P.O. Box 1408 Dickinson, ND 58602
Winter 2022 A Publication of Consolidated Telcom
701-483-4000 • consolidatednd.com • Rhonda Fitterer, Editor
Photo by Cory Ash
Reflections of the Past – Paul Schuetzler
2022 Consolidated
PROGRAM See page 7 for information! 8
There were massive changes in the telecommunications industry during the past 24 years while I was with Consolidated. Thinking back to 1997, Consolidated was mostly a telephone cooperative serving the great folks of SW North Dakota. Soon plans were in place to add Dickinson to the Consolidated family, then we added Belfield, then Gladstone, and more outlying communities. This growth strengthened Paul Schuetzler us during the many changes in the industry. Consolidated began its conversion to a complete fiber network in the coop in the early 2000’s. A massive undertaking that would not only be time consuming and expensive, but that would set Consolidated’s network up for future products and services. This project was estimated to take seven years to complete, in reality it took 9 years to completely finish. But with the rollout of fiber Consolidated was able to not only offer telephone services but also video offerings and high speed internet services. Consolidated was now set up to offer the services our members would need for years to come. In 2003 I was appointed GM of Consolidated. For the next 19 years we worked to provide our members with the best products, the best price, and the best service. We all shared in the vision of doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason. I think we took it to heart when we didn’t measure up and we did all we could to be a cooperative with integrity and honesty at its core. I would like to thank the Board of Directors at Consolidated for trusting me to take the lead of the organization. During my time as GM the board has seen every district elect new board members (except one, Brenda). I can honestly say that they have all taken their roles and responsibilities seriously and really do want the best for the organization. As to our membership and customers, thank you all for your patronage. It has been an incredibly enjoyable 24 years with Consolidated. Now is time to turn the reins over to someone new, Bryan has great ideas and I expect Consolidated will continue its legacy of growth and innovation into the future. I can’t say that I won’t miss it, but I will get to observe and reflect and know that I was once a part of this great organization. My wife has a little saying, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened!” Right now I look like the Cheshire cat. Consolidated I wish you well.
Bryan Personne started his work career at Consolidated in 1998 as Director of Human Resources. In 2003, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Bryan Personne “The company has New General grown in size, from 63 Manager/CEO employees to over 110 today, but the culture of the company has remained constant. We are a company of family, friends and neighbors, serving family friends and neighbors,” says Personne. In the telecommunications industry, everything changes at the fast pace at which technology changes. We hire and train people with the right expertise to keep up with technology so that we can bring quality products and services to our customers. Consolidated built a state-of-the-art fiber network which is the foundation of everything we are going to do in the future. The latest and greatest technology is constantly changing, and our fiber network gives us the flexibility to explore these services. Any company can purchase equipment and provide services but our employees set us apart from the rest. We do everything in our power to help of our customers in a timely manner. We want our friends and neighbors to have great service. “Working for Consolidated for the last 23 years has been an honor and I am looking forward to serving in this new role, building upon the successes of the past,” says Personne.