Cheryl Summers, Founder & CEO
A fierce negotiator who loves to fight for the underdog, Cheryl’s passion for the telecom industry was sparked while working at a cable startup when she was just out of college.
Prior to founding Leverage Broadband Strategies (formerly Leverage Cable Consulting) in 2011, Cheryl worked as Vice President of Programming for Cobridge Communications and Director of Programming for Broadstripe (formerly Millennium Digital Media), the 20th largest cable operator in the United States at the time. In her over twenty years of experience, Cheryl has become an expert in the telecom industry, gaining a deep understanding of product packaging strategies, contract management and compliance, new market launches, and consumer marketing. Cheryl has performed due diligence and participated in transition planning on behalf of client companies ranging in size from rural family-owned operations to Fortune 500 companies working through both acquisitions and sales of assets. She is a television content expert for national research firms such as Coleman Research and Beta Research Corporation, serves on the Board of Directors for Christians in Communications, and is active in the Mid-America Cable Association.
When she saw the problems that smaller telecom companies were facing in the shifting modern media landscape, Cheryl saw an opportunity to help. At Leverage Broadband Strategies, she brings her decades’ worth of accumulated expertise to each and every client, acting not just as a consultant but as a true partner.
In 2020, Cheryl was invited to contribute to The Anatomy of Accomplishment: Your Guide to Bigger, Better, Bolder Business Results, a best-selling anthology of stories and advice from female entrepreneurs and business leaders around the country. In her chapter, Cheryl dives into what it means to be an entrepreneur and lead with heart. Download Cheryl’s chapter of the anthology here. Cheryl is also active in community efforts to address domestic violence, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Turning Point Shelter and Advocacy Services, a St. Louis, Missouri area agency serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Doug Maglothin, Partner & Board Member
Doug has been part of the Leverage Broadband Strategies family since 2018 and most recently as Leverage partner and Chief Strategy Officer. One of the Leverage clients Doug served is Diamond State Networks, an Arkansas-based consortium of electric cooperatives that have unified their fiber optic networks throughout the state. Doug played an integral part in the formation of Diamond State Networks (DSN) in early 2020 and has continued to serve DSN in a consulting role.
In 2023, DSN’s board of directors has asked him to provide full-time leadership to Diamond State Networks in the role of Chief Executive Officer. Doug will remain a partner and owner at Leverage Broadband Strategies as well as a member of our board of directors where he will continue to provide strategic guidance to our team.
Prior to Leverage, Doug led the Product Development and Management teams as well as the Cloud Solutions business for Ritter Communications. Prior to Ritter, he served in product roles at both Verizon Wireless and Alltel Wireless. Throughout his career in telecom, Doug has participated in numerous due diligence initiatives and transactions generating billions of dollars in valuations.
Doug holds both an Executive MBA and a Master of Information Systems from the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, where he was a Beta Gamma Sigma Scholar Award recipient. While at the University of Arkansas, he also completed a Graduate Certification in Enterprise Analytics. He holds a B.S. in Marketing Management from Western Governor’s University and numerous vendor and telecommunications technology certifications. Doug is active in local philanthropic initiatives in his hometown of Jonesboro, Arkansas, where he serves on the board of multiple non-profit organizations including the Northeast Arkansas Foundation of Arts.
Interested in making us a part of your team? Just reach out.
Jeff Allinder, Vice President – Client Revenue Optimization
Trent Taylor, Vice President – Product Development
Trent joined Leverage Broadband Strategies as VP, Product Development in 2021 with nearly two decades of leadership experience in the telecommunications industry. Trent brings a wealth of knowledge regarding the entire product life cycle, as well as sales, customer experience and business development. Other specialties include negotiation, purchasing, contract and vendor management, and cross-functional cohesiveness.
Prior to Leverage, Trent worked on and eventually led the Product Development and Management team for Ritter Communications for nearly a decade. This team was focused on all things product-related for internet, video and voice, as well as many value-add based services. Prior to Ritter, Trent worked for the Office of State Procurement for the State of Arkansas and led the training department, while also managing many multi-million dollar state contracts. Prior to the State of Arkansas, he served in product and network procurement roles at both Verizon Wireless and Alltel Wireless.
