Open to opportunities

Craig Rochester

@craigrochester

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Telecom executive with 25+ years in business development and strategy.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I seek a leadership role that fosters innovation and strategic growth in telecom.

I am a seasoned telecom and infrastructure executive with over 25 years of experience driving revenue growth and strategic partnerships across Tier 1 and Tier 2 telecom carriers. My career has been marked by a proven ability to develop and close multi-million dollar deals, build C-level relationships, and scale operational delivery across various verticals. I have successfully led cross-functional initiatives that resulted in significant EBITDA uplifts and large-scale infrastructure programs, including a $1.2B telecom buildout for AT&T.

As the CEO and Founder of Summit IoT, I operate a consulting firm focused on enhancing service delivery and streamlining network deployments for telecom providers. My leadership in national deployment strategies for telecom carriers has driven advancements in Open RAN and private 5G rollouts, significantly improving market coverage and network capacity. I am passionate about leveraging my extensive experience in strategic planning, financial modeling, and vendor ecosystem strategy to drive growth and innovation in the telecom industry.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

CEO & Founder

Current

Summit IoT, LLC

Dec 2018 - Present (6 years 6 months)

Founded a consulting firm focused on telecom integration and operational support. Led national deployment strategies for telecom carriers, enhancing service delivery and driving business growth through Open RAN, CBRS, and private 5G rollouts. Achieved significant cost reductions and improved operational efficiency.

Open RAN Vendor Management Support Operations Integration Business Development Project Management 5G Deployment

Senior Vice President, Wireless

LeadOut Software, LLC

Jan 2020 - Jan 2022 (1 year 11 months)

Led initiatives for SaaS and private 5G transformation to improve wireless broadband access in rural areas. Collaborated with telecom providers and managed vendor sourcing and hardware rollouts, establishing partnerships to enhance infrastructure deployment.

SaaS Wireless Sourcing Contract Negotiation Project Management Strategic Partnerships Engineering Management

Director, Commercial Strategy & Network Solutions

Cisco / Jasper

Oct 2014 - Jan 2019 (4 years 3 months)

Managed Solutions Architecture and collaborated with various teams to deliver integrated hardware and software solutions. Engaged with AWS for IoT pilot projects and developed go-to-market frameworks to enhance enterprise cloud adoption.

Solution Architecture IoT Cloud Applications Go To Market Project Management AWS Business Case Development Customer Onboarding Strategic Partnerships

Director, Wireless Engineering

GCI

Feb 2012 - May 2014 (2 years 3 months)

Oversaw the Wireless Engineering organization, leading the design and implementation of numerous cell sites. Improved operational efficiency and customer satisfaction through effective engineering and strategic advisory roles.

Customer Satisfaction Project Management Team Leadership Strategic Advisory Infrastructure Development

Vice President, Business Development

Mobilitie, LLC

Oct 2010 - Oct 2011 (1 year)

Drove business development and customer relationship management for AT&T's national account. Managed infrastructure projects and developed business cases for shared infrastructure ROI, facilitating strategic deployment initiatives.

Business Development Customer Relationship Management Infrastructure Development ROI Analysis Project Management Telecommunications Strategic Planning Team Leadership Vendor Management

Regional Manager, Network Planning & Engineering

AT&T

Aug 2005 - Oct 2010 (5 years 2 months)

Led cross-functional teams in delivering large-scale technology projects. Managed a $1.2B network buildout strategy, enhancing network coverage and capacity while supporting the launch of the first Apple iPhone in key markets.