Technology >> CEO Interviews >> April 9, 2001

Richard Ekstrand – Rural Cellular Corporation (rccc)

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 of

Rural?

Mr. Ekstrand: Our company was formed in 1990. Actually it started with

40 Minnesota telephone companies that