Chris Townson Named CEO of West Carolina

ABBEVILLE – The West Carolina Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Chris Townson as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. Townson, who currently chairs NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association’s Government Affairs Committee, is the fourth CEO/General Manager in West Carolina’s 73-year history. Townson began his new role on Feb. 10.   

“Chris’s professional qualifications are outstanding, and his personality and character make him a wonderful addition to the West Carolina family,” said Wes McAllister, West Carolina Board President. “His extensive national leadership experience, combined with his deep understanding of rural telecommunications, positions him perfectly to lead our organization forward while maintaining our commitment to our employees, members, and communities.”   

Townson brings 30 years of telecommunications industry experience to the role, most recently serving as CEO/GM of DeKalb Telephone Cooperative (DTC Communications) in Alexandria, Tenn., since 2016. During his tenure at DTC, he jointly spearheaded the creation of Trilight, an innovative collaboration between seven telephone cooperatives that expanded broadband access to electric cooperatives and municipalities.   

“I’m honored to join an organization with such a rich history of serving its communities,” said Townson. “West Carolina’s deep family and community-oriented culture aligns perfectly with my vision for how a cooperative should serve its members and communities. As we move forward, we’ll build upon the strong foundation laid by its former leaders while continuing to innovate and expand our services to meet the evolving needs of our members and customers.”   

A recognized industry leader, Townson has held key positions with the Tennessee Broadband Association and the Telecommunications Association of the Southeast, in addition to his leadership role with NTCA. His career began as an installer/repairman at Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative in Rainsville, Ala., where he spent 22 years advancing through various technical and management roles.   

Townson holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Organizational Leadership & Growth from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He and his wife of 29 years, Melissa, have two adult sons, a daughter-in-law, and recently welcomed their first granddaughter.