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Trent Edwards used to climb phone poles. Now he’s the CEO of TAK Broadband, bringing with him an appreciation for community builders and the often-dangerous work they carry out.
By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Trent Edwards, the CEO of an end-to-end fiber community building agency referred to as TAK Broadband, is frightened about the way forward for trade’s workforce.
“We don’t do job of creating positive that the youthful technology understands the chance inside building,” he mentioned.
Based on Edwards, many maintain assumptions that building work is disagreeable as a result of it requires working exterior in many alternative situations.
“And the those that try this, they need to try this,” he mentioned on a current episode of Past the Cable, a Broadband Communities podcast. “They’ve that of their DNA. It’s a good and extremely appeared upon job for my part.”
Nevertheless, Edwards mentioned the youthful technology doesn’t assume community building work is horny. He mentioned the unfavourable perceptions will trigger points down the road, making it laborious to recruit expertise.
“We’ve received to do a greater job at selling that and bringing building again,” he mentioned. “We’ve received to make it horny once more.”
Edwards additionally mentioned there may be substantial room for innovation and entrepreneurs in community building.
Climbing phone poles and the company ladder
Edwards holds what many would possibly contemplate to be an unconventional street to the C-suite.
Others, nonetheless, would say his rise to CEO of TAK Broadband reveals the whole lot that’s proper with the trade, representing a transparent instance of vertical mobility.
As soon as upon a time, Edwards climbed phone poles and dug within the dust, working in entry-level positions that he says are underappreciated for the harmful work they do.
TAK Broadband within the information:
Acquisition corporations up TAK Broadband’s Southern California presence (October 2025)
“We work in extraordinarily harmful situations,” Edwards instructed Past the Cable. “Take the roads for instance. You could have your complete public out driving by you all day.”
Edwards mentioned individuals can develop into harm when drivers develop into impatient. He additionally flagged the potential for damage relating to working with giant tools, as community builders do.
He additionally mentioned all the environmental parts related to working within the discipline can current risks.
Enthusiastic about MDUs
Edwards says TAK Broadband (also called TAK Communications) has advanced their technique deliver high-quality fiber merchandise to multi-dwelling items (MDUs).
“Now we have the skillsets for all these tight areas, these advanced wiring situations,” he mentioned, including that TAK prides itself on minimal disruption to properties.
He mentioned fiber can create worth for MDU properties whereas bringing a top-notch service to residents.
Edwards additionally mentioned many residents want fiber connectivity to assist earn a living from home setups.
With customized designs, Edwards mentioned TAK prides itself on delivering environment friendly building plans. Consequently, he mentioned many complications related to work in MDUs are averted.
“Now we have it right down to a science,” he mentioned, including that MDUs present a possibility to get giant take charges.
“It’s a possibility to enter a spot, do it accurately, have a course of that’s begin to end – design, building – and it’s tailor-made for every property.”
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