Sr. Systems / Sales Engineer - CHR Solutions, Inc.
Nominee Questionnaire
Please provide a short bio for voters to get to know you.
I live in rural Alabama with my wife Amanda. We’ve been married almost 30 years. I have two children, older. My son(Avery) is 25 and works for the local ISP. My daughter(Audrey) is 22 and working on her MBA in Business Management. She is also recently engaged.
Please summarize why you consider yourself an excellent candidate for the FBA Board of Directors?
Thanks to the opportunity to start from the ground up, I’ve had the ability to experience a lot of situations in the Telecom world. I would like to utilize those experiences to help the FBA in continued success. From OSP functions, permitting, regulatory, and even construction I’ve been
Describe your current position and functional responsibilities to your company.
I’m currently the Southeast Sales Executive and assist with other clients in various Engineering needs.
What was your previous position, and how long did you hold that position before transitioning to your current one?
I began working for Otelco(GoNetspeed), a local ISP in Alabama. This was in 2000. I handled inventory and engineering. As the company grew and the landscape changed, I was presented the opportunity to become Engineering Manager for our Alabama properties. Then in 2016-17 I was promoted to direct all of the OSP Engineering functions. In 2022, I felt the calling to move on from that position and landed at CHR Solutions.
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.
Youth Park and Rec. – 4 years. Blount County Chamber of Commerce – 8 years. IPTA Association – 1 year
How many years has your company been a Fiber Broadband Association Member?
4 years 1 year as Premier Member.
How many years have you participated in Fiber Broadband Association activities?
Off and on since 2018. Some years I could not make it to Fiber Connect.
Please indicate any Fiber Broadband Association Committees or working groups you have participated on including position and years served.
I have been on the Policy committee for this year.
Please list any Fiber Broadband Association Contributions (activities supported, assets developed, documents drafted, webinars presented, etc.) I have attended numerous Fiber Connect events. Volunteered for Policy committee.
Our company has presented a webinar for Cybersecurity.
Please provide a short overview of your experience with telecommunications, fiber optics, and FTTH technologies.
Coming from a small ISP, you gain insight into just about every segment of operations. In my telecom tenure I’ve seen about 5,000 miles of fiber built. I’ve also led teams to design about 3,000 miles.
Please describe the goals you would like to accomplish during your term as Fiber Broadband Association Board Member.
To assist in continuing to grow the organization.
Promote the benefits of being a member.
To aid in informing communities that fiber will always be the best path for internet connectivity.
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.
I and my company (CHR Solutions) are fully committed for me to be anywhere and anytime that the FBA deems necessary.
Please use this space to include any additional information you feel is important to share with voting members.
Until this point, I’ve haven’t really thought about being a Board Member. I would consider this a huge honor to work alongside great people that are as passionate about broadband as I am.
Ariane Schaffer
Head of Federal & State Public Policy - GFiber
Nominee Questionnaire
Please provide a short bio for voters to get to know you.
Ariane Schaffer is the Head of Federal & State Public Policy for GFiber, an Alphabet company that provides Google Fiber and Google Fiber Webpass internet services to homes and businesses across the United States. Ariane joined the company in 2018 and focuses on advancing public policy to increase broadband deployments and realize digital equity for communities across the nation. In this role, she represents GFiber on a wide variety of issues impacting the business, including competition, utility safety, permitting reform, and taxes. She also serves as the company’s liaison to trade associations, industry coalitions, third-party groups, and participates on expert panels and in events with other thought leaders. She is currently serving a three-year term as a board member for the Fiber Broadband Association and is Chair of the Board for 2025.
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 graduated from the School of Public Affairs Leadership Program and University Honors Program. She interned in the White House in the Office of Public Engagement under President Obama as well served as Legislative Intern for the U.S. Representative Cedric L. Richmond. A New Orleans native, and currently lives in New York City.
