Noted industry speaker, coach, and consultant Darrin Wagner will address contracting executives while launching the Power Group concept—an independent, peer-to-peer leadership initiative for wireless infrastructure firms during NATE UNITE 2026 in Las Vegas in February.
Wireless infrastructure contracting companies are operating in one of the most difficult environments the sector has faced in decades. Matrix pricing, extended payment terms, margin compression, workforce instability, and increasingly rigid carrier and tower-owner requirements have left many privately held contractors squeezed from all sides.
What makes these pressures more acute is that most owners and executives are confronting them in isolation.
Unlike other mature construction and infrastructure sectors, the wireless contracting industry has historically lacked structured, industry-specific peer networks where leaders can compare notes, pressure-test decisions, and learn from peers facing similar constraints.
A new initiative set to debut during NATE UNITE 2026 in Las Vegas aims to address that gap.
Power Groups, developed by Power Mountain, will be introduced to the industry as an independent, peer-to-peer leadership model designed exclusively for owners and senior executives of communications infrastructure contracting firms.
The Power Groups concept is being positioned as a first-of-its-kind, industry-specific peer model tailored solely to the realities of wireless infrastructure contracting.
Power Groups will be unveiled at the NATE conference in Las Vegas during an exhibitor-hosted session. Contracting executives interested in learning more can contact Darrin Wagner, CEO of Power Mountain, at dw@powermountain.com. Attendance is limited.
In addition, contractors interested in attending the Power Groups informational meeting can RSVP via the following link: Power Group Informational Meeting RSVP.
NATE does not sponsor Power Groups. Power Mountain is participating in the conference as an exhibitor, using the Las Vegas venue to host an introductory session for interested contractors.
The informational meeting will take place Monday, February 23, 2026, at 8:30 p.m., following NATE’s official meet-and-greet. Wagner has reserved space at a nearby bar/restaurant that will allow attendees to mingle before a structured briefing outlining the Power Groups model, participation structure, and expectations. Contractors who RSVP will receive the location details by February 20, 2026.
A Peer Model Built Specifically for Wireless Contractors
Power Groups are not generic mastermind programs or broad business coaching sessions. They are industry-specific peer learning groups, structured around the realities of running wireless infrastructure companies—tower services, construction management, safety compliance, workforce development, financial strain, customer concentration, and scaling in a carrier-dominated ecosystem.
The model is intentionally simple: contractors learn faster and make better decisions when they engage with peers who already understand their business—without needing explanations, abstractions, or generic advice.
Each group is limited in size to encourage candid discussion, trust, and accountability, operating in a board-of-directors-style environment where owners can openly address operational, financial, and leadership challenges.
Hybrid Structure Designed for Contractor Schedules
Recognizing that owners cannot step away from daily operations for extended periods, Power Groups are structured to balance depth with practicality:
- In-person working sessions focused on strategy, leadership, and problem-solving
- Virtual peer sessions that maintain continuity and accountability
- Facilitated discussions grounded in real-world wireless infrastructure experience
- The objective is not theoretical improvement, but measurable operational and leadership gains
Rather than applying one-size-fits-all frameworks, Power Groups are designed to address issues that are specific and unique to each participating business—allowing owners to work through challenges tied directly to their company’s size, customer mix, workforce structure, and financial realities.
Why Peer Learning Matters Now
For decades, the wireless contracting industry has been defined by independence and grit. That mindset helped build the nation’s networks, but today’s environment demands more structured leadership, disciplined decision-making, and shared intelligence.
Owners are now expected to manage complex compliance requirements, workforce challenges, financial risk, and strategic planning—often with thinner margins and fewer safety nets.
Industry-specific peer groups provide something traditional consulting and conference panels cannot: trusted, experience-based insight from leaders facing the same risks.
Industry Experience Behind the Framework
Power Groups are led by Darrin Wagner, a longtime active NATE member and industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience in wireless infrastructure.
Wagner began his career in 1994 as an entry-level technician and later rose through leadership roles at Verizon Wireless. In 2005, he founded TEST Communications, building it into a respected regional contractor recognized for safety performance, culture, and technician development. His early experience in the field gives him firsthand insight into the physical demands and mental strain faced by tower crews and construction teams.
Today, as CEO of Power Mountain Coaching & Consulting, Wagner works with organizations to strengthen leadership, improve workplace culture, and address workforce sustainability challenges—connecting field realities with leadership accountability and organizational health.
Wagner currently provides consulting and coaching services to a broad range of wireless infrastructure contractors, from some of the nation’s largest firms, including the Ontivity group, to mid-sized operators such as Elevated Services.
During NATE UNITE 2026, Wagner, a dynamic speaker, will moderate a panel discussion, Building Awareness of the Physical and Mental Health Challenges Facing Tower Technicians, and serve as a panelist on Part II: Strengthening Safety and Productivity by Supporting the Physical and Mental Health of Tower Technicians.
A Practical Step Forward for Contractors
As wireless contractors face mounting operational and financial pressure, the introduction of structured, industry-specific peer groups represents a notable shift. Rather than navigating pricing compression, workforce instability, and strategic uncertainty alone, owners now have an opportunity to engage with peers who understand the business from the inside.
In an industry where margins are thin and missteps are costly, peer-to-peer leadership may prove to be one of the most valuable tools contractors can add to their playbook.
