Lonnie Danchik has been in the two-way radio communications business since 1974. He is currently the Owner and President of CommNet Communications Network, Inc., (CommNet) in Dallas, Texas. Danchik entered the business in 1974 as a Salesman for Communications Engineering Company (CECO), at that time one of the largest General Electric dealers in the country. While there, Danchik was named District Sales Manager.

In 1978 Danchik became Sales Manager for Crawford and Associates (C&A), and then comparatively small two-way radio dealer in Dallas. During Danchik s first year at C&A, the Company we received an award from E.F. Johnson as the "Most Improved Dealer" in the Johnson dealer network, with sales increasing by more than 500%. By the end of Danchik s second year, the Company was included in the Johnson "Top Ten Dealer" list. C&A remained on the top ten list throughout Danchik's tenure.

In 1979, C&A installed the first, commercial, Johnson LTR trunked system in the country. Over the next four years we were to be the most successful Johnson LTR dealer, based on LTR units sold. In 1984, we received an award from Johnson as their first dealer to "load" (by the FCC's definition) a twenty channel trunked system (we had over 1500 units on the system). During this same period, we were consistently listed on the annual RCR Magazine "Top 20 SMR Dealer" list, rising as high as number five in the country.

In 1985, Danchik left C&A to become the General Manager of Rio Radio Supply (Rio) in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Danchik spent three years as GM of Rio and by the time he left, the company was included among the "Top Ten" list of EF Johnson dealers, due to its success with the trunking products.

In 1988, Danchik returned to Crawford and Associates. Within six months sales returned to their pre-recession levels. In fact, the company became very attractive to a new venture out of New Jersey called Fleet Call, Incorporated (FCI) and in 1989, the owner sold out to them.

Danchik left C&A/FCI in 1990. When I left, C&A (later to become FCI of Texas) had fifty loaded 800 MHz channels and twenty new 900 MHz channels. The total FCI Dallas Branch, for which I was responsible as General Manager of C&A, had over one hundred twenty 800 MHz channels and sixty 900 MHz channels. Danchik spent the next 18 months as an independent consultant, including a one year stint as Operations Manager of Millicom, Inc., a large national 900 MHz SMR dealer based in Dallas.

In September of 1991 Danchik started CommNet in Dallas, Texas. At that time, FCI and Motorola controlled about 80% of the 800 and 900 MHz SMR channels in this market. CommNet recently completed its fourth year in business and has become the largest independent trunked radio system operator in Dallas.

CommNet currently operates over 40 trunked channels in the Dallas/Fort Worth market, with a customer fleet that now numbers over two thousand units and growing. CommNet provides "one source" sales, service, installation and air-time for our customers. CommNet is primarily a Kenwood dealer, but also sells Johnson and Uniden radios, as well as a wide range of accessory and associated equipment. CommNet also serves as Site Manager for the second tallest building in Dallas.

Arlen J. Dykema is president and CEO of Communications Specialists, Inc.., and subsidiary Radio Towers, Inc. Communications Specialists was formed in 1977 to provide two-way radio services in the western Michigan area. In 1984, Communications Specialists purchased Radio Towers as a wholly owned subsidiary doing business, primarily in lower Michigan, in sales and service of large radio towers, and owns several large towers in lower Michigan for rental purposes. Communications Specialists sells and services two-way radio equipment, operates many community repeaters, an SMR system, regional microwave system, and is a paging reseller.

Dykema graduated from high school in 1959 and entered the United States Navy, where he trained to become an Aviation Electronics Technicians specializing in navigation and communications. Following training, Dykema was assigned to an Airborne Early Warning unit in the north Atlantic, working as a technician and air crew radioman. After discharge from the Navy, he was employed by a wholesale electronics parts distributor in outsides sales for 17 years. He started Communications Specialists as a part time business while working for the wholesale parts company.

Dykema was appointed to the Hudsonville, Michigan, City Commission in June of 1994 and was elected to the Commission in November of 1995. He has also served as the City of Hudsonville Emergency Services Director for the past 22 years. He has served on many community boards and commissions, is a life member of the American Radio Relay League, and holds an FCC General Radiotelephone License.

Samuel J. Klein, is an officer and co-founder of Cellular Design Corp. and Mobile Radio Network, Inc., and Chairman of the Council of Independent Communications Suppliers.

Klein's communications companies are dedicated to providing community repeater and SMR service. Klein is a multi-degreed radio communications engineer with a business background; University of Illinois (BSEE), University of Santa Clara (MSEE), and attended University of Iowa (MBA). For many years Klein has been a design engineer and managed companies with a focus on sophisticated systems for secure communications. He has dealt with RF, analog, and digital projects, covering terrestrial to satellite based systems, ranging from low frequency to microwave.

Robert H. Schwaninger, Jr. is a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Brown and Schwaninger. Mr. Schwaninger has degrees in Journalism and Law from the University of Missouri and has been practicing law before the Federal Communications Commission since 1982. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and is licensed to practice before the United States Court of Appeals.

Schwaninger is a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association and the Radio Club of America. He has been a featured speaker before numerous trade organizations, including the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the National Surveillance Association, and the National Telecommunications Investigators Association.

Schwaninger has published numerous articles in various publications on the subject of telecommunications, including Communications, Compliance Engineering, ETTM Forum, and Mobile Radio Technology. He presently serves as Regulatory Consultant to Mobile Radio Technology and is author of a monthly column in that publication entitled "Regulating Technology".

Bruce Ruckert founded his business in July, 1954, only one month after graduating from high school. At this point, the company was primarily involved in television and consumer electronics sales and service. In 1954, Ruckert also joined the Florida National Guard, was promoted to the rank of corporal and assumed responsibility for the Guard's communications section, in time achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class.

