Management Bio's
Mission Statement
To provide a diversified package of specialized services to the
telecommunications industry with a focus on integrity, quality and
customer satisfaction through all phases of infrastructure
development.
- Charlie Smith, CEO: Charlie Smith is a founding investor of SDT and has been the Company’s CEO since January of 1999. Mr. Smith has worked in the telecommunications infrastructure services industry for over 30 years and has extensive experience in all aspects of telecommunications engineering and construction including design and engineering, route development, construction management and budgeting. Prior to joining SDT, Mr. Smith co-founded CommTech Technical Services, Inc. (“CommTech”) in 1986 and became its President. In this capacity he was instrumental in winning large network construction projects with AT&T, BellSouth, MCI and other leading names in the telecommunications industry. In addition, he played a major role in CommTech’s acquisition of Cannon Construction, a provider of fully engineered and constructed “turnkey” telecommunications networks. Mr. Smith grew revenues at the combined entities to $30 million before both companies were acquired by First South Utility Construction in 1997. After the sale, Mr. Smith continued to serve as President of CommTech and Cannon Construction, as well as of the AG Hill subsidiary of First South Utility Construction, until his departure for SDT in 1999.
- James Ezell, President : James Ezell is a founder of SDT and has been with the Company since 1994. He currently serves as the Company’s President and leads the expansion of SDT’s various services divisions. Mr. Ezell has over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications infrastructure services industry. A significant portion of that experience was alongside Mr. Smith at CommTech, which he joined at its founding in 1986. While at CommTech, Mr. Ezell was involved in all aspects of network planning and construction for a number of large fiber construction projects and assumed increasing responsibilities for both project management and marketing functions. He was also heavily involved in the integration of CommTech’s acquisition of Cannon Construction.
- Richard Johnson, CFO: Richard Johnson has been with SDT since 1998 and currently serves as the Company’s CFO. Prior to joining SDT, he worked with Mr. Smith and Mr. Ezell as Controller for both CommTech and Cannon Construction. Mr. Johnson has over 14 years of financial management experience and is a Certified Public Accountant. He began his career in public accounting with May and Company, a large accounting firm based in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Mr. Johnson then became the Controller of Rouse Rubber Industries, where he was responsible for a host of administrative functions including accounting, audit, regulatory compliance, payroll and benefits. In addition, he was instrumental in Rouse Rubber Industries’ sale of a majority equity interest to a strategic acquirer.
- Kirk Smith, Vice President, Corporate Development: Kirk Smith joined the Company in 2004 and serves as SDT’s Vice President of Corporate Development and Corporate Secretary. In this capacity he leads the Company’s business development efforts and has primary responsibility for sourcing potential acquisitions. He also supports the Company’s overall strategic planning efforts. Prior to joining SDT, Kirk spent 4 years as an investment manager with Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc. and was also a founder and President of AmeriCom, Inc., a telecommunications and utility contracting firm. Mr. Smith has an MBA from Mississippi College
- R. Bruce Day, Vice President of Operations: Bruce Day joined the SDT team in April of 2004 and currently serves as Vice President of Operations, in this role Bruce is responsible for all day to day operations for SDT’s Engineering and Technical Services Divisions. Mr. Day started in telecommunications in 1978 consulting with Southern Bell (now BellSouth) and has since worked with Sprint, MCI and General Telephone (now Verizon). Bruce has managed many different aspects of nationwide telecommunications projects, including the engineering, design and construction of large cross-country fiber optic networks as well as, consulting competitive carriers on network technology deployment.
- Amanda Stewart, Division Manager, Real Estate and ROW: Amanda joined SDT in 1998 and is the Division Manager for Real Estate and Right of Way. Amanda has 27 years experience in many aspects of land work including Oil & Gas Title and Leasing, Right of Way Acquisition, Corporate Asset Management and International Asset Verification and Management. Amanda and her Real Estate team have supported clients in several multi million dollar due diligence efforts and asset transfers that exceed several billion dollars in value. Amanda is a CCIM, a member of IRWA, attended NACORE Lease Management Training and completed IDRC - Advanced Leasing Techniques for Corporate Real Estate, Manhattan, New York.
- James Parcells, Division Manager, EF&I Services: James joined SDT in 2004. James has 22 years of experience in the Telecommunication Industry the majority of which was with AT&T. He held positions in Engineering, Operations, Bell Laboratories (Lucent), and Wireless where he had integral roles in 4ESS/5ESS deployment , Digital Migration, Analog retirement, and VOIP development. James currently holds CCNA and CCDA certifications. James also heads up SDT's Managed Services.
- Jack Freeman, Division Manager OSP Construction: Mr. Freeman has over 40 years experience designing and building both copper and fiber infrastructure for telecommunications carriers, both nationally as well as internationally. Prior to joining the SDT team Mr. Freeman served as President of a major communications construction company with operations throughout the southeast.
