He was a Democrat who served as a Commissioner on the FCC until departing earlier this year. Now, he has resurfaced at a entity that has little to do with grain elevators and anything depicted in the classic film Footloose.
That’s because Grain Management is a private investment firm.
In particular, Grain Management is focused on digital infrastructure and offerings to the global broadband industry, which is something Geoffrey Starks knows a bit about.
Now, he’s joined the Grain board as a Senior Advisor.
“Starks brings a distinguished record of public service, deep expertise in broadband policy, and extensive experience ensuring the reliability and security of the nation’s communications networks,” Grain said.
During his tenure at the FCC, Starks focused on expanding high-quality broadband access and strengthening the communications systems that support communities and businesses across the country.
“As a native Kansan, he understands the connectivity needs of rural and underserved regions and has been a strong proponent of efforts to ensure that households and enterprises have affordable, dependable access to modern communications infrastructure,” Grain said of Starks.
Grain founder and CEO David J. Grain commented, “Geoffrey’s leadership on broadband deployment, network integrity, and consumer protection aligns with Grain’s commitment to investing in essential digital infrastructure. His depth of knowledge and practical experience will be valuable as we continue advancing our mission of supporting robust and secure communications networks.”
Before serving as a FCC Commissioner, Starks helped lead the Enforcement Bureau, overseeing complex investigations and playing a key role in protecting the integrity of federal programs. Prior to joining the Commission, he served as a senior advisor in the U.S. Department of Justice, where his work earned the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service.
“Grain plays an important role in strengthening the communications infrastructure that supports economic growth and innovation,” said Starks, who practiced law at Williams & Connolly, clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, served in the Illinois State Senate, and worked as a financial analyst before public service. “The need for scalable, high-performing networks has never been greater. The Firm is in a strong position, and I look forward to supporting the growth strategy that will help it meet the demands of tomorrow driven by AI, data-intensive applications, spectrum-usage, and ubiquitous connectivity.”
Starks remains based in Washington, D.C.
