September 20, 2022
Knoxville, TN – On Trac, Inc., a national broadband fulfillment services company, today announced that Mike Hill, Chief Executive Officer, and co-founder, has sold his shares of the company and will be stepping down as CEO. Hill will remain with the company as a Senior Consultant and will provide consultation to the Executive Team and will help on special projects as needed.
Mike Hill has defined his career and life with hard work and acts of service. This humble model ultimately positioned Mike in key leadership posts again and again throughout his life.
Mike’s first job was in 1959 at the age of 9 years old. He worked to pay back a loan his Granny co-signed for at the hardware store so he could purchase his first lawn mower for work. The lawn services of mowing, hand clipping, and raking were followed by a job making mortar in the summer of 1961. From there Mike worked as a short order cook and curb hop at Dog and Suds restaurant in Bristol, VA. Upward mobility moved Mike to a shoeshine stand at a two-chair barbershop where he was introduced to “production” at the rate of “$0.25 per shine.”
As Mike moved into high school and became a young adult he worked at West State Shell, a full-service gas station, where he pumped gas, changed oil, and serviced cars. Mike says, “The local owner/operator, Robert Cowan, Jr., had a tremendous influence on me. He exemplified how to build great employee relationships, never asking anything to be done that he was not willing to do himself.” This arena was the venue that introduced Mike to telecommunications as he serviced trucks for Sammons Communications, a cable television operator.
Mike began a 30-year career with Sammons in 1969 as a lineman and service technician and ultimately had responsibility for operations all over the United States from their Corporate office in Dallas, TX. After Sammons Communications sold in 1995, Mike went to work for Atrex, Inc., a telecommunications contracting firm based in Florida.
The last 20 years of Mike Hill’s career were co-founding On Trac, Inc. and serving as its CEO and fulfilling key leadership roles in the Fiber Broadband Association (formerly Fiber-to-the-Home Council). Mike was first elected to the Board in 2006 and faithfully served in that role for 14 years, being the longest tenured board member in the history of the Association. His experiences as a Board member included chairing the annual conference in 2007 and 2010 and being chosen by the Board to serve as Chairman in 2008, 2011, and 2016. During his tenure on the Board, he was the recipient of the Photon Award in 2014 and the Chairman’s Award in 2018. Mike will also continue to serve on the Senior Council Committee with the Association.
Ultimately Mike stands for getting things done the right way and never forgetting people along the way. He has served his family, church, and friends with great loyalty. Mike realizes “without God’s blessing on my life, I would be nothing. Any success, glory or honor all goes to Christ.”