Ownership

Sam founded Centratel in 1984. With a background in engineering, publishing and journalism, he is a telephone answering service industry consultant, writer and speaker and has served as president of several regional and national answering service organizations. As CEO and General Manager, Sam also spearheads R&D and marketing. Outside interests include climbing/mountaineering, skiing, cycling, reading, traveling and writing. His first book, Work the System was first self-published in April 2008. Sam has a publisher now, Greenleaf Book Group, and the book entered book stores in hard cover in may 2009. "Work" won the prestigious "Best Non-fiction of 2009" award at the New York Book Festival in June 2009. Sam is also founder and director of Kashmir Family Aid, a 501C3 non-profit, aiding surviving school children of the Northern Pakistan and Azad Kashmir earthquake of October 8, 2005 (www.kashmirfamily.org). Originally from upstate New York, and an Oregonian since 1975, he is married to Linda Carpenter, Centratel CFO. His daughter, Jennifer, and her family, also live in Bend.

Sam has been active in the media and telecommunications fields for over 30 years. As Centratel’s Vice President and Customer Services Manager, and a stock holder since 2000, Sam has special interests in community affairs, writing, systems organization and public relations. He has served as a board member and president of various media and broadcasting trade organizations and built a major Central Oregon radio station from the ground up. A native of Montana and an Oregonian since 1972, his outside interests include traveling, fishing, camping, hiking, golf, skiing, racquetball and running (and, in his younger years in Montana, he was a rodeo bull rider.) Sam and his wife, Bev, live in Bend and are the parents of three sons.