Executive Team

Ritchie T. Sorrells, named GVTC’s President and CEO in 2003, led a change in business strategy and corporate culture to evolve the company from a monopolistic telephone cooperative to a highly competitive, full-service communications provider. The cornerstone for this strategic shift was a multimillion-dollar investment to replace much of its copper network with cutting edge Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) technology.

Among the first to anticipate and capitalize on this industry shift, GVTC is now the leading provider of FTTH to residential and business customers in far North San Antonio, the Texas Hill Country and Gonzales, with nearly 80% coverage. Leveraging its fiber network, GVTC offers a variety of value-added products for its residential customers that includes fiber internet up to 1 Gbps, Smart-Home Security, Cable TV, unlimited phone and an array of business products.

In 2016, the company launched wholesale services to capitalize on the rapidly growing data transport market. GVTC built a robust fiber ring between San Antonio, Austin, and smaller markets in its service territory and, through partnerships with regional telecom companies, now offers data transport services beyond its South Central Texas territory into Dallas, Houston and internationally into Mexico.

Under Mr. Sorrells’ leadership, GVTC earned an award-winning reputation, receiving numerous accolades as a “Top 100 FTTH Company” by Broadband Communities Magazine, multiple San Antonio Express-News “Top Workplaces” and San Antonio Business Journal “Best Places to Work” awards. In 2019 Netflix ranked GVTC number two nationally among ISP providers.

In 2007, Mr. Sorrells established GVTC’s employee-run philanthropic arm, The GVTC Foundation, to enhance the quality of life throughout the communities it serves. Today, the foundation has surpassed over $3.2 million in donations to local nonprofits and $50,000 in scholarships each year.

Mr. Sorrells began his telecommunications career in 1977, serving in a variety of executive assignments in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Texas. An Arkansas native, Mr. Sorrells holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Mark Gitter is GVTC’s Chief Financial Officer responsible for accounting, taxation, auditing, internal controls, finance, treasury, investments, purchasing, business processes, project management, human resources, risk management and IT.

Since joining GVTC in 2004, Mr. Gitter has modernized the company's human resources, IT, budgeting, treasury and financial management practices and brought state-of-the-art financial and capital budgeting, business intelligence, business process, financial modeling and forecasting, financial and operational analytics, incentive compensation and project management tools to the company. Mr. Gitter was also responsible for creating and implementing the strategic planning process and was instrumental in the development and launch of the Customer Experience and Member Dividend programs.

Mr. Gitter serves as the executive sponsor and trustee for numerous committees including the Audit and Finance Committee, Retirement and Security Plan Committee, Health and Welfare Plan Committee, 401(k) Committee, Executive Committee and also serves as an advisor to the Long-Range Planning Committee.

Mr. Gitter has extensive financial experience in the telecom industry, serving as CFO for nii Communications and Digital Express Communications. Both companies were competitive telecommunications providers.

Additionally, Mr. Gitter held a senior-level management position with real estate company, Hines, and worked as an auditor for public accounting firm Arthur Andersen. He has both mergers-and-acquisitions and business-valuation experience.

Mr. Gitter holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant. He also is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Texas Society of CPAs.

Robert Hunt is GVTC's Vice President Regulatory Affairs and Business Operations, overseeing the company's public policy strategy, carrier interconnection, business operations and billing areas.

In addition to his executive duties with GVTC, Mr. Hunt holds board positions with a number of prominent telecommunication organizations.

Mr. Hunt is a current board member and past Chairman of the Board for the Texas Telephone Association (TTA). In 2011, the TTA recognized

Mr. Hunt with the Neville Haynes Award — the highest honor given by the renowned association. The Haynes Award recognizes exceptional service by an individual to the TTA and the Texas telephone industry.

Mr. Hunt serves as a board member of the USTelecom Association and served as chairman in 2016 and 2017 while focusing on universal service funding for broadband in rural areas. He also served as board member of the Texas Department of Agriculture's Texas Broadband Taskforce, formed to focus on broadband deployment and adoption in Texas.

In addition, Mr. Hunt is a founding board member of the Texas Lone Star Network, a partnership of 38 Texas communications companies that provides wholesale telecommunications services throughout the United States.

Through his service to those organizations, Mr. Hunt advocates for policy changes that benefit GVTC and its customer members.

Prior to joining GVTC in 1993, Mr. Hunt provided engineering and consulting services to the telecom industry.

A native of the Texas Hill Country, Mr. Hunt graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.

