Bill Carlson’s career spanned nearly five decades as a wireless infrastructure trailblazer providing tower construction, service and maintenance in the United States and around the globe. Since 1975, he has owned and operated Tower Systems Inc. In 1995, Mr. Carlson demonstrated foresight and leadership in bringing together an initial group of 60 tower contractors to establish the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE), a non-profit association that provides uniform safety standards, improved communications, and a unified voice for the tower industry. NATE has become recognized as the leader in telecommunications construction procedures and practices. Carlson was also instrumental in establishing the NATE/OSHA Regional and National Partnerships which has led to site safety audits at thousands of towers, identification and abatement of hundreds of hazards, and the training of thousands of tower technicians. In 2014, he was the initial recipient of the NATE Lifetime Service Award, which has been named the Bill Carlson Lifetime Service Award in his honor.
Bill Carlson passed away on March 25, 2019.