Technology >> CEO Interviews >> April 9, 2001
RICHARD EKSTRAND became President and Chief Executive Officer of Rural
Cellular Corporation in 1991. Mr. Ekstrand has a degree in Business
Administration from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. He was previously
employed in various management capacities with United Telephone Company
and the State of Minnesota. Mr. Ekstrand is past President of the
Minnesota Telephone Association, the Association of Minnesota Telephone
Utilities and the Minnesota Telecommunications Association. Mr. Ekstrand
is very active within the telecommunications industry; he is Vice
Chairman of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA)
Board of Directors, and sits on the Executive Board of the following
subcommittees; CTIAPac, CTIA Wireless Foundation (chairman), CTIA Public
Policy Council, CTIA Small Operators Congress and also serves as an
officer and director of Lowry Telephone Company, Inc. Profile
TWST: Could we start out with a little history and a quick overview ofRural?
Mr. Ekstrand: Our company was formed in 1990. Actually it started with
40 Minnesota telephone companies that