About Whitey Bluestein

Experience counts! Whitey Bluestein has built a career defined by innovation, strategic thinking and transformative deal-making. From nurturing early-stage companies to negotiating complex commercial and strategic partnerships, his work has spanned across the U.S., Europe, UK, Asia, and Canada. As a globally recognized expert in mobile connectivity, Whitey has spent the last 25 years advising companies large and small in wireless, telecoms, entertainment, energy, and healthcare through Bluestein & Associates, LLC.

Professional Highlights

Whitey's journey through the business world is marked by leadership roles in some of the most dynamic sectors. Before returning to full-time strategic advisory work, he served as Executive Vice President for Corporate and Business Development at Visage Mobile, a San Francisco - based firm that provided outsourced solutions for national brands offering private label wireless services. At Visage, he collaborated closely with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN on their mobile initiatives. Following his tenure at Visage, Disney’s Corporate Strategy group hired him as an industry advisor to explore global mobile opportunities.

Prior to Visage, Whitey was the Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at NorthPoint Communications, where he negotiated strategic distribution deals and secured investments totaling $94 million from industry giants like Microsoft, RadioShack, Global Crossing, Cable & Wireless, and XO. He then led the partner vetting process, negotiated and managed international joint ventures, including a Pan-European broadband partnership with Versatel and a Canadian venture with Sprint-Canada.

Earlier in his career, Whitey held executive positions at MCI Communications Corp. From 1995 to 1997, he was Vice President of Wireless Strategy and Development, where he created MCI’s wireless virtual network strategy — including the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO)— and negotiated wireless service agreements with leading mobile operators.

From 1994 to mid-1995, Whitey was the BT/Concert Alliance General Manager, managing MCI’s strategic relationship with British Telecom and the Concert joint venture.

Before rejoining MCI in 1994, he was Vice President of Strategic Business Development and Market Expansion at CENTEX Telemanagement. There, he managed carrier relationships and geographic expansion of the San Francisco-based company, which was recognized by Inc. Magazine as the fastest-growing service company in the U.S.

From 1982 to 1988, Whitey held various roles in corporate development, carrier relations and business marketing at MCI in Washington, DC, and San Francisco. His instrumental role in the cellular telephone market consolidation of 1984 is detailed in Wireless Nation: The Frenzied Launch of the Cellular Revolution in America by James B. Murray. As one industry veteran noted, "Whitey Bluestein has negotiated more wireless deals in his career than anyone in the U.S."

Early Career & Clean Tech Leadership

Long before Clean Tech became a buzzword, Whitey was pioneering sustainable energy initiatives. He led market development in the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Renewable Fuels, where he authored a Presidential Executive Order mandating the use of alternative fuels in federal vehicles. Hand-picked by the U.S. Secretary of Energy, he prepared a mandated report to Congress on synthetic fuel price guarantees, loan guarantees and crafted Congressional testimony on renewable fuels policy. In addition to writing testimony for several senior energy policymakers, he worked with Congress on biofuels legislation and testified before Congress on international trade issues.

Industry Expertise

Whitey’s expertise in wireless markets, distribution strategies, pricing models, and wholesale carrier deals has made him a sought-after voice in the industry. He is frequently quoted by leading publications and has served as an expert witness in numerous industry cases.

His media appearances include CNBC's Fast Money, FM Halftime Report, SquawkBox, CNN, and Bloomberg Television. He has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and The Christian Science Monitor, among others. His written work has appeared in Telecoms.com, Telephony, Wireless Week, GigaOM, and Public Utilities Fortnightly.

Whitey is also a frequent speaker at wireless conferences, including the Informa MVNOs World Congress and North American Industry Summits. Recognized as a 2013 Mobile Power Player by AlwaysOn, he served as the only American judge for the International MVNO Innovation Awards from 2013 to 2019.

Education

Whitey holds a B.S. in Business (Marketing and Economics) from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University (Bloomington) and a Juris Doctor with Honors from George Washington University Law School. He completed the prestigious NARUC Advanced Regulatory Studies Program at the Institute of Public Utilities, Michigan State University. He was admitted to practice law in D.C., Indiana and before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Environmental Advocacy

A strong advocate for environmental sustainability, Whitey served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Friends of the Earth (FoE). He previously served as President and Board Member of Bluewater Network, a San Francisco-based environmental group. His environmental contributions were recognized when he was selected as a judge for the Sustainability category of the 2014 Verizon Powerful Answers Award. Today, he serves on FoE’s Earth Leadership Council.

Personal Life

Beyond his professional achievements, Whitey is passionate about photography, electric guitar, and modeling and riding European trains. His photography has garnered more than 3 million views on Flickr. He lives with his wife in Sonoma County, California, where he continues to explore the intersection of technology, sustainability and creativity.