Events - Speaker Bios

Julie Bauer, was appointed President of Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company in June 2013. In August 2014, Ms. Bauer also assumed oversight of Panasonic’s digital marketing strategy as Chief Marketing Officer to support both Panasonic’s consumer and B2B businesses in North America.

Since her arrival at Panasonic, Ms. Bauer has overseen a consumer products turnaround strategy that resulted in profitable growth, doubling of on-line sales directly to consumers, and a 40% reduction in operating costs. Ms. Bauer also led the growth in the company’s Beauty and Adventure product categories, and implemented breakthrough experiential marketing campaigns with high profile partners including the Kentucky Derby and Lifetime Fitness.

Ms. Bauer serves on the Consumer Electronics Association’s Board of Industry Leaders. In June 2015, Ms. Bauer was appointed to the College of Science and Liberal Arts Advisory Board at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. In the same year, she was named one of the Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ. In 2014, Ms. Bauer received the Distinguished Fellow Award from the University of Wisconsin EBusiness Institute in recognition of her accomplishments in customer engagement and eCommerce.

Before arriving at Panasonic, Ms. Bauer held senior level positions in direct marketing, online strategy, eCommerce and multichannel transformation, most recently as Senior Vice President of Digital Marketing & Global eCommerce with Guthy-Renker, the world’s largest direct marketing company.

Prior to Guthy-Renker, she served as Mattel’s Vice President of Global On-line & Retail Channel Technology. As Senior Director of Global eCommerce Operations & Multi-Channel Strategy for Best Buy, Ms. Bauer led the transformation of the company’s on-line channel and oversaw all consumer-facing site management functions.

Ms. Bauer earned a B.S. in Business and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA in Marketing and Business from the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, MN.

John Bozzella, a veteran auto industry executive, is the new president and CEO of Global Automakers, effective April 1, 2014. Since 2009, he served as a Senior Operating Executive for Cerberus Operations and Advisory Company, LLC, where he worked with the firm and its portfolio companies on a range of public policy and economic development matters.

John served as Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Public Policy at Chrysler Group in 2009, and Vice President of External Affairs and Public Policy for Chrysler LLC from 2007 to 2009. In this capacity, he mobilized government support to significantly restructure Chrysler.

At Chrysler, John worked closely with the federal government and other automakers on a substantial advanced technology vehicle loan program and on the development of new fuel economy standards. In addition, he worked with state governments to gain funding for restructuring, training and development.

From 2005 to 2007, John spent two years with DaimlerChrysler Corporation as Vice President of External Affairs and Public Policy for the Americas. John was with Ford Motor Company from 1994 to 2005 in positions in public policy, and government and community relations, and labor relations.

Prior to joining the automotive industry, John served as New York City's director of state legislative affairs under Mayor David N. Dinkins. He began his career in public policy as the Director of Legislative and Political Action for the United Federation of Teachers. John is a graduate of Cornell University.

Mary L. Brown is Senior Director for Technology and Spectrum Policy in Cisco’s Washington DC Government Affairs office where she covers a wide range of public policy issues. She leads Cisco’s global public policy agenda for wireless technologies and spectrum policy.

During her career, she has worked as a consultant, as in-house regulatory counsel for a major carrier, and for approximately 10 years as a staff lawyer and manager at the Federal Communications Commission. She has been with Cisco for 10 years. In addition to telecommunications issues, she has substantial experience in Internet law and policy.

Ms. Brown holds a J.D. with honors from the Syracuse College of Law, and a Master of Science in Telecommunications from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Shaun Cohen has over 25 years of industry and consulting experience, combining operational and financial expertise to deliver outstanding results. He has managed finance and accounting teams, both as a CFO and as a project consultant to improve reporting, cost analysis and accounting compliance. He has led acquisitions, turnarounds, due diligence efforts, and deal negotiations. Prior to joining Pace Harmon, a boutique consulting firm focused on sourcing and IT strategy, he was the Chief Financial Officer for a national home inspection company and the Chief Financial Officer of a VoIP service provider. Shaun has led dozens of strategic sourcing transactions across a broad spectrum of materials, services and equipment. He has had leadership roles in several large scale network and backhaul build-outs in the US.

