Smithville™

Darby McCarty

President

Darby is a proud fourth Generation leader at Smithville. She has experienced the evolution of the Telecom Industry first hand and understands the importance of technology in the economic development and success of rural America. Darby began her career at Smithville as a customer service rep before taking on roles in data processing and as an IT manager then moving to Vice President, and currently as President, CEO and Chairman.

Attended Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music and received Leadership Training from Indiana University and Purdue, Darby is a Tech Point Woman's Board Visionary and is a member of the US Telecom Leadership Committee as well as the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO). Getting behind local business, encouraging the success and longevity of community-based enterprises, Darby’s many commitments include her participation on the Redevelopment Commission for the city of Ellettsville.

Cullen McCarty

Vice President

Along with his present position as Vice President, Cullen has held the position of President of Smithville Digital and President of Smithville Telecom. Cullen’s responsibilities include the launch of our Internet service in 1996 and our optical networking division for Smithville Digital in 2004.

Cullen has recently been elected to the board of directors of the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO), taking on points of national telecom consumer purpose. He is a steadfast grassroots loyalist on insuring competitive quality Broadband for rural areas of the country.

Ed Pence

General Manager

Mr. Pence takes on the management position after serving as STC’s Director of Government Affairs, playing an instrumental role in the development and implementation of both STC’s fiber project and Smithville Digital business plans.

His main goal is to look at ways to improve and maximize STC’s key services as telecommunications becomes even more important in the daily lives of our customers — from work-from-home scenarios, expanding wireless opportunities to increasing the usability of broadband technologies.

Ed has more than 28 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. He is very familiar with it both technologically and as a value-added service. He has served several key leadership positions for the Illinois Telecommunications Association, the United States Telecom Association and now serves on two committees of the Indiana Telecommunications Association.

Bart K Bretsch

General Manager, Smithville Digital

Formerly Smithville Telephone Company’s Plant Superintendent, Bretsch was responsible for the design and project management of the new fiber optic network. He was also a key member of the team that developed and deployed STC’s fiber rings to expand our digital footprint from French Lick, IN, to Kokomo, IN, and he led our workforce in the deployment of high-speed broadband and ethernet technologies.

Bretsch has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and an MBA in Management from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. With 20 years of experience in the telecom industry, Bretsch has experience in outside plant engineering, construction and installation management, large business systems implementation and team leadership. He is also a licensed professional engineer (PE) in the State of Indiana.

Don Pittman, CPA

Vice President of Finance

Don’s experience in the telecommunications industry began in 1994. A member of the Texas Society of CPA’s and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Don is also extensively active in professional, humanitarian, and collegiate organizations in both membership and executive positions.

His BBA in Accounting from UT at Tyler and his MA from Louisiana Baptist University are only part of the education and depth he brings to our company.

Robert Phelps

Director of Marketing

After working in Marketing and Project Management for more than 25 years, Bob came to Smithville with a love for technology and how it can impact the lives of rural Americans. A graduate of Franklin College with an MBA in Management from the University of Indianapolis, Bob serves on a Fiber To the Home Marketing Committee and a Marketing Group for the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association.

Bob has been instrumental in the development of new products and services that meet the needs of our customers, including the expansion of Smithville Digital for all of southern Indiana. He is part of a “think tank” at Smithville that keeps us on the cutting edge.

Cassie R. Axsom

Customer Service Manager

Cassie has been with Smithville for 15 years, most of which she has spent in the Customer Service department. A long time Ellettsville resident, Cassie knows our customers well and is a trusted technology advisor. Cassie was proud to oversee the opening of the customer service center in Smithville's French Lick exchange.

She obtained her degree in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University while working full time; graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.95 GPA.