Local roots. Bigger possibilities.

Brandon Camden is ZiTEL’s President and Chief Executive Officer and the entrepreneur whose vision helped launch the company in 2017. After seeing rural Virginia communities passed over by national providers, he brought together his experience in information technology, network security, and managed services to build a local fiber company focused on dependable service and long-term community relationships. Brandon leads ZiTEL’s strategy, growth, government partnerships, and grant development while keeping the company grounded in the needs of the places it serves. Brandon and his wife, Dawna, who also works with him at ZiTEL, live at Smith Mountain Lake and have two sons.

Rodney Gray serves as ZiTEL’s Chief Operating Officer and has helped build the company from its earliest days into a growing regional fiber provider. Drawing on more than two decades of leadership in technology, local government, and business operations, he guides the teams that turn ZiTEL’s plans into reliable networks and connected communities. Rodney previously served eight years in the United States Marine Corps as a combat engineer and holds degrees in civil engineering technology and management and leadership, along with graduate training through the University of North Carolina’s government chief information officer program. Rodney and his wife, Chelsea, who leads ZiTEL’s administration and human resources functions, live at Smith Mountain Lake and have four children—two sons and two daughters. Three of their children are grown and building lives of their own, while much of Rodney and Chelsea’s family time now centers on their seven-year-old daughter. Away from work, Rodney enjoys playing golf, following college football, and spending time on the lake with his family; Chelsea enjoys golfing with him and, to Rodney’s frustration, usually wins. They are enjoying this stage of family life while patiently waiting for the day they become grandparents.

Dawna Camden serves as ZiTEL’s Chief Administration Officer and Director of Customer Service, keeping the customer’s perspective at the heart of the company’s decisions. Drawing on years of managing businesses and a busy household, she has worked alongside her husband, Brandon, to develop their business plans and turn a shared vision for rural broadband into reality. A backbone of ZiTEL, Dawna helps keep the company true to its founding commitment to dependable internet and attentive, personal service. She and Brandon live at Smith Mountain Lake and have two sons, making family and the community they call home central to the business they have helped build.

Chelsea Gray serves as ZiTEL’s Director of Administration and Human Resources Manager, bringing an approachable personality and a strong commitment to advocating for employees. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University and a master’s degree from Virginia Tech in human psychology and education. Chelsea has developed pathways for employees to pursue college degrees and technical training through local colleges and universities, helping them build lasting careers as they grow with ZiTEL. She also spearheaded the development of a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees and their families. Her commitment to people extends into the community: Chelsea helped establish Fore the Fighters, a local nonprofit that raises money for families in need, and stays active in the local chamber, Ruritan club, and business community to strengthen ZiTEL’s role as a local partner. She lives at Smith Mountain Lake with her husband, Rodney, and their seven-year-old daughter, while their three older children are grown and living on their own. An avid marathon runner, Chelsea also enjoys family time and playing golf with Rodney.

Teddy Patton brings more than four decades of telecommunications and leadership experience to ZiTEL, including 12 years in the United States Army, six years supporting communications for nuclear technology operations, and 28 years with Verizon. Having advanced from installer to principal engineer for broadband expansion, Ted understands both the field work and the planning required to build reliable networks. At ZiTEL, he leads outside plant construction and engineering with a hands-on style centered on safety, training, and developing future leaders. A Virginia native, American Legion member, husband, father, and grandfather, Ted enjoys camping and traveling across the country with his wife, Roxanne.

Troy Gray brings a lifetime of public service and practical leadership to ZiTEL as Director of Quality Control. Before entering telecommunications, he served 32 years with Roanoke County Fire and Rescue, rising through every rank to retire as a captain, and spent 25 years teaching for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. His lead-from-the-front approach has helped ZiTEL establish its construction quality-control process and build a stronger, better-trained utility-locating team. A Bedford County native and former Firefighter of the Year, Troy is active in his church, teaches community CPR and first aid, and enjoys boating, shooting, bowling, and bike rides with his wife, Melissa.