Amy Copley is the Director of Solutions Marketing for BTI. Amy is responsible for driving the marketing strategy and industry awareness for the company’s core packet-based solutions for carriers and cloud providers. Prior to joining BTI, Amy had extensive experience in routing, packet switching, and optical networking technologies. She held positions in product management and product marketing at Cisco (formerly Starent Networks), Ericsson, Sycamore Networks and Bay Networks. Amy worked on packet and routing initiatives in the IETF, OIF, and held board positions. She was also the Marketing Chair in the Frame Relay Forum.

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene represents Washington’s 1st Congressional District, which spans from northeast King County to the Canadian border, and includes parts of King, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom counties.

First sworn into the House of Representatives on November 13, 2012, DelBene brings a unique voice to the nation’s capital, with over two decades of experience as a successful technology entrepreneur and business leader in the private sector.  Her depth of experience and focus on achieving concrete results allows DelBene to break through Congressional gridlock and get things done, earning her praise from the Everett Herald, who called her “the most prolific, effective member of her freshman class.”  

DelBene takes on a wide range of challenges both in Congress and in the 1st District. When the I-5 Bridge collapsed in May 2013, Congresswoman DelBene fought to secure emergency funding to immediately rebuild the bridge and help ensure that the Skagit Valley stayed open for business. And in the aftermath of the mudslide in Oso, DelBene worked to ensure the federal government did everything possible to help victims, their families, and all those affected by one of Washington’s worst natural disasters.

Congresswoman DelBene is a strong voice on the House Agriculture Committee for Washington’s farmers and growers. She was the only Member of Congress from Washington state on the bipartisan Farm Bill conference committee, which successfully negotiated a 5-year Farm Bill that was good for farmers and ranchers, preserved nutrition benefits for working families and children, and included $200 million for DelBene’s legislation to expand job-training opportunities for SNAP recipients. At the start of the 114th Congress, she was named Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research.

Through her role on the House Judiciary Committee, DelBene is at the forefront of issues relating to technology and privacy, and has become a leading voice in the House calling for greater transparency and oversight of the NSA to restore American’s privacy rights. She is also focused on advancing common-sense immigration reform and is a lead sponsor on H.R. 15, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, a comprehensive immigration reform bill with over 200 sponsors.

DelBene was appointed to serve on President Obama’s Export Council, the President’s advisory committee on international trade. She also serves as co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition’s 21st Century Job Skills Working Group, and co-chair of the Women's High Tech Caucus, Internet of Things Caucus, Trademark Caucus, and Aluminum Caucus.

Suzan spent part of her early childhood in Newport Hills and Mercer Island before her father, an airline pilot, lost his job. After fourth grade, her family moved all over the country in search of work. With hard work and financial aid, such as student loans and work study programs, she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Reed College.

Following Reed, Suzan worked in the biotechnology industry before earning an MBA from the University of Washington and embarking on a successful career as a technology leader and innovator. In more than two decades as an executive and entrepreneur, she helped to start drugstore.com as its vice president of marketing and store development, and served as CEO and president of Nimble Technology, a business software company based on technology developed at the University of Washington. Suzan also spent 12 years at Microsoft, most recently as corporate vice president of the company’s mobile communications business. In 2010, Suzan was appointed by Governor Gregoire to be the Director of the Washington State Department of Revenue. During her tenure, Suzan proposed reforms to cut red tape for small businesses. She also enacted an innovative tax amnesty program that generated $345 million to help close the state’s budget gap, while easing the burden on small businesses.

DelBene’s mix of real world experience in the private and public sector gives her a deep understanding of how to build successful businesses and create jobs, implement real fiscal accountability, and adopt policies that provide individuals with access to opportunity.  

She knows what it will take to ensure that our nation and this region lead in creating high-wage 21st century jobs—great educational opportunities for our children and ongoing training for adults; a financial system that is fair, strong, and transparent; incentives that foster research, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and a health care system that works for everyone.  She will continue fighting for these priorities in the other Washington.  

