EPB Leadership

David Wade

CEO

David Wade's career with EPB began in 1983 as a line helper. He quickly developed hands-on construction and leadership skills, moving from Senior Manager to Vice President and then to President and CEO in 2016. Wade led the company’s effort to design and build the country’s most automated electric power distribution system.

Using a 100% fiber optic network as the backbone for the Automated Grid, Wade was instrumental in launching EPB Fiber Optics, which delivers Gigabit speed Internet, television and telephone services. He considers talking to customers one of the most important, and favorite parts of his job. Wade holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Janet Rehberg

President and CEO-elect

Janet Rehberg was named EPB President and CEO-elect in September 2025. She originally joined EPB as President of the Strategic Initiatives business unit with responsibility for operationalizing longer-term strategies to position Chattanooga for the future. Since joining EPB, Rehberg has advanced Chattanooga's cutting-edge reputation through partnerships to add commercially available quantum computing and prepare our region for the future of the energy industry.

Before joining EPB, she served as Chief Strategy Officer & Vice President of Engineering at Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Aledo, Texas. In that role, she was responsible for formulating strategy and overseeing a wide range of departments. In another previous position, Rehberg led grid modernization efforts for American Electric Power.

Rehberg earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tulsa and a Master of Business Administration from Capital University. She currently serves on the board of the Hunter Museum of American Art and has served on non-profit, community and professional boards in several capacities.

Greg Eaves

Executive Vice President | CFO

Greg Eaves is responsible for the Finance and Legal Divisions, along with Commercial Fiber Optics sales. During his career at EPB, Eaves also provided leadership of the Information Technology Division. Eaves' prior experience includes leadership and accounting roles in the manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services industries.

A Chattanooga native, Eaves holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he serves on the Alumni Board and Accounting Advisory Board. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Financial Executives International and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Ryan Keel

President | Energy and Communications Business Unit

Ryan Keel is the President of Energy and Communications at EPB where he leads the company’s operation to deliver reliable energy and cutting-edge communications services to customers across EPB’s 600 square mile service area.

Since joining the organization in 1997, Ryan has played a critical role in the design and deployment of EPB’s Advanced Grid which is one of the most highly-automated power distribution systems in the country. The electric system leverages the same fiber optic network that delivers communications services, including high-speed internet up to 25 Gbps, which are available to every home and business in the community. This innovation has positioned EPB as a leader in smart grid technology and broadband connectivity.

Ryan is a native of Chattanooga and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee Tech University and an MBA from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

He is a member and Past President of the Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys playing many different sports as well as spending time with his wife, Keri, and their three children: Madison, Brenden, and Ethan.

Sandra Tilley

Senior Vice President | Brand Strategies

Sandra Tilley’s responsibilities include the long-term management and development of the EPB brand as it affects all aspects of our business, including marketing, the customer experience and new products. Tilley has over 30 years’ experience in marketing and advertising with an expertise at structuring and managing large, multi-location accounts for success at both the brand and customer activation levels. During this time, she has led marketing and advertising strategy for wildly diverse brands in the fast food, convenience store, wireless, cable, healthcare, public power, energy, alternative fuels, tourism and transportation industries, to name a few.

Prior to joining EPB in 2018, Tilley enjoyed a 20-year career as a Partner and Director of Account Service for The Johnson Group, an award-winning regional advertising agency located in Chattanooga.

Kade Abed

Vice President | Field Operations

Kade Abed leads EPB’s Electric System operations in the areas of Construction, Preventative Maintenance, and Vegetation. Abed began working at EPB in telecom sales starting in 2002 before moving into operations to work on the transition from the legacy fiber to the GPON network we have in place today. Abed also helped EPB construct a next-generation electric system using a 100% fiber optic network as its backbone.

He is a native of Chattanooga and attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Prior to EPB, Abed spent 18 years in management with UPS and FedEx.

Rich Carpenter

Vice President | Communications and IT Operations

Rich Carpenter leads EPB’s Communications and IT Operations division, overseeing the technology used to provide communications services to EPB's customers, as well as the business systems utilized within the organization. Since joining EPB in 2005, Carpenter has made significant contributions to the organization, starting as a switch technician for EPB Telecom before transitioning into a leadership role in 2011 as Supervisor of Network Operations.

Carpenter particularly appreciates that working at EPB is a rare opportunity in the technology industry because our mission to enhance quality of life for our customers allows us to put people at the center of everything we do.

Carpenter holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Data Analytics from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix and an Associate of Applied Science in Electronic Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force.

Katie Espeseth

Vice President | New Products

Katie Espeseth joined EPB in 2004 and serves as Vice President of New Products. Her responsibilities include the continued development of the fiber optics system, long term business planning and the development of new products and services. She was instrumental in the rollout of our fiber optics division and now leads our efforts in developing wholesale Broadband Services.

She serves as a Board Member of National Content and Technology Cooperative (NCTC). Espeseth holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She has more than 30 years of marketing and telecommunications experience including Mid-Atlantic Regional Controller with AT&T and marketing with the now former Bell South.

Evann Freeman

Vice President | Government & Community Relations

Evann Freeman joined EPB in 2019 and serves as Vice President, Government and Community Relations. His responsibilities include leading EPB’s governmental relations and economic development efforts through maintaining key relationships with government partners on the local, state, and national levels. Freeman has played a key role in many projects at EPB, including HCS EdConnect powered by EPB, a program that provides free internet to more than 28,000 people in our community.

With over a decade of experience in government relations, Freeman has focused his public policy efforts on community benefit and coalitions building. Prior to joining EPB, Evann held various roles with former U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, where he collaborated closely with local, state, and federal stakeholders. A proud Chattanooga native, Evann actively serves on multiple non-profit boards both locally and statewide.

Jim Ingraham

Vice President | Strategic Research

Jim Ingraham is responsible for strategic business development projects, energy & communications market research, electric rate analysis and design, federal public policy research, and grant development.

After joining EPB in 2005, Ingraham led the development of a business plan to build a fiber-to-the-home network and modernize Automated Grid retail electric distribution system to reduce electric system operating cost, improve reliability, and offer high-speed Internet. In 2009 Ingraham led the EPB team that developed a grant application and was awarded $111 million as the American Recovery Act Automated Grid Investment Grant Program sponsored by the Department of Energy. This program accelerated the deployment of the fiber optic network and Automated Grid from five to three years.

J.Ed. Marston

Vice President | Strategic Communications

J.Ed. Marston leads EPB’s Strategic Communication efforts which include public relations, community engagement and corporate communications. Since joining EPB in 2014, he has played a key role in promoting EPB and Chattanooga with a particular focus on community benefit and economic development. Marston is particularly proud of contributing to the launch of HCS EdConnect powered by EPB, a national model for providing access to home-based, fiber optic broadband to every K-12 student in need who attends Hamilton County Schools along with their families.

Prior to joining EPB, he served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce for twelve years. He has also held positions in marketing, operations management and newspaper reporting in the greater Atlanta area. Marston holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Writing from Spring Hill College in Mobile. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute of Organizational Management.

Karen Thomas

Vice President | Customer Relations

Karen Thomas leads EPB's Customer Relations Division. Her responsibilities include serving customers by providing 24/7/365 customer care and utilizing new technologies to enhance EPB’s customer experience. Thomas’ efforts have led to EPB receiving award-winning acclaim from our customers.

She has been instrumental in rolling out SMS, Live Chat, social media and other platforms to help provide positive customer service experiences for the people we serve. Her work is more critical now as she uses changing technologies and industry trends to benefit our community.