September 2014 Newsletter

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Fargo, ND Permit #1159

3901 Great Plains Dr. S. Fargo, ND 58104 800.814.3333 www.DakotaCarrier.com

(If you would like to be removed from our mailing list, please e-mail Nancy Bjorndahl at nbjorndahl@dakotacarrier.com)

DCN SUPPORTS MEF-CECP CERTIFICATION We are proud to have such a diverse group of individuals employed at DCN holding the certificate of Metro Ethernet Forum’s Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional (MEF-CECP). The MEF-CECP certification program allows telecommunication professionals to demonstrate his or her expertise, skills and knowledge of Carrier Ethernet technologies, standards, services and applications.

DCN currently has nine employees that are MEF-CECP certified, which consists of positions held by the CEO, Director of Operations, Wholesale Carrier Relations, Commercial Account Executive, NOC Ethernet/IP Supervisor, Network Design Specialist, and NOC Ethernet/IP Technicians.

Customer service is important to us and to better serve our customers, DCN encourages their employees to keep up with state-of-the-art technology. Our employees have the opportunity to attend training courses that will help them gain knowledge in this world of ever-changing technology.

MEF-CECP certified DCN employees are, back row, left to right, Seth Arndorfer (CEO), Jim Swenson (Network Design Specialist), Jennifer Guthmiller (Account Executive), Jody Sommer (NOC Ethernet/IP Tech), Mark Aslakson (Wholesale Carrier Relations), front row, Steve Frank (NOC Ethernet/IP Tech), Jesse Heck (Director of Operations), Tim Paulson (NOC Ethernet/IP Supervisor), Aparna Subramanian (NOC Ethernet/IP Tech).

SEPTEMBER 2014 Helping organizations achieve greater value through the advancement of fiber optic telecommunications

CEO’S MESSAGE

ARNDORFER NAMED IN NORTH DAKOTA’S 40 UNDER 40 DCN’s CEO, Seth Arndorfer was one of the 40 professionals in the Bismarck, ND area to receive special recognition recently by The Bismarck Tribune.

Arndorfer was among the winners of the newspaper’s 40 Under Forty award, which recognizes North Dakota’s top 40 professionals younger than 40. This award honors young professionals that provide leadership, professional development and commitment to the community. There were 77 individuals nominated and Arndorfer was among the forty that were selected to receive this prestigious award. Seth joined DCN in 2002 as an account executive and was named DCN’s CEO in 2013.

Seth Arndorfer, CEO

As a North Dakota native, I have noticed North Dakota residents have a sense of urgency this time of the year. Whether it is trying to squeeze in that one last summer vacation or completing an outdoor project prior to freeze up, DCN is no different. We are working as aggressively as possible to finish our 2014 fiber construction plans before the ground turns into concrete for six months. Though short, it has been a great year for construction, as DCN and Owner Companies bored, trenched and knifed in over $100 Million Dollars in fiber infrastructure statewide.

As far as current community involvement, Seth is the President on the Mandan Golf Association Board of Directors, Vice President on ITCND, and assists in coaching youth sporting activities including basketball, football, and baseball.

Seth graduated from Dickinson State University with a degree in business administration. In 2007, Arndorfer received an Executive MBA degree from the University of Mary. Seth and his wife, Ali, have been married over 15 years and have two boys, Jace, and Reese.

Congratulations Seth, DCN is proud of your leadership, professional development and commitment to the community.

More information relating to Bismarck Tribune’s 40 Under 40 can be found at: http://content.yudu.com/Library/A2yumr/40Under4007202014/resources/3.htm.

PAUL SCHUETZLER NAMED DCN’S BOARD CHAIRMAN

As fall rapidly approaches, we prepare for another North Dakota winter and we look forward to continuing our fiber deployment in 2015.

www.DakotaCarrier.com

Paul Schuetzler (GM/Consolidated Telcom), left, presents an award to outgoing Board Chairman, David Dunning (GM/Polar Communications), right, in March of 2014.

13TH ANNUAL DAKOTA CARRIER CLASSIC On July 22, 2014, DCN held their thirteenth annual customer appreciation Golf Classic at the Hawktree Golf Course in Bismarck, North Dakota.

DCN had 98 golfers participate in this fun-filled event. A nice evening meal followed, along with the presentation of numerous prizes and awards.

Here are a few snapshots of the memorable day.

DCN SELECTED TO SERVE STATE ENTITIES In June of 2014, Mike Ressler, the State Chief Information Officer with the North Dakota Information Technology Department (ITD), signed a contract with DCN for Internet Access and Ethernet Access for state locations. In addition, DCN will provide ITD fiber backbone services scalable from 10 megabits to 100 gigabit speeds.

The new contract also includes provisions for fiber-based facilities to over 300 ITD locations throughout the state of North Dakota. Entities served by ITD include K-12 Schools, Higher Ed Institutions, State Agencies, and State Radio sites. DCN CEO, Seth Arndorfer states, “DCN’s commitment to North Dakota’s broadband infrastructure resulted in being selected

by ITD to continue providing North Dakota users with reliable high-speed services to meet consumers’ growing broadband demands.”

Pictured above are: Seth Arndorfer, DCN’s CEO (left), with Mike Ressler, ITD’s CIO (right).

ITD users will have access to DCN’s Gigabit services in every community across North Dakota. In fact, by 2015, DCN’s Ethernet backbone will be capable of delivering multiple Terabyte connections to various cities in the state of North Dakota. The new contract will expire in 2019 with provisions for contract extensions.

TWO NEW EMPLOYEES HIRED

Aparna Subramanian

Steve Schmit

Aparna Subramanian has been hired as a NOC Ethernet/ IP Tech in DCN’s Bismarck location.

Steve Schmit has been hired as an Inventory Controller in the Bismarck DCN location.

Aparna has a bachelor’s degree of science with a double major in computer science and mathematics, and a minor in leadership studies from Dickinson State University.

She also holds certifications as a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), and is a MEF-CECP 2.0 Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional.

Steve’s prior experience working with customers and managing inventory will greatly benefit DCN. With the continuing growth of DCN’s network and the need for additional equipment, Steve was hired to monitor and manage all inventory.

Additionally, this will allow DCN’s technical staff to focus on our customers needs and maintain DCN’s state-of-the-art network.

DCN WAS A SPONSOR AT THE ICBND 47TH ANNUAL CONVENTION IN AUGUST

DCN’s Booth Display

EMPLOYEE PROMOTIONS

Mark Aslakson

Jennifer Guthmiller

Barb Pfeifer

Mark Aslakson was promoted to Wholesale Carrier Relations in DCN’s Fargo location. Aslakson previously worked for DCN as a Commercial Account Executive.

Jennifer Guthmiller was promoted to Commercial Account Executive from Network Support Rep in the Bismarck office.

Barb Pfeifer was promoted to NOC Ethernet/IP Technician I from Network Support Rep in the Bismarck office.

Mark graduated from Colorado Technical University in Colorado Springs, CO. with a Masters of Science in Management and has over 13 years experience in the information technology field. Aslakson also holds certifications in project management, and is a MEF-CECP 2.0 Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional.

Guthmiller graduated from NDSU with a Management in Information Systems degree and has over 16 years of experience in various IT industries.

Jennifer also holds a certification as a MEF-CECP 2.0 Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional.

Prior to joining DCN, Barb worked at US West/Qwest for over 19 years and has approximately 10 years of technical network experience.

Pfeifer graduated with bachelor’s degree in Office Administration and a minor in Business Administration from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.