Darrin Peters is the Founder and President of Midwest Underground Technology, Inc. (MUTI), Co-founder and CEO of CITCA, LLC, President and CEO of Vertical Tower Partners, LLC, Co-Founder and Vice President of Sky Enterprize, Inc.  He also serves as President of the Board on all of the aforementioned organizations.  Peters has been active in the telecommunications industry for over 15 years, having founded and organized MUTI in 1999.

Throughout his professional career, Peters has worked both domestically and internationally, supporting many Fortune 500 companies.  Peters and MUTI have been recognized by INC Magazine, as one of America’s Fastest Growing private companies in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Peters developed and authored a specialized industry related site inspection software program currently utilized by several major telecommunications companies across the United States. This inspection software program is widely recognized as the premier site inspection program in the tower industry.

He also developed several innovative methods and procedures to improve, streamline, and maximize efficiencies applicable to the telecommunications tower construction and maintenance industry, which are recognized and implemented by numerous high profile companies throughout the United States.   

Peters is a strong advocate of employee safety, demonstrated by several years of involvement in the regional and national OSHA/NATE Partnership Programs. He is an active sponsor of the internationally recognized National Association of Tower Erectors organization and mandates a stringent company-wide superior health and safety program for all employees.

Peters majored in business and received his business degree from Parkland College located in Champaign, IL.  He and his family presently reside in Mahomet, IL and are active in outdoor sports, civic and community volunteer activities.

William Vance is the Executive Vice President of MUTI and co-founder of CITCA. Vance has held a position on the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) Board of Directors and continues to assist with OSHA regulations and procedures.

Throughout Vance’s professional career, he worked in the telecommunications industry, both domestically and internationally.  He has represented companies, such as Ameritech, Cellular One, and US Cellular in the sales industry and has been directly involved with management and installation coordination of many projects. These projects consist of the first working RSA experimental cellular system in Illinois, the installation of the first cellular systems in the West Indies in conjunction with Cable and Wireless of London, England. Vance has been associated with and involved in the wireless industry for over 30 years coordinating, organizing, managing, consulting and implementing major wireless projects.

Vance has authored several articles on safety in the communications industry, developed numerous safety programs, and has assisted in the design and accreditation of multiple communications safety training classes.

Vance is a Vietnam era veteran, having served in the communications and intelligence division of the US Navy. He received his communications related education at the Naval Training Academy in Point Loma.

Joining MUTI in 2008, Barbara Smith took the role as Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, she helps maintain the sound financial foundation that enables the company to continue providing its clients with superior products and services. Smith’s responsibilities include oversight of financial, budgetary, and analytical accounting.

Smith’s professional career includes over 30 years of accounting experience in both private and public accounting. She has extensive experience in analytical accounting, cost accounting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, billing, collections, and payroll. This experience has helped Smith build a solid track record for leading the preparation and analysis of financial reporting that effectively summarizes and forecasts MUTI’s financial position.

Smith earned an Associate’s Degree in Applied Sciences in Accounting from Parkland College; a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy from Upper Iowa University and a Master Degree of Business Administration with an Accountancy concentration from Eastern Illinois University.

She enjoys spending time with her three sons, gardening, and collecting unique cookie jars in her spare time.

Kyle Fulton joined MUTI in 2009, as the Director of Health and Safety.  Fulton brings 18 years of experience in heavy industrial construction to MUTI.  He has authored and championed several successful “Zero Injury” programs, as both an employee and as a consultant. Fulton is a licensed TapRoot investigator and has extensive knowledge in Behavioral Safety Philosophies. He serves as an active member on the OSHA Relations Committee for NATE and is currently working on the development and composition of the proposed A1048 Standards for the telecommunications industry. 

Fulton’s areas of expertise include OSHA, NIOSH, NFPA, ANSI, and DOT.  He has been an OSHA Outreach Instructor for 15 years, for both 1910 and 1926. Fulton is also a certified CPR instructor for Healthcare Providers through the American Heart Association.  Additionally, he is a certified instructor through CITCA for both the Authorized Climber and Tower Rescue college accredited courses. He is a past recipient of the MICCS “Crystal Eagle Award”, one of the most recognized and prestigious safety awards in the state of Indiana, given out for “Outstanding Safety Performance.”

