Search

In March 2018, Jim Broeckelman, senior IP head-end technician, and Kyle Jones, senior communications technician, were both involved in responding to a fire in an apartment complex near their Nex-Tech office in Norton, Kan. Broeckelman and Jones came to the rescue of residents of the apartment complex when it became engulfed in flames early in the morning.

May 31 started off as a normal day for Zack O'Dell and his colleague Mike Teeples to go jogging. As they continued their jog in the early morning hours near the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa in Avon, Colo., they encountered a woman in extreme distress who had been stabbed multiple times.

Amanda Floyd joined ATMC, a nonprofit cooperative owned by its members, as a marketing manager in 2015 after working for another telephone cooperative for 16 years. Under her leadership, ATMC’s marketing efforts have thrived. Now serving as director of marketing, Floyd brings relentless work ethic and commitment to making the initiatives of ATMC a success.

Vern Dosch has successfully led the National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) for the past 25 years, and during his entire tenure, he found many ways to support NTCA, its advocacy efforts, and the broader rural telecommunications industry. Dosch is a regular presence on Capitol Hill and has been a reliable supporter of NTCA conferences and programs as a tireless advocate and a humble, curious and passionate leader.

After nearly 17 years of leading Consolidated Telephone Co. (CTC), located in Brainerd, Minn., Kevin Larson recently retired from his position as chief executive officer/general manager to that of director of public relations. His telecommunications industry career expands more than 45 years starting as a technician and eventually supervising and managing various phone companies.

NTCA 2019 Excellence Awards Winner Rodney Renner successfully ran for a position on the board of directors of Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative nearly 47 years ago. Today, he is the longest serving board member in Golden West history. A 47-year tenure is impressive all on its own, but what a person accomplishes during that time marks the difference between just showing up and leadership.

Since his arrival at CoBank, Andy Smith, managing director in CoBank’s communications banking division has excelled in this position by immersing himself in the rural telecommunications industry through his work with independent and cooperative telecommunications providers, many of whom are NTCA members, and his participation in NTCA and other telecom industry events.

Jill Kohlhaas was awarded the NTCA 2019 eXcellence Heroism Award for her efforts to saving the life of a turtle which turned into saving a 72-year-old woman in distress.

Jeff Powell, central office technician, NCTC was responding to a routine call in Scottsville, Kentucky. The customers at this residence were a husband and wife with whom the technician was familiar, and he had no worries when entering the home.

Kurt Gruendling, vice president of marketing and business development, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom (WCVT), has been a marketing pioneer in the rural telecommunications industry since 1996. He has been involved in marketing, public relations and business development at WCVT for more than 23 years. He was essential in assisting with the unification process between NTCA and OPASTCO and served on both the OPASTCO and NTCA marketing committees as a member and as a past president. He is a professional in his field and has mentored countless other telecoms.