Three industry veterans join long-time Surf Broadband leaders
Surf Broadband Solutions, a leading, innovative Fiber Internet provider in the Great Lakes region, today announced several leadership appointments that will strengthen its efforts to meet the growing demand for fiber broadband. Deborah Crawford has been named chief operating officer, Lana Frank has been named chief marketing officer, and James Turner of Indianapolis has been appointed to Surf Broadband’s Board of Directors.
Crawford and Frank will help spearhead and guide Surf Broadband’s continued expansion of its state-of-the-art fiber network, joining a strong leadership team that includes long-time Surf Broadband executives Gene Crusie, chief executive officer, Jason Lehman, chief financial officer, and Patrick Wheeland, chief technology officer. The appointment of Turner to the Board of Directors adds an experienced executive with deep board experience to help guide the company’s strategic planning and growth execution.
“Our vision—to build a state-of-the-art fiber optic network to provide best-in-class internet access across the Great Lakes region—takes a world class team to execute and I am excited to have these three industry veterans join us on our mission. Each not only has the experience to help us achieve operational excellence, but the core values to help us change the region, one community at a time, with outstanding customer-centric service,” said Crusie.
Deborah Crawford Appointed Chief Operating Officer
An experienced telecommunications leader, Crawford joined the Company in September, 2021, to focus on quality, efficiency, profitability and customer satisfaction. She previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at NTS Communications, headquartered in Lubbock, Texas. Crawford led the company’s network expansion across West Texas, North Texas and Louisiana. As part of her efforts, she recruited a private equity firm and leveraged a $175M investment to transform and expand NTS’s operational capabilities.
Lana Frank Appointed Chief Marketing Officer
In her new role, Frank provides strategic marketing counsel and direction to advance Surf Broadband’s growth. Prior to joining Surf Broadband, she was vice president, growth marketing for WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone in Denver, Colorado for five years. During her tenure, she furthered WOW!'s brand positioning and led the development and execution of advertising and marketing strategy to drive subscriber growth. Frank has more than 25 years of experience in management and consulting roles, including positions at DISH Network, CSG International, Comcast and GE Capital.
James Turner Appointed Member of Board of Directors
James Turner recently concluded his tenure as president and chief executive officer of Intelligent Fiber Network (IFN), an Indiana-based broadband connectivity provider owned by 21 local telecommunications companies and one rural electric company. Turner led IFN through a period of significant growth, culminating in the successful sale of the company in 2021 to a global provider of fiber-based communications solutions. Turner brings a wealth of corporate executive and board experience to Surf Broadband, having served as lead independent director of Pike Corporation (formerly, NYSE:PIKE), as well as non-executive chairman of the Board of Directors of HomeServe USA, the North American subsidiary of the British multi-national company HomeServe plc (LON:HSV). Most recently, Turner served as a member of the Board of Managers of INDATEL, a nationwide network of networks in 37 states representing over 400,000 miles of fiber.
Gene Crusie has held the chief executive officer role since August 2021, after serving as president for 15 years. Since the early 1990s, his companies have successfully built and launched dozens of Internet service providers throughout the US and abroad. Under his leadership, Surf Broadband Solutions has acquired six other businesses, expanded into three states and has grown to more than 100 team members in the past five years. Additionally, he or his company has earned multiple awards including the Junior Achievement Technology Hall of Fame, Ceragon Top North American VAR, Elkhart Chamber of Commerce Business of The Year and 1 Mile Tower Construction Award.
Jason Lehman, the chief financial officer of Surf Broadband, has a telecom career going back to 2007, when he joined MapleNet Wireless, Inc. as their first-ever CFO. In 2009, Lehman began working with Horvath Communications, a national cell tower developer, as CFO, where he was involved in raising over $120M of debt and equity and assisted with the sale of multiple tower portfolios. In 2016, Lehman rejoined Gene Crusie at Surf Broadband Solutions as CFO, where he has led the acquisition of six different entities and raised over $200M in debt and equity commitments.
Patrick Wheeland serves as chief technology officer, focusing on operations with a keen desire for efficiency without sacrificing quality. During Wheeland’s 13-year tenure at CSInet Internet Access Corporation, he was instrumental in growing the company to 3,000 customers and nearly 100 broadcast sites. Wheeland has served as a key member of the leadership team through the acquisition of CSInet by Surf Air Wireless, which became Surf Broadband Solutions.
About Surf Broadband Solutions
Surf Broadband Solutions (www.surfbroadband.com) is an innovative Fiber Internet company providing services to residents and businesses in the Great Lakes region since 2010. In June 2021, Bain Capital Credit, LP, acquired a majority stake in the Company and committed significant growth capital to accelerate its Fiber Optic network expansion. Post Road Group, Surf’s previous majority shareholder, remains an investor alongside Bain Capital Credit and will further capitalize the Company’s growth plans. The future growth of the network will provide the fast, reliable Internet connection essential for everyday living. The Company has offices in LaPorte, IN, Coal City, IL, Fowlerville, MI, Troy Grove, IL, Elkhart, IN, Byron Center, MI and Rock Falls, IL.
