The 2016 Rural Telecom Industry Meeting & EXPO (RTIME) from NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association continued Monday, as the Swing N’ Sisters kicked off the show’s Opening General Session at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Attendees heard from NTCA leaders and industry experts during several events throughout the day.
During the Opening General Session, NTCA Past President Jim Dauby handed the gavel to new NTCA President Doug Boone of Premier Communications (Sioux Center, Iowa), making Boone the first NTCA president to represent a commercial company.
Fortunate to have a great role model & leader for our family, company & association! #rtime16#proudsonpic.twitter.com/2v6uUZ9mzC
— Ryan Boone (@theboones) February 22, 2016
NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield took the stage to the theme from “Star Wars” and proceeded to draw parallels between the ongoing challenges related to the Universal Service Fund and characters from the “Star Wars” films. Keynote speaker Josh Linkner inspired listeners by showing how they can harness innovation and turn raw ideas into powerful results. Linkner told attendees that the secret to innovation comprises five imperatives: get curious, crave “what’s next,” defy tradition, get scrappy and adapt fast. The session concluded with a panel discussion, “A New Take on the Future,” moderated by Bloomfield and featuring panelists from CenturyLink, INCOMPAS and Richland Electric Cooperative.
Additionally, the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) and the Telecommunications Education Committee Organization (TECO) unveiled new logos, and in the case of TECO, a new name: NTCA Rural Broadband PAC.
On Monday afternoon, attendees participated in concurrent educational sessions, as well as roundtable discussions for telco executives. They then explored products and services from industry vendors during the EXPO ’16 Open House.
Other Monday highlights included the TECO Annual Awards Breakfast; numerous committee meetings; an airboat adventure tour; a dolphin and manatee encounter; and an FRS fundraising event, “Mickey’s Hometown Hoedown.” Check out the photos from the day to see what you missed.