Brion C. Gilbert,

Graduate, University of Illinois, BS Electrical Engineering, 1974
Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
Member, National Association of Tower Erectors (North Central Antenna Technologies, Inc.)

Brion C. Gilbert has been climbing and working on communications towers since the age of 14. In 1967 at the age of 17, realizing the value of this activity, he was hiring himself out to do antenna work on a part time basis. This work, the proceeds of which went to college expenses, involved work on amateur radio and commercial towers. During this time, he got to know several professional tower technicians and gleaned much information in the proper techniques of communications tower work.

During an 8-year tenure as a Field Engineer for the Federal Communications Commission, a major part Mr. Gilbert's job involved the inspection and documentation of commercial two way, cellular and AM and FM broadcast facilities, including the associated tower structures, for violations of FCC rules and regulations.

During his 12-year tenure in Saudi Arabia at the Arabian American Oil Company, now the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) Mr. Gilbert was a project manager, within the Communications Operations Department, responsible for broadcast projects. In this capacity, as many as 5 tower crews each with 4 men, reported to him through crew foremen. He was directly responsible to Aramco Executive Management for project completion, which included proper tower and site construction for needed new sites, and site and tower retrofit for existing sites. As part of his duties, he regularly visited communications sites and climbed site towers to ensure the proper execution of the necessary work. The project that he directed before leaving the company after the Gulf War involved the installation of television translator equipment and antennas at 34 communications sites throughout the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. This project was completed before schedule and at a cost less than the 22 million US$ budget.

As a Technical Consultant to a cellular telephone group (Toe Lah Sap Muah Tuah, Ltd.) in Phayao, Thailand, Mr. Gilbert was responsible for feasibility studies, quality control and contract review for a possible second cellular infrastructure project in Laos. This involved site equipment and tower specification and on site inspection. This project had a projected budget of 80 Million US$ and called for the establishment of 78 sites throughout Laos. The project was put on indefinite hold in 1997 because of funding problems associated with the overall severe economic problems in the region at that time.

In 1995, he erected a 200-foot communications tower on his property near Grand Detour, Illinois. Space on the tower is rented out to two-way communications companies and wireless Internet service providers.

In 1998 North Central Antenna Technologies, Inc. was formed to perform tower erection, tower maintenance, tower site services and related work. North Central Antenna Technologies, Inc. is a member of The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE).