Keynote & Session Speakers

Toby is a social cognitive scientist, speaker and writer. He researches innovative thinking approaches that spark insight with a focus on higher-order critical thinking, problem solving and communications. He presents his unique content using vivid mental imagery and radically interactive exercises. His fascinating history spurred a lifelong research journey in advanced critical thinking and communications in expert environments. A popular speaker amongst leading organizations in industry, government, and academia, Toby works with experts that provide society’s most critical services including the audit, intelligence, investigative, legal and medical communities.

Toby has a PhD in psychology,  an MA in industrial-organizational psychology, and has training in a unique combination of forensic psychology and forensic accounting.

Jeff Johnston is a lead economist in CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division, where he focuses on the communications industry. His work revolves around identifying emerging technologies, business models, risks and opportunities within the industry, and providing strategic analyses to both internal and external stakeholders.

Prior to joining CoBank in 2018, Mr. Johnston was an equity analyst covering the technology, media and telecom sectors. Jeff has also held various senior management positions in the telecommunications industry.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from York University and is a CFA charter holder.

Daniel Owens is an Audit Principal at Olsen Thielen CPA’s in Roseville, MN and serves on the firm’s Quality Committee and also performs peer review engagements. Daniel has over 20years of experience in accounting, auditing, and consulting for telecommunications companies and membership organizations.Daniel graduated from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota –Twin Cities, with a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1999. He is married to his spouse, Tara, and they have an emerging toddler named Fall.

Mike Romano joined NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association as senior vice president in August 2010. Mike oversees the organization’s public policy, government affairs, business development initiatives, as well as the educational and community-focused mission of the Foundation for Rural Service.

Before joining NTCA, Mike served as the founding vice president and general counsel of GTT Communications and held a variety of positions within America Online and Level 3 Communications, in addition to his work with several law firms advising telecom and tech companies. Mike has a Bachelor of Arts degree in American History from Middlebury College, and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Tanya, CEO and Founder of Plus One, is an accomplished communications and business development professional with extensive strategy, marketing, and industry analysis experience. She is well positioned to advise, manage and implement clients’ strategic objectives.

Before founding Plus One in 2008, Tanya served as the VP of corporate relations for the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), leading communications, marketing and public relations efforts and developing strong relationships between NRTC and its 1400 rural electric and telephone members.

Prior to NRTC, Tanya served as senior director of external affairs at the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) where she developed and implemented the communications strategy for the company’s 30,000+ direct stakeholders, the United States Congress, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Before USAC, Tanya was VP of business development for CoBank, a multi-billion-dollar financial institution serving rural America. Her career in telecommunications began at USTA (now US Telecom).

Tanya’s awards include NTCA-Broadband PAC Board member of the year 2019, RWA’s Rural Wireless Leadership award 2017, and NTCA – The Broadband Association’s Associate Member Outstanding Achievement Award 2013.

Matt is a partner in the Lexington office of Turlington and Company, L.L.P. Since joining the firm in 1996, Matt has primarily worked in the area of taxation.

Matt’s knowledge has been invaluable in assisting clients on a wide variety of tax issues. His knowledge has been used to represent clients in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service. Matt’s knowledge of tax laws has enabled him to work with a diverse cross-section of clients. He deals with tax clients ranging from individual filers to corporations. In addition to tax work, he also performs compilations, reviews, and audits.

Matt graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in 1993. He earned the designation of Certified Public Accountant in North Carolina in October of 2000. Matt is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA).

In addition to his work responsibilities, Matt is married with two children. He is a member of First Wesleyan Church in High Point, NC. Matt is a member of the Lexington Kiwanis Club and he has served in various capacities with numerous non-profit agencies.

Phil Lynch is a regional director for U.S. Private Client Services at Russell Investments. In this role, Phil is responsible for the service, growth, and expansion of the retail investment market in North and South Carolina through his work with financial advisors. Phil consults advisors on business development, practice management, marketing, capital markets and sales of Russell Investments’ products.

Phil joined Russell Investments in 2006. Prior to joining Russell Investments he was a vice president, senior investment specialist for Credit Suisse Asset Management, where he was selling managed accounts, mutual funds, fixed income, equity and alternative investments in the Southeast Region. Phil began his career at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette, where he worked as a new business associate and was promoted to marketing associate, where he helped build an institutional asset management business.

Phil holds a B.A. in Political Science, a minor in Small Business Management from the University of Vermont and is a Certified Private Wealth Advisor® and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary®.

Colleen Brooks has spent the majority of her nearly 30-year career at Verizon, in a diverse array of leadership positions within the company. She is recognized for building strategic vision, leading focused teams, and impacting the business in a meaningful and quantifiable way. Currently, Colleen leads the Verizon B2B websites, spanning Enterprise (U.S. and International), Public Sector, SMB Wireless and SMB Wireline.

Colleen has a wide depth and breadth of experience in telecommunications. Colleen’s many other roles at Verizon included Director of Digital Marketing for Enterprise Solutions, as well as Customer Experience Manager for Verizon.com. In these and other positions, Colleen has been able to use her skills and leadership across customer experience strategy and execution, sales enablement digital tools, voice of the customer surveys and more. She is known for building partnerships, leading results-driven teams and tracking via metrics and analysis.

Colleen has her MBA as well as a Masters’ Certificate in Project Management from The George Washington University, and her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia. Colleen has been the recipient of numerous profession distinctions, including the Verizon Enterprise Solutions Marketing Recognition Award, several Verizon Marketing Leadership Awards and several Verizon Excellence Individual Awards.