Gunderman has 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and is focused on growing Uniti’s real estate portfolio of mission-critical communications infrastructure. He has prior experience at Stephens, Lehman Brothers and KPMG.
Gunderman holds a Bachelor of Arts from Hendrix College in Conway and an MBA from Yale University.
Uniti and Windstream announced in May that they were reuniting in a merger after nearly a decade as separate entities. What are some of the challenges presented by a large corporate merger that some people may not immediately think about?
Any corporate merger presents its challenges, and people often think about the logistical and administrative items. However, one of the key challenges people might not immediately think about is integrating two different teams. Uniti and Windstream’s shared history will be very helpful from this standpoint. We have similar values and a commitment to delivering for the communities we operate in, so we expect to hit the ground running when the transaction closes.
In simple terms, for the layperson, how does Uniti make its money?
Uniti generates revenue by building, owning and leasing fiber across its 141,000-route-mile network that carries data and enables high-speed internet and other communications services. We lease this infrastructure to wireless providers, large-scale enterprises, such as hyperscalers, local and regional businesses, and government entities that then use it to provide services to end customers. With the addition of Windstream, we will also have the ability to provide fiber-to-the-home services, which will enable us to serve additional customers with a fiber network that is predominantly wholly owned and operated.
How do you navigate a focus on ESG (environmental, social and governance) as some public perceptions of ESG become more negative?
At Uniti, our mission is to deliver communications infrastructure for customers so they can stay connected. We understand the crucial role we play in providing these mission-critical services and the importance of doing so in as sustainable a way as possible, which is why we are focused on things like reducing our environmental impact through improving the fuel efficiency of our fleet, as well as using the latest equipment to manage our network in a more energy-efficient manner. And this commitment extends to our communities. One reason we are excited about our merger with Windstream is that it will enable us to provide broadband access to up to 1 million additional households, including many underserved regions in the Midwest and Southeast. We will be in a better position to help people work remotely, travel less and stay connected for the benefit of all our stakeholders.
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