DelBene was named a Champion of Main Street Businesses by the Washington Retail Foundation, and received the 2014 Distinguished Community Health Advocate Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) for her work to expand access to care for our nation’s most vulnerable communities. She was also awarded the President’s Award from the NAACP for her work on behalf of veterans and their families.

Suzan and her husband, Kurt DelBene, have two children, Becca and Zach, and a golden retriever, Pluto.

Ed Donelan has been involved in the electrical, communications and data processing industry for over 35 years. As President of Telecom Infrastructure Corp, the company he founded in 1986, his company continues to serve Fortune 1000 companies as a specialist in designing and implementing information technology and DAS systems nationwide. Currently, Ed is a past President of BICSI and has served on the board for 10 years. During the four years as Regional Director, Ed provided over 3,700 members in the North East region with leadership to improve communications and promote BICSI and its members. During Ed’s tenure as President he has provided excellent leadership during the worst economic recession in modern history for both his company and for BICSI. As a result of his leadership both companies continue to grow and prosper. He is also the winner of the prestigious Harry J. Pfister Award for excellence in telecommunications.

Phil Goldstein is the editor of FierceWireless, and is the primary contact for the publication. He also oversees FierceWireless:Europe. Prior to joining FierceMarkets, he was the managing editor of The Daily Free Press, the independent student newspaper at Boston University, as well as an intern for The Times of London. He gets excited about the latest smartphone launches, but is also an avid lover of the New York Yankees, poetry, photography, traveling and escaping humidity.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of ZenFi Network Solutions, Ray La Chance applies proven industry management expertise to deliver cutting-edge communication network solutions to the market. Ray oversees all aspects of the business operations, effectively leading a team of experts to solve industry problems created by the proliferation of mobile data. In addition to Ray’s role at ZenFi, he is also a Founding Partner of Metro Network Services, LLC., a company focused on network planning, engineering, deployment and maintenance. Ray is an information technology industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience managing teams to design, build, and operate complex, high capacity networks for large enterprises, financial firms and telecommunications service providers. Prior to ZenFi and Metro|NS, Ray was President and CEO of Lexent Metro Connect, LLC from 2007 to its successful sale in December 2010 to Lightower Fiber Networks. Ray was also the co-founder of Realtech Systems Corp., an enterprise network integration and professional services firm where he served as President and CEO.

Harry Lightsey was appointed Executive Director – Global Connected Customer Experience in the Global Public Policy organization in April 2013. Harry joined GM in March of 2012 as Director, Federal Affairs - OnStar, Infotainment and Strategy Development. Subsequently, Harry also led the Federal Affairs team. He retired from AT&T in 2009 after serving as President of Southeast Region and as its Senior Vice President of Legislative and External Affairs. Harry also served as State President South Carolina of BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc.

Harry’s career in the telecom industry spanned over 26 years, including holding a variety of positions in the external affairs and legal organizations at BellSouth. He began his telecommunications career in 1982 when he joined Southwestern Bell.

He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. He was named co-chair of the Economic Development Transition Task Force by South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges. He was a founding member of the board of City Year-Columbia, a youth service organization, and has participated in numerous other charitable organizations.

In 2002, he received the Order of the Palmetto, the South Carolina’s highest recognition for his achievements in leading the ground breaking effort to establish leading research and development programs in higher education. He has also served on the Princeton National Alumni Executive Board and on the Board of Trustees of the College of Charleston.

He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1978, majoring in Japanese Studies. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1981.

Jackson Metcalf finds ways to create award-winning data centers noted for their sustainable design and technical prowess—including 4 data centers which achieved LEED Gold certification. In his 9 years with Gensler, he has worked on a variety of project types, specializing in the design of commercial office buildings and mission critical projects. He leads the Mission Critical Practice Area for Gensler’s North Central Region of Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit and La Crosse.

Jackson received his Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University, and for the past 6 years has served on their Architecture Advisory Council.

Jessica Rosenworcel was nominated for a seat on the Federal Communications Commission by President Barack Obama and on May 7, 2012 was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate. She was sworn into office on May 11, 2012.

Commissioner Rosenworcel brings a decade and a half of public sector and private sector communications law experience to her position at the FCC. This experience has shaped her belief that in the 21st century strong communications markets can foster economic growth and security, enhance digital age opportunity, and enrich our civic life.

