WASHINGTON-PCIA, which re-invented itself from a carrier organization to a tower organization and held its first tower-specific trade show earlier this month, said Oct. 13 it had hired a new lobbyist and it tried to quell rumors-started at the show-that its chief executive officer is gravely ill.
Hired as a new lobbyist is Jay Keithley, formerly vice president of public affairs and federal regulatory affairs for Sprint Corp.
“Jay is a true industry professional who brings a wealth of carrier and wireless experience to this position. He is an incredible resource to our members and will further solidify PCIA as the advocacy and education leader for the wireless infrastructure and tower industry,” said PCIA President and CEO Jay Kitchen.
Kitchen was noticeably absent from the Hollywood, Fla., event earlier this month, but all of the concern about his health appears to have been for naught.
“He’s fine. There was a false positive on a test on which his doctors suggested he not travel. They were able to quickly to determine it was a medical error, and he was a given a clean bill of health,” said Rick Harris, PCIA senior director of marketing. “There is nothing wrong and no reason to have concern.”
