Wired for Growth
Leading the Charge in Broadband and Utility Innovation and Connection
Since joining Gresham Smith in 2021, Broadband and Electric Discipline Leader Greg Poston has been an essential force in expanding the firm’s broadband and electric utility disciplines throughout several states in the Southeast. With a telecommunications career spanning 38 years, Greg brings a wealth of experience and hands-on leadership to building fiber optic networks that connect communities.
Raised on a cattle and tobacco farm near Lebanon, Tennessee, Greg learned the importance of hard work and practical problem-solving from an early age. Reflecting on his upbringing, he explains, “Growing up on a farm taught me the value of long hours, self-sufficiency and the ability to think creatively to solve problems.” Those lessons remain a guiding influence on how he approaches his work today. Although his career moved into engineering and telecommunications, Greg still maintains a personal connection to his roots, owning the family farm while living in Franklin, Tennessee.
Greg’s professional path took shape in the 1980s when he decided to study electrical engineering at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville. Recognizing the growing role of computers, he saw electrical engineering as a valuable foundation. While in college, Greg seized a cooperative education opportunity with South Central Bell, which later became AT&T, laying the groundwork for a successful long-term career.
Throughout his 33 years with AT&T, Greg primarily worked as an outside plant engineer, designing and deploying communication networks using both copper and fiber optic technologies. He managed underground systems and right of way challenges, eventually taking on the role of Area Manager for Construction and Engineering in Middle Tennessee. In this capacity, he supervised more than 150 employees and led projects such as the rollout of 5G wireless technology and disaster recovery operations. Some of his most demanding experiences involved restoring services after the 2020 Nashville Christmas Day bombing and coordinating recovery following tornadoes and the 2010 Nashville flood. Greg recalls, “Those challenges cemented my belief that our work is not only about building networks but also about maintaining and restoring them precisely when communities need connection the most.”
When Greg joined Gresham Smith in May 2021 as a Transportation Manager, he quickly transitioned later that year into a leadership role in the Energy & Utility Infrastructure practice as Broadband Discipline Leader. He has since played a pivotal role in growing the broadband group across Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Kentucky, and other Southeastern states; the expanding client portfolio includes large providers, rural cooperatives, and municipalities. His 2025 promotion to Broadband and Electric Discipline Leader reflects his broader responsibilities leading multiple teams and guiding strategic business development.
To help others understand broadband infrastructure, Greg compares fiber optic cables to pipes that carry data, rather than water or gas, explaining that this data powers essential services such as internet, cellular networks and business communications. He also emphasizes the critical role rural electric cooperatives play in delivering broadband to underserved areas. According to Greg, these co-ops ensure high-speed connectivity in places where it was once cost prohibitive. Their work supports telemedicine, remote schooling, work-from-home opportunities, and overall community vitality.
For Greg, building client relationships is grounded in trust and understanding unique needs. He explains that Gresham Smith sees itself as an advocate for clients’ best interests, and success comes when clients trust the firm to manage and deliver their projects well. Looking ahead, he envisions continued growth by strengthening the Tennessee market while expanding multi-state collaborations that integrate broadband with other disciplines such as aviation and industrial engineering.
Broadband and utilities are among Gresham Smith’s fastest growing and most impactful fields, and Greg recognizes the ongoing need to educate both internal teams and clients about broadband’s essential and evolving role. “Broadband is no longer a luxury but a necessity that supports healthy and thriving communities,” he said. “I’m proud of our team that designs, builds and maintains these vital networks.”
For Greg, the work goes far beyond technology. It is about the people and communities connected through these networks. “Ultimately, our work helps connect lives, and that’s what drives me,” he reflects. From his beginnings on a farm to leading complex broadband projects across multiple markets, Greg’s journey embodies dedication, adaptability, and a profound commitment to connecting people and places through innovative infrastructure solutions.
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