Rural Telecommunications Congress Elects New Slate of Officers: Drew Clark as Incoming President; Jane Smith Patterson as Immediate Past President
AUSTIN, April 16, 2015 – The board of the directors of the Rural Telecommunications Congress voted here on Wednesday to elect a new slate of officers to lead the organization, building upon its work over the last several years. At its annual meeting held jointly with the Broadband Communities Summi
AUSTIN, April 16, 2015 – The board of directors of the Rural Telecommunications Congress voted here on Wednesday to elect a new slate of officers to lead the organization, building upon its work over the last several years.
At its annual meeting held jointly with the Broadband Communities Summit here, the Rural Telecommunications Congress unanimously approved as new officers:- Drew Clark, President
- Jason Whittet, Vice President
- Frank Odasz, Secretary
- Eric Ogle, Treasurer
- Jane Smith Patterson, Immediate Past President
“It is a humbling experience to be entrusted with the leadership of an organization with the history and institutional knowledge of the Rural Telecommunications Congress,” said Drew Clark, incoming President.
Drew Clark, Incoming President, Rural Telecommunications Congress
“I gained a passion for the vital role of broadband as the leader of the Illinois broadband authority, and while living in and traveling throughout rural Illinois. I continue to experience the truth that better broadband leads to better lives through my work to help cities and rural communities build Gigabit Networks.”
Clark is Of Counsel with the Salt Lake City-based law firm of Kirton McConkie.
“The RTC has played a vital role in rallying rural America’s interest in broadband through its annual Rural Telecommunications Congresses,” said Jane Smith Patterson, Immediate Past President, and who served as President from 2013 to 2015.Patterson has played a legendary role in enhancing technology access and adoption in North Carolina, and nationwide, through her leadership of the Rural Internet Access Authority and e-NC Authority from 2000 to 2012.“I’m confident that our new officers, including Drew Clark, Jason Whittet, Frank Odasz and Eric Ogle, will help to continue to enhance the voice of rural America on issues of better broadband,” she said.
Jane Smith Patterson, Immediate Past President, Rural Telecommunications Congress
- Monica Lynn Babine, Kirland, Washington
- Michael Curri, Ontario, Canada
- Chris Janson, Newburyport, Massachusetts
- Keith Montgomery, Northern Virginia
- Joel Mulder, St. Charles, Illinois
- Frank Ohrtman, Denver, Colorado
- Galen Updike, Mesa, Arizona
About RTC
The mission of the Rural Telecommunications Congress is to facilitate the development of a reliable and sustainable rural broadband ecosystem to ensure a strong future for rural America. Incorporated in Tennessee, the RTC operates as a non-profit organization and has an application for 501(c)(3) status pending with the Internal Revenue Service. For more information, visit http://www.ruraltelecon.org.
