“As an Executive Committee, we are excited to add the visionary leadership and philanthropic spirit of Ron, Eric, Jake, and Michael to the Tower Family Foundation’s Board of Directors,” said President Jim Tracy.
The Tower Family Foundation announced the newest appointments to the non-profit organization’s leadership team. Ron Bizick, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vertical Bridge; Eric Dudek, Senior Vice President of Operations for the U.S. Tower Division of American Tower Corporation; Jake Hamilton, Vice President – West Access Engineering & Operations at Verizon, and Michael McIlhon, Chief Executive Officer of Avalon Test Equipment have been appointed to serve on the Tower Family Foundation’s Board of Directors.
They join the Foundation’s Board, comprised of industry executives devoted to the Foundation’s mission of providing financial support and scholarships to industry workers and their families in times of immediate need.
The Tower Family Foundation also announced that Board of Directors members Jim Tracy, Victor Drouin, and Kenny Blakeslee were appointed by their peers to serve on the non-profit organization’s Executive Committee for the 2024 term.
Jim Tracy, Founder of Legacy Telecommunications from Boise, Idaho, was appointed to serve another term as the President of the Board of Directors. Victor Drouin, President of Green Mountain Communications, Inc. in Pembroke, New Hampshire, was appointed Vice President of the Board of Directors. Kenny Blakeslee, President & CEO of Apex Site Solutions in Elk Grove, California, was appointed Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors.
“As an Executive Committee, we are excited to add the visionary leadership and philanthropic spirit of Ron, Eric, Jake, and Michael to the Tower Family Foundation’s Board of Directors,” said President Jim Tracy. “These respected industry leaders will play an instrumental role in helping the foundation expand our visibility and reach to provide more impacted industry workers and families with financial support and scholarship opportunities,” Tracy added.
The Tower Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides financial assistance and scholarships to family members of a severely injured, permanently disabled, or deceased tower worker who was injured or killed in an accident stemming from working at heights on communication structures or other on-the-job activities that tower workers are involved in daily. Interested stakeholders are encouraged to visit the Tower Family Foundation website to learn more about the organization, apply for scholarships, and contribute online.
BOARD MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES
RON BIZICK is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Vertical Bridge. He has more than 34 years of telecommunications industry experience and oversees the firm’s day-to-day operations, as well as overall strategy and growth initiatives.
Prior to joining Vertical Bridge, Mr. Bizick co-founded and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Tarpon Towers, LLC, which develops, acquires, and manages wireless communication sites throughout the United States. Earlier in his career, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Global Signal, Inc., before its acquisition by Crown Castle in 2007. During his tenure at Global Signal, the company completed a successful IPO and tripled its portfolio from 3,500 to over 11,000 owned and managed communication sites. Prior to Global Signal, Mr. Bizick was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of SBA Communications, where he played a significant role in its growth from a start-up to a nationwide public company.
He received his Bachelor of Arts in Business and Communication from the University of Pittsburgh and completed executive education programs at The Wharton School and Harvard Business School.
ERIC DUDEK is the Senior Vice President of Operations for the U.S. Tower Division of American Tower Corporation. In his role he leads the entire operations organization, including customer service delivery, engineering, field operations, construction, and supply chain.
Mr. Dudek joined American Tower in 2012 as Vice President of Network Development, and in 2016 became the Vice President of Network Operations where he was responsible for the field operations and maintenance of over 40,000 sites nationwide.
His career in the wireless telecommunications industry began with Nextel in 1994. Over the course of nearly three decades, he has been involved with the design, deployment, and operations of several major cellular network initiatives and has held leadership positions in radio frequency engineering, field operations, and network deployment. In addition to Sprint Nextel, he spent time at Clearwire and LightSquared. Mr. Dudek holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Western New England University.
JAKE HAMILTON is Vice President of West Access Engineering & Operations for Verizon. Jake and his team are responsible for building, maintaining, and securing America’s most reliable wireless network.
With more than 20 years as a leader in the telecommunications industry, Jake is a seasoned expert who has extensive experience in developing and implementing wireless network solutions. Jake’s technology career began with Alltel in 2002, and since joining Verizon in 2008, he has served in many roles critical to building Verizon’s world-class wireless and fiber networks.
Jake earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Arkansas State University and his MBA from University of Arkansas – Little Rock.
MICHAEL McLLHON is the CEO of Avalon Test Equipment and serves on its board of directors.
Before being named CEO in February 2023, Michael served many roles at Avalon beginning in the Warehouse, then Sales, and eventually becoming VP and President, where he oversees worldwide sales and operations.
A San Diego native, Michael raises his five children with his wife, Katie, in his hometown.
He earned his Business and Economics degree from the University of Dallas and joined Avalon in 2010. He is currently pursuing an MBA from Pepperdine.
Under Michael’s leadership, Avalon has expanded its offerings to include test and measurement equipment rentals and sales for the telecom industry, leading to a sixfold growth. This expansion supported the development of a world-class 17025 RF accredited calibration laboratory with capabilities up to 110GHz. Avalon now boasts a clientele that includes several Fortune 500 companies and has secured premier service contracts with leading manufacturers and military/defense contractors, making it a nationally recognized brand in the test and measurement industry.
Michael’s influence extends beyond numbers. He prioritizes the customer experience, emphasizing core values of customer obsession, delivering a legendary customer experience, living with integrity, and grounding Avalon in risk and innovation. He has redefined Avalon’s culture to focus on unparalleled customer service.
Outside of work, Michael is committed to charitable activities, such as Avalon’s golf tournament supporting the Tower Family Foundation. Family is central to his life, and he enjoys surfing, playing golf, and traveling with his family in his spare time.
