AT&T Names Indiana President
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA native Hoosier has been named president of AT&T Indiana. Bill Soards has been with the company for 14 years and currently serves as president of AT&T's Colorado operations. The Butler University graduate is a former member of the Indianapolis City-County Council and Boone County Council. October 17, 2013
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, OCT. 17, 2013 — AT&T* today announced that effective Nov. 1 its new president for Indiana will be Bill Soards, a 14-year veteran of the company and native Hoosier.
Currently serving as AT&T’s president for Colorado, Soards will lead AT&T’s legislative, regulatory and community affairs activities in Indiana. Representing AT&T’s interests across the state, he will work closely with community leaders, elected officials and other policymakers, as well as local and regional business leaders and customers, to help meet AT&T’s objective of connecting people with technology everywhere they live and work.
“It’s an exciting time at AT&T, as consumer demand for our mobile Internet skyrockets and new mobile devices and apps are connecting us as never before,” said Paul LaSchiazza, president, AT&T Midwest Region. “Bill’s knowledge and experience will help AT&T continue to bring innovative technology throughout the state, and I’m thrilled to welcome him to his new leadership role as Indiana state president.”
“I’m deeply honored by this opportunity to lead Indiana’s great team of AT&T employees,” Soards said. “My passion and interest has always been where public policy and technology intersect, and I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to work in my home state again.
“Working together with stakeholders throughout Indiana, I look forward to helping expand and enhance our wireless and wired broadband networks and continue to provide the services consumers want and businesses need,” Soards added.
AT&T recently announced that it has invested more than $325 million in its Indiana wireless and wireline networks during the first half of 2013. And, as part of Project Velocity IP, AT&T is investing billions nationally in the next three years to expand its advanced wireless and wireline broadband networks and to support future IP data growth and new services.
Prior to becoming president of AT&T Colorado, a position he has held for over four years, Soards was assistant vice president for public affairs for AT&T’s Midwest Region, working in Chicago. He began his career in public policy in 1994 as a partner at Livengood Soards & Associates in Indianapolis. He joined AT&T Indiana in 2000 as director of government relations. In 2006 he helped lead the effort to deregulate the telecommunications industry and establish a statewide system for cable franchising and video competition. That legislation, the Indiana Telecom Reform Act, was signed into law in 2006 and continues to attract jobs and investment across the state.
Reflecting his strong commitment to public service, Soards served nine years as an elected official in local government as a member of the Indianapolis City-County Council and later as a member of the suburban Boone County Council. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications with honors from the Jordan School of Fine Arts at Butler University in Indianapolis. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Soards has been married to his wife, Ann, for 14 years and the Soards’ are parents to two daughters, Katelyn and Allison.*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.Source: AT&T Inc.