In our last employee spotlight, we introduced you to Paul Peach, one of our stellar Regional Sales Managers. Now, in this next installation, we’re thrilled for you to meet another one of our amazing local team members — a component of our team that is crucial for keeping our customers’ goals on track (and their networks empowered).
Meet Dave Wells, a Network Engineering Manager that is dynamic, team oriented and performance-driven. Bringing an advantageous blend of leadership and technical knowledge to Horizon, Dave is instrumental in keeping Horizon’s fiber functional and its footprint growing. He’s also a member of our team that is at the core of keeping our customers happy and well taken care of.
We recently caught up with Dave to capture a look into his work, his history in the industry and more.
Can you tell us about your role at Horizon?
Dave Wells (DW): I am the Network Engineering Manager for Horizon Network Partners. In this role, I manage a team of talented engineers that perform provisioning and tier 3 troubleshooting of the network in service of Horizon’s strategic goals and our customers’ mission-critical requirements.
Tell us about your background and how you came to Horizon.
DW: I have been doing some sort of work in the Information Technology field since 1995. I started with a small computer company building and troubleshooting computers, and this eventually turned into managing the entire IT department for several companies. I came to Horizon from Meta Solutions, where I had the position of Director of Network and Telecommunications.
What do you most enjoy about working for Horizon?
DW: I see what I do as being about more than just the work on the physical network. It’s also about how that work creates opportunities for the organizations and communities that utilize it.
In my role at Horizon, I have the ability to make changes to the network for the betterment of the company and the customers it serves. I enjoy knowing that what my team and I do has a positive impact not only for Horizon, but for all of our customers and the communities we serve as well.
Any recent exciting projects at Horizon that you can tell us about?
DW: My team always has projects to complete — and there is no shortage of projects either. We are working on building the Dayton and Huntington WV markets, finishing the deployment of the recently acquired CEC network and accomplishing upgrades for T-Mobile towers. We’re also working on implementing new changes in Indianapolis for the recently acquired Infinity Fiber network, along with over upgrade projects within our existing fiber network in Ohio. We’re always optimizing and working to ensure we offer only the best.
Where do you live?
DW: I live on the north side of Columbus in a little town called Lewis Center. It is between Worthington and Delaware and very close to the Polaris Shopping Mall.
Where did you go to school or get training?
DW: I went to a vocational school in high school where I took classes on electronics. For those 2 years, we learned about electronic theory and how to build and troubleshoot electronic circuits and components. After high school, I went into the workforce with this foundation of knowledge and learned a lot through on the job training.
At 30 years old, I enrolled at Franklin University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in information technology. I have also attended numerous seminars and manufacturer/vendor training courses and obtained numerous certifications as a result. All of this helps me ensure that I’m staying ahead of the technological curve, and that I’m always in lock step with the advancing needs of the market.
Tell us what you like to do in your free time.
DW: Many years ago, I used to be part of a co-ed dodgeball team that played its games at Sports Ohio in Dublin. Currently, I have a daughter in college and a daughter in high school, and they are both very athletic, so I spend time at their sports activities. Other than that, I am working on renovating our house.
To learn more about how the Horizon team can support your business transformation and help boost your networking capabilities, contact our team today.