Please summarize why you consider yourself an excellent candidate for the FBA Board of Directors?
I think I would be considered an excellent candidate for the Fiber Broadband Association Board of Directors due to my extensive professional experience in the fiber and telecommunications policy landscape and my proven leadership within the organization itself.
Key reasons for strong candidacy include:
Executive Leadership at a Major Fiber Provider: I am the Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs for GFiber (Google Fiber), an Alphabet company that is a major player in deploying fiber and FTTH services across the United States. This provides the Board with a direct perspective from a prominent industry service provider.
Expertise in Public Policy and Broadband Deployment: My role focuses specifically on advancing public policy to increase broadband deployments and realize digital equity. I have expertise in crucial areas impacting the industry, such as competition, utility safety, and permitting reform. This expertise is vital for a trade association focused on policy and growth.
Direct Industry Involvement: I have already been serving a three-year term as a Board member for the FBA and has actively contributed to groups like the Public Policy Committee, showing a dedicated commitment to the FBA’s mission and operations.
Elevated Leadership Role: My election to Chair of the FBA Board for 2025 demonstrates that my peers and the association’s membership recognize my leadership capabilities and trust me to guide the organization’s strategic agenda during a historic period of fiber investment across North America.
Describe your current position and functional responsibilities to your company.
Setting Strategy and Vision I am responsible for setting the goals, strategy, and vision for the company’s policy priorities. This includes managing the development and advancement of our policy agenda with internal teams, external partners, and governmental bodies at the federal, state, and local levels. I work with internal and outside experts across disciplines like infrastructure deployment, tariffs, and taxes to develop comprehensive policy analysis and advocacy positions, often in collaboration with trade associations, think tanks, and academic groups.
Subject Matter Expertise and Internal Briefing I serve as a primary subject matter expert on regulatory and legislative matters impacting our business. My function is to internally brief senior leadership on these issues to inform key decisions. Externally, I represent the company on a wide variety of critical issues, including competition, utility safety, permitting reform, and taxes. I also serve as the company’s key liaison to influential public official coalitions and third-party groups, such as the National Governors Association (NGA), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Strategic Communications and Advocacy My role includes executing comprehensive legislative, regulatory, and political advocacy strategies. I lead cross-functional teams to champion policies that support the accelerated deployment of fiber-optic infrastructure. I also manage external lobbyists to help identify and realize new business and expansion opportunities. A core part of this function is performing research and analysis, preparing high-quality, succinct analysis, and crafting written government filings and industry articles to effectively articulate and support the company’s public policy positions.
Executive Engagement and Business Development I am engaged in business development by creating and advising on strategies that leverage our company’s strengths, competitive advantage, and market differentiation in the context of public policy. I engage our various business units to communicate public policy issues and market developments, and then develop and execute comprehensive plans to address them, ensuring policy strategy is aligned with overall business objectives.
What was your previous position, and how long did you hold that position before transitioning to your current one?
Previously, I served as the Executive Briefer to the Governor of New York from 2017-2018.
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, I am currently serving year three of a 3 year term for the Fiber Broadband Association (2023-2025) and I previously held a set on the American University Young Alumni Board (2019-2024).
How many years has your company been a Fiber Broadband Association Member?
10+ years
How many years have you participated in Fiber Broadband Association activities?
5 years
Please indicate any Fiber Broadband Association Committees or working groups you have participated on including position and years served.
Public Policy Committee Co-Chair – 2021-2022
Board Liaison Public Policy Committee – 2023-2025
Please list any Fiber Broadband Association Contributions (activities supported, assets developed, documents drafted, webinars presented, etc.)
I have dedicated significant time and energy to supporting the Fiber Broadband Association’s goals, and I hope to continue this work! Please see some of my key accomplishments of the last year:
Please provide a short overview of your experience with telecommunications, fiber optics, and FTTH technologies.
