The Wireless History Foundation (WHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed to preserve and promote the history of the wireless industry. Wireless products and services are continually and dramatically changing the way people worldwide live, work and play. The Foundation was formed by wireless pioneers to preserve the lessons of wireless for the benefit of future entrepreneurs and innovators.

With the assistance of partner organizations and sponsors, WHF was launched on October 13, 2008, the anniversary of the official commercialization of cellular technology in the United States. The kick-off event was held exactly 25 years after the first cellular system opened for business in Chicago. The festivities attracted wireless pioneers and industry luminaries from the past five decades.

WHF chronicles the achievements of individuals, the contributions of numerous organizations, and the evolution of markets and technology, all of which fueled the growth of wireless communications and continue to add convenience, productivity, and enrichment to everyday life.

The Wireless History Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on chronicling the evolution of markets and technology, the contributions of numerous organizations, and the achievements of individuals, all of which fueled the growth of wireless communications in the United States and continue to expand the benefits of wireless services and products to society today.

The goals of the Wireless History Foundation are to:

• Connect – provide a forum for industry pioneers and participants to share experiences and expertise, and introduce a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators to the wireless community.
• Preserve – collect materials reflecting the progression of wireless over the years and document the stories of participants in the industry’s evolution.
• Educate – provide research and information on the development of wireless technologies and services, the people who advanced and deployed them, and the events that shaped the growth of the wireless industry.
• Projects of the Wireless History Foundation include:
  • the Wireless Hall of Fame Program
  • the Digital Archives Project
  • the Wireless Timeline
  • the Wireless History Foundation Scholarship Program

Bryan Darr – Mr. Darr is the Vice-President of Government Affairs at Ookla, spearheading the company’s programs for federal, state and local governments. He also leads Ookla’s advocacy efforts with lawmakers and policy organizations, promoting the value of crowdsourced intelligence to help with better data-driven decisioning.  Mr. Darr has spent most of his professional life in the wireless industry, beginning his career in cellular as a sales representative for Cellular One of Memphis in 1985. After discovering his customers were having difficulty traveling with their phones, he founded Mosaik in 1988 and began developing consumer roaming guides. In June 2018, Mosaik was acquired by Ookla. Mr. Darr has served on many industry committees during his career and currently serves on CTIA’s Smart Cities Steering Committee.

Ari Fitzgerald – Mr. Fitzgerald leads the Communications, Internet, and Media practice at the law firm, Hogan Lovells. He provides strategic, legal, and policy advice on a wide range of communications and spectrum policy issues to some of the world’s largest and most dynamic communications network operators and equipment manufacturers, as well as industry trade associations and investors. Before entering private law practice, Ari served as legal advisor to former FCC Chairman, William Kennard. In addition to the Wireless Hall of Fame, Ari serves on the board of directors of Crown Castle, as president of the Ellington Fund and as secretary of the Multicultural Media and Telecommunications Council. Mr. Fitzgerald was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2021.

Arlene Harris – Ms. Harris is President and Co-Founder of DYNA LLC She has over four decades of experience as an entrepreneur, board member, and investor in successful wireless-related businesses.  She has received numerous awards and recognition, including being named the first female inductee into the Wireless Hall of Fame. Ms. Harris was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2007.

Liz Maxfield – Ms. Maxfield served as Executive Director of the Foundation from 2010 to 2017. She previously served as CTIA Senior Vice President from 1984 to 1998. She founded CIBERNET, CTIA’s subsidiary for financial settlements, and served as its first President. Prior to CTIA, she worked as an attorney for the FCC and in private practice with a communications law firm. She has served as an advisor to the University of Texas Austin Technology Incubator, and as an advisory board member of the University of Oklahoma Wireless EMC Center. Ms. Maxfield was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2018.

Rob Mechaley – Mr. Mechaley is an industry pioneer and veteran telecommunications/wireless technologist, inventor and entrepreneur. His involvement in wireless began when he earned his first amateur radio license at age 11. An early member of the McCaw Cellular executive team, Mr. Mechaley founded Radioframe Networks, and co-founded Clearwire and Mobilesphere.  He has more than 60 patents or patents pending. Mr. Mechaley was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2023.

Larry Movshin – Mr. Movshin has more than 40 years of experience representing the communications interests of system licensees, major equipment manufacturers, trade associations and private users. He has held several leadership roles in the Federal Communications Bar Association, as well as the FCBA’s charitable and educational foundation.  He has been recognized by his peers through top ratings in Best Lawyers in America and Washington DC Super Lawyers. He was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2015.

John Janowiak – Mr. Janowiak serves as President and CEO for the Wireless History Foundation. He is a global executive who has spent more than four decades building and scaling educational programs, associations, and initiatives that connect industry, government, and academia. Mr. Janowiak has organized major academic and industry conferences worldwide, launched executive and corporate advisory councils, and cultivated partnerships with over 250 member institutions. His leadership emphasizes practical collaboration, policy engagement, and scalable educational solutions that bring technological opportunity to broader communities.

The Wireless History Foundation Executive Advisory Council (EAC) is comprised of individuals selected by the Wireless History Foundation who are recognized as innovators, thought leaders, trailblazers, entrepreneurs and influencers who are actively working to improve and innovate the wireless industry. The EAC has made an impact in areas like infrastructure, technology, engineering, marketing, hardware, messaging, content, policy, finance and advocacy.

