Shirley Bloomfield is chief executive officer of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, the premier association representing more than 800 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. With more than 25 years of experience representing the country’s smallest independent telecom operators, Bloomfield is an expert on the role of federal communications policies in sustaining the vitality of rural and remote communities and the benefits rural broadband networks bring to the national economy. In addition to serving as the industry’s chief advocate, Bloomfield has led efforts to seek synergies and align strategic partnerships among rural telecom companies, their larger counterparts, other rural utilities and federal agencies, further expanding business opportunities for NTCA members. In addition to her service to NTCA, Bloomfield also served as senior vice president of federal relations for Qwest and vice president of federal relations for Verizon. Bloomfield serves as a board member of the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative and GlobalWin, an organization of women leaders in the high-tech industry.