the parent company of C Spire – and its affiliates, primarily focused on building out rural wireless markets and directing the development of the company’s fiber optic broadband network that consists of thousands of miles of fiber optic cable throughout Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida. C Spire’s network provides wireless and Internet telecommunication services to its customers, other carriers, Internet Service Providers, universities, government agencies, hospitals and businesses. In 1988, Gregg was one of a team of nine charter C Spire (formerly Cellular South) employees who launched the first cellular wireless network on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and brought wireless service for the first time to many other parts of Mississippi. And, in 2014, Gregg led C Spire’s ground-breaking efforts to deploy 1 Gigabit FTTH services to communities throughout the state of Mississippi.

As National Market Manager Broadband Markets & Applications for Graybar, Scott is actively involved with network operators. Scott has more than 20 years of technology and business modeling experience in Broadband, IT and telecommunications applications in the industry. In his current role at Graybar, Scott focuses on Broadband networking, applications and the supply chain for broadband network operators, utilities, wireless operators and contractors. His past roles include Service Provider, Smart Grid and Smart City as a market and business development manager.

He is currently his company’s representative for the Fiber Broadband Association, National Rural Electric Association, Utilities Technology Council, National Association of Tower Erectors and Wireless Industry Association. Scott has served as various industry technology committee chair and board of director and officer/chair positions. He also serves, or has served on, various industry tasks forces from time-to-time; currently on the Wireless Industry Association’s Smart City Task Force and as a former active participant on the Smart Grid Task Force submittal of Electri International and Michigan State University School of Planning, Design, and Construction.

Katie Espeseth joined EPB, Chattanooga Tennessee’s electric power distributor and fiber optics communications provider in 2004, bringing with her over 30 years of marketing and telecommunications experience with a national telecommunications carrier. As Vice President of New Products, Katie guides the company’s effort to maximize the value of its 100% fiber optic network with new and enhanced products for both business and residential customers. In 2019, Katie and her team also began offering support to other municipals and Co-Ops who are interested in deploying a fiber optic network for their communities through EPB Broadband Solutions.

Currently, Katie serves on the board for NCTC (National Cable Television Co-op). She has previously served on the boards for FOSA (Fiber Optics Sensing Association) and the LATAM Chapter of FBA. Katie also chairs the Fiber Deployment Advisory Group for TVPPA (Tennessee Valley Public Power Association).

Mark Boxer assists customers deploying fiber in a wide variety of network design scenarios around the world and analyzes trends in telecommunications markets that drive new product innovation in his role at OFS. Mark has a BME degree from Georgia Tech, and has spent his 30+ year career in the fiber industry. His experience includes varied roles in manufacturing and applications engineering for fiber-based products and markets. Other activities include inventor of five US Patents, member and past Secretary of the IEEE Power Engineering Society Fiber Optic Working Group, contributing member to the Fiber Broadband Association Technology Committee and Board of Directors member of North Carolina Broadband Matters.

Nominee Questionnaire

Please provide a short bio for voters to get to know you. 

I’m Kimberly McKinley, and I got my start in the fiber industry in 2010 at UTOPIA Fiber. I came in as a Marketing Manager, rolled up my sleeves, and quickly found myself deeply involved in the operations side of the business. Over the years, I worked my way up to CMO and Deputy Director, overseeing multiple operational departments while helping grow UTOPIA into the nation’s largest open access provider. Today, I serve as Chief of Staff at TAK Broadband, one of the country’s largest construction firms specializing in network builds, drops, and fulfillment. Along the way, I’ve picked up a reputation for my bad jokes and some pretty interesting dance moves. 

Please summarize why you consider yourself an excellent candidate for the FBA Board of Directors? 

Our industry is at a critical moment—balancing unprecedented funding opportunities with complex challenges around deployment, workforce, and execution. Having worked across both the provider and construction sides of broadband, I bring a diverse perspective on how we can overcome these roadblocks and accelerate the mission of connecting America.  

Describe your current position and functional responsibilities to your company. 

As Chief of Staff at TAK Broadband, I oversee the company’s marketing strategy and execution while also managing broader Chief of Staff responsibilities. My role includes aligning leadership priorities, driving cross-departmental initiatives, and ensuring the organization is positioned for long-term growth and industry leadership. 

What was your previous position, and how long did you hold that position before transitioning to your current one? 

CMO / Deputy Director – UTOPIA Fiber. 14 Years  

Do you have any experience as a member of a Board of Directors? If so please provide name of the entity and number of years of which you served. 

Yes, Fiber Broadband Association – 2022-2024, AAPB – Founder and Board Member 2020-2023 

How many years has your company been a Fiber Broadband Association Member?

1.5 years  

How many years have you participated in Fiber Broadband Association activities? 

2019-current  

Please indicate any Fiber Broadband Association Committees or working groups you have participated on including position and years served. 

