Sam Carpenter
General Manager/ Majority Owner
Sam founded Centratel in Bend, Oregon, in 1984, and continues as General Manager and CEO. With a background in engineering, construction management, surveying, forest management, publishing, and journalism, his interests outside of work include mountaineering, backcountry skiing, cycling, writing, reading, property management, construction/development, traveling…and especially hiking with his two hounds in the Kentucky backwoods.
His business book, Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less, was first published in 2008, and a 5th edition was released in July 2025. Contact us about the answering service, and we’ll send you a hard copy of the book, gratis.
His second book, aimed at non-business owners, The Systems Mindset: Managing the Machinery of Your Life was published in 2016.
He is married to Diana Bybee Carpenter. After living in Bend, Oregon, for over 40 years, he now resides in Diana’s hometown in rural South Kentucky.
Sam Kirkaldie
Minority owner
Sam has been active in the media and telecommunications fields for over 30 years. 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 from 1972 through 2018. 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 now live in Billings, Montana and are the parents of three sons.
