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All Risks acquires industry’s largest program administrator, Tower Program Insurances Services

In Featured News, Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

All Risks, Ltd., the nation’s largest independent insurance wholesaler, has acquired Tower Program Insurance Services, Inc. (TPIS), a national program administrator, based in Austin, Tex. TPIS has developed a national program for the tower construction industry and has joined All Risks, Ltd. effective August 1, 2015. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Patrick Shea and Scott Hermesmeyer, founders of …

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NATE Trade show innovator is retiring while companies continue hiring

In Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

Included in this week’s Business Briefs roundup, Ken Meador, who kindled the National Association of Tower Erectors’ trade show’s explosive growth, is retiring; Telforce Group has picked up Paul Barone to head its Dallas office; Mark Nellis joins B+T group as its controller; Christopher Felder joins the ranks of Maser Consulting; and Mitch Bateman will be leading obstruction lighting manufacturer Flash …

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Subcarrier’s Houston expansion bolsters its ever increasing tower and rooftop count

In Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

An industry pioneer in high performance wireless infrastructure services, with a portfolio of some of the country’s best towers in high demand locations, New Jersey-based Subcarrier Communications, announced its Southwest market expansion and the hiring of key executives Dudley Norman and Greg Weger to lead market operations from their new Houston, Tex. office. As demands for wireless connectivity prove to …

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Vertical Bridge, InSite Wireless, Poole, SBA, TI and TSC are in the news

In Featured News, Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

With today’s Business Briefs, iHeartMedia delivers its first set of towers to Vertical Bridge, InSite Wireless jumps to being the 7th largest tower owner in the U.S., the sale of California’s iconic Mt. Wilson towers is near, SBA’s new board member is entrenched in everything telco, Tower Innovations gets a new chief and TSC Tower Specialists takes on Michigan. Vertical Bridge …

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Goodman Networks lays off 340 as construction managers’ lawsuit advances

In Featured News, Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

Following a layoff of workers in December, Goodman Networks, a family-owned end-to-end wireless network deployment firm, let go an additional 340 employees on March 10, 2015, according to information reviewed by Wireless Estimator. It is not known, however, whether the downsizing was necessary due to a cutback in AT&T’s capex since a company spokesperson said Monday that Goodman Networks will …

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200-plus tower deal floats Vertical Bridge to 5th largest U.S. tower owner

In Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

CiG Wireless Corp., a leading owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure in the U.S. has announced the signing of an agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Vertical Bridge Holdings, LLC, a wireless communication towers company. Vertical Bridge is acquiring the company’s tower assets, including a geographically diverse group of more than 200 tower sites, in a transaction …

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Sabre acquires long-established FWT to expand its structures sector

In Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

Sabre Industries, Inc. and FWT, LLC have announced that they have completed a strategic business combination. Based in Alvarado, Tex., Sabre is a leading producer of highly engineered structures used for electricity transmission and distribution and wireless telecommunication, offering a complete range of engineered towers, poles, and related services. FWT is a Fort Worth, Tex.-based manufacturer of steel structures for …

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NATE unveils epic 20th anniversary commemorative video

In Associations News, Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

As part of the National Association of Tower Erectors’ 20th Anniversary Celebration festivities, the Association has unveiled a commemorative video highlighting NATE’s 20 years in the industry. The video includes exclusive interviews with NATE’s original founding fathers, historical photos of communications structures and breathtaking aerial views of tower technicians working on communications towers. It’s not surprising to find unsafe climbing …

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TSC Tower Specialists launches new EF&I division

In Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

TSC Tower Specialists has announced the expansion of their service offerings to include a new engineer, furnish and install division to complement their turnkey wireless services. TSC, founded in 2006, can now offer their clients quicker closeouts, ease of budgets, purchase and change orders and superior quality. With a team of over 40 cross-trained, certified engineers, the team can eliminate additional …

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Founding members, exhibitors honored at NATE UNITE 2015

In Associations News, Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

At the National Association of Tower Erectors’ annual convention in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. last week the organization recognized its 20-year founding members and exhibitors during the event’s most successful show which saw a record crowd of almost 1,700 attendees. Pictured at right, NATE Chairwoman Pat Cipov recognizes the trade group’s first single sheet newsletter, being held by Paul Light, …

