Seasoned telecom and finance executive to help accelerate LiveOak’s strategic growth and regional expansion across the Southeast
LiveOak Fiber (LiveOak), a Georgia-based internet service provider, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Hawes as Chief Financial Officer. Hawes brings more than 20 years of progressive financial leadership experience to LiveOak, with an impressive track record in telecom, technology, and operational finance.
In his most recent position, Hawes served as Chief Financial Officer at Fastwyre Broadband, a privately owned fiber broadband provider, where he led financial operations and strategic planning initiatives that helped double the company’s footprint in just one year.
Prior to Fastwyre, Hawes held executive leadership roles at ModivCare, where he helped grow the company from $1B to $2B in revenue, and at Internap Corporation (INAP), where he contributed to five quarters of revenue and EBITDA growth. His extensive experience includes managing financial operations for organizations ranging from startups to public companies with more than $2B in revenue.
Hawes holds an MBA in Finance from Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.
“Ryan’s deep expertise in financial management and strategic growth within the telecommunications sector makes him an invaluable addition to our leadership team,” said Shane Schilling, CEO of LiveOak. “His proven ability to drive operational improvements and manage growth aligns perfectly with our vision as we continue to expand our fiber network across the Southeast.”
“Having worked across various technology sectors from telecom to cloud services, I’m energized by LiveOak’s vision,” said Hawes. “Throughout my career, I’ve seen how strategic financial leadership directly enables innovation and business growth. I’m looking forward to applying the financial frameworks and operational insights I’ve developed across multiple industries to help LiveOak accelerate its expansion while maintaining the financial discipline that ensures long-term success.”
Since its founding in 2022, LiveOak has quickly established itself as a key regional network operator, delivering 100% fiber broadband service to business and residential customers across Florida and Georgia.
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