Robert McKenzie
Deming Center for Entrepreneurship
Since its inception in 1995 Mr. McKenzie has served on the Crown Castle International Board (NYSE: CCI) and is currently serving on its Strategy and Audit Committees. Mr. McKenzie helped establish and develop telecommunications and technology companies as an independent director and investor, including Vector ESP, Inc, an IT services company implementing server-based-computing applications; CO Space, a computer server co-location facilities company; Velocom, Inc., a provider of wireless telephone and Internet in Brazil; and Cordillera Communications, a mobile communications provider in the US, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile.
From 1990 to 1994, Mr. McKenzie was a founder, director, and President/COO of OneComm, Inc., a mobile wireless business communications provider. With the help of Centennial Ventures the company consolidated twenty six mobile radio operators; secured permission from the FCC to “cellularize” its spectrum, and implemented a digital wireless network prior to an IPO in 1994. Nextel purchased the company in late 1994 in its effort to offer a nationwide service. From 1980 to 1990, he held general management positions with Northern Telecom, Inc. and was responsible for the marketing and support of its Meridian Telephone Systems and Distributed Communications networks to businesses in markets in the Western United States. From 1969 to 1980 he held product and sales management positions with Memorex, Inc. which manufactured computer storage and communications systems for IBM mainframes. Mr. McKenzie began his career in 1966 with Eastman Kodak in its Business Systems Markets Division.
He served from 1984 to 2008 on the Executive Board of the graduate level Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program at Colorado University and currently serves on the Silicon Flatirons Advisory Board, and Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. He is an advisor to BrainWise a program established in 1995 to develop critical thinking and decision making skills in youth.
He resides in Boulder and Eagle, Colorado with his wife, Jo Ruder.
