Impact Stories

CenturyLink

CenturyLink, Northwest Region

Growing up in a small town in Illinois, “helping our neighbors was ingrained,” says Brian Stading. “We were expected to do things for the community.” Also raised with a strong work ethic, Brian was taking on jobs from a young age.

Today, he honors those values as president of CenturyLink’s Northwest Region − a role he has held since moving from Colorado to Seattle in 2011. He currently oversees markets in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Wyoming, where the company provides broadband, phone, cloud computing and managed telecommunication services to consumers and businesses.

Starting as a technician more than 25 years ago, Brian has always found “the necessity of telecommunications exciting. What I enjoy most are the people I get to work with. Our employees are amazing, especially in times of disaster. They work miracles in unbelievable conditions.”

CenturyLink is dedicated to improving the communities where their customers live and work. “We strive to be good corporate citizens any way we can,” Brian says. “It’s an important part of the culture here.”

In addition to the generous volunteer efforts of their employees, the company sponsors the home of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders, helps fund education programs through their teach and technology grants, and gives to several local nonprofit agencies and food banks.

Health care is another critical philanthropic area for CenturyLink. Upon learning about Virginia Mason’s commitment to transforming health care, Brian was eager to join forces with the foundation. “I was impressed with Virginia Mason’s needs-based approach and how it’s truly centered around the patient,” he says.

As a result of this corporate partnership, Brian and his team had the opportunity to hear Virginia Mason Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sarah Patterson speak about the organization’s journey to change the way health care is delivered. “There are a lot of parallels between our businesses,” Brian says. “The experience was overwhelmingly valuable.”

Virginia Mason’s leadership and innovation continue to inspire Brian. “They’re not just redefining the industry, they’re transcending it.”