Our Board

Ben Foster | Chairman & CEO

Ben Foster is a distinguished leader in the broadband and technology industries. He serves as the President and CEO of Twin Valley, the largest independent broadband and communications company in Kansas, and ISG Technology, a respected Managed IT & Cloud Services company.

Ben’s interest in telecommunications stems from a deep-seated family legacy that extends over 75 years. As a young man, his hands-on experience as an installation and repair technician during school breaks laid the foundation for his impressive career path. Armed with a degree from Kansas State University, Ben embarked on his journey with Southwestern Bell, where he held several leadership roles, ultimately culminating in the position of Chief-of-Staff for the President of Consumer Operations.

In 2004, he chose to return to Twin Valley, applying his experience, expertise, and strategic vision to his family’s business. His robust understanding of the industry led to a series of promotions, progressing from Director to Vice President, and COO, before his ultimate appointment as President & CEO in 2011.

During Ben’s leadership, Twin Valley has expanded by more than 1,000%, transforming the company through a focused approach to acquisitions, investment, and organic growth. His focus on improving broadband accessibility in rural communities led to the strategic acquisition of SKT in 2021, a move that doubled the company’s broadband holdings and brought together Kansas’ two largest privately-held broadband enterprises.

One of his standout accomplishments includes the 2011 acquisition of ISG Technology. With Ben at the helm, ISG transitioned from a regional IT reseller to a national Managed IT & Cloud Services provider, achieving a remarkable increase of over 600% in recurring revenue.

Ben’s expertise is regularly called upon, and he serves on state and national boards, such as the Kansas Fiber Network and NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association. Additionally, he is a well-regarded speaker, often sharing his insights on broadband and technology-related topics on national platforms.

Living in Overland Park, Kansas, with his wife and three children, Ben’s leadership is characterized by humility and a relentless drive for innovation. His depth of experience and insightful vision position him as a valuable contributor to the technology and telecommunications landscape.

Jay Brodsky | Board Member, Cybersecurity & Business Expert

Jay Brodsky is an experienced technology and business executive, with more than thirty years of digital and cybersecurity experience in the information services industry, serving Fortune 500, private-equity-backed and non-profit corporations in a variety of C-suite roles.

He currently is chief information officer for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific societies and the publisher of Science and its family of peer-reviewed journals. With 120,000 members and more than 260 affiliated societies and academies of science, AAAS represents and serves millions of people across all fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Brodsky leads a team of technology, project management and data professionals to build strategy and capacity for this global association to advance science, engineering and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all.

He has served as a board member for the Twin Valley Family of Companies since 2021, helping the organization address its growth ambitions in the managed & IT cloud services marketplace, meet cybersecurity demands, and providing overall fiduciary guidance. He also leads the board’s compensation committee.

He is a leader of the DC Metro chapter of the Private Directors Association, a premier professional association of 3,000+ private company directors that champions board excellence. He has previously served on the board of a private-equity-backed continuing-education firm and on the advisory board of a startup subscription publisher.

Earlier in his career, Brodsky was the chief digital officer for AGU, serving the global Earth and space science community; managed a DC-based technology consulting firm working in digital transformation and cybersecurity; served as the chief information officer of Thompson Media Group, a private-equity-backed information provider of regulatory compliance guidance; and as CIO of the Atlantic Media Company, a privately held publisher of some of the most influential media outlets in America. His work has ranged from software development to digital architecture design, technology strategic planning to cybersecurity preparedness. Brodsky’s early career was with National Public Radio in DC and Tribune Company in Chicago.

He has been recognized as a top global executive leading business transformation efforts by Constellation Research, served on the cybersecurity advisory board for Ithaca College and the Private Directors Association, and is a frequent speaker at technology and board governance conferences.

Brodsky holds a degree in computer science engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University, and a masters in cybersecurity strategy from The George Washington University. He lives with his family in Arlington, VA.

Stanley Chen | Board Member, Telecommunications & Business Expert

Stanley Chen serves as the CEO of Telamon Corporation, a multi-generational family business that has grown to over $1b in revenue under his leadership.

Previously at Telamon, Stanley served as the COO, leading the firm through several acquisitions and divestitures, including one recognized by the Indiana Chapter of Association of Corporate Growth as a Deal of the Year. Stanley got his start at Telamon as a Warehouse Associate, and continued to learn through roles such as a Call Center Representative, a Regional Sales Associate and an Operations Manager. Prior to Telamon, Stanley enjoyed brief stints in marketing analytics for a MLB team, in corporate strategy for a Global 50 firm, and with an early-stage venture capital fund.

In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for Telamon, Stanley has served as a board member for the Twin Valley Family of Companies since 2024, as well as on various non-profit boards including the International School of Indiana and the Indianapolis Zoo. He has been recognized by the Indianapolis Business Journal both as a “5 Under 25” and a “40 Under 40” recipient, was awarded “Best and Brightest” by Junior Achievement, and was a national champion and All-American in speech & debate. Stanley received his MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and his BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Stanley is married to Allison, and they have three children, Lucy, Potter and Layne. They attend Chinese Community Church of Indianapolis, where Stanley serves in various capacities. Together, they enjoy cheering on local sports teams, traveling the world, and playing make-believe.

Rod Siemers | Board Member, Corporate Finance Expert

Rod Siemers is a seasoned financial executive with more than 30 years of experience in corporate finance, primarily within the telecommunications and broadband sectors. He has served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for five private-equity-backed companies. Throughout his career, Rod has delivered over $1.5 billion in financial value to owners, leading corporate strategy in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, tax structuring, and operational optimization. His leadership has been instrumental in several high-value transactions, including a $735 million sale and a $1 billion valuation.

Rod’s early career included 12 years with Aquila companies, where he managed $2 billion in international investments and spent more than three years in New Zealand overseeing financial operations and supporting the IPO of United Energy in Australia. He began his career with Arthur Andersen as a senior auditor and holds a BS in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Kansas, graduating with highest distinction. Rod is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor. Today, he continues to lend his expertise as a board member for Twin Valley Management, where he supports strategic decisions and long-term value creation.

Kendra Foster-Howze | Board Member, Family Council Chair

Kendra Foster-Howze is a fourth-generation owner of the Twin Valley Family of Companies and has served on its board for over 10 years. She also serves as Chair of the Family Council, helping guide long-term family governance and engagement across generations. Kendra was raised in Miltonvale, Kansas – the small north-central town where her great-grandparents, Joe and Mildred Foster, established Twin Valley Telephone.

From an early age, Kendra was drawn to science and biology, which led her to pursue a degree in Organismal Biology from the University of Kansas. Rather than following the family path in telecommunications or technology, she built a successful career in environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance. Her professional background includes roles at an Environmental, Health & Safety consulting firm, an ambulance manufacturer, and contract work with NASA at the Kennedy Space Center. Most recently, she served as the EHS Manager for a fifth-generation family-owned company in Kansas City, where she led compliance efforts related to EPA and OSHA regulations.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Kendra chose to step away from her EHS career to focus on family and community. She is an active volunteer in her sons’ schools and extracurricular activities. Chuck and Kendra’s three boys are deeply involved in club basketball, football, and soccer. As a family, they enjoy sports, fishing, hiking, and traveling to experience all parts of the world.

Though her career initially took her outside the family business, Kendra finds deep connection and purpose in working alongside her siblings and cousins as co-owners. She is passionate about preserving and passing on the values, stories, and legacy of the company to the future generations. She and her family live in Overland Park, Kansas.

Aaron Wertenberger | Board Member, Strategic Operations Manager