CEO’S MESSAGE
It seems like the world now, more than ever, is driven by data. Are you looking to buy a new dishwasher? You want reviews! Taking a family vacation? You want ideas for where to go and which attractions are the most popular. Are you looking to open or expand a business? You want to know what the market outlook is, the availability of qualified employees, and host of other data.
And I bet you expect to have access to that data almost instantly.
But remember the days of slow connections while trying to make a customer transaction? Or the spinning wheel of death when you tried to watch a Netflix movie? Those are almost a thing of the past like party line telephones.
There are two key contributors to those things becoming not-so-fond memories: reliable fiber optic connections and regional data centers. I talk a lot about DCN’s fiber optic connectivity but haven’t spent as much time talking about data centers. That is, until recently because with the interest in North Dakota by crypto and artificial intelligence data centers it’s been a hot topic.
MAKING SENSE OF THE DATA CENTER DISCUSSION
From the local coffee shops to the North Dakota State Capitol, recently there has been a lot of talk about data centers. But not all data centers are alike, and some terms are being used interchangeably even though they are talking about very different things. As a data center provider in North Dakota for more than 20 years, at DCN we are doing our part to help people understand the conversation.
First, let’s look at three key types of data centers for the North Dakota discussion:
DCN BOARD OF GOVERNORS CHANGES
After serving as CEO/ general manager of North Dakota Telephone Company, based in Devils Lake, since 2019, Rodney Hoffmeyer has retired.
Hoffmeyer joined NDTC in 1979 as an installer/ repair technician. Over the course of 45 years, he witnessed many changes to the industry and carried his varied perspectives to his CEO/GM role. He joined the DCN Board of Governors when he assumed leadership of NDTC.
TeeJay Kurtz took the reins of NDTC on March 1, 2025, and simultaneously joined the DCN board. Prior to his GM/CEO appointment, Kurtz served primarily in outside plant roles at NDTC for more than two decades.
“Rodney has been a valuable voice on our Board of Governors and we’re grateful for his service,” says DCN CEO Seth Arndorfer. “I’m also looking forward to seeing how TeeJay’s perspective will positively impact the work of our board.”
DCN HIRES TWO IN NOC
A transport technician and an application analyst have been hired as part of the DCN Network Operations Center (NOC) team in the Bismarck office.
As a transport technician, Jon Herreid supports DCN’s high-quality, state-ofthe-art transport network. His key responsibilities include monitoring network performance, setting up and maintaining services, and troubleshooting technical issues to ensure seamless connectivity. In addition, he works with advanced telecommunications technologies, works with local and national providers to manage network operations, and installs and maintains critical equipment at other NOCs and remote locations to ensure reliable communication infrastructure.
Herreid earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in cybersecurity and computer networks from Bismarck State College. Prior to joining DCN, he was a welder in the manufacturing industry for almost a decade.
In the application analyst role, Nate Fries is responsible for the administration of DCN’s network monitoring applications; performance dashboards, report generation, data analysis, and ensuring compliance with service agreements; and coordinating issue resolution and training users on internal and external applications.
A North Dakota native, Fries earned an Associate of Science in Information Technologies from Southern New Hampshire University. Prior to joining DCN, he worked in education and early childhood roles for seven years.
“Jon and Nate are going to be great assets to the team,” says DCN CEO Seth Arndorfer. “It’s exciting to see people choosing to change their career track and join the broadband industry. This is a dynamic time to be in this industry and I expect them to excel.”
