Author
About Gary Evans
Gary Evans has turned his passion for novel writing into a post-retirement career, with five bodies of work. Evans spent 30 years in Midwest newsrooms as an award-winning writer, editor, and publisher. He spent 12 years as vice president at Winona State University. He completed his career as the president and CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Communication, one of the nation’s first alternative entrant telecommunications firms, after 15 years. Married to Ellen, they have two grown children, Gregory and Natalie.
Full Bio: Gary Evans
Gary W. Evans retired as the CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Winona, Minnesota, at the end of 2012. He joined ZRF Partners in 2017 as an Operating Partner. Prior to his 15-year tenure at HBC, Evans spent 30 years in Midwest newsrooms and another 15 as a vice president at Winona State University. A community activist, Evans is a former chair of the Winona Health Board, is a past president of the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce, former chair of the Great River Shakespeare Festival Board and has held numerous other civic and church positions.
Under his direction, HBC was awarded some of the telecom’s most prestigious awards, including Broadband Properties’ Cornerstone Award and the Fiber to the Home Council’s initial Chairman’s Award for outstanding service to the fiber-optic industry. Evans has also received major community and state honors, including Winona Area Chamber of Commerce Leader of the Year, Winona State University Distinguished Service Award, Upper Mississippi Valley Volunteer Fund Raiser of the Year, Minnesota Hospital Trustee of the Year and the recently awarded Blandin Foundation Broadband Pioneers honor. Never truly retired, Evans writes novels from his home in Winona.