TDS Telecom announces new executive leadership team
With Jim Butman taking the helm as CEO on Jan. 1, TDS names senior leaders.
As Jim Butman prepares to take the helm as president and CEO of TDS Telecom, the company today announced his executive leadership team. They include:
- Vicki Villacrez, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance
- Ken Paker, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Information and Network Technologies
- Drew Petersen, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs
- Shane West, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Customer Operations
- Mark Barber, Senior Vice President of Network Operations
- Kathy Cefalu, Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer
“These individuals are proven leaders in their own right,” says Jim Butman. “They have extensive industry knowledge and long and distinguished tenures with the company. These talented individuals understand our business exceptionally well and will be critical to our ongoing growth and success in the wireline, cable, and broadband industry.”
With responsibility for the company’s financial reporting, Vicki Villacrez has been with the TDS family of companies nearly 30 years. She oversees accounting, internal controls, billing, revenue assurance, procurement, and financial analysis. In addition, Villacrez leads the company’s strategic and long-range planning.
Ken Paker joined TDS in 1996. In his new role, Paker is responsible for guiding the network services and information technology departments. He will also preside over the architectural direction of the company’s network and oversee delivery of software and infrastructure projects to ensure customers have access to the most reliable internet, phone and TV services.
With 20 years of accumulated experience at TDS, Drew Petersen leads the company’s regulatory, legislative, and judicial matters at the local, state, and national levels. He works closely with industry-affiliated trade organizations and federal and state policymakers to drive public policy success. In addition, Petersen directs the internal and external communications, business development, compliance, and legal departments.
Leading the marketing, sales, and customer operations teams is Shane West. He has more than 20 years of experience within the TDS family of companies. He will have overall responsibility for all facets of marketing, product management and development, consumer and commercial sales channels, and customer support functions. West will also be responsible for managing customer growth and retention strategies.
The most recent addition to the TDS senior leadership team is Mark Barber. He joined the company in 2013 with three decades of experience in the telecommunications industry. Barber was instrumental in helping TDS acquire its first major cable company and has facilitated all subsequent cable acquisitions. He will continue to be involved with cable operations as well as begin overseeing the field services and repair teams. These groups are responsible for all service installations, resolutions, preventative maintenance, and outage restoration efforts for TDS’ infrastructure and network operations.
With more than 30 years at TDS, Kathy Cefalu leads employee relations, diversity and inclusion, safety, compensation, benefits, talent acquisition and development. She also leads the rewards and recognition program and serves as the company’s Data Privacy Officer.
“This team has a tremendous amount of knowledge, years of experience and superior leadership skills,” states Butman. “They have the vision and expertise we need to continue growing and delivering the reliable internet, phone and TV services our customers need and desire most.”
