FDH Velocitel’s Don Doty Selected as Presiding Chairman of Test Development Task Force
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) convened a distinguished group of the industry’s leading subject matter experts in Dallas, Tex. this week to begin the test development process for the Telecommunications Tower Technician I (TTTI) and Telecommunications Tower Technician II (TTTII) certification programs.
The NWSA is a national non-profit assessment and certification organization that has been established to provide thorough, independent assessments of knowledge and skills and provide verifiable worker certification in order to enhance safety, reduce workplace risk, improve quality, encourage training, and recognize the skilled professionals who work on towers and other non-standard structures.
During the meetings in Dallas, the select group, a who’s who of subject matter experts, established a Telecommunications Tower Technician Task Force to formalize their test development efforts moving forward. The NWSA Task Force roster consists of the following members:
| Name | Company |
| Rick Argudin | Capitol Safety |
| Marc Ball | Tech Safety Lines, Inc. |
| Brian Bicknese | Vertical Limit Construction |
| Kathy Brand | Tower Safety & Instruction |
| Andrew Britton | Henkels & McCoy |
| Shawn Cherri | Capital Safety |
| Russell Chittenden | Synergy Concepts, Inc. |
| Jimmy Coleman | AT&T |
| Clint Cook | Centerline Solutions |
| (Warren) Greg Corbitt | Bechtel |
| Joey Deuer | TUF-TUG Products |
| Doug Dickinson | Ericsson |
| Luke Dierking | Capital Tower & Communications Inc. |
| Don Doty | FDH-Velocitel |
| Michael Fergus | Capital Tower & Communications Inc. |
| Paul Foster | Vinculums Services, Inc. |
| Kenneth Holder | Atlantic Tower Services |
| Justin Huggins | Enertech Resources, LLC |
| John Paul Jones | Tower & Turbine Technologies LLC |
| (Robert) Mike Jones | Comtrain USA |
| Nick Jones | ENSA-North America |
| Brooks Keel | General Dynamics |
| Ben Little | Centerline Solutions |
| Gordon Lyman | Safety LMSystems LLC |
| Kristen McCarty | Vinculums Services, Inc. |
| Robert McCoy | Crown Castle |
| Christopher Mallon | Tower MRL, Inc. |
| Corey Messer | Pacific Safety Solutions |
| Justin Miller | EasTex Tower, Inc. |
| Jim Miller | EasTex Tower, Inc. |
| Eric Munsell | Black & Veatch |
| Art Pregler | AT&T |
| Pavel Redko | Avenger Engineering, LLC |
| Sonya Roshek | Mycom – North America |
| Ryan Schock | Design Telecommunications |
| Rob Seidel | General Dynamics |
| Curtis Smith | Mastec Network Solutions |
| Glenn Speight | Axcess Rescue |
| Gerry Spinelli | Narda Safety Test Solutions |
| Doug Stephenson | Vertical Consultant |
| Richard Teckenbrock | Heartland Solutions |
| Todd Thorin | Sioux Falls Tower and Communications |
| Gary Trent | U.S. Cellular |
| Matt Uhrich | Legacy Telecommunications, Inc. |
| James Weiss | Red Wing Electric |
| Marv Wessel | Global RF Solutions |
| Tom Wood | PMI’s Vertical Rescue Solutions |
“The NWSA took another giant step forward today with the establishment of the Telecommunications Tower Technician Test Development Task Force,” said NWSA Board of Governors Chairman Art Pregler from AT&T. “The organization will be able to lean heavily on this experienced group of subject matter experts in order to develop the NWSA’s knowledge-based computer exams and the field-based practical exams for the TTTI and TTTII certification programs,” Pregler added.
The NWSA also announced that industry veteran and leading subject matter expert Don Doty from FDH Velocitel has been selected to be the presiding Chairman of the task force. “The psychometric and test 
development work of the task force is integral to ensure that the NWSA’s respective certification programs adhere to the roadmap that is required to achieve ANSI ISO 17024 accreditation,” emphasized Don Doty, who also serves on the NWSA’s Board of Governors. “I am honored to serve in this capacity and am committed to ensuring that reliable, valid and legally defensible assessments are developed through our task force’s collective efforts,” added Doty.
The NWSA organization is the result of collaborative efforts between a broad coalition of the industry’s leading subject matter experts, companies and stakeholders representing wireless carriers, tower owners, OEM’s, turnkey management firms, government agencies, public safety entities, small contractors, tower technicians and industry associations. Industry leaders have pledged to provide timely and relevant updates to the industry as key benchmarks are achieved in the establishment of the NWSA’s national assessment and certification programs.
Industry workers, companies and stakeholders are encouraged to visit the NWSA website at nwsa@nws-a.org to learn more about the organization.