Palmetto Engineering & Consulting exists to provide

• Superior engineering and consulting services that creates value for our clients,



• Meaningful careers for our employees,



• Opportunities to strengthen our firm, and



• Enrichment to the communities where we work and live.

George Wyatt, PE

CEO

A Clemson graduate, George holds a BS in Electrical Engineering along with a master’s degree in Business Administration. A licensed professional engineer in over twenty states, George is a Founder of Palmetto Engineering & Consulting (PEC), where he serves as Chief Executive.

George has been practicing engineering for 38 years, 28 of which are in private practice consulting…and 14 of those are at PEC, which serves the telecommunications, electric utility, and industrial manufacturing markets and provides petroleum production support (Electric System Reliability).

Besides speaking at a wide array of conferences and meetings on current telecommunications trends and solutions, Wyatt specializes in the high-level strategic planning necessary to birth major telecom initiatives. His engineering experience and financial background, along with his ability to communicate complex concepts to directors serving on corporate boards, has been of tremendous benefit to telecom leaders across the south. He has served on the FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (as a member of the Competitive Access to Broadband Infrastructure Working Group). From long-range planning and strategic visioning to financial optimization and adaptation of regulatory models, George consistently exhibits his passion for helping independent telcos thrive in a rapidly changing marketplace. His vision, energy, and passion for his clients’ success are made manifest in his interest and involvement in every aspect of professional consulting services that PEC provides to its many clients across the country.

Chris Roland, PE

Chief Operations Officer & Board Chair

Chris is a 1989 Electrical Engineering graduate from the University of South Carolina and has been practicing telecommunications engineering for over twenty-five years. He is the Chairman of PEC’s Board of Directors and COO and serves as Senior Vice President of the Central Office and Networks Department for the firm. Chris is a licensed Professional Engineer, carrying licenses in 14 states. He recently completed a two-year term where he served as President of the prestigious Association of Communications Engineers. He is well known throughout the industry for his nationwide project footprint and for the national forums he presents across the country.

Although Chris has practiced in all aspects of telecommunications engineering and many facets of electrical power engineering, he particularly enjoys the technical audits of equipment for AC & DC powering issues, grounding, and troubleshooting of transient issues. He also excels at providing specifications for a wide range of electronic equipment, performing analysis and mitigation reports, and doing network planning, design, and system modeling. These are all areas where Chris excels in helping PEC’s client base. His 25+ years working with telecom central office equipment makes Chris our most experienced and valuable engineer in these areas of specialty.

Scott Hall

President, CFO

Scott joined PEC in October 2009, specifically as the Director of Farmer’s Telephone Operations. He currently serves the firm as CFO and overall company President. In this role, he touches all telecommunications projects and the associated contracts and personnel associated with overall corporate operations. Prior to PEC, Scott began his telecommunications career in 1991 working with Design South Professionals. Rising through the ranks, he was assigned as Project Manager for one of the company’s major clients.

Scott's business degree, deep understanding of private practice consulting, and familiarity with the firm's clientele uniquely qualify him to lead the company in all areas of operations.

Howard Gorter, PE

Chief Technology Officer & Board Secretary

Howard has more than seventeen years of experience providing engineering design & consulting services for the telecommunications industry.

As PEC's Chief Technology Officer, Howard leads engineering design and consultation, GIS & CAD operations, IT systems, and technical operations for the company providing: feasibility studies, project planning, loan and grant applications, equipment contracts, engineering, project management, and implementation for telecommunications and utility projects.

Howard's specialties include problem analysis, technology review, network design, multiple project management, program management, loan and grant writing, and team coordination. Mr. Gorter practices in a variety of technology areas including Packet-Optical Transport (P-OTS), DWDM, Carrier Ethernet, MPLS/IP Routers, Access (FTTH/DSL), IPTV Systems, CLASS 5 Switching, and VoIP Systems.

Howard is a licensed Professional Engineer, carrying licenses in seventeen states, an amateur radio operator, and has previously been a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).

Jeff Little

Sr. VP OSP Texas Operations

Jeff has worked in the telephone industry for over 21 years. Before joining the PEC team, he held various positions at Midland Group, Advanced Fiber Communications, and Consolidated Communications. Jeff’s primary focus has been designing and implementing wireless, power, transport, data, BLC, video, and switching networks. His experience as an end-user, equipment vendor, and consulting engineer has translated into significant efficiencies and savings for his clients. Jeff has a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Technology and General Business from Stephen F. Austin State University. He’s a veteran of the USAF, receiving his honorable discharge in 1996. Jeff and his wife Kim have been married for 24 years. They have five children and live in Lufkin, Texas.

David Webb

Sr. VP - OSP Operations - Central Division

A devoted father of 2 daughters (Presli, 13, and Parker, 5) and husband of 15 years to Lori, David began his telephony career in 1997. In 22+ years, he has worked as a consultant with an ILEC as Engineering and Operations Manager, specializing in OSP design and engineering, construction, and project management, and has managed projects ranging from loan designs, CLEC and ILEC FTTH/FTTN builds, cut-over services, project management, right-of-way procurement, construction contracts and oversight, road moves, and transport and long-haul fiber builds.

Areas where David excels include RUS loan design, contracts and specifications, FTTH design, engineering, and implementation. Staying abreast of the newest technologies helps him maximize client profits and long-term viability. Team-building and project management are his more specialized skills.

Jared James

Sr. VP, OSP Services - Special Projects

Jared started his OSP engineering career in September 1996 at Design South Professionals in Anderson, SC. For the past 22 plus years, Jared has worked on projects with multiple CLEC/ILEC clients as Engineering and Operations Manager, specializing in OSP design and engineering, construction, and project management. Jared’s understanding of underground and aerial engineering and construction is what truly adds value to the company.

Jared is V.P. of Special Projects for Palmetto Engineering. He manages CLEC and ILEC FTTH/FTTN/FTTP builds and launches projects for PEC in multiple states, including SC, NC, AL, MS, and TN. He is responsible for operational oversight for fiber design, construction, and engineering for projects as small as 10 miles to larger than 100 miles of FTTH.

Jared has an advanced understanding of OSP engineering, an ability to grasp complex engineering concepts, an understanding of the function of the telecom industry and the ability to break down advanced concepts into terms co-workers can quickly understand. His other essential skills include problem-solving, critical thinking, system analysis, and operations management.