Mike Schroeder
Mike attended High School in Indianapolis and two-year trade school in Electronics in Louisville, graduating in 1968.
He founded Consumer Satellite Systems (CSS) in 1980. He, along with about 10 to 20 others created the consumer satellite TV industry with the “BIG” dishes. Today the industry serves over 45 million households through DirecTV and DISH Network.
In 1986 Mike established National Programming Service, a division of CSS. He designed billing software and built an internal call center to manage 400,000 programming subscribers in the US, Canada and Mexico. In 1998, when CSS had over 400 employees and 10 distribution locations, he merged the company with DSI Systems in Iowa, which had 15 warehouses west of the Mississippi, and retired.
In 2002 he joined the Board of Directors of EchoStar, a subsidiary of DISH Network, and was Chairman of the Audit Committee, and a member of the Compensation and Nominating Committees. In 2008 EchoStar split into two public companies, DISH Network and EchoStar Corporation (SATS, NASDAQ). Mike held those board positions for EchoStar through 2023. In 2011 EchoStar acquired Hughes Communications for $1.3 Billion. Hughes provides Internet service to the US, Central and South America and recently launched the largest Communications satellite in history on a Falcon heavy. Hughes is also a manufacturer for ground stations and other equipment for companies worldwide. EchoStar flies 14 Geostationary Spacecraft, providing data services for commercial and government agencies. In 2023 EchoStar acquired DISH network.
In Sedona, Mike has served as President of Back O Beyond Ranch HOA for over 10 years and is on the Board of directors for SOCAA (Sedona Oak Creek Airport Authority) and a member of The Sedona 30, a local philanthropic organization.
Mike is a commercial pilot with over 3,500 hours in singles, turboprops and jets. He currently owns and flies a Beechcraft B100 King Air turboprop. He does volunteer charity flights for Veterans Airlift Command (VAC), transporting vets with disabilities, as well as various environmental missions for LightHawk.
Mike is married, with five combined children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.