Jim Crabtree

I invested in the company, and in addition to serving on the Board of Directors, I participated in operational issues and assisted in the search for and onboarding of acquired companies. I still serve on the Board, but am not involved in day to day operations. At this point, Telatlantic, like all small telephone companies, is a fairly static operation.

The General Manager reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for all facets of the regulated and non regulated business units which included out of operating area telephone, internet, and video services; Data Center services doing billing for a number of coops up and down the east coast; regulated land line, data, and video services in the regulated operating area. The GM represented the company in all local, state, and federal regulatory and industry organizations. There were 120 employees across across all operations.

Responsible for the Southern Region which included Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Idaho which included 800 employees. Managed operations, developed budgets, and dealt with personnel issues.

I began as Data Processing Manager and during a 25 year period continually took on additional responsibilities. Developed a data center operation, was instrumental in the creation of Vicom, and led the effort to open and operate a computer store, I was active in labor relations and implemented a Labor/Management council that dealt with the final steps of the grievance process. During the restructuring of the telephone industry associated with the breakup of AT&T I worked with consultants and attorneys in the development of the separations process and access tariffs and presenting the tariffs to the FCC. As an active participant in USTA(The United States Telecommunications Assn.) I participated in the planning for 800 database and the development of systems to replace the geographic nature of the telephone numbering system.

As substantial change in career plans, and without having any exposure to computers, I embarked on a learning experience that has been a part of my business experience to this day. I worked out of the Columbus office, dealt with customers in Columbus, Coshocton and Ross County. The Chillicothe Telephone Company was one of my customers and led me to my job there. IBM was an exciting and competitive environment that was a bedrock of the rest of my business career.

I taught 7th grade Social Studies at then Smith Jr. High School because that was the job that was available. It was consistent with my history major, my degree in education, and a continuation of a family tradition in education.

It was a difficult experience, but I remember it, and many of the students, fondly. But listening to the conversation in the teacher's lounge convinced me to try something different.

To quote Robert Frost, as relates to family tradition;

"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."