Jeff Mnick is GVTC's Vice President Sales and Marketing, the first company executive to serve in that capacity. Mr. Mnick is responsible for the operations of several divisions within the Sales and Marketing Department including residential, business and enterprise sales, marketing, customer service, public relations, corporate communications and e-commerce.

Mr. Mnick changed GVTC's passive sales approach to a progressive strategy, utilizing multiple sales channels to get to the customer first. Since joining the company in 2004, GVTC has significantly increased its market penetration, greatly expanded revenue generating units, and more than doubled retail revenue.

Mr. Mnick leads all marketing and advertising efforts to reinforce GVTC's brand and generate sales. In 2006, he supervised GVTC's comprehensive rebranding campaign, which modernized the company's image, and transformed its identity from a rural telephone cooperative to a high-tech, full-service communications provider. Mr. Mnick also established, and currently leads, the company's digital marketing and e-commerce strategies, expanding GVTC's growth online.

Mr. Mnick is the executive sponsor for the company’s Creating Fiercely Loyal Customers program, which was established in 2017 to further enhance GVTC’s culture in supporting its best-in-class customer experience enterprise.

Mr. Mnick also serves as executive sponsor for The GVTC Foundation, the company's non-profit philanthropic arm serving GVTC's 2,000 square mile service area and donating more than $3.2 million to its communities since its inception in 2007.

In the community, he currently serves as a board member on the Boerne/Kendall County Economic Development Corporation and was a founding member in 2006. He was board chairman from 2010-2011.

On a national level, Mr. Mnick served on the board of directors for the esteemed Fiber-to-the-Home Council Americas from 2005 to 2010. He was the organization's treasurer and a member of the Council's Finance-Audit Committee and Marketing Committee.

His telecommunications career includes management positions with MCI Direct and Intermedia Communications before moving into executive management with Logix and Xspedius Communications.

A native of North Carolina, Mr. Mnick holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Wake Forest University.

George O'Neal, Vice President Network Services for GVTC, is responsible for planning, engineering and operations of all GVTC customer-facing networks. He also manages the company's service center, installation and repair teams, inventory, and facilities and fleet.

Mr. O'Neal is the key architect of GVTC’s expansive Fiber-to-the-Home network and transformation to an all IP, broadband-centric network designed to position GVTC as the premium service provider for the explosive growth in internet usage.

In addition, Mr. O’Neal developed the GVTC Fiber Overbuild program, which provides members in established neighborhoods with state-of-the-art fiber optics connected directly to their home or business. The system he developed offers objective metrics to equitably prioritize projects within the Fiber Overbuild program. Mr. O’Neal has led the evolution of GVTC’s telephone and cable TV networks to provide industry-leading features and reliability.

Before joining GVTC in 2006, Mr. O'Neal spent seven years at Alltel, where he served in several network management positions. From 1995 to 1999, he was employed by SBC Communications Inc. and took part in the company's renowned Leadership Development Program.

Mr. O'Neal served two terms as a board member and treasurer of the internationally recognized Fiber-to-the Home Council Americas. As a graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mr. O’Neal holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and is a proud veteran of the U.S. Army.

Josh Pettiette, Vice President Product, Business Development & Strategic Planning for GVTC, is responsible for managing profitability for the company’s broadband, cable TV, voice, and security home automation products, ensuring they provide the highest value in the marketplace. He also evaluates emerging technologies that best leverage the power of GVTC's Fiber-to-the-Home network. GVTC offers consumers a range of fast internet speeds up to 1 Gbps and delivers the fastest symmetrical broadband product in its market.

In addition, Mr. Pettiette oversees the newly established wholesale services business, selling Ethernet access and transport throughout the state of Texas. He also manages the company’s Fiber-to-the-Tower data backhaul business, capitalizing on the growing market demands of wireless data and IoT.

Under business development, Mr. Pettiette evaluates growth opportunities for GVTC based on strategic priorities from market expansion to mergers and acquisitions. He leads GVTC’s strategic planning process that involves creating and prioritizing strategic objectives and long-range planning, in conjunction with the company’s executive team and board of directors.

At SBC Communications, Mr. Pettiette managed various network operations, including special services provisioning and maintenance and outside plant operations. He is a graduate of SBC's renowned Network Leadership Program.

In the community, Mr. Pettiette serves as chairman of the Bulverde/Spring Branch Economic Development Foundation.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Mr. Pettiette holds a Bachelor of Science in telecommunications engineering technology.