Telecom Visionary Ellis Hill Retires. ResearchFirst Acquired. New Leadership Drives Future.
December 20, 2025, 10:13 am
ResearchFirst, Inc. (RFI) founder Ellis Hill retires December 31, 2025, concluding a remarkable 53-year career. Hill, a telecommunications visionary, pioneered Caller ID and advanced global SS7 services. His work transformed communication worldwide. SkyConnect CEO Wayne Chambers has acquired RFI, ensuring a seamless transition. Charlie Conway, RFI's current COO, will assume the CEO role on January 1, 2026. This strategic leadership shift promises RFI's operational continuity, preserves its client-first values, and positions the company for significant future growth. The move marks a pivotal moment for the telecom industry, blending RFI's innovative legacy with SkyConnect's market strength under proven leadership.
A telecommunications era concludes. Ellis D. Hill, ResearchFirst, Inc. (RFI) founder and CEO, announces his retirement. The date is December 31, 2025. This marks a distinguished 53-year career. His journey spans U.S. Army leadership, AT&T/BellSouth, and ResearchFirst. His influence is undeniable.
Simultaneously, RFI undergoes a significant business transition. Wayne Chambers acquires the company. Chambers is the successful CEO of SkyConnect. SkyConnect stands as a leading MDU dealer for DIRECTV. This acquisition ensures stability. It guarantees RFI's continued innovation and client service.
Chambers acts swiftly. He promotes Charlie Conway to CEO. Conway currently serves as RFI’s Chief Operating Officer. He will assume the top leadership role on January 1, 2026. This new leadership team promises a seamless transition. RFI's strong brand recognition remains. Its outstanding professional team endures. The company will operate as RFI Utah LLC, doing business as ResearchFirst.
Hill's legacy in telecommunications is profound. He founded RFI in 1987. This followed 11 impactful years at BellSouth. There, he held diverse leadership positions. Group Product Manager. District Public Relations Manager. Sales Manager. Plant Foreman. His teams pioneered Caller ID. They developed other SS7-based services. The world benefited.
The first market trial for Caller ID occurred in Orlando, Florida. This landmark event took place in 1984. Hill collaborated with Bell Labs and Bell Communications Research (Bellcore). He understood ubiquity's importance. He coordinated efforts across seven Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs). GTE later joined. Bell Canada also participated.
Hill further established the International CLASS Advisory Forum (ICAF). This forum expanded globally. British Telecom and several European operators joined. RFI consulted for these ICAF members. NTT of Japan received guidance. Telstra of Australia benefited. Major Canadian carriers also consulted RFI.
Hill made a strategic decision. He chose not to trademark Caller ID. He avoided patenting the new services. This ensured industry-wide adoption. Global deployment accelerated. He openly shared strategies, both successes and failures. This fostered worldwide advancement.
Hill’s impact extended to industry organization. He founded the TeleMessaging Industry Association (TMIA). He served as its Executive Director from 1989 to 1998. Later, he founded the Broadband Multimedia Marketing Association (BMMA). He led BMMA as Executive Director from 2002 until his retirement. His daughter, Jennifer Baxter, also contributed significantly to the industry. She recently retired as Senior Vice President of R&D at GSK.
Hill’s leadership journey began in military service. He served as a US Army Artillery officer. He graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1972. His service included diverse assignments. Firing Platoon Commander. NATO Special Weapons Site Commander. Executive Officer in V Corps Artillery. Logistics assignments followed. He served in the 3rd Armored Division.
As the division’s Supply Officer, Hill implemented a groundbreaking system. It resembled a "Home Depot–style" supply chain. This innovation predated Home Depot itself by five years. The Army later adopted this system widely. Combat readiness saw significant improvement. Hill later served as a Company Commander and Adjutant. His final Army assignment was Operations Research and Systems Analysis Officer for the Army's Logistics School.
Community service also defined Hill’s life. In Birmingham, Alabama, he held multiple leadership roles. He chaired the Board at First Christian Church. He was Elder Chairman. He taught adult Sunday School for 22 years. He later moderated the Alabama–Northwest Florida Region. This region comprised 66 congregations.
On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Hill served on several boards. He joined the Rotary Club of Gulfport. He served on the Biloxi Yacht Club Board. He acted as Treasurer for the Beau View Condominium Owners Association. He spent five years as President of The Great Southern Golf Club. An Eagle Scout, he championed youth development. RFI sponsored DIRECTV's Atlanta Metro Classic for a decade. This initiative supported Scouting programs.
Hill’s academic achievements include an MSBA from Boston University (1976). He earned a BSBA from the University of Southern Mississippi (1972). He has been married to Lynn Loveless since 1968.
The acquisition by Wayne Chambers’ SkyConnect signals a new chapter. SkyConnect is recognized as a top-performing DIRECTV MDU dealer. Chambers and Hill cultivated a strong professional and personal relationship. This facilitated a positive and seamless sale. Chambers' commitment to partners and teams aligns with RFI's values. SkyConnect earned DIRECTV's Dealer of the Year award in 11 of the last 12 years.
Charlie Conway brings extensive experience to the CEO role. He joined RFI in May 2023. His background includes leadership positions at DIRECTV, Comverse, Acision, and Verizon. Chambers and Conway share over ten years of professional collaboration. This ensures a cohesive leadership vision.
ResearchFirst will maintain operational continuity. Clients, partners, and employees can expect consistent, high-quality service. The company's long-standing annual industry events will continue. Planning is underway for the ResearchFirst 2026 Broadband Seminar. This event will honor Hill's decades of industry service.
