The Connected Communities industry is where technology can be highly tailored, transforming internet into a premium amenity that becomes a sought-after, competitive feature as well as a financial modeling figure. Starting with residential developers, builders, investors and portfolio managers, every community has a new blueprint, new vision, and new inkling of the growing technology expectations of consumers.
In early 2026, Quantum Fiber was acquired by AT&T. This article highlights three experienced Connected Communities leaders driving the Quantum Fiber from AT&T business forward:
Carol Calvert, a Colorado-based sales enablement program manager who supports the Connected Communities operational systems and processes; Jamie Powers, a Minneapolis-based senior sales planning manager who helps clients understand ancillary tailored service options and make informed decisions; and Cynthia Rodriguez a Louisiana-based senior marketing manager, who is in tune to both client and resident journeys, supporting new advancements and digital transformations by translating complex fiber solutions and technologies into clear advantages.
What do these respected—and successful—professionals have in common? Despite that they come from different geographies, academic disciplines, and walks of life, they love problem solving and can build a team of experts to support an initiative. The more complex, the more the reward as they work across teams to bring fiber connectivity to the communities they serve. Each possesses grit, curiosity, attention to detail, and a passionate desire to advance the company operationally, financially, and culturally. Their convergence of skills, experience, and can-do attitudes have helped shape Quantum Fiber as an industry leader.
Working together as change agents
Quantum Fiber® from AT&T is vision-driven: expanding digital access and delivering robust connectivity solutions with a talented, committed team. Just as important, the culture is genuinely collegial, where peers make a point of getting to know and supporting one another.
“Implementing new systems is the most challenging part of my role. But in general, defining something as ‘challenging’ when dealing with continual paths to improvements or addressing issues that arise is hard for me to use because we have such great teams. When you reach out, folks rally around to get solutions in place,” explains Calvert.
A growing need to support clients by customizing their small business services within the property led Powers to her current role. “There were no footsteps to follow, no roadmap, it’s about finding ways to align with many internal teams to establish new goals and maintain the momentum.” When the biggest challenges become success stories, Jamie attributes that to clear communication, influence and bringing the right stakeholders together.
“I love the collaborative nature of marketing—connecting the dots from how technology and solutions work, to how we want to position it, and to help make sure a trial or launch experience is smooth for our customers and internal teams,” Rodriguez says. The reality is it can take a month of coordination to do it right. “I help build the customer-friendly journey at every layer—clear instructions, illustrations, videos and also sales benefit statements, and articles with our subject matter experts,” she adds.
The many paths to Quantum Fiber leadership
Carol Calvert
Calvert’s childhood dream was to be an astronaut. To prepare, she studied engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder but then came the Challenger tragedy. Along with many others who once dreamed of getting into outer space, Calvert changed her plans.
Calvert entered the chaos of the telecom industry at that time, with its non-stop M&As, purchases, spinoffs, and a bewildering array of new entries and brands. She worked first at PrimeStar, which was soon acquired by DirecTV. Calvert moved on but stayed in the industry through all this volatility, picking up skills and experience that would benefit her enormously in her later career.
“I may not be on a rocket to Mars, but I'm in an area that is evolving all the time,” says Calvert. She compares working in this industry to being an astronaut. “You have to be ready to change, sometimes on the fly, like what you would have to do in space.”
Carol Calvert: (left) Dog Sledding in Alaska (right) at Madri Gras with her family.
Jamie Powers
“I didn't choose this industry. I was born into it,” says Powers. Both her parents had spent their careers at CenturyLink (now a Lumen Technologies brand) through its many iterations. “In fact, they met there. Seeing them advance in the industry and sharing their knowledge and experience with me helped me immensely,” she says.
Powers didn’t have clear career plans when she earned her Associate in Arts degree from North Hennepin Community College, in Minneapolis. After college, she took job as a fiber splicer—manually splicing them—in the factory where her father worked. “I didn’t particularly like it,” she says. “It was very complex, very hands-on work, and required a lot of sophisticated skills.”
As it turned out, the job was a blessing in disguise. “I had no idea that my first job would give me skills I would use for the rest of my career,” says Powers. “Today, I take a lot of pride in those early work years.”
After three years splitting fiber, Powers rapidly rose through the ranks at CenturyLink. From project coordinator for new residential markets to field engineer, then sales engineer, and to her current position as a member of the sales management team. Each promotion was built on her previous successes.
Jamie Powers: (left) with her family (right) her two children enjoying time at the family cabin.
Cynthia Rodriguez
Rodriguez took a shorter route to her current role as a senior marketing professional. “I took my first marketing class at the University of Colorado and was ‘completely sold’ on my career path.” Initially working at an advertising agency, her clients included home builders, universities, casinos, car dealerships, and a variety of businesses. Then, she was given the opportunity to support the grant and contract operations at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. “I was surrounded by brilliant people who deeply want to advance or understand our world,” she says, “and it inspired me to earn a master’s degree in research administration.”
Through her work at the university, she got to know senior administrators at CenturyLink, headquartered in Monroe. Impressed with Rodriguez’s performance and work ethic, they offered her a career, back in her first love: marketing. “I do sometimes miss the world of academic grants and working with professors, but getting involved in technology has been immensely rewarding,” she says.
The workdays are full, but Rodriguez values making an impact in the workplace and in the community. “I like to coordinate volunteer shifts to walk shelter dogs, and help local non-profits with outreach events”, she shares. “I have really enjoyed volunteering alongside my peers. It’s also a good way to connect with co-workers when you work in a large company.”
Cynthia Rodriguez: (left) with her extended family (top right) playing pickleball with a friend (bottom right) promoting a local non-profit Dragon Boat Festival.
Advice for young people entering into a dynamic industry today
All the women agreed: New entries to the market should prepare for continuous change. “The future is change,” says Calvert.
Powers also emphasize flexibility and openness. “Stay curious, be adaptable, and focus on learning rather than trying to have all the answers all the time,” she says. “Especially don’t shy away from difficult challenges because they will propel you further than you ever imagined,” she added.
“And although you’ll be very cognizant of all you don’t know, also be confident of what you do know,” says Rodriguez. “Anybody can become a leader. They don’t need the title. Anyone who has their colleagues’ interests in mind and sets positive goals for the company has the power to change the trajectory of the entire workplace.”
Meet More Leaders in Tech:
Tech Leaders: The Prize Project Managers of Quantum Fiber
Contact a Quantum Fiber Connected Communities expert to learn about connectivity solutions tailored to your multifamily community
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