is a leading Arizona based telecom construction company specializing in telecommunications infrastructure. Founded 25+ years ago by Robert Carter, we deliver residential, commercial, utility, and FTTH projects - handling easements, municipal coordination, overhead/underground installs, and 24/7 scheduled emergency maintenance - all on time and one budget. Proudly a key vendor for the Cox network for over 20 years.
Daron Jamison
PresidentDaron is a seasoned executive with a multifaceted background in financial management, strategic business development, and operational planning. His career is defined by a unique versatility, spanning from the high-stakes environment of tech startups to the complex infrastructure of wireless telecommunications, where he served as a key member of the leadership team.
With a deep expertise cultivated across the banking, technology, and telecom sectors, Daron possesses the ability to bridge corporate strategy with tactical execution. He is uniquely positioned to steer Lightspeed through its current phase of rapid growth and organizational transformation, ensuring the company remains agile while scaling toward long-term success.
Michelle McCarthy
Chief Financial OfficerMichelle brings extensive expertise in corporate tax consulting, strategic advisory, and high-level financial strategy to the Lightspeed leadership team. With a career rooted in public accounting and experience supporting both middle-market and Fortune 500 companies, she possesses a sophisticated understanding of the financial levers that drive enterprise value and organizational scale.
Her deep background in capital projects, debt financing, and M&A makes her an invaluable asset in navigating complex financial landscapes. At Lightspeed, Michelle architects the company’s financial strategy and oversees long-term growth initiatives, ensuring every move is backed by fiscal precision and visionary planning.
Jennifer Leahy
Director of HR & AdministrationJennifer is an executive leader specializing in the intersection of human resources, operations, and administration. Throughout her career, she has focused on a singular mission: aligning organizational growth with the people who power it.
By championing people-first leadership and building strategic internal partnerships, Jennifer is instrumental in driving Lightspeed’s performance and culture. She ensures that as the company scales, its leadership and culture remain its greatest competitive advantages.
Noah Sanders
Industrial Powerline Operations ManagerNoah oversees the design, construction, and deployment of fiber networks for power utilities and critical infrastructure at Lightspeed. With a specialized focus on the intersection of power and communications, he has experience managing complex builds for power companies, data centers, and generation facilities, prioritizing precision and high-quality execution.
Leading a team with deep expertise in specialized cable installation—including OPGW pulling and splicing—Noah ensures the delivery of resilient systems. His mastery of OSP construction and network infrastructure is fundamental to supporting the reliable connectivity required by modern power grids.
Owen Wolfe
Telecom Network Operations ManagerOwen brings 14 years of deep-sector experience to the telecom industry, specializing in the maintenance and modernization of critical fiber optic infrastructure. His career is marked by a comprehensive technical range, from high-level network design to the physical execution of complex deployments.
Having led teams through every stage of the infrastructure lifecycle—including 5G small cell deployment, long-haul transmission, and large-scale FTTH initiatives—Owen is a versatile leader. His commitment to precision and high-quality results ensures that Lightspeed’s network remains resilient and future-ready.
Cassie Patterson
Financial Operations ManagerCassie brings a unique, well-rounded perspective to Lightspeed, bridging the gap between technical requirements and field execution. With a background spanning both the technology and construction sectors, she possesses a deep understanding of the operational nuances required to bring complex infrastructure to life.
In her current role, Cassie manages large-scale fiber projects, meticulously coordinating materials and equipment to ensure peak efficiency. A champion of clear communication and cross-team collaboration, she works closely with customers and internal stakeholders to keep every initiative organized, aligned, and on schedule.
Marybeth Miller
Billing ManagerMarybeth offers a diverse professional background that spans retail district management, behavioral health clinical support, and telecom engineering administration. This unique blend of experience has shaped her into a versatile leader capable of managing complex, detailed processes within high-pressure environments.
At Lightspeed, Marybeth focuses on optimizing cross-functional workflows and maintaining rigorous financial operations. By bridging the gap between administrative precision and field execution, she ensures that large-scale projects are delivered seamlessly and remain aligned with the company’s aggressive growth and development goals.
Brady Foutz
Construction Operations ManagerBrady is an underground construction expert with over 12 years of experience managing complex infrastructure projects across the energy and telecom industries. Having started his career as a laborer and risen through the ranks to Superintendent, Brady brings a unique, hands-on understanding of project management, safety, and team leadership to every job.
After managing multimillion-dollar pipeline projects for major energy corporations, Brady relocated to Arizona in 2022 to apply his underground utility expertise to fiber and communications infrastructure. He joined Lightspeed in 2024 and quickly stepped into his current role as Construction Operations Manager, overseeing the successful execution of the company's drilling and construction initiatives.
Robert Carter
FounderWith over four decades of experience in the telecommunications industry, Robert Carter has built a career defined by technical expertise and operational leadership. His journey began in 1979 as a Telecommunications Technician with the British Army, where he spent fourteen years installing and maintaining critical networks across the United Kingdom, Germany, the Falkland Islands, and Belize. This foundation of discipline and global experience paved the way for his move to the private sector, where he later served as Operations Manager for Fiberlink Technologies Inc. During a period of historic growth in the Phoenix Metro area, Robert oversaw landmark projects, including the first large-scale OPGW route for APS and foundational infrastructure for major providers like Cox Communications and AT&T.
In 1999, Robert founded Lightspeed Networks to meet the surging demand for fiber optic infrastructure in the Southwest. Under his guidance, the company evolved into a premier contractor known for its responsiveness during emergencies and its ability to execute complex, high-stakes assignments. His commitment to quality fostered decades-long partnerships with industry leaders and expanded the company’s footprint far beyond Arizona. Today, following a 2024 equity partnership with Nex-Tech Wireless, Robert continues to serve as an owner and strategic advisor. While he now enjoys more time with his family, his vision remains central to the management team as they uphold the standard of excellence he established over twenty-five years ago.