Amanda Gerdes joined the MUTI team in 2004, as an administrative assistant.  She has assisted nearly every department within the company, including project management, shelter transportation, generator fueling, human resources and much more.  This multidepartment exposure has allowed her to assist in the development of many of MUTI’s policies and procedures. 

In Gerdes’ current role as the Director of Administration, she continues to assist in the development, streamlining, and management of MUTI policies and procedures. 

Gerdes is a 2004 graduate of Eastern Illinois University.

Joining MUTI in 2011, as Vice President of MUTI’s Technical Services Division, Geoff Bennett is responsible for the division’s business development, expansion, and technical field operations.  The division provides skilled services for telecommunications equipment installation, modification, and commissioning.

Bennett brings over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, having worked predominately on the carrier side in all aspects of network operations, including Operations Management.    He earned his A.A.S in RF Telecommunications from Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, IA.  Since then, he has attained numerous vendor certifications from Nortel-Ericsson, Harris, Aviat, Adtran, Alcatel-Lucent, and is currently pursuing his Cisco CCNA certification.

Bennett has installed and managed large microwave networks, managed teams of technicians covering hundreds of cellular communication facilities, installed Battery plants, Multiplexers, and is an expert T-1 troubleshooter.  In addition to installation and commissioning services, MUTI’s Technical Services Division will offer comprehensive managed services for client networks.

Bennett’s hobbies include spending time with his wife and boys and playing golf.

Scott Kisting brings over 20 years experience in the telecommunications and structural steel industry to MUTI.  He was a Subject Matter Expert for the OSHA Training Institute and has worked with members of the TIA committee.  Kisting has worked on towers in one faucet or another in all 50 states.  He has been involved in site acquisition, zoning, site design, implementation, and long term asset management.  Kisting began his career in the industry, climbing and erecting towers.  He currently works towards the improvement of standards for the telecommunications industry as a whole.

In his present role as Vice President of Consultation Services, Kisting is responsible for supporting and educating MUTI crews, to ensure that each employee is practicing safe industry standards and work practices.  He also works with clients to ensure that they are provided the information and support necessary to protect and maintain their assets while at the same time controlling the cost to do so by insuring that the standards requirements are met and that value is provided to the clients.  He is also working with our clients through risk management tools to better prioritize the infrastructure support of their systems. 

Barry Schlickman joined MUTI in 2000, with the formation of the company. He originated as Operations Manager and now serves as the Area Director for the Champaign, Illinois region. He brings over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry to MUTI, having worked in technical management with various telecommunications companies.

In his current role as Area Director, Schlickman manages daily operations for the many field crews that work out of the Champaign, IL location. He also manages all overall operations of the Horizontal Drilling Division of MUTI. Schlickman has traveled extensively through the eastern half of the United States, completing underground boring projects. Additionally, he is responsible for the management and oversight of MUTI’s generator installation and fueling project, which is a 24-hour service consisting of continual fueling of generators at numerous cellular tower sites throughout the Midwest.

With over 16 years of experience in the communications industry, Travis Waller is a critical part of MUTI’s core team. Since 2000, Waller has worked his way through many positions within the company. He has excelled as Tower Technician, Leadman, Foreman, and now Senior Project Manager. Waller oversees and manages a multitude of projects for various clients. He specializes in projects including raw land construction, collocation of sites, and build-to-suit sites.

Over the past 11 years with the MUTI, Waller has been involved with almost every aspect of the cellular construction completed within the Champaign corporate office. His extensive experience includes working on 1500 foot broadcast towers, constructing over 25 towers for the Arkansas State Police, and demolishing old communication towers. Additionally, he utilizes gin poles, cranes, and helicopters in the erection of many types of towers.

Waller loves the work atmosphere at MUTI and the “we can do anything for our customers” attitude that everyone possesses.

