Speakers

Lori (Sherwood) Adams currently serves as the Senior Director of Broadband Policy & Funding Strategy for Nokia and is a key member of the Nokia Government Affairs Americas Team. In her role, Adams is responsible for developing strategies and tools to enable increased company participation in state, federal, and international programs supporting infrastructure deployment by several of Nokia’s business organizations. Prior to joining Nokia, Adams served as the Director, Commercial and Market Development for Render Networks where she held multiple senior leadership roles including concentrating on digital innovation for the implementation of broadband networks across the globe. Adams is a highly skilled telecommunications attorney and senior executive with more than twenty years’ experience and a successful track record in the government and private sector. This includes extensive experience with business development, federal, state, and local telecommunications issues, legal and regulatory matters, grant funding, municipal broadband, strategic planning, project management for large complex projects, public policy, government affairs, lobbying and public speaking. Adams has a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from the American University and is an honors graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Mike Allison is Head of Government and Cities for Nokia North America. Mike is responsible for driving Smart Cities, fiber broadband networks and Nokia’s eco system of partners. Mike has extensive experience in advanced technologies including community broadband networks, Private wireless networks, 3rd party vendors and financing partners that put the total solution together for smart Cities. Mike has extensive experience with the State and Local Governments, Municipalities, Counties, Smart Grid Communications, education and the Federal Government. Working with cities and government, Mike is dedicated to helping drive adoption, economic development and enablers for communities to enhance public Safety, education, internet access to communities with a major focus on the underserved. 

Scott D. Woods is the Vice President for Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships for  Ready.net, where he facilitates and develops key public-private partnerships formed via the  Broadband.Money platform. He also focuses on providing a platform for local communities to express  their needs for broadband access and digital equity investments, as well as developing industry  partnerships, and fostering alliances with key stakeholders to advance and support community-based  broadband education and advocacy initiatives. 

In addition, Scott currently hosts the Ready.net podcast, Ready or Not? with Scott D. Woods, where he  shares his deep knowledge of the broadband industry while creating a platform that gives voice to local  ISPs and communities. He also co-hosts the new Office Hours podcast, providing industry information and  advice on grant applications and planning for new broadband projects exclusively on the  Broadband.Money digital community platform. 

Scott received his Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Morehouse College; Master of Arts in Public  Policy from American University; and Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law.