TDS Prepares for First Fiber Customers in Butte, a Conversation with Drew Petersen and Tom Cronnelly

Business Chitchat

Join us for a conversation with TDS Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Drew Petersen, and Associate Manager - Field Marketing, Tom Cronnelly, about the expansion of Fiber internet in Butte. Where will Fiber in Butte be available? How soon will it be available? What does this mean for our economic future in Southwest Montana? Find out on this episode.

Where to find TDS: https://tdsfiber.com/

About Tom:

Tom Cronnelly is Associate Manager- Field Marketing for Butte and is responsible for leading the community marketing and philanthropy efforts. Previously, Tom owned OMG! Mongolian Grill with his wife Kristi.

About Drew:

Drew joined TDS Telecom in 1997 and was appointed SVP of Corporate Affairs in 2018. In his current role, Drew leads the company's out-of-territory community expansion efforts. He oversees the company’s regulatory, legislative, and judicial efforts at the local, state, and national levels. He also works to advance TDS' public policy positions through partnerships with industry-affiliated trade organizations and federal and state policymakers. In addition, Drew supervises the business development, compliance, and legal affairs groups. He manages internal and external communications at TDS, serves as the company's chief corporate spokesperson, and oversees Zolo Media, a TDS Broadcasting company that operates KOHD-TV (ABC Affiliate), KBNZ (CBS Affiliate), COTV11, and CO4 Visitors Network, which offer a wide range of viewing options in Central Oregon.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Drew currently serves as an executive committee member on the board of directors for America’s Communications Association and is a director for Madison-based Park Bank. He is past president of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, a seat he earned through gubernatorial appointment and senate confirmation in 2015. Drew is also the past president of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, Madison Club, and Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association.

In his free time, Drew enjoys traveling, and golfing, and is learning pickleball. Drew maintains a Bachelor of Arts in History and Leadership Studies from Ripon College (Wis.) and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Drew has been quoted in numerous periodicals such as the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Drew was also recently named to the 2023 100 Power Players list by Cablefax—The Magazine.