Nov 15, 2018 Mobile Infrastructure Industry Pioneers Honored at WIA Hall of Fame Ceremony Five titans of technology were honored Wednesday night in Washington by the Wireless Infrastructure Association during its inaugural Mobile Infrastructure Industry Hall of Fame ceremony. The ceremony honored trailblazers who have shaped the wireless infrastructure landscape. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai delivered opening remarks. The five inductees were Neville R. Ray, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of T-Mobile; Steven E. Bernstein, founder and former Chief Executive Officer of SBA Communications; Steven B. Dodge, founder and former Chief Executive Officer of American Tower; John P. Kelly, former Chief Executive Officer of Crown Castle; and José R. Mas, Chief Executive Officer of MasTec. The event benefited the WIA Foundation’s workforce development initiatives that include the Telecommunications Education Center (TEC), a learning system and online portal devoted to improving workforce training, safety and quality, as well as apprenticeship through the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP), a multi-employer, nationwide effort that is committed to driving apprenticeship in telecommunications for those building America’s networks. Both TEC and TIRAP are groundbreaking programs for promoting job skills, apprenticeship and 5G wireless leadership. See below for updates and reactions from the event: We are proud to present tonight’s inductees with a small token of our appreciation for everything they have done for the wireless industry #WIAHallofFame pic.twitter.com/3bO4q0GO8N — @WIA (@WIAorg) November 14, 2018 Honored to be invited to the WIA Hall of Fame Dinner. We miss Gene Bowler so much! A visionary FCC emploee. #WIAHallOfFame @WIAorg pic.twitter.com/fU0faAG5tz — Alan Tilles (@LandMobileLaw) November 15, 2018 “To build a world-class 5G network, we need a world-class 5G workforce. “ – WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein makes the opening remarks at the inaugural #WIAHallofFame, congratulating the crowd for raising $500,000 for apprenticeship programs pic.twitter.com/nxuIXnwlnL — @WIA (@WIAorg) November 15, 2018 WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein welcomes one of tonight’s inductees @NevilleRay to the first ever #WIAHallofFame pic.twitter.com/jS2zRZEH0t — @WIA (@WIAorg) November 14, 2018 Ajit Pai #FCC chairman taking stage at @WIAorg hall of fame dinner pic.twitter.com/9hQMSkmZLJ — Jeff Mucci (@jeffmucci) November 15, 2018 The ‘road warrior’ @AjitPaiFCC keynoting the @WIAorg Hall of Fame ceremony – he’s visited 41 states, 2 territories during his tenure @FCC seeing the front lines of the global race for #5G innovation. #ivebeeneverywhereman pic.twitter.com/vopEO1alEY — Tyler Suiters (@TylerSuiters) November 15, 2018 Sitting here listening to John Kelly talk about the early days of the wireless industry juxtaposed against where we are now as an industry & the fact that John is our chairman is both surreal and humbling! #WIAHallOfFame pic.twitter.com/JNbTW0a35v — Cole @ The Edge (@coleinthecloud) November 15, 2018 #WIAHallOfFame @TMobile CTO Navile Ray – “I have one more G left in me” pic.twitter.com/BVxGE4e4mO — Rikin Thakker (@RikinThakker) November 15, 2018 So honored to receive this wonderful #WIAHallofFame award from @WIAorg! Yes, I’ve been in the industry a long time, but my time at @TMobile has been an incredibly rewarding journey, and the best is yet to come!! https://t.co/9NOOXZqjUc — Neville (@NevilleRay) November 15, 2018 Congratulations to @NevilleRay, the best CTO on the planet, for being inducted into the @WIAOrg inaugural Hall of Fame!! @TMobile is honored to have you as you help lead the 5G revolution! #WIAHallofFame pic.twitter.com/R2KRBNemYj — John Legere (@JohnLegere) November 15, 2018 Congratulations to @NevilleRay for his introduction into the @WIAorg Wireless Infrastructure Hall of Fame. Thanks for being a true trailblazer leading the way on 5G in rural America. #WIAHallOfFame #TrailblazersofTech pic.twitter.com/einwB0lRc1 — Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) November 15, 2018 Congrats, @JoseRMas. Well done. Well deserved. @mastec @WIAorg @WIAPolicy @AjitPaiFCC #mobile #wireless pic.twitter.com/Qxd1VPsEqh — Greg Hull (@thegreghull) November 15, 2018 Industry Founders Honored by @WIAorg https://t.co/HMrxatn7gc pic.twitter.com/uxdxUvfq6Q — Inside Towers (@InsideTowers) November 15, 2018 Today, we’re sharing MMTC VP @RikinThakker‘s highlights from the @WIAorg #WIAHallofFame event that was held yesterday. https://t.co/z2bFv7qkKi — MMTC (@mmtconline) November 15, 2018 Congratulations 2018 Mobile Infrastructure Hall of Fame Inductee, @JoseRMas! Join @mikeofcc + @wiaorg on Nov. 14 as we honor tech trailblazers + build the wireless workforce of tomorrow at the #WIAHallofFame ceremony. For more info, visit: https://t.co/BixgwnLGNo pic.twitter.com/U7KfCeUBdD — @WIA (@WIAorg) November 6, 2018 Congratulations 2018 Mobile Infrastructure Hall of Fame Inductee, John P. Kelly! Join us on Nov. 14 as @CrownCastle President and CEO Jay Brown pays tribute to John P. Kelly and we honor trailblazers of the tech industry. For more info, visit: https://t.co/BixgwnLGNo pic.twitter.com/B0q7rGeFr3 — @WIA (@WIAorg) November 6, 2018 Congratulations 2018 Mobile Infrastructure Hall of Fame Inductee, Steven E. Bernstein! Join @SBAsite CEO Jeffrey Stoops + @wiaorg on 11/14 as we honor tech trailblazers+build the wireless workforce of tomorrow at the #WIAHallofFame ceremony. Read more: https://t.co/Na1ZDJUfS2 pic.twitter.com/y2hAwFAF0n — @WIA (@WIAorg) November 6, 2018 Congratulations 2018 Mobile Infrastructure Hall of Fame Inductee, Steven B. Dodge! Join us on 11/14 as American Tower Chairman, President, & CEO Jim Taiclet pays tribute to Steven B. Dodge & we honor tech trailblazers at the #WIAHallofFame ceremony: https://t.co/Na1ZDJUfS2 pic.twitter.com/zEGmAHtCc0 — @WIA (@WIAorg) November 6, 2018 Congratulations 2018 Mobile Infrastructure Hall of Fame Inductee, @NevilleRay! Join @JohnLegere + @wiaorg on Nov. 14 as we honor tech trailblazers + build the wireless workforce of tomorrow at the #WIAHallofFame ceremony. For more info, visit: https://t.co/BixgwnLGNo pic.twitter.com/1HgTDjbVkH — @WIA (@WIAorg) November 7, 2018 What a night! Thank you all for joining us and helping us continue to build the wireless workforce. Congratulations to the outstanding inaugural class of #WIAHallofFame inductees. pic.twitter.com/HtqB5Uy3Ju — @WIA (@WIAorg) November 15, 2018 WIA Blog