Corporate Governance

Ronald G. Roth serves as the Chair of Clearfield’s Board of Directors, a position he has held since 2002.  Mr. Roth brings to our Board a strong background in executive management, mergers and acquisitions, business development and marketing through his service for more than 35 years as a chairman of the board, executive and owner of several companies.

From 1990 to 2007, Mr. Roth served as Chairman of the Board and an owner of Phillips Recycling Systems, a privately held recycler of scrap and waste materials.  He served as Chairman of the Board and an owner of Access Cash International LLC, a privately held provider of ATMs and related processing and financial services, from 1995 until its sale in 2000.  In addition, Mr. Roth served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and owner of Waste Systems Corp., a privately held waste hauling and disposal company, from 1970 until its sale to a national solid waste management company in 1995.

Mr. Roth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University.

Cheri Beranek has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director of Clearfield since 2007.  She brings to our Board a keen understanding of our business and industry developed through her tenure as our President and Chief Executive Officer and in her previous position as the President of our former subsidiary.  In addition, Ms. Beranek’s role as our President and Chief Executive Officer allows her to provide the Board with her unique insight on our business and operations as a member of management.

Prior to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer of Clearfield, Ms. Beranek served as President of APA Cables and Networks, Inc., a cable assembly and contract manufacturing operation and former subsidiary of Clearfield, from 2003 to 2007.  From 2002 to 2003, she served as President of Americable, a niche-market provider of fiber termination and distribution equipment.  From 2001 to 2002, Ms. Beranek served as Chief Operating Officer of Americable.  Prior to joining Americable, she served as Vice President of Marketing of Transition Networks Inc., a manufacturer of networking equipment for the worldwide fiber optic premise market, from 1996 to 2001. 

Ms. Beranek serves as a director of Key Tronic Corporation, a position she was appointed to in January 2024.  Ms. Beranek served as a director of CyberOptics Corporation from May 2020 until its acquisition by Nordson Corporation in November 2022.

Ms. Beranek holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwest Minnesota State University and a Master of Science degree from North Dakota State University.

Patrick F. Goepel joined the Clearfield Board of Directors in 2015.  He brings to our Board extensive public company executive management and board experience, as well as a background in the successful execution of global expansion, operational, and mergers and acquisition initiatives.

Mr. Goepel currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Asure Software, Inc., a publicly traded provider of workplace management software, a position he has held since 2010.  Mr. Goepel previously served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of Asure Software from 2009 to 2010. From 2006 to 2008, Mr. Goepel served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Human Resources Services Division of Fidelity Investments, a provider of financial planning, advisory, wealth management and brokerage services.  Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Advantec, a provider of human resources outsourcing and professional employer organization services, from 2005 to 2006.

Mr. Goepel has served as a director of Asure Software since 2009, becoming Chairman of the Board in August 2020.  He has also served as a director of APPD Investments since 2007 and as a director of SafeGuard World International since 2015.

Roger G. Harding joined the Clearfield Board of Directors in 2016.  He brings to our Board a strong background in operations and the development and execution of key strategies and operating practices, as well as a deep understanding of the telecommunications and networking markets.

From 2001 until his retirement in 2008, Mr. Harding served as Vice President & General Manager, Global Switching of Alcatel-Lucent, a multinational provider of telecommunications equipment and services.  From 1995 to 2001, he served as Business & Operations Senior Director, Special Customer Operations at Alcatel-Lucent.

Mr. Harding holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.  In addition, he has attended several executive management programs at leading institutions, including Duke University, Harvard University, the Wharton School of Business, and Rutgers University.

Charles N. “Chip” Hayssen joined the Clearfield Board of Directors in 2008. He brings to our Board strong executive management and financial management experience, as well as experience as a director and audit committee chair of a publicly traded company earlier in his career.

From 2009 until his retirement in August 2021, Mr. Hayssen served as President of Safeway Driving Schools, a privately held provider of driver’s education services.  Prior to joining Safeway Driving, he served as Chief Operating Officer of AllOver Media, Inc., a privately held out-of-home media company, from 2004 to 2007.  From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Hayssen served as Chief Financial Officer of ThinkEquity Partners LLC, an equity capital markets firm.

Mr. Hayssen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Donald R. Hayward joined the Clearfield Board of Directors in 2007.  He brings to our Board executive leadership experience, operational and financial experience in manufacturing, and a background in the technology sector, where he specialized in business growth with a concentration on strategic and leadership development.

Mr. Hayward served as President of Schaffer Manufacturing, a privately held metal fabrication manufacturing company serving a variety of industries, including telecommunications, from September 2017 to October 2020.  He also served as an executive advisor to Schaffer Manufacturing from September 2016 to August 2017, and from November 2020 until his retirement in April 2021.  From 2006 to August 2017, Mr. Hayward served as President of Engel Diversified Industries, a privately held manufacturer of fabricated metal products serving multiple industries.  Previously, he served as Director of Corporate Services of Minnesota Technology, Inc., a publicly funded, private non-profit in support of Minnesota’s technology community, from 1997 to 2006.

Mr. Hayward holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin.

Walter L. Jones, Jr.  joined the Clearfield Board of Directors in December 2021.  He brings to our Board nearly three decades of experience in the information communications industry, with significant expertise in network operations, fiber-focused enterprise transformations and Tier 1 operators.

Since August 2021, Mr. Jones has served as an advisor to Harmoni Towers, an owner, operator and builder of mission-critical communications infrastructure.  He has also served as an independent board advisor and operations consultant since 2015.  In 2015, he served as Vice President of Network Transformation of Verizon Communications Inc., one of the world’s leading providers of communications, technology, information and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and government entities.  From 2013 to 2015, Mr. Jones served as Region President of Consumer Mass Business at Verizon Communications.  Previously, he served as Area Vice President of Network at Verizon Communications from 2008 to 2013.

Mr. Jones holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the College of William and Mary.  He is recognized as NACD Directorship Certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Carol A. Wirsbinski joined the Clearfield Board of Directors in December 2021.  She brings to our Board more than 30 years of experience operationalizing both strategy and vision within the telecommunications industry, with a proven track record of building successful organizations through transformational growth, particularly in the community broadband market.

Ms. Wirsbinski served as Chief Sales Officer of Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded national internet and telecommunications service provider, from 2014 to 2017.  From 2011 to 2014, she served as Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Vice President of Enventis Corporation (formerly known as Hickory Tech Corporation), a publicly traded integrated communication service provider serving a five state Midwest area.  From 2009 to 2010, Ms. Wirsbinski served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Citilink Broadband Solutions, a wireless broadband service provider.  From 2007 to 2008, she served as Senior Vice President of Sales, CEB, Inc., a provider of consumer research and strategic advisory services.  Prior to joining CEB, Ms. Wirsbinski served as Senior Vice President, Minnesota and North Dakota at Integra Telecom, an infrastructure and telecommunications service provider, from 2000 to 2006.

Ms. Wirsbinski has served as a director of Underline Infrastructure Inc. since December 2022, and was as a director of Somos Inc. from March 2019 to March 2022.

Ms. Wirsbinski holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  She is recognized as NACD Directorship Certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors and is an active member of the Private Directors Association.