Joe Whittinghill is the Chief Learning Office and Corporate Vice President for Microsoft. He leads learning and skilling, organization design and development, building world-class leaders, enabling the workforce of the future, and the future organization of Microsoft. Prior to this role, Joe spent 10 of his 25 years at Microsoft in Finance, including leading the Venture Integration Merger and Acquisitions Group where he was part of closing over 130 acquisitions worldwide. Joe serves on non-profit, corporate, and university boards with focuses technology, education, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, sustainability, and neuroscience. He received his masters of science in Organization Development from Pepperdine University and his undergraduate degree from the University of Montana where he served as the Chairman of the University of Montana Foundation.

Shirley Bloomfield is chief executive officer of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, the premier association representing nearly 850 independent telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. With more than 30 years of experience representing the country’s smallest telecom operators, Bloomfield is an expert on the role of federal communications policies in sustaining the vitality of rural and remote communities and the benefits rural broadband networks bring to millions of American families and businesses and the national economy. Bloomfield has a strong track record of leadership in seeking synergies and aligning strategic partnerships among rural telecom companies, their larger counterparts, other rural utilities and local and federal governments, further expanding business opportunities for small communications providers. Under her leadership, NTCA has made broadband an integral part of policy conversations in Washington, D.C., and has secured billions of dollars in federal funding for rural service providers to expand build out and sustain networks and help close the digital divide. Bloomfield is a strong supporter of national efforts to improve the resilience and reliability of critical electric and telecommunications infrastructure and serves as a board member of NRTC and the Southeast Reliability Corporation (SERC).

Michelle Owens is the Sr. Regulatory Specialist/Paralegal for Blackfoot Communications, a regional broadband, voice and managed services provider, located in Missoula, Montana.  With almost 30 years telecommunications experience, she is responsible for monitoring federal and states’ laws and regulations to ensure Blackfoot’s compliance.  Over the course of each year, Michelle files hundreds of compliance filings to include filings required by the FCC, states, and grant entities.  In addition to regulatory compliance, Michelle is an integral part of the Blackfoot team responsible for grant applications and compliance.  In 2021, Michelle was appointed to the Governor’s Committee on Telecommunications Access Service for persons with disabilities.  She represents independent service providers on that committee.  Outside of work she is active in her community supporting the local Soroptimists, Big Sky Autism, Ravalli County Museum, Children’s Museum, and she is the current board president of the Hamilton Farmers Market Cooperative.  Michelle holds a BS in Legal and Paralegal studies from the University of Providence.