Tim Donovan, CCA – Mr. Donovan serves as the President and CEO of the Competitive Carriers Association, Tim leads a team of dedicated professionals who advocate for the interests of competitive carriers across the United States. Tim’s mission is to ensure that the voice of competitive carriers is heard and respected by policymakers and regulators. Tim works closely with members, stakeholders, and partners to advance policies that promote competition, innovation, and consumer choice while supporting ubiquitous connectivity.

Patrick Halley, Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) – Mr. Halley serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA). WIA represents over 140 companies that develop, build, own and operate the nation’s wireless infrastructure and is the leading authority on all things wireless. Mr. Halley joined WIA in August of 2022. Prior to joining the association, he was the Senior Vice President of Policy & Advocacy and General Counsel at USTelecom – The Broadband Association. There he led the association’s policy development and advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, and the states. He also served as an officer of the Industry Traceback Group, LLC, an organization that traces, sources, and ultimately works to prevent illegal robocalls.

Campbell Massie, GSMA – Ms. Massie serves as Director of Public Policy for GSMA’s North America region. Located in Atlanta, she is focused on telecommunications policy and outreach in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

Prior to joining the GSMA, Campbell managed corporate communications for AT&T’s Internet of Things and Prepaid business groups and worked in public affairs for CTIA in Washington DC.

Campbell is a graduate of the University of Missouri with degrees in Journalism (Strategic Communications) and Arts (Sociology, minor: Political Science). She also holds an MBA (Strategy & Innovation) from Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business.

Todd Schlekeway, NATE – Mr. Schlekeway became the Executive Director of NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association in June of 2012. He currently resides as the NATE President & CEO were he provides overall leadership and vision working in concert with the Association’s staff, Board of Directors, volunteer Standing Committees and over 900 member companies.
Prior to joining NATE, Todd worked for seven years as the founder and principal of a public affairs and communications firm called Full Court Strategies Group, LLC. Todd also has extensive policy experience having served for two-terms in South Dakota’s state legislature where he represented a Sioux Falls, South Dakota legislative district in both the State House and the State Senate.

TJ Thinakaran, CasselRoad – Mr. Thinakaran serves as Principal Product Manager at ID.me, where he focuses on devices, phone numbers, and the network trust signals used to support secure digital identity at scale. His work centers on translating these signals into platform level systems and APIs that enable trusted, intuitive, and fraud resistant authentication.

Prior to joining ID.me, TJ founded CasselRoad Consulting, where he worked with growth stage and public companies on product strategy, go to market execution, buy side M&A, and navigating regulated communications markets. His consulting work spanned messaging, telecom, and identity infrastructure, with a focus on aligning product design, policy, and commercial scale. Earlier in his career, he co-founded EZ Texting, one of the early self serve business messaging platforms.

Bryan Tramont, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP – Mr. Wilkinson is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top media and communications lawyers. A relentless advocate, Bryan is sought after by clients ranging from Fortune 50 companies to innovative startups for his exceptional understanding of spectrum management, transactions and strategic advocacy before multiple regulatory agencies. His commitment to excellence brings both loyal clients and leading industry honors.

Bryan’s years as Chief of Staff at the Federal Communications Commission under Chairman Michael Powell, along with his earlier work at the agency and beyond, give him a profound understanding of the often complex legal, political and regulatory environments where his clients operate. His keen instincts for achieving results have been honed at the center of the industry.

In addition to his role as Managing Partner, Bryan also leads the strategy and implementation of WBK’s award-winning communications, media and technology team, and directs client management and development.

Linda Lievens – Ms. Lievens serves as a Program Director for the Wireless History Foundation and has been with the WHF since 2010. In the early 1990s, she was program manager of the Entrepreneur of the Year program for the Austin office of Ernst & Young, headed up Austin’s E&Y Olympic Job Opportunities Program, and represented Ernst & Young with the Austin Chamber of Commerce. She received her education at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Ms. Lievens also has extensive volunteer experience with civic and educational organizations.

Michelle Klein – Ms. Klein serves as Vice President, Operations for the Wireless History Foundation. Ms. Klein has a long history of leadership and management in the nonprofit sector, with over two decades of experience supporting mission-driven organizations. Throughout her career, Ms. Klein has supported organizational growth, program expansion, and stronger systems across the nonprofits she has served.

Flora Tromelin – Ms. Tromelin serves as Executive Vice President, Strategic Engagement for the Wireless History Foundation. She is a seasoned government and diplomacy professional with more than two decades of experience leading strategic initiatives, public affairs programs, and trade-related engagement across the United States and Europe. Her career includes distinguished service as Chief of Protocol to the U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco, where she advised senior leadership and directed diplomatic events that strengthened international cooperation. She brings a strong record of building bridges between government, industry, and community organizations, guiding high-level stakeholder engagement for nonprofit, public, and private-sector partners.

Jaymee Bohannon – Ms. Bohannon serves as Program Manager for the Wireless History Foundation. Ms. Bohannon has extensive experience supporting nonprofit organizations and key initiatives. She oversees executive relationships and program administration, ensuring initiatives run smoothly and deliver meaningful impact.

Yeimidy Lagunas – Ms. Lagunas serves as Marketing and Communications Director for the Wireless History Foundation. Ms. Lagunas leads outreach, engagement, and member relations. She brings a strong background in nonprofit communications and a passion for fostering innovation and community within the technology sector.