CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (April 19, 2024) — EPB has promoted Rich Carpenter to vice president, Communications and IT Operations. In this role, Carpenter will oversee the technology used to provide communications services to EPB's customers, as well as the business systems within the organization.

"Rich's extensive experience and proven leadership abilities make him a perfect fit for this position," said Ryan Keel, president of EPB’s Energy and Communications business unit. “He fosters strong partnerships both within the organization and with external partners, and his collaborative approach helps advance our technology and our ability to deliver solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers and our community."

Since joining EPB in 2005, Carpenter has leveraged his ten years of prior experience in the telecommunications industry, including his time with the United States Air Force. After starting as a switch technician for EPB Telecom, he transitioned into a leadership role in 2011 as supervisor of Network Operations. Over the years, Carpenter's responsibilities have expanded to include overseeing more engineering, operations, customer support, and IT functions.

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. Including his 18 years with EPB, he has over 28 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Carpenter and his wife Heather enjoy attending college sports. They are the proud parents of two children.

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About EPB

EPB is a customer-focused technology company that delivers innovative power and telecommunications solutions to the Chattanooga area in pursuit of its mission to enhance the quality of life for the community it serves. In 2010, EPB completed a 100% fiber optic network accessible to all its customers as the basis for launching America’s first community-wide Gig speed internet. The company still operates the world’s fastest community-wide internet service today at speeds up to 25 Gig. EPB also utilizes Chattanooga’s fiber optic network as the communications backbone for the most advanced and highly automated power distribution system in the United States. In 2022, EPB continued its commitment to keeping Chattanooga on the cutting edge by establishing our nation’s first commercially available quantum network—EPB Quantum Network℠ powered by Qubitekk. This effort aligns local job creation efforts with the national priority to accelerate the commercialization of quantum technology.

Since switching the lights on for its first electric customer in 1939, EPB has grown to serve nearly a half a million people across a 600-square-mile service area with cutting-edge infrastructure that integrates power distribution and telecommunications. At the same time, EPB keeps customer benefit at the center of all its efforts, earning recognition from J.D. Power as the #1 Mid-Sized Utility in the South for the last eight consecutive years based on customer satisfaction ratings. Learn more at epb.com.