Debra Freitas, CEO and Co-Founder of Light Source Communications (LSC), has once again earned recognition for her exceptional leadership and significant accomplishments in the telecommunications industry.
Inc. named Freitas to its 2026 Female Founders 500, which highlights the most dynamic female founders and leaders in the United States. The annual list features women business leaders who are shaping the future of their industries through bold ideas, resilience, and execution. Collectively in 2025, the honorees generated approximately $12.3 billion in revenue.
Each year, Inc. editors evaluate applications through a rigorous, multi-round selection process. Founders are assessed on both quantitative performance metrics, including revenue growth, funding, sales, and audience size, as well as qualitative factors such as innovation, social impact, and brand momentum. The final list represents entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and measurable progress over the past year. Previous honorees have included such game-changing leaders as Billie Jean King, Sallie Krawcheck, Serena Williams, and Emma Grede — all of whom have transformed their industries and broken barriers along the way.
Freitas founded LSC with Pete Empie Sr. in 2014. The company has experienced significant growth in recent years, most recently with the announcement of a 500-mile long-haul route connecting St. Louis and Tulsa. In just the last couple of years, LSC has launched new metro rings in Indianapolis, Kansas City, Phoenix and Las Vegas, in addition to expanding its Tulsa route.
“This award is a powerful validation not just of our growth, but of the essential role LSC plays in building the networks of tomorrow,” Freitas said. “At its core, dark fiber is about providing the literal foundation for others to innovate, and I am honored to lead a team that is building those pathways with both technical excellence and a commitment to building true partnerships with the hyperscalers and communities we serve.”
Read the full announcement here.
