About
Protecting Connectivity, Enabling Innovation means building a stronger, smarter future for rural broadband and utilities companies - driving economic growth and ensuring reliable access for everyone.
Our Story
Our team brings decades of hands-on experience at industry leaders including British Telecom (BT), Telefónica, and Liberty Global. We partner with rural broadband and utilities companies across the United States, providing cyber security, workforce development, and business transformation services.
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Craig Barber - Founder and CEO
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Craig was born and raised in Suffolk, England - a mostly rural area of the United Kingdom located around 100 miles from London. Internet access was unreliable and Suffolk's remote towns were last in the country to be migrated from dial-up to 512kbps DSL broadband.
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Employment opportunities in Craig's hometown were also very limited. However, British Telecom (BT) had a research center around 20 miles away. Craig joined their apprenticeship engineering program straight out of high school, determined to make a difference connecting rural communities. He has since built up two decades of experience working for several major telecommunications providers and software companies, including as a CIO and CISO of a Silicon Valley technology company.
In 2022, Craig relocated from the UK to Tennessee under the EB1A "Extraordinary Ability" visa program as recognition for his contributions to both the information security and vocational training industries.
Craig actively gives back to his local community, mentoring trainee network engineers and advocating for technical apprenticeships. He is also an advisor for Franklin Skills.
Ready to learn more about how Hatbox can help your business grow? Contact us via Live Chat (open Monday - Friday 9am to 6pm EST), or click here.