Although Richie may be the new CEO of Surry Communications, he is not an unfamiliar face to the company. Richie was hired as a part-time Engineering Assistant in May 1991, while attending Surry Community College. During this role, Richie learned the telecommunication industry from the ground up. Richie was updating and drawing

engineering drawings used by construction crews to install copper communications cables and trunk � ber cables. Just the summer before, in June 1990, Richie had assisted in the construction of the trunk � ber optic cable along US 64 in Davie County, that would connect Piedmont Telephone Membership Corp. to Yadkin Valley Telephone Membership Corp. This � ber would eventually be used to connect Surry Communications to Piedmont Communications, through a Co-Op � ber transport ring managed by the local telephone cooperatives.

Richie continued to aid the company during summers and Christmas breaks, as he continued his college studies at UNC-Charlotte. After graduating Cum Laude from the William States Lee College of Engineering with a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Richie was hired as a full-time employee by Surry Telephone Membership Corp. in May 1995. During his time as Sta� Engineer, Richie continued to gain working knowledge of telecommunication outside plant design and the changing operations of a communications company after the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

In 2004, Richie assumed the responsibilities of Chief Engineer. During this time, Richie was part of the continual push of broadband services to Surry Communications’ customers. Looking beyond the constraints of providing high speed broadband on the

twisted copper cables, Richie was part of the � rst design team that laid the ground work for Surry Communications’ initial Fiber to the Home (FTTH) project.

In 2009, Richie was named as Chief Technology O� cer. While maintaining many diverse responsibilities, Richie accepted new roles within the company. In 2010, Richie helped Piedmont Communications Services Inc. step into the security systems market as a provider of home security systems for customers. Richie took leadership of the two-exchange service areas of Piedmont Communications in Davidson County. He divided his time between the Dobson corporate headquarters and the Lexington Piedmont Communications o� ce. Richie assisted in the replacement of outdated access communication equipment and the introduction of Fiber to the Home in the ILEC areas of Davidson County. Richie gained a working knowledge of the HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coax) network that provides video, broadband and voice to customers in the ILEC and CLEC areas. Richie also assisted in the acquisition of a small independent CATV company.

Now with the appointment as CEO, Richie will continue the expansion of communication products and service areas, while maintaining the company’s commitment to superior customer service. Under Richie’s leadership, all service areas of the traditional service areas will see FTTH available to them. This investment, by Surry Communications, will allow rural members to access 1 Gigabit and higher broadband speeds. Richie will direct the competitive side of the company to expand into new markets, to tap into new business opportunities. As homes and businesses become more “wireless” with the IoT (Internet of Things), Surry Communications is poised to provide the necessary � ber connection from our customers to the world. The services provided by these telecommunication network connections not only serve the traditional rural residents of North Carolina, but also allow for modern farming operations, ecotourism and thriving downtown districts.

Piedmont CommunicationsVol. 0217 • August 2019 • 191 Reeds Baptist Church Rd. • Lexington, North Carolina • 336.787.5433

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Piedmont Communications

THE BUZZ

Surry Communications Welcomes our New CEO, Richie C. Parker

Healthy Recipe of the Month Marinated Squash and Zucchini 2 Tbs White Wine Vinegar

2 Tbs Fresh Lemon Juice 1 Tbs Minced Garlic 2 Tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves 1/3 cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil 1 pound zucchini (about 3 large) 1 pound squash (about 3 large) Salt & pepper to taste

Whisk the vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, and thyme in a large bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in the oil. Spoon 3 table-spoons of the marinade into a small bowl. Cover and set aside. Add the zucchini and yellow squash to the remaining marinade in the large bowl and toss to coat. Transfer the mixture to a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Cover and marinate at room temperature at least 3 hours or cover and refrigerate up to 1 day. Grill on medium-high heat until they are tender and brown turning occasionally every 8 minutes. Transfer to a platter and drizzle with the reserved marinade.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

BEULAH EXCHANGEElijah W. Bryant 336-352-4395

DOBSON EXCHANGEJacob Dellinger 336-356-2684

ELKIN EXCHANGEFederal Financial 336-526-4517Services

MOUNT AIRY EXCHANGEGrady Dollyhigh 336-648-8260David C. Ravert 336-648-8385

REEDS EXCHANGEDaisy Norman 336-867-1010

LEXINGTON EXCHANGEWanda Sa� ord 336-787-1160

WESTFIELD EXCHANGELynne Lester 336-351-2908Jack Cox 336-351-3988

ZEPHYR EXCHANGEZeller Summer I 336-366-1877Beth P. Darnell 336-366-3013

SAFE & SOUND, Even When You’re

Not Around!

PCSI Security is now o� ering the Honeywell SkyBell. Protect what matters most even when you’re away from home. Install the SkyBell today for a safe new school year!

With the Honeywell SkyBell you can:

• Receive live video clips of deliveries left at your door and capture possible suspicious activity.

• Have peace of mind knowing your child is home safe with instant alerts.

• You can have two-way conversations, and with night vision you can clearly see who’s there from anywhere at any time of day or night.

You can have two-way conversations, and with night vision you can clearly see who’s there from anywhere at any time of day or night.

Piedmont Communications Offers a Feature to Help with Unwanted TelemarketersCall our o� ce at 336.787.5433 and ask about “Do Not Disturb - Telemarketers”A great feature to block those unwanted callers!

Here are some tips to deal with these callers on your own:• Use call blocking• Don’t answer unfamiliar calls• If you answer hang up immediately• Don’t respond to them by talking or pressing any numbers on your phone• Report the number to the Federal Trade Commission at 1-888-382-1222

Do you have Piedmont TV?Call Piedmont Communications today for a full line up of entertainment with our great TV service. Hot summer nights are a great time for family movie

night and we have a complete lineup of family friendly channels. Local channels are included in our packages at no extra charge. Support your community – we are a locally owned and operated. Every year Piedmont TV makes signi� cant contributions to worthy community causes – such as local school systems, youth programs and other non-pro� t organizations. Call 336-787.5433 today and start your Piedmont TV experience.

Piedmont Communications Business Offi ces will be closed Monday, September 2 in observance of Labor DayLabor Day is a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women. Enjoy your Labor Day Holiday.

BUSINESS OF THE MONTHCrossroads Mercantile, Inc.690 S. North Carolina Hwy. 150 Lexington, NC  336.787.5151

Hours of Operation: Sunday – ClosedMonday – ClosedTuesday – 11:00am – 6:00pmWednesday – 11:00am – 6:00pmThursday – 11:00am – 6:00pmFriday – 11:00am – 5:00pmSaturday – 11:00 – 3:30pm

Business of the MonthPlease support local business. If you would like your business included in a future newsletter, please email senterm@surrytel.com