Awards

Chair’s Award 

Honors an individual or company that shows exceptional effort to promote, educate, or accelerate fiber to the home. 
Selection: No nominations. The FBA Board Chair selects the recipient.

Winner: OEC Fiber | CEO David Goodspeed

Photon Award 

Honors an individual whose volunteer service demonstrates exceptional dedication to the Association and the industry. 
Selection: Nominations reviewed by the FBA Conference Committee and the FBA Board. 

Finalists

• Paul Breakman, VP of Americas Partners & Business Development — Adtran
• Patrick Mulhearn, Director of Government Affairs — Ripple Fiber  
• Tzeitel Buchanan, Lead, Tribal Center of Excellence — Lumen 

Winner: Paul Breakman, VP of Americas Partners & Business Development — Adtran

Star Award 

Recognizes a company or community that goes above and beyond in advancing fiber to the home. 
Selection: Nominations reviewed by the FBA Conference Committee and the FBA Board. 

Finalists

• EMPOWER Broadband 
• Ripple Fiber 
• Surf Internet 

Winner: Surf Internet

Gene Scott
Education Award 

Recognizes a person, community, or institution that has made a significant impact on fiber industry education. 
Selection: Nominations reviewed by the FBA Education Committee.

Winner: Mark Boxer | Technical Manager, Solutions and Applications Engineering, Lightera

Fiber Under Forty

Spotlights professionals born in 1986 or later whose contributions are driving meaningful results for their companies and the industry. 
Selection: Nominations reviewed by the FBA Conference Committee and FBA Senior Council.

Finalists

• Alex King, Director of Broadband — Blue Ridge Mountain EMC 
• Matt Peaster, EVP of Fiber — C Spire 
• Amber Rodriguez, Senior Director of Growth Marketing — Surf Internet 

Winner: Alex King, Director of Broadband — Blue Ridge Mountain EMC

Women Changing
Fiber for Good 

Celebrates women whose leadership and actions are improving the industry in lasting ways. 
Selection: Nominations reviewed by the FBA Conference Committee and FBA Senior Council. 

Finalists

• Tzeitel Buchanan, Lead, Tribal Center of Excellence — Lumen 
• Kristy Harrison, Executive Vice President of Operations — Brightspeed 
• Smruti Naik, Vice President of Information Technology — Summit Broadband

Winner: Tzeitel Buchanan, Lead, Tribal Center of Excellence — Lumen 

Advocacy Allstar 

Honors individuals advancing fiber broadband policy at state and federal levels. 
Selection: Nominations reviewed by the FBA Conference Committee and FBA Senior Council. 

Finalists

• Chris Champion, Vice President of Government Relations — C Spire 
• Bobbie Gilbert, Chief Government Affairs Officer — Ripple Fiber 
• Rhonda Goddard, CFO — Nex-Tech 

Winner: Chris Champion, Vice President of Government Relations — C Spire 

Community Impact 

Recognizes fiber projects that enable communities and change lives across North America. 
Selection: Nominations reviewed by the FBA Conference Committee and FBA Senior Council. 

Finalists

• ALLO Fiber — Smart Schools Program 
• LFT Fiber 
• Surf Internet

Winner: ALLO Fiber — Smart Schools Program 

Product Innovation 

Showcases technology innovation that expands fiber broadband’s ability to meet customer needs today and over the next decade. 
Selection: Nominations reviewed by the FBA Conference Committee and FBA Senior Council. 

Finalists

• Adtran Mosaic One Clarity 
• EPB Quantum Networks® 
• GOCare OutageIQ 

Winner: EPB Quantum Networks® 

Constellation

Celebrates coalitions of companies that teamed up to advance fiber networks across communities, states, or regions. 
Selection: Nominations reviewed by the FBA Conference Committee and FBA Senior Council.

Finalists

• ADB Companies and Render Networks 
• Adtran / GOCare / TEC 
• Position Access Solutions and Calix 

Winner: ADB Companies and Render Networks