In the 60s, Ruckert expanded his business to establish the first paging facility in his area. Also at that time, he began providing service for the sheriff's department radio equipment. In the late 60s, Ruckert began a telephone answering service so that he could better serve his paging and radio common carrier customers. This service was so well-received that Ruckert acquired two competitive answering service providers.

In the 70s, Ruckert acquired the competing RCC facilities in his area while serving as the chief engineer of the local AM and FM broadcast stations.

In early 1980, Ruckert continued his tradition of innovation and applied for the first SMR license in his area. The capacity provided by the SMR license was sorely needed to alleviate congestion on Ruckert's existing community repeater and RCC channels.

In 1991, Ruckert chose to divest himself of some of his properties so that he could devote himself to the aspects of his business that he most enjoyed -- two-way, SMR and paging.

Catherine Sutter began her career in communications fourteen years ago as a salesperson for a local GE dealership, including the creation of sales of GE Mark V Trunking Systems. She established her knowledge of VHF, UHF and 800 MHz trunking equipment and developed her ability to market telecommunications products throughout the Phoenix, Arizona marketplace.

Sutter's next position was Sales Manager, then General Manager of Tri-Communications, Inc. Her efforts propelled the company to a position of being one of the largest independent SMR operators in the Phoenix market. Seeing the opportunities presented at 900 MHz, Sutter moved to construct 900 MHz trunking facilities to serve the Phoenix and Tucson markets as a principal shareholder in the new company, ProTec Mobile Communications, Inc. Following early success, Sutter acquired a controlling interest in ProTec and assumed the duties of President. Her continued efforts to develop the services and capacities of the company have included 800 and 900 MHz trunking, site operation and development, sales of UHF systems and equipment, installation, resale of cellular and paging services, and other associated telecommunications efforts. ProTec obtained a 900 MHz license to serve the Phoenix MTA in the 900 MHz auction proceeding.

Sutter's success in her field has been widely noted. She was awarded the Most Successful Small Business Award by U S West and the Arizona Business Journal and was a nominee for the National Athena Award. Sutter was formerly a member of the Board of Directors of AMTA and Chairman of the 900 MHz council of that organization.

Michael J. Taylor began his career in communications with the Western Electric Company. He started by installing step-by-step switching in large PBX offices through panel switching, Crossbar 1, Crossbar 5 carrier and TD-2 microwave.

Taylor next worked for the Ready Power Company. The Ready Power Company gave Taylor the opportunity to work with electrical generating equipment and related controls. While at Ready, Taylor developed and filed an application for a United States Patent for the automatic paralleling of alternating current generators. At Ready, Taylor served in the capacity of Chief Engineer of the Engine Generator Division.

From Ready Power, Taylor moved to Ford Motor Company, where he served >as Project Engineer on some of Ford's largest projects, including the $50 million Melting Operations Facility for the Michigan Casting Center, which, at that time was the world's largest foundry. Taylor was also responsible for the instrumentation and maintenance facilities' communications systems as well as the engineering and maintenance of all primary substations and related electrical switchgear. Subsequently, Taylor became Resident Plant Engineer for melting operations at Ford's Steel Division.

Taylor founded Columbia Communications, Inc. and Michigan Mobile Communications in Jackson, Michigan, after retiring from Ford. The company offers 800 MHz trunking with telephone interconnect, local, wide-area and nation-wide paging in Jackson and Lansing, Michigan, as well as offering a full cellular and two-way radio dealership.

Robert Cook started in the telecommunications industry with Cook's Communications and Fresno Mobile Radio approximately 33 years ago. He started learning about the radio business from the bottom up. In 1973, the two family owned companies were sold to American District Telegraph Company. For the next 10 years, Bob continued to work for ADT installing 800 MHz trunked systems, radio common carrier mobile, paging systems, and a large common carrier microwave system through central California.

In 1983, ADT sold Cook's Communications and Fresno Mobile Radio to Gencom, Inc. Gencom's focus was on paging. When Gencom was purchased by Pacific Telesis Company, PacTel decided to sell everything but Gencom's paging business. Bob took this opportunity to purchase the companies that he cared so much about. Since he purchased the companies in 1987, Bob has increased 800 MHz service throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Bob helped develop a dual protocol board to enable LTR traffic to use a GE Mark V repeater and was the first to offer UHF LTR trunking on common carrier channels. Bob has continued efforts to develop a wide area edacs 800 MHz trunked system, 900 MHz channels, GPS systems and software.

Joseph Robello is President and majority stockholder of Eden Communications, Inc., of Salinas, California. Robello trained in telecommunications, including radio telephone, teletype and krypto in the United States Marine Corps. During his last year and a half in the service, he headed the Corp s project to design and implement DTMF telephone in the military.

After his discharge from the service, Robello became General Manager of Salinas Valley Radiotelephone. At Salinas Valley, he was in charge of all radiotelephone, paging and two-way operations, including all mountaintop and microwave equipment.

Dieffenbaugh comes to SBT from Arizona where she is sales manager with Specialized Communications, Inc. Not just involved in sales, however, Tracy directed the start-up of Specialized's service and installation business and the construction of a major installation at the local Intel plant where she was responsible for assuring total system design and reliability. "SBT is the most important association created for the purpose of supporting the interests of small business," said Dieffenbaugh. "My desire to serve on the Board is to continue the fine work that has been done and to add my commitment to assuring our future success."

Jeff Sohn
JSM Communications
Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin

Sohn, a charter member in SBT, had these thoughts about serving on the SBT Board: "It hurts me to see this business being taken over by the investment bankers who try to simplify the miracle and technical surprises of wireless communications into a commodity without having a clue which end of a radio one should plug in and which to talk in to. Without people like the members of SBT doing what they have done, the state of the art would never have gotten where it is today."