Sam Carpenter
Majority owner/President
Sam founded Centratel in Bend, Oregon in 1984. With a background in engineering, construction management, publishing, and journalism, and residing in Bend, Oregon and Stearns, Kentucky, outside interests include mountaineering, hiking with his hounds, back-country skiing, cycling, writing, reading, and traveling.
His book, Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less was first published in 2008, with the 4th edition released in February 2021. (Contact us and we’ll send you a hardcopy of the book, gratis.)
His second book, The Systems Mindset: Managing the Machinery of Your Life was published in 2016.
In 2006, Sam founded the non-profit Kashmir Family Aid, specializing in assisting remote secondary schools in the foothills of the Karakoram mountain range in Azad Jammu Kashmir.
He is married to Diana Bybee Carpenter and after living in Bend for 45 years, he and Diana now reside in SE Kentucky.
Sam Kirkaldie
Minority owner, VP
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 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.
Telephone Service Representatives (Partial Listing)
Alexis
TSR
Alexis started working for Centratel at 20 years old and is a zealous single mother. She loves to travel and visit the lake with her son on her days off.
Carla
Senior TSR
A 20+ year Centratel veteran. Enjoys playing with her four cats and one dog as well as short hikes, bike riding and reading biographies.
Carol
Senior TSR
Carol is a recent transplant to Idaho after 30 years in Central Oregon. She lives with her dog and 2 cats in Emmett and loves exploring her beautiful new state.
Casey
TSR
Casey is a native Oregonian. Creative, she enjoys art. She spends her time off with her friends, family, and her pet bunny. She hopes to further her education in Art and Business.
Danyel
TSR
Danyel is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but now settled in Central Kentucky. Danyel spends her free time writing, gaming, and spending time with her two cats.
Denae
TSR
Denae joined Centratel in October of 2020. Prior to that, she was a Personal Banker. She lives in Nashville, TN where she was born and raised. She shares two daughters and a dog with her soon-to-be husband. When she’s not keeping busy with her family you can find her reading a book or writing a novel.
Dynasty
Supervisor
Dynasty is the mother of two young boys with whom she spends as much time as possible! She’s a Centratel rock-star, very quickly advancing to the rank of Supervisor.
GW
TSR
GW worked for a major credit card company both as a representative and as a compliance officer for 17 years before leaving to continue her education. She is currently working on a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology. GW wants to be a Physical Therapist working with heart and stroke patients.
Hannah
TSR
Hannah worked in the customer service industry for over a decade before joining Centratel. She lives in Kentucky. She enjoys spending time with family, cooking – especially new recipes, watching movies, reading, and art.
Jared
TSR
Jared has lived in the midwest, southwest, and deep south. Louisville, KY has been his home since he was 18. He enjoys music, going to the movies, and minor league baseball.
Jennifer
TSR
Jennifer is from Tennessee. She started with Centratel in October of 2020. She has an amazing daughter who she loves to spend all her time with. Jennifer also loves being outdoors.
Kelly
Floor Lead
Kelly was born in Amarillo, Texas but has lived most of her life in different parts of Oregon. Her favorite achievement is being a mom to her daughter. Kelly enjoys spending time with family and traveling.
Kirk
TSR
Kirk has resided in Central Oregon since the age of 11. He enjoys year-round fly fishing and craft brewing. He tends a small personal orchard and berry patch on his days off.
Laura
Supervisor
A native Oregonian, Laura enjoys outdoor activities as well as volunteering at a local animal shelter. She is a graduate of Eastern Oregon University with a bachelor’s degree in Business.
Laura-Grace
Floor Lead
Laura-Grace is a Western Kentucky native. While obtaining her degree in Sociology, she worked for a small communications company and found she had a penchant for customer service. In her downtime she enjoys her dogs, concerts, traveling, DIY home renovations, true crime podcasts, and fantasy sports leagues.
Linda M.
Senior TSR
A 25 year Centratel veteran, living in Bend, Oregon, Linda enjoys spending time with her grandchildren Cole & Amy, gardening and riding her bike.
Melissa
TSR
Melissa lives in Lily, Kentucky with her husband. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her animals, quilting, and knitting.
