Giving Back to Radford: Bluebird Network CEO Jason Adkins Helps MBA Students Take the Next Step

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Radford University provides students with a solid foundation in core business disciplines — from operations management and marketing to accounting, finance and strategic management. Designed to meet the needs of working professionals, the program prepares students to fill a variety of leadership roles in public and private sectors of the global economy.

Jason Adkins, MBA ’98, is now the CEO at Bluebird Network. He credits the MBA program with opening the door to his successful career in telecommunications.

“After I got my MBA, I got an important promotion, and one of the reasons I got that promotion was because I had my MBA. That was one of the deciding factors,” said Adkins. “I feel like that stamp on my passport from Radford helped propel me forward, and now I’m lucky enough to be a CEO for the second time.”

Adkins moved to Roanoke, Virginia, after earning his undergraduate degree at James Madison University. When he decided to pursue his MBA, Radford had exactly what he was looking for – a hands-on program that accommodated working professionals.

“All the classes were very practical and very applicable for someone who was already in the workforce. All the professors did a great job of relating it to the real world,” explained Adkins. “They encouraged us to tell stories about what we were facing at work – real problems –and the class debated solutions. The coursework felt very current.”

Adkins served on the management teams at several telecommunications companies, including Windstream, Kentucky Data Link (KDL), TelCove, Conterra Networks and KMC Telecom, prior to landing his first CEO role at Unite Private Networks. As CEO, Adkins led the management team that grew Unite into a company with over $150M annual revenue. Cox Communications invested in Unite in 2016 and purchased it outright in 2023.

After enjoying a brief retirement, the 29-year fiber industry veteran went back to work in March 2024 to serve as CEO at Bluebird Network, a communications infrastructure provider and operator of two data centers and more than 11,000 miles of fiber. Bluebird supports many businesses, schools, hospitals and other enterprises across the Midwest. As CEO, Adkins believes in leading by example.

Adkins has applied many of the lessons he learned at Radford throughout his career, from discussions about equitable compensation to leadership roles in group projects. This experience inspired him to establish the Adkins Family MBA Scholarship, which will provide financial assistance to working students from the Roanoke Valley, the New River Valley and Southwest Virginia who are pursuing their MBA.

“It was important to me to give back to Radford because Radford helped me in my professional journey,” Adkins said. “I chose to help students who mirrored my experience of going to school and working – that balancing act. It wasn’t easy to pay for tuition. By endowing a scholarship, I hope to help someone take that next step.”

Melanie Butler ’06, MBA ’09, MBA program coordinator and director of Academic Support, Engagement and Retention, emphasized the profound impact scholarships can have on graduate students.

“The cost of an MBA program can be substantial in this economy, even if the student is only taking one course at a time,” Butler said. “This burden can be even greater for those living in Southwest Virginia because the pay scale is lower in many cases. A scholarship could very well be a make-or-break opportunity for an MBA student. While some employers offer opportunities for continuing education, most students are still paying out of pocket. Even a small scholarship that covers part of the cost reduces the financial burden and lowers the barriers.”

The Adkins Family MBA Scholarship will support working students at Radford for many years to come.

“Radford did a great job of preparing me and launching me on my way. I’m not sure whether I’d be sitting in this chair today had it not been for Radford,” said Adkins.

“When you pick a school that’s the right fit for you, you can do anything.”