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The Society of Entrepreneurs - Bios |
Billy Orgel
Tower Ventures, CEO
| William E. Orgel (Billy) is a native of Memphis and is a graduate of Memphis University School. He earned a BBA from The University of Texas at Austin in 1985. After graduation, he moved to Memphis to work at his family business, Majestic Communications, which he helped build into the areas largest retailer of Motorola two way radio equipment as well as the largest private licensee of 800MHZ FCC licenses. Due to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 there began an emergence of multiple wireless phone carriers across the country, and Billy began to build on his existing portfolio of communications towers by performing build to suit services for these new carriers. His company that he runs with his partners, Tower Ventures, currently own over 400 towers and they have built and sold 280 towers since the company began. Currently, Tower Ventures leases tower space in over 30 states and is the 6 largest private tower company in the country.
Billy is the President of the Board of Trustees at Temple Israel Synagogue and former Co-Chair of their 25 million capital campaign. He is a Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bridges, Inc, where he chaired the Building Committee for their new facility. Billy is also a past Board Member of the New Memphis Arena Public Building Authority that oversaw the construction of the FedEx Forum. Billy is a member of the Memphis and Shelby County Port Commission and currently serving as a Commissioner for the Charter for Memphis and Shelby County. In addition, he is a member of the Board of the National Civil Rights Museum and a former Board member of Playhouse on the Square. In 1999, Billy was selected by the Memphis Business Journal as one of their "Top 40 Under 40" of local community leaders. In addition, Billy is an Organizer and Director of the First Capital Bank located in Germantown, Tennessee. Over the years, Billy became interested in preserving historic buildings in Downtown Memphis, and to date he and his partners have completed the construction and preservation of 6 buildings that include commercial space and 63 apartments. Within the same historic district they are constructing a new apartment building with 92 units which will be available in May, 2010. Billy is also involved in the restaurant business as a franchisee of Ruth's Chris in Rogers, Arkansas and Lenny's Sub Shops in Dallas, Texas.
Description of Business:
Cellular telephone towers Year Business Founded:
1996 Year Inducted:
2010 Thoughts on Entrepreneurship: "'"Entrepreneurs will continue to be the driving force behind innovation and growth in our local, national and global economies."" For More Information: http://www.towerventures.com
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