Officers
Tara Rand
President
Tara Kathleen Rand has spent her entire 30+ year wireless career at 4 industry leaders in the New England market — Verizon Wireless, Crown Castle, SAI Group and currently at Blue Sky Towers LLC headquartered in North Reading, MA.
At Verizon Wireless, Tara played key roles in the early years designing, permitting and ground leasing core tower infrastructure throughout New England. While at Crown Castle, Tara was part of the National Sales Team responsible for the lease up and services revenue generation of all infrastructure in New England, Connecticut, portions of Upstate New York and Canada as well as nationally for emerging technologies clients. At SAI Group as Senior Manager-Business Development, she was responsible for cultivating new business and broadening existing partnerships with existing clients. In Tara’s current role as Vice President of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships at Blue Sky Towers LLC, Tara is responsible for new tower development, acquisitions and generating new co-lo’s, in addition to client relations.
Tara graduated from Regis College in Weston, MA with a BA in Political Science/Communications and Boston University’s School of Real Estate. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a holds her MA Real Estate Salespersons License.
Tara was elected President of the New England Wireless Association in 2015 and previously served as Vice President for many years prior. She is a member of the NEWA Scholarship, Membership and Finance Committees and is also Co-Chair of the annual NEWA Charity Golf event. The Tower Family Foundation recently appointed Tara to their Scholarship Committee as well. Tara served two years as the Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum City Rep-New England/CT and was a Women of NATE Mentor for many years. “Giving Back” is of utmost importance to Tara both personally and professionally.
Heather Harrington
Vice President
Heather Harrington is a Senior Project Manager at T-Mobile supporting the Northeast region focusing on network projects. She has been in the wireless industry for over 15 years working for MetroPCS, Alcatel Lucent, Sprint, and currently at T-Mobile. Her background varies from project management, financing, and event management. She is a graduate from the University of New Hampshire. Outside of work, Heather enjoys playing billiards, games, bowling, baking, entertaining, and spending time with her two children and husband. Heather has been a Board Member since 2014. She also manages all NEWA’s events throughout the year.
Stephen Hobart
Secretary
Brian Grossman
Treasurer
Brian Grossman is an attorney at Strang Scott & Giroux, LLP, where his focus is on assisting telecommunications providers, developers, renewable energy companies, financial services, and commercial clients with matters ranging from land use and development, litigation, real estate transactions, landlord-tenant disputes, and related real estate issues.
For over 20 years, Brian has represented wireless communications carriers and independent infrastructure developers in connection with leasing, permitting, and acquisition of wireless communications facilities of all types. Brian's practice also includes litigation concerning real estate, permitting and the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Brian earned his law degree from Georgetown University, and his BS from Bryant University. Outside the office, he is an avid and dedicated sports fan, particularly of the New York Islanders, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers. Brian can also be found playing in his local hockey league, traveling and scuba diving.
Brian has been a Board Member since 2016 and was elected Treasurer in 2022. He also serves on NEWA’s Hockey Charity Event Planning Committee, Finance Committee, Scholarship Committee and Educational Committee.
Board Members
Jim Rech
Board Member
Jim Rech is the President & CEO of Blue Sky Towers, LLC since its inception in 2014 and brings over 27 years of experience in the wireless infrastructure industry developing towers and wireless communication networks. Rech spent most of his professional career as an entrepreneur having owned, managed and developed multiple tower portfolios throughout the United States.
Jim Van Sicklin
Board Member
Jim Van Sicklin is the Founder and President of J. Lee Associates, Inc. a full-service wireless site development firm serving the New England Region.
Prior to forming J. Lee, Jim worked in Operation and Engineering roles within T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless and has worked in the wireless industry for over 30 years. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts (Boston) and served on active duty for 5 years in the United States Marine Corps. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family and going to the beach.
Jim has been a member of the Board since 2021 and also now leads the Scholarship Committee which he has been on since it’s inception a few years ago.
