Telect Lets In An ‘Outsider’

Tue., Feb. 1, 2000

From Staff

Telect, one of Spokane’s high-tech success stories, has added its first “outside” director.

The Liberty Lake company, which manufactures network connectivity equipment, has appointed Thomas C. Simpson to its board.

Since its inception, Telect’s board has been controlled by founders Bill and Judi Williams. The only other board member, prior to Simpson, was son Wayne Williams, the CEO and president.

Simpson, 39, is managing partner of Northwest Venture Associates, a Spokane-based venture capital firm investing in Northwest businesses.

“His broad-based experience in finance and investment banking will be of tremendous value to our rapidly growing organization,” Wayne Williams said in a statement Monday.

Telect has 950 employees at its Spokane office. It generated $123 million in revenue in 1998.

Simpson, a Spokane native, is a certified public accountant and a graduate of the University of Washington and the Wharton School of Business.

Williams said one or two more directors will be added this year.

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Telect Lets In An ‘Outsider’

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