Ritchie Sorrells, GVTC's president and chief executive officer, is responsible for the company's overall operations. Since joining GVTC in 2003, Mr. Sorrells has changed the business strategy and corporate culture from a monopolistic telephone cooperative to a highly competitive, multi-product communications company. The cornerstone for this strategic shift is a multimillion dollar investment by GVTC to overbuild its network infrastructure with cutting edge fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology. As a result, the company is now the leading provider of FTTH to residential and business customers in far North San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country.

GVTC is pursuing an aggressive growth strategy that will ensure the company's long term viability in a radically changing communications marketplace. Leading the way is the expansion of GVTC's fiber network into the cities of Blanco and Gonzales in 2012. This is the first time GVTC has ventured beyond its traditional service area to offer its core products of cable TV, broadband, telephone and security monitoring. The move will provide GVTC new revenue opportunities and enrich the lives of residents in these communities by providing high-tech communications services many were unable to receive.

Under Mr. Sorrells' leadership, GVTC has won several national and local awards including the Fiber-to-the-Home Council of North America's prestigious Chairman's Award in 2008. This honor singles out an individual or company that has shown tremendous effort to promote, educate or accelerate fiber-to-the-home networks.

GVTC was also selected as a Broadband Communities Magazine Top 100 broadband provider from 2008-2011. GVTC earned a NTCA TeleChoice Award in 2011 for excellence in independent telco public relations and marketing.

In 2009 and 2010, GVTC won the Marketing Excellence Awards from the Broadband Multimedia Marketing Association. Other honors include being recognized by the San Antonio Express-News and San Antonio Business Journal as a top employer for providing an excellent work environment and benefits. In addition, GVTC received Business of the Year awards by the Boerne, Canyon Lake and Bulverde-Spring Branch Chambers of Commerce.

In 2007, Mr. Sorrells established The GVTC Foundation to enhance the quality of life throughout the company's 2,000 square mile service area. The Foundation is enthusiastically supported and managed by GVTC employees. The GVTC Foundation donates generously to deserving nonprofit organizations in time, money and resources. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated more than $650,000 to the community.

A native of Arkansas, Mr. Sorrells began his career with ALLTEL in 1977 and progressed through a series of assignments in the company's customer service and operational departments. As vice president and general manager of ALLTELL Arkansas operation, he led the wireline operations in Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma, along with the Northern Arkansas wireless operations. From 2001 to 2003, he served as vice president and general manager of wireline operations for ALLTELL in Texas.

Mr. Sorrells holds a bachelor of science in education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Mark Gitter is chief financial officer for GVTC and is responsible for accounting practices and internal controls, preparation of financial statements and tax returns and management of the company's treasury and investments.

Since joining GVTC in 2004, Mr. Gitter has modernized the company's budgeting, treasury and financial-management practices and brought state-of-the-art business intelligence and project management tools to the company. Mr. Gitter was also responsible for creating and implementing the strategic planning process. He supervises accounting, human resources, information technology, project management and strategic planning for the company.

Mr. Gitter has extensive financial experience in the telecom industry, serving most recently as CFO for nii Communications. He was also CFO for Digital Express Communications. Both companies were competitive telecommunications providers.

Additionally, Mr. Gitter held a senior-level management position with real estate company Hines and worked as an auditor for public accounting firm Arthur Andersen. He has both mergers-and-acquisitions and business-valuation experience.

Mr. Gitter holds an accounting degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and is a certified public accountant. He also is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and of the Texas Society of CPAs.

Robert Hunt, GVTC's vice president regulatory affairs and business operations, oversees the company's public policy strategy, carrier interconnection, business operations and billing areas.

In addition to his executive duties with GVTC, Mr. Hunt holds board positions with a number of prominent telecommunication organizations.

Mr. Hunt is a current board member and past chairman of the board for the Texas Telephone Association (TTA). In 2011, the TTA recognized Mr. Hunt with the Neville Haynes Award — the highest honor given by the renowned association. The Haynes Award recognizes exceptional service by an individual to the TTA and the Texas telephone industry.

