Building on Partnerships: A Message from Your Upcountry Fiber Leadership
Chris Townson, West Carolina CEO:
I am honored to have joined West Carolina as CEO this February, and I’m particularly excited about our successful partnership with Blue Ridge Electric through Upcountry Fiber. This innovative collaboration has demonstrated how two member-owned cooperatives can work together to bring world-class fiber internet to our Upstate South Carolina communities.
First, I want to acknowledge Jeff Wilson’s tremendous leadership in establishing and growing this partnership. His vision in recognizing the potential of joining forces with Blue Ridge Electric has created a model for cooperative collaboration that benefits thousands of members across the Upstate.
My 30-year career in telecommunications has taught me the transformative power of partnerships. Most recently, as CEO of DTC Communications in Tennessee, I helped establish Trilight, a partnership between seven telephone cooperatives to expand broadband access. This experience showed me how strategic relationships between utilities can accelerate rural broadband deployment and create better outcomes for our communities.
I look forward to working closely with Jim Lovinggood and the exceptional team at Blue Ridge Electric to build upon Upcountry Fiber’s strong foundation. Our shared commitment to member service and community development makes this partnership particularly meaningful.
Jim Lovinggood, Blue Ridge Electric CEO:
On behalf of Blue Ridge Electric, I’m delighted to welcome Chris to the Upcountry Fiber family. His extensive experience in rural telecommunications and proven track record of successful partnerships make him an ideal leader to help guide Upcountry Fiber’s continues growth.
The partnership between Blue Ridge Electric and West Carolina through Upcountry Fiber has exceeded our expectations, allowing us to bring high-speed fiber internet to communities faster than either organization could have achieved alone. Our members have embraced this service, confirming our belief that reliable, high-speed internet is as essential to modern life as electricity.
Shared Message:
Together, we remain committed to expanding Upcountry Fiber’s reach across our service territory. Our teams continue to work diligently to build out our fiber network, improve our customer experience, and ensure that our rural communities have access to the same high-quality internet service as urban areas.
We’re proud of what Upcountry Fiber has achieved so far, but we’re even more excited about what lies ahead. The combination of Blue Ridge Electric’s deep community roots and infrastructure expertise with West Carolina’s telecommunications experience creates a powerful foundation for continued growth and innovation.
Thank you for your support of Upcountry Fiber. We look forward to serving you and your families for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Jim Lovinggood, CEO, Blue Ridge Electric
Chris Townson, CEO, West Carolina