Todd Pondel has 6 years experience in the telecommunications industry, and in excess of 8 years experience in the information technology industry. He previously worked for a local consulting company, responsibilities included, installing and maintaining network systems, wiring new and existing buildings for information technology, computer purposes, communication and data transfer for multiple locations through wireless solutions.  Pondel joined MUTI in 2004 as Inspections Project Manager.

At MUTI, Pondel is responsible for scheduling cellular tower inspections for numerous cellular customers, as well as the oversight of the cellular tower inspections throughout the central region.  He also manages an electrical crew that travels through the midwest installing Indoor antenna wireless solutions for the betterment of communication.

Pondel additionally specializes in maintaining all network infrastructure and computer software issues for MUTI.  He is responsible for all graphic designs throughout the company, a service that is also provided to MUTI's valuable customers.

Currently, Pondel holds a position as Assistant Chief with the Gibson City Volunteer Fire Protection District, along with sitting on the board of directors for the Gibson City Emergency Response Team.

Chase Simpsen joined MUTI in March of 2006.  He has held positions in the company, such as Tower Leadman, Tower Foreman, and was promoted in January of 2009 to his current role as Project Manager.  Simpsen has 8 years of experience in the communications industry.  This experience includes erecting and maintaining 1000 foot broadcast towers, utilization of a gin pole, installing microwave components and system.  He has also managed the installation of cellular components and full site systems on most tower, water tank, and rooftop structures.  

Simpsen currently works with various customers in the Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana regions.  This entails the coordination and scheduling of multiple crews on a weekly basis.  These projects include new site construction, antenna optimization, and LTE upgrades.

Mike Workman joined MUTI in October 2008, as a Tower Foreman for our Lee’s Summit office.  Workman brings eight years of industry experience to MUTI, including antenna & line experience and experience in erecting all types of towers.  He is knowledgeable in gin-pole operations, as well as crane.  In January 2010, Workman transferred to our Champaign Office and was promoted to project manager in May of 2010.  He currently oversees the Tower Inspections/Repairs/Maintenance Department and manages structural modification projects. 

Prior to employment with MUTI, Workman served in the US Army for ten years.

Jerry Skinner began his career in the telecommunications industry 15 years ago.  Throughout this time, he has held positions as a tower crew member, leadman, foreman, and project manager.  In holding various positions, Skinner has gained a vast base of knowledge in cellular tower erection, installation of multiple hoop microwave systems, utility and public safety communication systems, broadband system and broadcast systems.  He is also experienced in the maintenance and troubleshooting of various telecommunication systems.

Skinner is also knowledgeable in civil construction.  He has experience in building many types of tower foundations, shelter foundations, shelter sets, electrical and T1 services, and generators.

Recently, Skinner has managed the following projects:

• 9 Hop Space Diversity Microwave and 900 MHz communication system for a Utility Company in the Southern United States
• 20 Hop Space Diversity Microwave System for a State Agency in the Southern United States
• 6 Hop Microwave System for a County agency in the Midwest
• 30 Site 900 MHz Re-banding Project for a Utility Company in the Midwest
• 20 Raw-Land Site built out for a cellular provider in the Midwest
• 4 Hop Microwave System for a City Police Department in the Midwest

Over the years, Skinner has been certified or received training in programs such as Anritsu SiteMaster, Andrew Terrestrial Microwave, Andrew Connectors, CommScope Connectors, Flash Technology, OSHA 30 Hour, CPR, Authorized Climber and Tower Rescue.  Prior to entering the telecommunications industry, Skinner served four years in the United States Army. 

Derek Woods, M.E., M.B.A., joined the MUTI team in 2008 as the Vice President of the Renewable Energy Division.  He is responsible for all aspects of the division’s development, operations, and expansion within the renewable energy markets of wind, solar, and geothermal.