Mr. Hunt is a founding board member of the Texas Lone Star Network, a partnership of 38 Texas communications companies that provides wholesale telecommunications services throughout the United States. He also serves as a board member of the USTelecom Association.

Through his service to those organizations, Mr. Hunt works for policy changes that benefit GVTC and its customer members.

In July 2009, Mr. Hunt was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve as board member of the Texas Department of Agriculture's Texas Broadband Taskforce, formed to focus on broadband deployment and adoption in Texas.

Prior to joining GVTC in 1993, Mr. Hunt provided engineering and consulting services to the telecom industry.

A native of GVTC's Hill Country service territory, Mr. Hunt graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, with a degree in electrical engineering.

Jeff Mnick is vice president-sales and marketing for GVTC - the first executive at the company to serve in that capacity. He is responsible for all sales, marketing, customer service, public relations and corporate communications.

Mr. Mnick joined GVTC in 2004. His telecommunications career includes management positions with MCI Direct and Intermedia before moving into executive management with Logix and Xspedius Communications.

Mr. Mnick changed GVTC’s passive telephone cooperative sales philosophy to a proactive approach designed to contend in today’s aggressive communications industry. As a result, GVTC uses multiple sales channels and strategies to generate revenue from the company’s telephone, cable television, broadband and security products.

In addition, Mr. Mnick led GVTC through a comprehensive corporate image initiative, which included an extensive multi-media advertising campaign. In 2007, Mr. Mnick established the company’s first communications unit to expand media relations and convey expedient and consistent company messaging to employees and the public.

Mr. Mnick is the executive sponsor for The GVTC Foundation, the company’s non-profit philanthropic partner. He is also chairman of the board for the Kendall County Economic Development Corporation.

Mr. Mnick is a former board of director of the Fiber-to-the-Home Council and served as the organization’s treasurer. He additionally served as a member of the council’s finance-audit committee and marketing committee.

A native of North Carolina, Mr. Mnick holds a bachelor of science in business administration from Wake Forest University.

George O'Neal is vice president-network services for GVTC and is responsible for all planning, engineering and operations of GVTC's broadband, phone and cable networks. He also manages the company's service center, installation and repair teams, inventory, facilities and fleet.

Mr. O'Neal led the transition of GVTC's legacy phone network onto a more-reliable IP-based platform, preparing the company for years of future growth. He is also a key architect of GVTC's ambitious $35 million fiber network expansion. The project replaces older copper wiring with state-of-the-art fiber optics connected directly to a home or business. The fiber network enables GVTC to offer customers its full suite of services including phone, high definition cable television, high speed Internet and security monitoring.

Prior to joining GVTC in 2006, Mr. O'Neal worked seven years at Alltel, where he served in several network management positions. From 1995 to 1999, he was employed by SBC Communications Inc. and took part in the company's renowned Leadership Development Program.

In 2011, Mr. O'Neal was elected to serve a second, two-year term as board member of the internationally recognized Fiber to the Home Council (FTTH) of North America. Mr. O'Neal also serves as the FTTH's treasurer.

Mr. O'Neal is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and holds a degree in mechanical engineering.

Josh Pettiette is vice president-product management for GVTC and oversees the planning and creation of products and services that meet both consumers’ evolving digital lifestyles and businesses’ demands for technology solutions.

Mr. Pettiette manages profitability for GVTC’s broadband, cable and phone products while ensuring that they provide the greatest value in the marketplace. He also evaluates emerging technologies to determine which best leverage the power of GVTC’s fiber-to-the-home network.

Prior to joining GVTC in 2004, Mr. Pettiette held positions at SBC Communications Inc., including manager of TMAC provisioning, where he oversaw operations for the State of Texas account, including all state government agencies, departments and universities. He is a graduate of SBC’s renowned Network Leadership Program.

In the community, Mr. Pettiette serves as first vice president of the Bulverde/Spring Branch Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the chamber’s Economic Development/Government Affairs Council.

Mr. Pettiette holds a Bachelor of Science degree in telecommunications engineering technology from Texas A&M University.