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Sarah Palin’s topics ran from ‘wimps’ to net neutrality at NATE confab

In Associations News, Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

Former Governor of Alaska and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s keynote speech at NATE UNITE 2015 on Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. provided a folksy and entertaining 36-minute reprieve from industry-related discussions that have highlighted what is being identified as the organization’s largest and most energized conference in the trade group’s 20-year history. As expected, Palin lampooned President Obama …

Oil painting brings in $10,000 for Tower Family Foundation at NATE auction

In Associations News, Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

An original oil painting by award-winning artist Joanne Shellan from Seattle, WA, was auctioned off last night in spirited bidding that topped out at $10,000 at the Tower Family Foundation auction at NATE UNITE 2015 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The painting, entitled “Almost Home,” depicts a silhouetted tower climber descending the last section of a tower as the sun sets …

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Velocitel picks up FDH to expand its national footprint

In Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

Velocitel, Inc., a wireless network services company, has acquired the assets of FDH, an engineering and construction company. “This acquisition expands the footprint of Velocitel into new areas that are part of our growth strategy. FDH is one of the most respected engineering companies in the field, with a deep breadth of knowledge in civil and water, geotechnical, and structural …

Crown is exploring sale of its Australian towers and settling in the US

In Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

Crown Castle International Corp. announced today that it plans to explore the potential sale of its Australian subsidiary (CCAL). “In light of recent unsolicited offers we have received for our interest in CCAL, we have determined that fully exploring the options available to us will ensure the best long-term results for our shareholders,” stated W. Ben Moreland, Crown Castle’s President …

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Sarah Palin will certainly not liken climbers to caribou at NATE keynote

In Associations News, Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

When former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks before trade groups she typically tailors part of her presentation to industry-specific concerns, and most likely will touch upon tower climber safety when she talks at the industry’s largest wireless infrastructure conference for contractors and suppliers on Feb. 25, 2015 at NATE UNITE 2015 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. There is also a possibility …

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February 13 is the last day to register online for NATE UNITE 2015

In Associations News, Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

Online registration for the National Association of Tower Erectors conference, NATE UNITE 2015, ends tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 13, 2015. But if you can’t register today and suffer from Paraskevidekatriaphobics – those afflicted with a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th – don’t be alarmed, you can register on site for what could very well be the largest attended conference in …

Deadline to assist families of industry workers is January 31, 2015

In Associations News, Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

The Tower Family Foundation announced today that the deadline for Foundation contributions to be designated and promoted as Founding Donor Status donations is a little less than 48 hours away. “The Tower Family Foundation is encouraging all companies and individuals to make a Founding Donor distinguished level donation prior to the Jan. 31, 2015 deadline,” stated Foundation President Jim Tracy from …

Warriors 4 Wireless chooses Safety LMS to train returning soldiers

In Training News & Initiatives, Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

After months of curriculum development, training and extensive review, Warriors 4 Wireless Co-Founder and President, Kelley Dunne, has chosen Texas-based Safety LMS to be the exclusive training partner for their premier program. Safety LMS will provide curriculum, instructors and training for returning veterans as well as all future W4W instructors. “All of us at Safety LMS are very proud to have been …

Almost 1,000 Crown Castle antennas will support Super Bowl network needs

In Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

Crown Castle pulled back the curtain Tuesday on its $32 million-plus distributed antenna systems in Glendale, Ariz. just in time for Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1, 2015 at the University of Phoenix stadium.  The state of the art network includes the stadium and Gila River Arena as well as the Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa, and throughout the Glendale …

B+T Group brings aboard Largent and Gladstone’s capital to further growth

In Vendor News by Wireless Estimator

B+T Group, a leading full-service engineering, construction and technical services firm specializing in the wireless industry, has announced that Steve Largent will serve as Chairman of the Board following an investment from Gladstone Investment Corporation and its affiliate Gladstone Capital Corporation . “This is a great move for our company,” said CEO and founder, Chad Tuttle. “We’ve experienced tremendous growth …