TTA Summer News

The Tennessee Telecommunications Association’s annual conference was one of the best-attended in several years, says Levoy Knowles, executive director of the association.

“We had to move the barbecue indoors due to the weather, but that didn’t dampen our attendance or our good time,” he says.
About 218 people registered for the conference at the Marriott Cool Springs Hotel in Franklin, Tennessee. “I appreciate the members’ attendance, sponsorships and networking opportunities,” he says.

U.S. Rep Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, and Shirley Bloomfield, chief executive officer of NTCA –The Rural Broadband Association, were keynote speakers.

One of the conference highlights each year is the golf tournament. This year’s winners included Leah Walker, Professional Sales Agents Inc., longest drive; Kim Adkins, Capitol Strategies Group, closest to pin; Justlin Harlow, iRis Networks, longest drive; and Marc Wright, Power and Communications Sales Inc., closest to the pin. Adkins also came away as the big winner with a hole-in-one.

Joining together

The telecommunications associations in Kentucky and Tennessee will team up for a joint conference in October.
The KTA-TTA Fall Conference & Supplier Showcase is Oct. 17-19 at the Holiday Inn University Plaza and Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Registration information is available here.

Scholarships

The NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association’s Foundation for Rural Service has announced the winners of the 2017 college scholarship program.

More than $100,000 in college scholarships was awarded to 47 students in rural communities served by members of the association. There were more than 1,500 applications.

Two members of the Tennessee Telecommunications Association had winners: Ashlyn Rittenberry and Jack Ward, of North Central Telephone Cooperative, and Casey Vickers, of DTC Communications, each received a $2,500 scholarship.