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Patrick Jacobi

SVP Telecom NA - Prysmian Group

 

 

Nominee Questionnaire

Please provide a short bio for voters to get to know you. Patrick Jacobi is the head of Telecom for Prysmian Group North America, which is comprised of both Broadband and Enterprise, Copper and Fiber Optic cables. Patrick began his career in 2003 with a logistics firm based in Chicago, IL before quickly transitioning to the General Motors subsidiary Duramax Diesel. After nearly 6 years, he shifted from the automotive industry to wire and cable joining General Cable in 2009. In 2018, the Prysmian Group acquired General Cable and over the past 13 years with the combined companies, he has held various roles in sourcing, supply chain, plant management and product management leading up to his current position which he assumed in 2021.

Patrick holds a bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University. He has lived in the Bluegrass State of Kentucky for the better part of the past 13 years with his wife Mary Rose and daughters, Parker and Marley.

Please explain why you consider yourself an excellent candidate for the Board of Directors of the Fiber Broadband Association. Over the past 3 years as Senior Vice President of Telecom NA for Prysmian I have come up to speed quickly with this dynamic and ever evolving market. I have developed a strong knowledge of the market but being a relative new-comer I still have much to learn. This desire to learn and my historical background in other markets helps me provide an alternative perspective and question the industry norms. I have chaired the Trusted Fiber Working Group and have enjoyed the experience working with the team. This was an opportunity I had not previously had working with other organizations so for this I am grateful and would like the opportunity to pay this back. I have seen the Fiber Broadband Association grow and flourish over past few years and I would like to increase my engagement as a board member to help the organization with continued success.
How many years has your company been a Fiber Broadband Association Member? 20 plus years
How many years have you participated in Fiber Broadband Association activities? 2
Please indicate any Fiber Broadband Association Committees or working groups you have participated on including position and years served. I have chaired the Trusted Fiber Working Group for the past 2 years.
Please list any Fiber Broadband Association Contributions (activities supported, assets developed, documents drafted, webinars presented, etc.) My organization has supported the FBA with a presentation on Trends in Fiber Cable as well as participating in the annual Fiber Connect show. Myself as well as other Prysmian colleagues have supported the Trusted Fiber, Sustainability, Public Policy, and the Technical working groups. I have done my best when called upon to represent not only my organization but also FBA in Washington, D.C. Notably June 26th, when President Biden announced how the 42.5B of BEAD Funding would be allocated.
How many years have you been in your current position? 3
Describe your current job and functional responsibilities. In my current role, I am responsible for leading the North American Telecom Business for the Prysmian Group. The Telecom Business in North America for Prysmian is comprised of Broadband and Enterprise, copper and fiber optic cables. At a high level I am responsible profit and loss and strategic direction of the business. My team is comprised of 75 individuals across multiple functions including sales, technical support, and product management.
What was your previous position? MMS Business Unit Lead NA
How many years did you hold your previous position for? 2
Do you have experience as a member of a Board of Directors? No
The bylaws prohibit convicted felons from serving on the board. Is there any legal impediment that would prevent you from serving on the Board? No
Is there any legal issue personally of which the Association should be aware? No
Being a Fiber Broadband Association Board Member requires a considerable time commitment. Please confirm that you have the support of your company if you are elected. Yes
Please provide a short overview of your experience with telecommunications, fiber optics, and FTTH technologies. My experience in the Telecom Industry as noted above is limited to the past 3 years in my current role but given the rapid speed at which the market is developing I have had to learn quickly. Prysmian is the largest Wire and Cable manufacturer in the world, thus my focus has been on the production and sales of Fiber Optic Cable. I have had the opportunity to learn from multiple individuals who have spent their entire careers in the Telecom Industry. This was not only my sales and technical team members but also our production floor team members who help me learn how our product is made from glass to cable. I have also had the opportunity to be on site for installations and trials of our cable. This included the installation of Fiber to the Home at my own personal residence. Prior to this role I probably would have not watched my local ISP conduct my install but this time around I was asking how I could help.
Please describe the goals you would like to accomplish during your term as Fiber Broadband Association Board Member. As board member my primary goal would be to support the vision and mission of the organization, helping to shape the direction of the association and make a lasting impact on its success. We have to continue to be the advocates for closing the digital divide with fiber. Helping to ensure that we take full advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity that the federal funding has provided.
Have you reviewed the Board of Directors’ Responsibilities document, and do you understand what is required? Yes
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. As noted in the Board Members Responsibilities and Accountabilities document I will at a minimum attend the regular zoom and face-to-face meetings at the defined level. I understand that this minimum level is estimated at 10 hours, but I expect over the course of a year will exceed this. I will continue to support the various working groups, travel to Washington, D.C. when required, represent the organization at public/private events, and attend our annual Fiber Connect conference.