Trent holds a B.S. in Marketing Management from Arkansas State University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He is one of the founding members of the Partner Advisory Council for NRTC. Trent is also active in the local Chamber of Commerce in Jonesboro, AR, and serves on the board of the Leadership Link program.
Tom Lasonde, Director of Implementation
Tom joined Leverage Broadband Strategies as Director of Implementation in 2022 with over two decades of project and program management experience in telecommunications. Tom’s superpower is bringing people and processes together to drive projects to completion and products to market. He’s a football fanatic who knows the importance of completing a drive and applies that same principle to his work.
Prior to Leverage, Tom’s most recent telecom projects had him overseeing the construction of broadband and IPTV headend systems for CSI Digital / yondoo Broadband. With CSI Digital, he also worked closely with MSOs, telecommunication operators, and municipalities to deploy yondoo TV, a fully managed IPTV video service.
Before his foray into terrestrial networks, he worked for EchoStar / DISH Network in Program Management, helping companies like Anheuser-Busch and RE/MAX deploy their private, corporate satellite networks. As well as managing the DISH Onboard Inflight TV service and key accounts: Google, Delta Air Lines, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and the National Football League.
Tom is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He attended the USAF Avionics School and pursued his Electronics Engineering degree while serving in the Strategic Air Command. Tom is active in revitalizing and redeveloping his adopted town of Newberg, OR. He’s also a passionate RV hobbyist and admins an active Facebook group with over 24,000 followers.
Kody Pinson – Director of Business Development
Kody is our Director of Business Development, with a career spanning over 9 years in the field of sales development. He has a proven track record of success and is known for his ability to build trusted relationships with clients, while also identifying opportunities for growth and developing strategies to increase company revenue.
Kody holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Union University, where he had the opportunity to play college baseball. Being a student athlete played a crucial role in shaping Kody’s leadership and performance management skills, which he continues to rely on in his current role as Director of Business Development.
Before joining our company, Kody spent the last 5 years at Ritter Communications, where he developed and grew the indirect channel partner program to an unprecedented level of success. Through his efforts, the program generated 6.7 million in revenue and brought on 41 top-performing partners.
In his personal life, Kody is a devoted family man. He spends his free time with his wife Victoria and their two daughters Maddox (4) and Maisyn (2). He also enjoys spending time outdoors on the golf course or in the woods hunting.
The Leverage Council
Comprised of curated and carefully vetted industry experts, The Leverage Council provides our clients with access to insiders who can offer insights and advice on anything and everything in the telecom industry. For a complete list of all Leverage Council members, please contact us.
Feedback from our clients:
“I initially had concerns about what I was going to pay Leverage, but they’re going to pay me back 10X or more.”
“The folks at Leverage have a wealth of experience of understanding the nuances of programming contracts, especially NCTC Agreements. They are able to help members navigate the complicated terms of programming agreements as well.”
“Leverage has its own fan club inside the company at all levels and departments.”
“Leverage made our team stronger by coming up with a detailed strategic plan. Leverage complements the other engineering firms that we currently have. They created operational efficiency and helped our VPs and managers create the mission to continue forward.
South Central Connect wanted to connect our community with broadband.
Leverage Broadband Strategies connected us with the expertise to make this happen.”
“The Leverage Broadband Strategies team is conscientious, proactive, and knowledgeable. They are our strategic partners and consultants—and by outsourcing specific functions to them, our team has time to focus on mission-critical objectives.”
“The complexity and intensity of video content negotiation has become a battlefield of sorts in recent years. There is a great amount at stake on both sides of the table. And ‘leverage’ is the perfect word to describe the environment. In getting to know and work with Cheryl, I’m confident that all medium to small cable companies and video providers should work with her. She knows how to negotiate contracts and ensure that her customers are getting the best deals possible. I’m not sure why a smaller company or emerging company without fully dedicated resources wouldn’t want to have that assurance. Her company, Leverage, is uniquely positioned in their segment.”
Ready to talk? Contact us to see how Leverage Broadband Strategies can support your broadband business.
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