About
Building, Powering, and Maintaining North America’s Digital Infrastructure.
UniTek Global Services is a proven telecom construction partner, delivering end-to-end fiber and broadband construction solutions coast-to-coast.
As one accountable partner, we carry the work from aerial and underground construction to drops, splicing, and final network validation, from start to finish.
Through our five specialized divisions and a network of 60+ office and yard locations across the United States and Canada, UniTek executes projects of all sizes and scopes to support:
- Backhaul deployment for hyperscalers and infrastructure providers
- Large-scale rural fiber construction
- Multi-state FTTH rollouts
- Cross-border infrastructure builds
- And everything in between.
We’ve built our reputation one project at a time, with craftsmanship, accountability, and field-proven leaders.
“Great organizations are built by getting the right people on the bus. This philosophy guides how we build UniTek — investing in strong leadership and exceptional talent to drive lasting client success and sustainable growth.”
—Charlie Smith, CEO, UniTek Global Services
Built in the Field
UniTek was shaped in the field, not in the boardroom. The way we build teams, approach projects, and stay accountable comes from real-world experience, not theory.
Today, UniTek operates as one of the nation’s fastest-growing privately held broadband infrastructure companies, with the scale to execute national builds across the U.S. and Canada, the regional depth to execute them well, and a leadership team that has been doing this work for decades.
Led by People Who’ve Done the Work.
UniTek’s leadership brings decades of real-world telecom experience, combining executive oversight with field-tested knowledge that shapes every decision.
Our executive team has collectively led some of the largest and most complex fiber infrastructure programs in North America, bringing depth of experience to every strategic decision, every client relationship, and every quality standard.
Safety
is our top priority, championed by our leadership and upheld every day by the teams in the field.
Quality
benchmarks are defined by people who have seen what happens when they slip.
Execution
discipline is reinforced by leaders who understand exactly what it takes to deliver builds of any size, supporting our clients as they serve their customers.
Meet Our Executive Team
UniTek’s executive leadership is built on experience, but it’s defined by how that experience is used. This is a team that understands the industry from the ground up; they’ve worked in the field, led crews, managed complex builds, and carried responsibility for outcomes that matter.
Just as important, this team understands that strong execution comes from strong people. At UniTek, leadership is not concentrated at the top. It is developed, supported, and expected across the organization. Our executives invest in the people doing the work, building teams that are equipped, accountable, and trusted to perform. They prioritize training, mentorship, and real-world development because they know the quality of the work depends on the strength of the workforce behind it.
This approach creates a culture where leadership is not just a title, it is something that is built and carried forward at every level of the company. The result is an organization led by people who know the work, respect the people doing it, and are committed to building both.
Charlie Smith, Chief Executive Officer
With more than 45 years of experience shaping the telecommunications infrastructure services industry, Mr. Smith has built a career defined by innovation, leadership, and results. As a founding investor of SDT, he assumed the role of CEO in 1999 and continued to lead the company after it became a division of UniTek in 2018.
Throughout his tenure, Mr. Smith has guided the company’s transformation into a leading telecom engineering and construction provider, delivering reliable, high-quality solutions across the southeastern and south-central United States. His deep expertise in telecommunications engineering and construction, combined with a relentless focus on operational excellence, has positioned the company as a trusted partner to clients navigating complex deployments.
Under his leadership, UniTek has successfully expanded its footprint across the United States and integrated its presence into Canada, setting new standards for quality, safety, and innovation in telecommunications infrastructure. Mr. Smith continues to drive the company forward, leveraging decades of experience and strategic insight to deliver exceptional results for clients and partners alike.
Derek Hutchins, Chief Operating Officer
Derek Hutchins brings over 25 years of expansive experience in the telecommunications industry, combining operational expertise with strategic vision. He began his career with Vermeer Corporation before founding Hutchins Telecom in 2007. Following its acquisition by UniTek in 2018, he served as president until 2022 and now leads as Chief Operating Officer, driving productivity and operational excellence across the organization.
Hutchins leverages his extensive knowledge in outside plant construction and telecommunications operations to grow UniTek’s service portfolio while delivering innovative solutions to clients nationwide. His leadership is informed by prior experience as Vice President of Government Services, including managing military fiber programs such as NMCI and CITS, and collaborating with major partners including General Dynamics.
