Employees
Patty Torres
Customer Services Specialist
Employee Since 1995
Patty began her career with Sebastian as a member of the Operator Services department. When it became apparent that her bilingual skills, professional business manner, and smiling face would be a great fit for the Customer Service Department, she transferred to the front office as a receptionist.
Taking the initiative to freshen up her computer skills, Patty took several classes through the Fresno City College Training Institute, as well as a fourteen-week Dale Carnegie course, centered around developing professional business skills.
Sebastian is the first and only place that Patty has ever worked, and she is extremely proud to be a part of a prosperous and diverse company.
Now a Customer Service Specialist, she has witnessed the growth and expansion of the company and the community firsthand.
"I enjoy the feeling I get when I am able to be a new customer's first contact in the community. I also enjoy seeing the smiles and familiar faces of many of our longtime customers and friends," says Patty.
Gary Price
Network Operations/DSL Technician
Employee Since 2000
Gary came to Sebastian. after working for SBC for several years. In the four years that Gary has been employed by Sebastian, he has seen our DSL customer base rise from a mere 25 subscribers to almost 700! Our customers love the knowledge, experience, and kind and patient demeanor that Gary embodies.
Gary trained at DSL school in San Jose, well equipping himself for the exciting challenges and growth that he would experience with Sebastian. Gary is certified by various telephone switching programs, digital loop carriers, and fiber-optics equipment manufacturers, including Nortel, Tekelec, Tellabs, Alcatel, and Telect, just to name a few.
Gary says, "I am very proud to be part of a company that installs state of the art equipment to keep its customers and employees on the cutting edge of technology. I enjoy being part of a company and a community that values its employees and customers. No one is just a number here."
Rhonda Armstrong
Vice President of Operations
Employee Since 1972
Few individuals have represented Sebastian for over 30 years, and there are even fewer who have a story like Rhonda Armstrong's to tell.
Rhonda began her career with Sebastian working in the Operator Services Department. From there she moved to Data Processing, and then was promoted to the position of Revenue Accounting Manager.
Over time, Rhonda has held the positions of Customer Service Department Manager and Regulatory Manager, followed by a significant promotion to Operations Manager, overseeing all department managers and staff. Recently, in December of 2004, Rhonda was named Vice President of Operations for Sebastian, the first non-family member to ever be given an executive level title.
She has literally given her time, efforts, and energy to every single department within the organization. While she was climbing the ladder of success within the company, Rhonda was also diligently working to complete her education. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Phoenix, and in 2004, she obtained her Executive MBA from Fresno State University.
Even in the midst of a challenging career and a pursuit of higher education, Rhonda found the time to be an active citizen in the community, serving as Planning Commissioner for the City of Kerman, and as a board member for the Kerman Chamber of Commerce. All the while, Rhonda served on various CTA (California Telephone Association) committees, including serving as Chairperson of the CTA Carrier Relations committee.
Rhonda's greatest professional accomplishment is evident when you examine her history with Sebastian—she has proven that anything is possible with hard work, determination, and a supportive family of colleagues.
Steve Couto
Install & Repair Technician
Employee Since 1996
Steve began his career at Sebastian just four years after he graduated from Kerman High School. He started as a Lineman with the Outside Plant crew, and then became an I & R Technician (Install and Repair) in 1999.
One of the most exciting highlights of Steve's career was the feeling he got when Sebastian moved from their old building at 783 S. Madera Avenue into the new building at 811 S. Madera avenue. He was very proud to be a part of the expansion and growth of the company.
Steve is almost completely self-taught in his skills, working primarily on telephone and DSL installs, as well as handling trouble tickets for service and repairs. Steve is proud of the advances he has made over the years, and his ties to the community and the company have remained strong. He loves the agricultural base of our community, and the close-knit ties and friendships among the residents of Kerman. Mike Avinelis, Outside Plant Supervisor, stated, "It is a privilege to work with someone of Steve's caliber. I never have to worry about him completing a job—he is extremely responsible and hardworking. He is asset to our organization and to the community."