October 28, 2003
Contact: Ted Boyd – 330-456-7166
Canton, OH….
Local wireless technology company First Communications is adding executive talent to guide the firm’s rapid growth in the exploding wireless industry. Ray Hexamer, vice president and general manager of WHBC Radio, will join SkyLAN as chief executive officer to lead the company in capitalizing on the sales potential created by SkyLAN’s advanced wireless products and systems.
SkyLAN, a three-year-old company founded by president Tim Wilson, provides wireless Internet connectivity and computer networking services to northeast Ohio businesses and communities.
SkyLAN’s capital has come from a group of local business leaders who have an interest in supporting local business entrepreneurship. The group includes Bob DeHoff, president of DeHoff Development, Tom Schervish, local restaurant operator, and Ted Boyd, former owner of WHBC Radio. “The investor group was attracted to Wilson’s expertise and now looks forward to SkyLAN growing under Hexamer’s leadership,” said Boyd, SkyLAN board chairman.
“My goal is to maximize SkyLAN’s sales efforts and build consumer awareness of this exciting technology,” said Hexamer, who has been instrumental in the growth and success of WHBC Radio for 22 years. Hexamer credited Wilson, an electronic engineer, for having the vision to see the possibilities of the wireless industry. Hexamer will join SkyLAN after completing duties at WHBC.
“Wireless connection involving computers and the Internet is the future of digital communication and the future has already arrived for SkyLAN customers,”said Wilson. “We have grown faster than we expected and in Ray Hexamer we will have the best leadership we could hope for.”
According to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report the market for unlicensed wireless communications devices is experiencing unprecedented double digit growth and is expected to reach USD $5.2 billion of revenue by 2005 for wireless computer networking alone.
SkyLAN serves customers in Akron, Canton, Wooster, and New Philadelphia/Dover and is pursuing opportunities to expand statewide.