RFI Utah LLC, operating as ResearchFirst, moves forward. It does so under Chambers' ownership and Conway's leadership. The company remains committed to its client-first culture. It upholds the values established by Ellis Hill. ResearchFirst enters its next chapter. It builds on a remarkable legacy. It embraces a future of innovation and continued service excellence.
A telecommunications era concludes. Ellis D. Hill, ResearchFirst, Inc. (RFI) founder and CEO, announces his retirement. The date is December 31, 2025. This marks a distinguished 53-year career. His journey spans U.S. Army leadership, AT&T/BellSouth, and ResearchFirst. His influence is undeniable.
Simultaneously, RFI undergoes a significant business transition. Wayne Chambers acquires the company. Chambers is the successful CEO of SkyConnect. SkyConnect stands as a leading MDU dealer for DIRECTV. This acquisition ensures stability. It guarantees RFI's continued innovation and client service.
Chambers acts swiftly. He promotes Charlie Conway to CEO. Conway currently serves as RFI’s Chief Operating Officer. He will assume the top leadership role on January 1, 2026. This new leadership team promises a seamless transition. RFI's strong brand recognition remains. Its outstanding professional team endures. The company will operate as RFI Utah LLC, doing business as ResearchFirst.
Hill's legacy in telecommunications is profound. He founded RFI in 1987. This followed 11 impactful years at BellSouth. There, he held diverse leadership positions. Group Product Manager. District Public Relations Manager. Sales Manager. Plant Foreman. His teams pioneered Caller ID. They developed other SS7-based services. The world benefited.
The first market trial for Caller ID occurred in Orlando, Florida. This landmark event took place in 1984. Hill collaborated with Bell Labs and Bell Communications Research (Bellcore). He understood ubiquity's importance. He coordinated efforts across seven Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs). GTE later joined. Bell Canada also participated.
Hill further established the International CLASS Advisory Forum (ICAF). This forum expanded globally. British Telecom and several European operators joined. RFI consulted for these ICAF members. NTT of Japan received guidance. Telstra of Australia benefited. Major Canadian carriers also consulted RFI.
Hill made a strategic decision. He chose not to trademark Caller ID. He avoided patenting the new services. This ensured industry-wide adoption. Global deployment accelerated. He openly shared strategies, both successes and failures. This fostered worldwide advancement.
Hill’s impact extended to industry organization. He founded the TeleMessaging Industry Association (TMIA). He served as its Executive Director from 1989 to 1998. Later, he founded the Broadband Multimedia Marketing Association (BMMA). He led BMMA as Executive Director from 2002 until his retirement. His daughter, Jennifer Baxter, also contributed significantly to the industry. She recently retired as Senior Vice President of R&D at GSK.
Hill’s leadership journey began in military service. He served as a US Army Artillery officer. He graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1972. His service included diverse assignments. Firing Platoon Commander. NATO Special Weapons Site Commander. Executive Officer in V Corps Artillery. Logistics assignments followed. He served in the 3rd Armored Division.
As the division’s Supply Officer, Hill implemented a groundbreaking system. It resembled a "Home Depot–style" supply chain. This innovation predated Home Depot itself by five years. The Army later adopted this system widely. Combat readiness saw significant improvement. Hill later served as a Company Commander and Adjutant. His final Army assignment was Operations Research and Systems Analysis Officer for the Army's Logistics School.
Community service also defined Hill’s life. In Birmingham, Alabama, he held multiple leadership roles. He chaired the Board at First Christian Church. He was Elder Chairman. He taught adult Sunday School for 22 years. He later moderated the Alabama–Northwest Florida Region. This region comprised 66 congregations.
On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Hill served on several boards. He joined the Rotary Club of Gulfport. He served on the Biloxi Yacht Club Board. He acted as Treasurer for the Beau View Condominium Owners Association. He spent five years as President of The Great Southern Golf Club. An Eagle Scout, he championed youth development. RFI sponsored DIRECTV's Atlanta Metro Classic for a decade. This initiative supported Scouting programs.
Hill’s academic achievements include an MSBA from Boston University (1976). He earned a BSBA from the University of Southern Mississippi (1972). He has been married to Lynn Loveless since 1968.
The acquisition by Wayne Chambers’ SkyConnect signals a new chapter. SkyConnect is recognized as a top-performing DIRECTV MDU dealer. Chambers and Hill cultivated a strong professional and personal relationship. This facilitated a positive and seamless sale. Chambers' commitment to partners and teams aligns with RFI's values. SkyConnect earned DIRECTV's Dealer of the Year award in 11 of the last 12 years.
Charlie Conway brings extensive experience to the CEO role. He joined RFI in May 2023. His background includes leadership positions at DIRECTV, Comverse, Acision, and Verizon. Chambers and Conway share over ten years of professional collaboration. This ensures a cohesive leadership vision.
ResearchFirst will maintain operational continuity. Clients, partners, and employees can expect consistent, high-quality service. The company's long-standing annual industry events will continue. Planning is underway for the ResearchFirst 2026 Broadband Seminar. This event will honor Hill's decades of industry service.
RFI Utah LLC, operating as ResearchFirst, moves forward. It does so under Chambers' ownership and Conway's leadership. The company remains committed to its client-first culture. It upholds the values established by Ellis Hill. ResearchFirst enters its next chapter. It builds on a remarkable legacy. It embraces a future of innovation and continued service excellence.