Michael Sullivan, General Manager – West
What’s your role at LSC, and what does a typical day look like for you?
My day starts early. I’m an old guy, so I don’t sleep in. First up is reviewing the day’s meetings, which could be with customers, municipalities, contractors, vendors and/or internal colleagues. Then, I go through and update design and production reports, and build out the status of all projects on a KMZ file. I’m a visual person, so this helps me stay on top of program and project health.
Once I’ve mapped out the day, I get some exercise, usually cycling. That early prep helps me anticipate issues before they become problems, and gives me options to address them proactively. Midday often involves field visits or meetings at customer sites. I work closely with our sales team on client recruitment and crafting solutions for prospective partners. Later in the day, I’m focused on putting out fires at the tactical level, improving systems at the operational level and making sure we’re staying aligned with our strategic goals.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about dark fiber?
Dark fiber has been misunderstood in the industry for almost as long as I’ve been in it. Back in my incumbent local exchange carrier days, the mindset was, “Why would we want to do that?” I even heard a CEO say, “We don’t want to be a dumb pipe company.” That company ended up filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Even now, many municipalities still struggle to fully grasp the value and implications of dark fiber deployments.
What’s something unique about working for LSC?
We maintain a total customer focus, every single day. We’re driven to deliver on our commitments, hit our schedules and maintain quality. Honest, transparent communication is key to building trust, and that’s how we truly connect with our customers.
If you weren’t in the telecoms industry, what would you be doing?
I’d probably have made a career in the military as a commissioned officer. When I was discharged, I was actually offered a direct commission in an engineering role. I had to seriously consider the opportunity, but ultimately decided to pursue this career instead. It’s been a challenging and rewarding experience.
If you could have dinner with any historical or famous figure, who would it be and why?
Jesus Christ. He’s the foundation of my faith, my character and my ethics. Without Him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’ve read about His time on Earth and heard countless sermons, but sitting down to dinner and having a real conversation would be truly extraordinary.
