In this episode, Ron Willett sits down with Allen Bennion, Director of RINA Operations, to talk about 20 years of powering rural wireless through partnership, persistence, and plenty of tower climbs.

Allen shares how RINA helps regional carriers survive and thrive in a changing industry, what’s next for rural 5G, and why consolidation, shared infrastructure, and new revenue streams like RCS are the key to long-term success.

They also talk about Allen’s background growing up in Vernal, Utah, family life, leadership, values, and why the best therapy might involve a horse, a mountain trail, and no cell service.

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In Episode 12 of Whiskey and Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Stephanie Lashley, VP of Messaging Strategic Alliances & Infrastructure at Bandwidth - widely known in the industry as the Queen of Messaging.

Stephanie shares her journey from growing up in Kansas City to building her career at Sprint and Bandwidth, her perspective on the evolution of A2P messaging and 10DLC, and why she believes RCS is finally here to stay.

They also discuss:
• The explosive growth of political and retail messaging post-2020
• The role of marketing in solving objections before they arise
• How Bandwidth scaled messaging from a “fledgling product” to a major revenue driver
• Leadership lessons, customer-centric strategy, and what’s next in messaging
• The growing momentum of women in telecom, including the Women in Messaging Dinner at MWC

Plus: how travel, Taylor Swift, and sardines all tie in.

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#WhiskeyAndWireless #StephanieLashley #Bandwidth #MessagingLeadership #RCS #10DLC #A2P #TelecomPodcast #WomenInTelecom #CarrierTech #WirelessMessaging #MEF #BusinessMessaging

In Episode 11 of Whiskey and Wireless, Ron Willett sits down with Erik Levitt, CEO of Viper Networks, for a fast-moving, story-filled conversation about the wild road from rural Dominica to building a full-scale wireless carrier.

Erik shares how growing up in the Caribbean shaped his mindset, what it took to launch his first company at 21, and how he’s evolved across three decades of entrepreneurship, from data centers to messaging, and now full mobile network deployment.

They also cover:
-Building an independent wireless carrier in underserved markets
-The surprising resilience of wholesale voice
-Smart cities, solar energy, and what’s next for Viper Networks
-How music, risk, and reinvention fuel long-term success

Oh, and yes, Erik once sang the national anthem at Madison Square Garden.

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