Originally posted on Data Center POST.
In the latest episode of Let’s Get Digital, Carrie Charles, host of the show and CEO of tech staffing firm Broadstaff, sits down with Mike Underdown, founder and CEO of Crosstown Fiber, to talk about his journey through the telecom world, the lessons he’s carried into building Crosstown, and his approach to expanding fiber in Chicago and beyond.
Mike’s career started in the early days of competitive local exchange carriers, working at Teleport Communications Group. There, he learned from industry pioneers who helped shape the modern fiber landscape. After AT&T acquired TCG, Mike realized the corporate environment wasn’t the right fit and went on to hold leadership roles at Adelphia Business Solutions and other network providers, gaining deep experience in construction, infrastructure design, and network development.
His path wasn’t without detours. When Adelphia collapsed, Mike left telecom for a time, starting a frozen pizza distribution business. That venture taught him the realities of running a small business and sparked his drive to work for himself. He returned to the industry, launching Chicago Fiber Systems and later founding an engineering and construction management firm. Along the way, he faced his most personal challenge—battling stage four cancer. That experience shaped his leadership philosophy, reinforcing values like doing the right thing simply because it’s right, staying curious, and focusing on process over outcome.
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