June 17, 2008

Pipeline Profile: Bob Foote

New Region 12 Director

SCTE member since 1989

Title: Account vice president, ARRIS

Broadband Background: Bob Foote is the SCTE's newly elected Region 12 director, representing Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. In his "day job," he is account vice president for ARRIS.

How did you first get involved in cable and the SCTE?

I started in cable TV in 1980. My hometown (Ipswich, MA) was in the process of awarding the town's cable TV franchise. I went into the newly opened cable TV office and applied for a job as a technician and was hired a short time later.

This company was eventually sold. Shortly after the sale, I left and took a job selling cable TV hardware for what is now known as ARRIS. I have been employed by ARRIS and its predecessor companies for 23 years this past May.

In 1988, I was assigned as an outside sales representative. It was during this time I became active in the SCTE. I joined the New England Chapter Board in 1989 and continue to serve on that board today.

What prompted you to run for a seat on the board?

Actually I am returning to a seat I held for six years. Due to term limits, I left the board. This past election, the Region 12 seat opened up again. This was due to the fact that the present Region 12 director, Deane Olmstead, chose not to run for a second term.

Just as my past desire for a seat as a Regional Director, my work at the chapter level provided a natural steppingstone to working on a national level. I have held several positions for the New England Chapter, including president. During my almost 20 years' involvement with the New England Board, the Chapter has been recognized many times as one of the best in the Society.

Taking this experience and using it to better the Society, I feel, is natural. I have been employed in the broadband industry for many years, and I feel I have a vested interest in the future success of our industry. My work in the SCTE helps toward the industry's future success.

What do you see as the key issues in your region?

There are a couple of main issues in Region 12. The first is the viability of local chapters. While some chapters in the region have enjoyed continued success, other chapters are facing a continual struggle. Each chapter has a unique set of circumstances to deal with. This includes the local makeup of SCTE members and the companies that operate in that particular area. Sometimes these factors line up to ensure a successful chapter; others it presents a struggle that must be dealt with in order to be successful.

The second issue is diversity in chapter leadership. With consolidation, it is difficult to maintain a diverse board of directors at the local level. It not only affects the makeup of the board of directors for a chapter; it also affects attendance at technical sessions. Segmentation and specialization of the workforce within these consolidated companies makes topics of Technical sessions critical.

What do you see as the key issues for the SCTE and the industry as a whole?

The pace at which our industry has changed and continues to change is staggering. I have witnessed firsthand many technological advances over my time in the business. The SCTE is positioned perfectly to assist the industry in keeping the technical workforce, which is the membership of the Society, up to date and trained in the technologies being deployed today and looking at the new technologies of tomorrow.

Also, we have attracted a new segment of our workers that in the past were not part of our broadband workforce. The challenge of embracing what they bring to the broadband industry, the challenge of bringing them into the Society and providing them with goods and services that are pertinent to their work is a very important task.

Can you share any memorable experiences from your time in the industry?

Hands down my most memorable and proudest experience was receiving the SCTE Member of the year award in 2005. The people involved in surprising me with this honor pulled it off flawlessly. It was very humbling and very gratifying.

Spending the time working in the industry that I have, you develop a great deal of friendships. There are great people that I deal with and have dealt with over the years. Some have passed on, some have retired, some have changed employment, but for the most part, a good many of them still continue day after day in building and maintaining the best networks they can. It's these friendships that help build my memories.