Most of my career has been dedicated to telecommunications, fiber optics, and Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) technologies. My experience is concentrated on public policy, government affairs, and industry leadership within the fiber broadband sector.
Please describe the goals you would like to accomplish during your term as Fiber Broadband Association Board Member.
My primary goal is to accelerate fiber deployment. The FBA needs a powerful, consistent voice in Washington and in every State Capitol. As your board member, I will focus on tangible wins to remove regulatory barriers that are slowing us down. That means:
Streamlining Permitting Reform so we can deploy faster.
Updating outdated Locates Laws to improve safety and efficiency.
And tackling the massive, industry-wide Workforce Development challenge head-on.
These are massive, multi-year projects, and no single company or single industry can do it alone. I will leverage my experience to forge essential cross-industry relationships, turning our policy goals into powerful, unified lobbying efforts.
Finally, we must grow our footprint. There are well over a thousand fiber companies deploying across the US—each one should be an FBA member. I will continue my work to make our association more relevant and more valuable to every single company deploying fiber, ensuring the FBA is the definitive voice of this industry.
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.
I intend to continue to work with committees, travel to all FBA conferences and represent FBA’s interests at other industry conferences.
Please use this space to include any additional information you feel is important to share with voting members.
This is an extraordinary time for fiber, and the FBA is at the center of it. We need proven policy leadership to turn our opportunity into reality. I humbly ask for your vote to continue delivering for the Fiber Broadband Association. Thank you.
2025 Premier Members Meeting
The Premier Members Meeting is where the Fiber Broadband Association’s leadership and vision come together. This exclusive gathering brings FBA Premier Members into one room to engage with the industry’s most important discussions and decisions. With high-level, industry-focused content at the center—from policy and regulatory updates to market trends, workforce development, and the evolving fiber supply chain—every session is designed to spark meaningful dialogue and strategic collaboration. It’s more than an event—it’s a chance to shape the future of fiber, connect with peers who are driving the industry forward, and gain the insights and influence that only come from being in the room.
Schedule of Events
Monday, December 8 – Networking Activities
Golf at PGA West Resort Mountain Golf Course (7:30 AM Departure)
BMW Driving Experience (11:15 AM Departure)
Hot Air Balloon Ride (5:30 AM Departure)
Joshua Tree Guided Hike (10:00 AM Departure)
Guacamole, Salsa & Margarita Making Competition (11:30 AM Start Time)
Palm Springs Downtown Experience (10:00 AM Departure)
Transportation to and from each activity is included, if applicable. Networking activity details and start/end times are subject to change. Activities are first-come, first-served until an activity reaches maximum capacity. You are not guaranteed your selection. If we are UNABLE to accommodate your selection, we will be in contact within 24 hours of your registration. Otherwise, FBA staff will contact you to confirm your activity selection with more information closer to the event date.
Monday, December 8 – Welcome Reception followed by dinner at 5:30 PM
AI After Dark with Peter Cresse & David Eckard at 8:30 PM
Tuesday, December 9 – Premier Member Meeting from 8 AM – 5 PM
The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage 68900 Frank Sinatra Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 Tel: (760) 321-8282
NOTE:Link to discounted room block will be provided upon registration.
Alternative Housing Options
There are no FBA negotiated rates at any property outside the Ritz Rancho Mirage – Palms Springs. Attendee must call/book directly with the property. No transportation is provided between additional hotels and The Ritz.
Each Premier Member Company’s first representative attends at no cost (attendees are responsible for their own transportation to and from the resort). Additional company representatives may register for the event and will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis as space permits requiring receipt of payment prior to the event. We will notify the affected individuals in the case that we reach capacity. The cost for an additional representative is $800. Each additional representative will be invoiced, and payment of the invoice is required by the deadline provided along with the invoice instructions. FBA will reach out directly to these additional representatives after registration.
NOTE: FBA Board members and FBA Committee/Working Group chairs may attend at no charge and do not count against the complimentary attendee for that company.
