Shentel partners with Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Posted 5 November 2014 12:00 AM by Cindy Earehart Rinker
Shentel is proud to announce today at the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association Conference that Shentel has become the official telecommunications provider of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, the second-largest multi-sport NCAA Division III conference in the country.
“We are genuinely excited about our relationship with the Old Dominion Athletic Conference,” said Tom Whitaker, Vice President – Shentel Cable. “The schools and communities that make up the conference look a lot like the communities we serve in rural Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Our vision at Shentel is to provide our communities with telecommunications services that are the same as the services found in America’s largest cities.”
Brad Bankston, ODAC Commissioner, is excited about the partnership, as well. “We think this is a great match,” he said. “Shentel has been around more than 100 years and has an amazing, successful story to tell and we can help them do that through this partnership. And with their support, we can continue the important work of the ODAC – providing an exceptional student-athlete experience in all 24 sports we sponsor.”
Currently, Shentel provides service to two ODAC-member schools, as well as the ODAC headquarters in Forest, VA. “Our fiber optic network passes through many of the cities and towns that host ODAC colleges and universities,” Whitaker continued. “Our employees and customers live and work in the same communities as ODAC students, educators, employees and administrators. We certainly share a common community of interest.”
For its part of the four-year commitment, Shentel will have a presence at the conference’s championship games as well as other opportunities. The partnership is viewed by both organizations as an opportunity to grow their influence and visibility.
“We look forward to working with Brad (Bankston) and his staff,” said Whitaker. “Our first championship event, the ODAC Swimming Championship, is just a few month away in early February.”