Craig “Matt” Taylor brings 30 years of experience in information technology, network engineering, and telecommunications to ZiTEL. He leads Network Operations with a focus on secure, dependable infrastructure, clear operating standards, and mentoring technical teams to do their best work. Since joining ZiTEL, Matt has helped expand key departments, strengthen network processes and security, and bring several critical network facilities online. An Eagle Scout and lifetime member of the National Eagle Scout Association, he lives in Rocky Mount with his wife, Kayla, and values reading and time with their family of eight children.

Adam Bowyer serves as ZiTEL’s GIS Engineering Manager and has been part of the company’s technical foundation since 2017. His background spans geographic information systems, fiber-route design, network architecture, cybersecurity, and advanced troubleshooting, giving him a practical understanding of how a network moves from a map to a working connection. Adam has helped ZiTEL develop the designs, standards, and technical processes behind its growing fiber footprint. He holds an associate degree in computer electronics and computer network technology and brings a steady, solutions-focused approach to complex engineering challenges.

David Gray is ZiTEL’s Customer Experience Manager and a lifelong resident of the Roanoke Valley and Bedford community. During more than five years with ZiTEL, he earned his way from an entry-level ground hand to installer and then manager through consistent effort, hands-on learning, and the results he delivered each day. That experience gives David a practical, customer-focused perspective as he supports the teams responsible for installations, site surveys, service calls, and customer drops. Outside of work, he enjoys weekly activities at a local game store, recreation around Bedford, and staying connected with the same neighbors and communities ZiTEL serves.

Samuel Saunders serves as ZiTEL’s Splicing Manager and has grown alongside the company for more than six years. He completed ZiTEL’s first customer installation and went on to learn nearly every part of the operation, from construction and drop placement to splicing, troubleshooting, installations, and network work. Samuel leads from beside his team and takes pride in helping bring dependable fiber service to the community where he was raised. A Forest native now living in Bedford, he teaches middle-school Sunday school at St. John’s Episcopal Church and enjoys golf, lacrosse, and working on his home.

Alex Bankson serves as ZiTEL’s Splicing Senior Supervisor, bringing a calm, problem-solving mindset to the team that keeps the fiber network organized, expanding, and reliable. In approximately two and a half years with ZiTEL, he has helped bring new network facilities online, improve customer activation processes, and complete a major rebuild of the Moneta network. Originally from North Idaho and now living in Lynchburg, Alex enjoys the challenge of tracing a problem to its source and helping customers get back online. Away from work, he spends his time fishing, hunting, golfing, hiking, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Kaley Mills leads ZiTEL’s customer service representatives with an approachable philosophy: when her team succeeds, she succeeds. A Franklin County native with more than 15 years of customer-service experience, Kaley has spent five years building relationships with ZiTEL customers and helping support the company’s growth from roughly 200 customers to more than 2,600. She especially enjoys resolving service issues over the phone and giving customers the friendly, patient support they deserve. Outside of work, Kaley enjoys watching football and playing games with her family, and she is happiest cheering for her son at his basketball games.

Tyler Hairston serves as a ZiTEL Construction Coordinator, helping in-house and contracted crews stay organized, safe, and productive across complex fiber projects. His experience as both a construction coordinator and construction manager gives him a practical understanding of field operations, permitting, utility locating, quality control, equipment needs, and the teamwork required to keep projects moving. Tyler is known for stepping into problems in the field, coordinating the right people and resources, and helping restore service quickly when an outage occurs. His grounded, hands-on approach supports ZiTEL’s commitment to building responsibly and treating every community with care.

Kaden Wagner found his career path at ZiTEL after working in manufacturing, growing with the company as he helped develop the processes and procedures behind its aerial fiber construction. After years leading aerial deployment, he advanced to Construction Coordinator and now supports both underground and aerial projects. His story reflects the hands-on learning and hard work that have helped shape ZiTEL from the beginning. A state champion wrestler at Rockbridge County High School, Kaden also holds multiple state wrestling records and brings that same determination to his work with the construction team.