Prior to joining the agency, Commissioner Rosenworcel served as Senior Communications Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, under the leadership of Senator John D. Rockefeller IV. She previously served in the same role on the Committee under the leadership of Senator Daniel K. Inouye. In this position, she was responsible for legislation, hearings, and policy development involving a wide range of communications issues, including spectrum auctions, public safety, broadband deployment and adoption, universal service, video programming, satellite television, local radio, and digital television transition.

Before joining the staff of the Committee, she served as Legal Advisor to former FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps. She also served at the agency as Legal Counsel to the Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau and as an Attorney-Advisor in the Wireline Competition Bureau.

Prior to entering public service, Commissioner Rosenworcel practiced communications law at Drinker Biddle and Reath.

Commissioner Rosenworcel is a native of Hartford, Connecticut. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University and New York University School of Law. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband Mark, and children Caroline and Emmett.

Russ Shields is Chair of Ygomi LLC, which builds and operates companies that deliver innovative software and technology based services. Businesses that Mr Shields has founded and/or led include Shields Enterprises International, Cellular Business Systems, Inc. (later Convergys), Navigation Technologies (later Navteq, now Nokia Here), and the current Ygomi companies – SEI, Connexis, and ArrayComm. Mr Shields is a Board Member of the ITS World Congress, founding Board Member of ITS America, former Chair of the TRB Communications Committee, former Convener of ISO/TC204/WG16, and Co Chair of the ITU Collaboration on ITS Communications Standards. He is also a member of the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Advisory Board, a Presidential advisory committee.

Mr. Shields received the 1998 SAE Delco Electronics ITS Award, was named an SAE Fellow in 2007, was inducted into the inaugural class of ITS America’s Hall of Fame in 2008, and was named the inaugural U.S. member of the ITS World Congress Hall of Fame in 2010.

In 2008, to recognize his 45 year track record of creating and developing businesses that define new industries, the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business awarded him the Distinguished Alumni Award in Entrepreneurship. In 2013, the Hotchkiss School awarded Mr. Shields its Alumni Award.

Dr. Rikin Thakker is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). He has over 15 years of experience in the field of cellular and wireless communications. He has helped design, deploy and maintain cell sites with 3G and 4G technologies for major cellular operators in the United States.

Before joining the university full time, he was working for CommScope as an Engineering Manager for their Active Wireless Products group. He also serves as a Senior Advisor and an Instructor for RF Academics – an initiative started by a group of elite professors to cater to industry's need of quality education at corporate speed.

Dr. Thakker earned his M.S. in Telecommunications from UMCP and his Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from the George Washington University.

Greg Weiner has over 14 years of industry and consulting experience with a strong emphasis on sourcing/outsourcing and the telecom industry. He was previously a Vice President of Strategy and Business Development with Mobilitie, a wireless infrastructure owner with tower and fiber assets across the country. Prior to Mobilitie he was a co-founder and CIO of Pace Harmon, a boutique consultancy focused primarily on supply chain and strategic sourcing. Greg has led dozens of strategic sourcing and outsourcing transactions and negotiated multiple lease agreements (cell towers) and amendments. He has had leadership roles in several large scale network buildouts in the US as well as in countries across South America. He has also conducted numerous IT and Network outsourcing initiatives across multiple industries.

Mr. Wiest has over 30 years of experience in telecom, wireless networks and tower companies. Doug joined EdgeConneX as an Executive Vice President of Wireless Services in October 2010. Prior to EdgeConneX, Doug was President and CEO of Lightower from July of 2002 until 2009. The business began as a startup under the ownership of National Grid (NYSE:NGG), a UK-based utility company. Before engaging in the Lightower opportunity, Doug was the COO of American Tower (NYSE:AMT), the largest tower owner and operator globally. Doug managed the tower, services and manufacturing divisions as well as IT development. Doug has also held executive operating positions at Nextel, McCaw Communications and Pacific Telesis, a Regional Bell Operating Company acquired by AT&T. Doug has an MBA from the Marriott Business School at Brigham Young University, an MS in Telecommunication from Golden Gate University and a BS in Psychology from Brigham Young University.