Nicole
TSR
Nicole joined the Centratel crew in August of 2021. She is an Idaho native who loves to explore the mountains, go camping, and fishing with her family. During her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her two dogs and going on random adventures.
Rosemary
TSR
Rosemary and her family relocated to East Tennessee from Illinois in 2020. She has 2 adult daughters. She lives near the mountains and enjoys hiking, gardening, keeping chickens, and studying theology.
Sarah
TSR
Sarah Jayne lives in Bristol, Tennessee with her husband, and two children, a Frenchie and a Boston. In her spare time, she enjoys painting and listening to music. In the summer you can find the whole family at the lake or on the river.
Shauna
TSR
Shauna has an extensive customer service and support experience. Shauna enjoys spending time with family, volunteering, and educating teens and young adults. Passes the time listening to audiobooks or reading.
Stephanie
Supervisor
Stephanie relocated to Central Oregon from the San Francisco Bay Area. When she is not working she can be found enjoying time with her husband and four children. Her hobbies range from automotive repair to hand-sewing costumes.
Susan
Senior TSR
Her background includes dental assistant, surgical assistant, office coordinator and facilities manager. She has two handsome sons and has raised exotic pheasants, wallabies, and other animals. She likes to sew and knit as well as camp, fish and cook.
Taryn
TSR
Taryn started with Centratel in April of 2021. She is a fur momma to her small dogs, Pepper and Bella. While in the past her love was traveling, working on projects in her home is now her favorite pastime. She loves home decor.
Toni
Senior TSR
Toni moved to Bend from The Willamette Valley in 1996. She has two daughters and two grandchildren; it is her joy to spend time with them. In her free time, she loves searching for home decor and vintage items at sales and thrift stores.
Administrative Staff
Andi Freeman
CEO
Andi operates Centratel in Sam’s absence… and when Sam is NOT absent! She has a Bachelors degree from Wittenberg University. She loves to find solutions to any challenge and hates to lose. She has two wonderful children and a tremendously supportive husband.
Marcello Scacchetti
CIO
Resides in Mirandola, Italy and Bend, Oregon. He loves his perfect Italian coffee, Ducati motorcycles and playing bass guitar. In 2021 he was the new father of twins!
Kendra Akehurst
Director of Operations
A 12-year Centratel veteran, Kendra is a integral part of Centratel’s management team. She is attending school full-time. While juggling school and work she finds time for her family and friends as well as playing basketball and swimming.
Yvette Wahl
HR Specialist
Yvette has lived in Central Oregon for 25 years but in 2021 relocated to Texas. She is a graduate of Concordia University with a degree in Human Resources Management. She enjoys spending time with her daughters and grandchildren, traveling, and home interior design.
Jason Hoan
Bend, IT Chief
Loves spending time with his family and friends and enjoys taking road trips around scenic Oregon.
Teresa Abbas
Office/Billing Manager
Spends time with her husband and two children enjoying car races, camping and just hanging out watching movies.
Joanna “Jo” Highet
Business Development
Joanna joined Centratel from the beautiful Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. With her husband and two children she spends her free time hiking, running, coaching and cheering on youth sports. She spends her downtime reading and listening to podcasts.
Amanda Davis
Client Success Manager
Amanda loves to travel and enjoys being outdoors. She has two beautiful kids and an extremely supportive husband.
Briela Christensen
Customer Service
Briela loves spending time with her husband, daughter and pets. She enjoys exploring the great outdoors, hiking, photography and baking.
Mandy LeCoure
Customer Service
Mandy has lived most of her life in the beautiful Willamette Valley. When she is not working she loves entertaining, traveling, and spending time with her husband and two young children!
Emanuel Gug
Software Developer
Lives in Transylvania, Romania, is passionate about developing web applications, and in his free time traveling with his wife and new son.
Fabio Bertoli
Graphic & Web Designer
Lives in Concordia, Italy. He loves music, movies and singing in his band. He enjoys snowboarding, swimming and spending time with friends.
Pattie Casner
Quality Assurance
A 20-year Centratel veteran, has 3 married sons. Enjoys fishing, camping and day-trip explorations with family.
Sandra Packard
Special Consultant
Lives in Pocatello, Idaho. Gifted downhill skier and mountain biker. A 30-year Centratel veteran.
