Cablefax The Magazine May 2022 - 37

24
WELL CONNECTED
Mike Bowker
COO
Cable One
Years at Current Organization: 23
First Job in the Industry: National Sales Manager, TCI
Bucket List: Travel the world
Bowker keeps the Cable One family of companies running smoothly while serving as
a strong leader for more than 3,600 associates across 24 states. The company posted
record broadband growth in the past year and has done its part, under Bowker's guidance,
to help connect others through the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program and
now the Affordable Connectivity Program. Cable One's Sparklight brand was named
third in the nation on PC Magazine's list of the top 10 Fastest Internet Service Providers
of 2021, while Sparklight Business was named a top Business Choice Internet Service
Provider by the magazine. Bowker is also a strong force outside of Cable One, advocating
on behalf of ISP and cable operators at the state and national level in his role as
ACA Connects vice chair.
What's your Wordle strategy?
Vowels first
Band I'd go see live: The Revivalists
Your YouTube rabbit hole? Live
music videos
Q&A
My prediction for NFTs... Massive
proliferation followed by consolidation.
Favorite dish that I can also make myself:
Smoked salmon ■
THE LAST LAUGH
24
Byron Allen
Founder, Chairman & CEO
Allen Media Group
Years at Current Organization: 29
First Job in the Industry: Comedy
writer/standup comedian (started
at age 14)
Bucket List: Staying home and
reading more
As a child in the '70s, Allen would
hang around the NBC Studios in
Burbank during summers while his
mother worked there as a tour guide
and network publicist. He developed a
friendship with Johnny Carson, which
lead to his eventually being booked as the youngest comedian to perform on
" The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. " Though his start may have been in
comedy, Allen is serious about promoting economic inclusion for Black-owned
businesses in America. His initiatives have prompted companies like Target,
General Mills, and L'Oréal to commit at least 2% of ad dollars to Black-owned
media companies. His Allen Media Group continues to ascend. The past
year saw numerous successes, including Weather Channel advances and
the launch of TheGrio.tv, a broadcast TV network and digital streaming app
targeting African-American viewers.
What does the metaverse mean to you? We will
never stop learning and evolving.
Q&A
What's your Wordle strategy? Let others play it
and tell me about it.
How many companies have you worked for? 1
Boredom buster? Listening to music while working out
How will inflation impact the media and broadband space?
Consumers will depend more on broadband and the demand
for affordable content will continue to be insatiable.
Band I'd go see live: Bruno Mars
What will it take to see a seismic shift away from linear television
for sports? $250 billion
Your YouTube rabbit hole? Music videos
What childhood memento have you kept? The sport jacket I
wore for my first appearance-as a standup comedian
at the age of 18-on " The Tonight Show with Johnny
Carson. "
Favorite dish that I can also make myself: Toast
Has the telco rollout of 5G wireless in North America
impacted your business? Yes, because our company
has a significant investment in direct-to-consumer
digital platforms.
What household chore could you win a gold medal
in? Cleaning up after my kids
If my company had a mascot, it would be: My
German Shepherd ■
cablefaxmag.com
May 2022
TOP POWER
PLAYERS
37

http://www.TheGrio.tv http://www.cablefaxmag.com

Cablefax The Magazine May 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cablefax The Magazine May 2022