Under Hutchins’ guidance, UniTek has successfully expanded across the United States and continued its growth in Canada, while diversifying services and broadening its customer base. His vision and operational insight have been key to strengthening the company’s ability to deliver high-quality, scalable solutions, ensuring UniTek remains a trusted leader in the telecommunications infrastructure industry.
Austin Shanfelter, Executive Chairman
Austin Shanfelter brings decades of leadership experience in the telecommunications, power, and specialty construction industries, providing strategic guidance and expertise to Unitek’s executive team. He was appointed Executive Chairman in August 2021 and currently serves as an advisor to the company.
Previously, Mr. Shanfelter served as CEO and President of MasTec, a Fortune 500 infrastructure engineering and construction company, and has been active in the industry since 1981. He also serves as Chairman of the Board for Orion Group Holdings, a marine engineering and construction firm, and has been a member of its Board of Directors since 2007.
With his extensive industry knowledge and leadership experience, Mr. Shanfelter plays a critical role in guiding UniTek’s strategic direction, supporting continued growth, operational excellence, and the company’s position as a trusted leader in telecommunications and infrastructure services across the United States and Canada.
Execution
This is where projects succeed or fall apart. UniTek brings the crews, coordination, and structure needed to keep work moving from start to finish without gaps or delays.
Coast-to-Coast Reach & Local Execution. Zero Compromise.
UniTek is positioned to deliver across a North American footprint with the resource depth and localized teams needed to execute complex builds with the oversight, control, and accountability they demand.
Five specialized divisions form the foundation of our operating model, each driven by hands-on leadership, proven crews, and deep regional familiarity. These divisions aren’t regional franchises, they are fully integrated parts of a single operational team, unified under the same safety, quality, and reporting expectations.
What that means for your project:
Rapid Mobilization
Rapid Mobilization
With 60+ office and yard locations across the U.S. and Canada, UniTek can mobilize crews quickly, whether your build spans a single market or multiple states. We don’t scramble to staff up; we already have the people, the equipment, and the regional relationships in place.
Regional Knowledge
Regional Knowledge
Local crews bring local knowledge. With strong utility relationships, permitting familiarity, and terrain experience, they help reduce field surprises and keep construction moving.
Centralized Standards
Centralized Standards
Every division operates under the same safety culture, quality standards, and operational processes. Regardless of which UniTek team is on your project, you get the same non-negotiable commitment to safe, precise, accountable execution.
Cross-Border Capability
Cross-Border Capability
With operations in both the United States and Canada, UniTek delivers cross-border fiber builds as a seamless operational capability. One partner, one set of standards, on both sides of the border.
UniTek Delivers:
Single-market and regional fiber builds
Rural broadband deployments and federally funded initiatives
Multi-state and national network projects
Backhaul and longhaul deployment for hyperscalers and infrastructure providers
Cross-border U.S. and Canadian infrastructure
Long-term maintenance and network operations partnerships
Safety & Standards
At UniTek, safety and quality are built into the work. Every crew, every project, and every phase operates under the same clear standards.
Recognized. Validated. Trusted.
UniTek’s industry recognitions, association memberships, and certifications reflect how we work every day. They’re earned through hands-on execution to the standards they represent, not just requirements on paper.
Industry Associations & Memberships
UniTek Global Services is an active member of state and national associations that support telecommunications, internet service providers, electric cooperatives, and related industries. These connections help ensure our teams stay aligned with evolving standards, regulations, and best practices that directly impact project execution and the clients we serve.
Workplace
Recognition
UniTek’s 2025 Certified Amazing Workplace recognition is based on direct employee feedback across the organization. This recognition is the result of building a company where people want to stay, contribute, and do the work right.
Safety & Compliance Credentials
These standards protect people, reduce risk, and bring consistency to how work gets done. The result is stronger execution in the field and fewer issues along the way. At UniTek, safety and compliance standards form the foundation of every build.
Proven Performance: Why UniTek
Results matter. UniTek delivers consistent production at scale, backed by real numbers, industry recognition, and repeat client partnerships.
One partner. Full accountability. Proven execution at scale.
Clients choose UniTek when the work needs to move without delays, gaps, or confusion. Too many projects slow down under multiple vendors, unclear ownership, and missed handoffs. We bring it all together under one accountable team, so work stays on track, problems get solved, and timelines hold.
Ready to Build Something That Lasts? So Are We.
Whether you’re evaluating UniTek for a large-scale fiber project, a complex regional build, or a long-term infrastructure partnership, we’re ready to have that conversation. Tell us about your project, we’ll put the right team on it.