Shanna Palmer
Board Member
Shanna Palmer has spent more than 20 years in the wireless industry and has had the opportunity
to see it from just about every angle - from tower construction and turf vendors to working directly
for the carrier. Her experience has included crew and vendor management, finance, EF&I, project
management, and program management, giving her a broad perspective on both the people in the
field and the teams working behind the scenes to keep wireless projects moving.
Currently with AT&T as a Lead Technical Vendor Manager, Shanna has spent most of her career
in the New England market and has built some of her strongest professional relationships along
the way. She has been involved with the New England Wireless Association for more than five
years, planning and volunteering at events and helping organize NEWA's annual charity golf
tournament - despite not actually playing golf herself - before joining the Board of Directors in
2026.
Outside of work, Shanna enjoys playing darts, travelling, and spending time with her partner. She
is a proud mom of two - her daughter, is an aspiring tattoo artist, and her son, is an active-duty
United States Marine.
Known for being straightforward, energetic, and admittedly a little rough around the edges, Shanna
believes some of the best relationships in this industry are built by simply being yourself, showing
up, and being willing to help. She is excited to bring that same approach - along with more than
two decades of industry experience - to the NEWA Board.
Patrick Hynes
Board Member
Patrick Robinson
Board Member
Mr. Robinson brings more than 25 years of experience in the wireless industry to his position as Vice President – Project Management with Wireless Partners LLC and Rising Tide Tower LLC. He has played an integral role in developing raw land sites around New England to help support AT&T’s FirstNet deployment in the “Ultra Rural” areas of Maine/NH/VT. His background includes Network Operations and Systems Engineering Management during his 18 years at US Cellular. As an Operations Manager, he oversaw Field Engineering that covered Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont spanning 300+ cell sites. Mr. Robinson also served as a Senior Manager, Regional Systems Engineering that oversaw design engineers for Cell site, Core and Microwave networks for the East Region. Patrick was appointed to the State of NH E911 Commission representing Wireless Communications Carriers in 2014 and is currently still serving.
Rossana Ferrante
Board Member
Rossana Ferrante is the New England Market Director for Network Building + Consulting, a full service site development and engineering firm. She is a high-energy, seasoned telecommunications professional leading high performance teams for over 20 years across the Northeast. Rossana started her career with Nextel Communications in site acquisition. In 2014, after a short hiatus working in franchising and commercial real estate, she returned to her true passion- telecommunications. Since that time, she has held several Regional Director positions overseeing projects for all the major carriers. She also specializes in government relations and negotiations. Rossana is a licensed attorney and real estate broker in Massachusetts. Additionally, she serves as the New England representative for the Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum, sits on multiple municipal commissions in her town and enjoys boxing classes and watching the sunrise.
Michael Cabral
Board Member
Michael Cabral is an accomplished engineering and telecommunications executive with more than 30 years of experience spanning wireless telecommunications, civil and structural engineering, and national operations. He currently serves as Vice President of Engineering Operations at Tower Engineering Professionals (TEP), where he provides strategic leadership for the company’s engineering operations, technical delivery, and continued growth across multiple service lines and markets.
Throughout his career, Michael has built and led high-performing engineering organizations, focusing on operational excellence, technical quality, workforce development, and delivering solutions that support the evolving needs of the telecommunications industry. His experience includes overseeing complex engineering operations, developing leadership teams, expanding service capabilities, and driving organizational growth.
Prior to joining TEP, Michael spent more than 15 years with Hudson Design Group (HDG), where he advanced from Civil/Structural Engineer to Structural Department Head and ultimately Vice President. He also played an integral role in the leadership and development of HDG’s tower services affiliate, ProVertic. Following TEP’s acquisition of HDG in August 2022, Michael became a key part of the organization’s continued integration, expansion, and national growth.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, with a concentration in Structural Engineering, from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He joined the Board of Directors of the New England Wireless Association (NEWA) in 2024, after previously serving on the association’s golf committee for five consecutive years.
A Massachusetts resident, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, golfing, traveling, and playing piano and guitar.
