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 Smart 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.

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 leads the Energy and Communications Business Unit with day-to-day responsibility for EPB’s Electric and Fiber Optics systems. Across these areas, he is charged with advancing EPB’s continuing effort to strive for ever-higher levels of excellence in delivering world-class technology solutions and customer experiences.

Keel began working at EPB in 1997 and has held positions in engineering, operations, and leadership. In addition to playing a critical role in the initial design and build out of EPB’s smart grid, he led the company’s Technical Operations from 2014-2023. He also had primary responsibility for EPB’s five-year, $70 million upgrade of Chattanooga’s fiber optic network which paved the way for EPB to launch America’s first community-wide 25 Gig internet service.

Keel 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 serves on the Board of Directors for the Chattanooga Chamber Foundation.

Janet Rehberg

President | Strategic Initiatives Business Unit

Janet Rehberg leads the Strategic Initiatives Business Unit with responsibility for operationalizing longer-term strategies to position Chattanooga for the future through emerging opportunities.

With 20 years of leadership experience in the energy sector, her career reflects a depth of technical and operational expertise as well as a strong commitment to innovation, sustainable operations and community benefit. Before joining EPB, she served as Chief Strategy Officer and Vice President of Engineering for Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Aledo, Texas.

Rehberg holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tulsa and an MBA from Capital University. In addition, she has earned numerous professional certifications including Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Demand Side Manager (CDSM) and Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach (EQI).

Rehberg is a long-standing member of the Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals, serving as president in 2014 and winning the organization’s Honorary Life Award in 2021. She has also served on numerous non-profit, community and professional boards and has been recognized as the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Project Mentor Match of the Year (2011) and as the Touchstone Energy Brand Champion in 2018.

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.

Marie Webb

Senior Vice President and Chief Talent & Inclusion Officer | Human Resources

Marie Webb leads Human Resources, including corporate culture, HR administration, compensation, diversity and inclusion, and employee training & development. Webb joined EPB in 2009, bringing 15 years of human resources experience at Staples Corporation, the Social Security Administration and Premier Manufacturing in Ohio.

Originally from Ohio, Marie holds a Bachelor’s degree from Denison University in Granville, Ohio. She also received a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Development from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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 smart 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 Smart Grid Investment Grant Program sponsored by the Department of Energy. This program accelerated the deployment of the fiber optic network and smart grid from five to three years.

J.Ed. Marston

Vice President | Strategic Communication

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, economic development and sustainability. 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.