PITTSBURGH, January 31, 2018 - The American Cable Association announced today that Robert Wieand, a senior executive of Service Electric Cablevision, has been named to the ACA Executive Committee position of Treasurer and that Shawn Beqaj of Armstrong Utilities, Inc., and Mike Bowker of Cable ONE have been elected as new members of the ACA Board.

These important leadership changes, coming as ACA prepares to engage on a number of public policy issues in 2018, were ratified by a vote of the ACA Board on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the panel's first-quarter meeting in Chicago.

"With the elevation of Robert Wieand to Treasurer and the additions of Shawn Beqaj and Mike Bowker to the Board, I am confident that ACA's leadership is as strong as ever and is ready to meet every challenge ahead in Washington and in our industry," ACA Chairman Bob Gessner said. Gessner, who is president of MCTV, serves on ACA's Executive Committee with Vice Chairwoman Patricia Jo Boyers of BOYCOM, Tom Larsen of Mediacom, Drew Petersen of TDS Telecom, and new Treasurer Wieand.

ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka commented, "ACA's ability to create and advance a bold agenda for the independent cable community would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of the ACA Executive Committee and Board."

The ACA Board is comprised of dedicated and experienced individuals in the field of communications who occupy senior positions within their companies. Wieand is Controller of Service Electric Cablevision, based in Bethlehem, Pa.; Beqaj is Vice President of Regulatory & Interconnection at Armstrong Utilities, based in Butler, Pa., and Bowker is Chief Operating Officer of Cable ONE, based in Phoenix, Ariz.

As ACA's new Treasurer, Wieand is replacing Bryan Cipoletti, an Armstrong executive who was recently named President of Guardian Protection Services, an Armstrong company.