Woods has 25 years of project management, construction, marketing and sales experience, spanning a variety of industries including the pharmaceutical, medical devices, custom residential, and telecommunications fields.  Upon receiving his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Bradley University, he began his career in the pharmaceutical industry with Eli Lilly & Company, working in facilities and manufacturing design and construction.  There he managed the delivery of over $200MM in new administrative and manufacturing facilities, medical devices market development in emerging international countries, and  field marketing and sales with annual sales of $15MM+. Over the past several years, Woods has been applying his extensive project management and marketing talents through consulting services within the real estate development, custom home building, and  telecommunications markets.

Curt Larson has over 22 years of project management experience in the telecommunication and utility industry.  He joined MUTI in 2006 in the Kansas City region.

His early experience comes from the carrier side, followed by 13 years with a general contractor. Larson has worked on systems from the early stages of site selection and design through the bid review and construction phase.  He has managed projects related to microwave, cellular, and PCS installations. Larson’s utility background stems from the construction of substation, transmission, and distribution systems. Currently, he is responsible for the day to day operations of the project management and field service groups operating out of MUTI’s Kansas City location.

Larson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering from Iowa State University.

In September of 2007, Eric Ballou joined MUTI as a project manager in the Lee’s Summit, Missouri office.  Ballou has 17 years of experience in the communication industry.  This consists of 10 years of field experience, including guy towers, self support and monopole erection, PCS/Cellular and microwave installation. For the past 7 years, Mr. Ballou has specialized in project management.  He concentrates on site management—overseeing the construction of a project from start to finish.

Sheryl Fairhurst joined MUTI in 2006. Fairhurst has over 17 years of telecommunications industry experience, ten of those as a project manager. She manages all aspects of construction, with projects consisting of monopole and tower erections, co-locations, water tower and rooftop installations, and maintenance. Currently, Fairhurst manages MUTI projects in the Kansas City and surrounding markets.

Tim Kieser has worked in the telecommunications industry for over 10 years.  During his first 7 years in the industry, Kieser performed and supervised field work, including lay-out and construction of guyed, self-support, and monopole towers. 

For the past 3 years, Kieser has excelled as a Project Manager, overseeing maintenance and installation of large, multiple-site operations.  He specializes in PCS/Cellular maintenance and tower installations.

His knowledge of the industry, combined with his field experience, assures MUTI customers a timely, trouble-free quality installation of all their project requirements.

In 2010, Kieser transferred from MUTI’s Champaign, IL office to the company’s Lee’s Summit, MO office, where he continues to serve as Project Manager.  Kieser is responsible for major maintenance projects in the Midwest, Southern, and Northern U. S. markets, as well as turn-key sites.

Bio coming soon!

Rick Orasco joined MUTI in 2004, as a Project Manager for the Northern Division. He has been in the wireless industry for over 13 years. Throughout this time, Orasco has held management positions within major telecommunications companies, prior to joining the MUTI team.

In his current role, Orasco manages the day to day operations in the Chicago region, including the marketing of new business, scheduling, bid walks, assembling bids from subcontractors, and preparing bids for MUTI customers. He is responsible for construction and subcontractor scheduling, site visitation from pre-construction to site acceptance, and problem solving. Orasco is additionally responsible for the coordination of a team of Site Supervisors and Project Managers that administer the day to day operations of wireless tower construction in the Chicago region.

Orasco also holds a State of Illinois Electrical License.

Anthony Reed joined MUTI in 2005. He has been in the communications industry for 10 years and has held multiple positions. Reed is based out of the Joliet, IL office and is responsible for bid walks, and bid preparation for our cellular customers in the northern Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin markets. He specializes in sub contractor management and coordination, management of all phases of construction from beginning to end, problem solving, and completing projects within specific timeframes and budgets.

Joining MUTI in 2005, Jason McBride serves the company as the Area Director for the St. Louis region and manages the daily operations for the O’Fallon, MO office. McBride has over 20 years of general construction and telecommunications related experience.  Beginning his career as a tower technician, he has genuine understanding of the industry and applies this knowledge to provide customers with the best product available.  Specific areas of experience include obstruction lighting and compliance, civil and tower construction, zoning, site acquisition, and site development.  He holds several industry related licenses, accreditations, and certifications.