Public Officials Roundtable / Co-Chair, Marketing Committee  

Please list any Fiber Broadband Association Contributions (activities supported, assets developed, documents drafted, webinars presented, etc.) 

Over the years, I’ve presented on several Fiber Broadband Association webinars, covering topics like marketing and open access, and I’ve had the opportunity to take part in multiple FBA fly-ins on Capitol Hill. 

Please provide a short overview of your experience with telecommunications, fiber optics, and FTTH technologies. 

I bring extensive experience in telecommunications through my work on the operations side of the business. I started at an ISP in a very hands-on role, which gave me early exposure to the realities of network deployment. Over time, I worked closely with the operations team and oversaw many of the core operational functions, giving me a broad and practical perspective on how networks are built and maintained. I’ve been involved in a wide range of FTTH deployments, and I know how to translate those technical details into terms that matter for communities, customers, and decision-makers. Having experience on both the ISP and construction sides, I understand how to bridge technical expertise with real-world impact. 

Please describe the goals you would like to accomplish during your term as Fiber Broadband Association Board Member. 

During my term on the Fiber Broadband Association Board, my goal is to help take our industry from simply building networks to unlocking their full potential. We’re seeing unprecedented levels of fiber deployment across the country, and now the challenge is to ensure those networks are maximized — not just for ISPs, but for the communities they serve. 

FBA needs to be at the forefront of helping providers monetize these networks in ways that expand real connectivity — reaching farms, cities, and everywhere in between. By focusing on the next iteration of our industry, we can make sure these historic investments translate into lasting impact for people and communities nationwide 

Please describe the level of commitment (in terms of time and effort) that you intend to make to the Association during the three-year term. 

If I’m elected, I’ll dedicate the time that’s needed to be an engaged and effective board member. I recognize the responsibility that comes with this role, and I’m committed to showing up, contributing, and doing the work required to support the mission of the Fiber Broadband Association. 

Please use this space to include any additional information you feel is important to share with voting members.   

I truly care about this industry and the people in it. Fiber has been my career for more than a decade, but it’s also my passion — and I only want the best for it. Serving on the board would be my way of giving back and doing my part to help move the industry forward. 

Joe leads the Americas Market Development team for Corning. With 18 years of telecom experience in engineering, product management, and product development, Joe pioneers FTTx architectures, optical solution advancement, and design optimization for today’s evolving networks. This approach to optical network evolution helps make fiber based access networks more accessible by using innovation to lower barriers to deployment. His most recent areas of contribution focus on converged network architectures and defining potential impacts of next generation networks such as 4G densification and 5G on both the carrier infrastructure and investment business case. Joe obtained his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from NCSU and Executive MBA from UNC Chapel Hill.

Jimmy Todd is the CEO & General Manager for Nex-Tech, a rural cooperative communications company, based in Lenora, Kansas. He is overall responsible to strategically lead growth, innovation, and diversity. Nex-Tech was the first company in the nation to bring FTTH technology to a community and an entire telecom exchange. Today, its broadband service area is primarily fiber-optic covering approximately 10,000 square miles across Northwest and Central Kansas.

Including his military service and telecom roots originating in field service installation, Jimmy has served the communications industry for more than 35 years gaining extensive knowledge and experience in technical, operational, and managerial aspects. Rising thru the ranks, he held supervisory positions in Field Services and Network Operations at two companies in Oregon; was President for Malheur Bell, also in Oregon; and was the President/GM for MTC in Kansas. While at MTC, Jimmy was involved in the creation of the Kansas Fiber Network organization, a statewide fiber network, and he still serves on the Board today.

Jimmy has been active for many years in advocacy for fiber broadband at the State and National levels serving as a board/committee member and holding officer positions for organizations such as WTA, NTCA, and NRTC. In December 2021, he was appointed to a two-year term to serve on the FCC’s Task Force for Reviewing Connectivity and Technology Needs of Precision Agriculture in the United States. Prior to this appointment, he served two years as a Working Group Committee member for the Task Force.

Joseph Jones has spent his entire career in the telecommunications industry which has spanned over twenty-five years. JJ has vast experience from field installation services, quality assurance functions, administration roles, to operations which includes over twenty various cable and fiber broadband start-ups nationwide and direct involvement developing operational and customer service strategies that help define On Trac, Inc. in an increasingly competitive market. JJ’s previous role as Executive Vice President had him overseeing daily company operations with a focus on company strategy, profitability, and customer relationships.

Along with his responsibilities at On Trac, Inc., he gives countless volunteer hours to the Fiber Broadband Association. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, JJ has served and chaired various committees for the past 13 years including being the Fiber Connect Conference Chairman for seven consecutive years where he oversees the Fiber Connect Conference which is the industry’s leading all fiber conference. JJ is a two-time recipient (2010 & 2020) of the Photon Award which recognizes a Fiber Broadband Association member who, through their volunteer contribution, has demonstrated a high level of dedication to the organization and contribution to the industry.