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ISE Columnist Sharon Vollman

Getting Real

May 1, 2021
Our team is driven to create resources that help you do your job better. We also know your time and mind-share are limited. You have about a zillion important things […]
ISE Columnist Sharon Vollman
ISE Columnist Sharon Vollman

Our team is driven to create resources that help you do your job better. We also know your time and mind-share are limited. You have about a zillion important things to do. Things that pay. (Literally.)

Being respectful of your overflowing plate, this edit note cuts to the chase and shares 2 quotes from Gabe Waggoner, Executive Vice President – Operations, Consolidated Communications. They sum up his approach to leading with realism and optimism:

 Regarding leadership:
"We don’t want our teams to lose their pride of heritage, but a culture that clings too tightly to conventional wisdom and traditional processes won’t be able to lead the technological transformation we’re in today. It’s essential for leaders to effectively articulate this in a manner that recognizes history and values yet provides a clear vision for the future."

Regarding fiber deployment:
"Consolidated’s RDOF funding coupled with a recent strategic investment and partnership will significantly accelerate fiber expansion to rural areas across our service area. Combined, we will upgrade 1.6 million passings to fiber, multi-gigabit services over a 5-year period."

While these 2 quotes are interesting, they are far too short to truly understand Gabe’s potent leadership philosophy. So, invest just a few minutes to read the full interview (online) and on page 12 of ISE magazine’s May issue. Of course, it’s longer than a Twitter post — but it’s far more substantive and real.

Speaking of getting real and investing, don’t forget to save-the-date for ISE EXPO 2021. 


Join us In Real Life (IRL)
August 31 – September 2 in Fort Worth, Texas, at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

 As one of the first LIVE telecom trade shows of 2021, we’re on a mission to reenergize you with education (earn CECs), thought leadership, IRL networking, demos of new technologies/solutions, AND some well-deserved professional inspiration. 

You’ve given a lot to everyone else over the last year plus. Now, it’s time to invest in an IRL career boost. 

Don’t ignore yourself. Authentic leaders invest in the right things. 

Register at www.iseexpo.com   #InvestIRL   #ISEEXPO2021

About the Author

Sharon Vollman | Editor-in-Chief, ISE Magazine

Sharon Vollman is Editor-in-Chief of ISE Magazine. She oversees the strategic direction and content for ISE Magazine. She also leads the educational content development for ISE EXPO. Vollman has created educational partnerships with the major communications and entertainment providers including AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink, Frontier Communications and Cincinnati Bell. She has covered the telecom industry since 1996. Prior to that, she worked in advertising with Ogilvy & Mather and CME. Vollman has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Advertising from the University of Iowa.