Increased Internet speeds provide many benefits to residences and businesses. It allows the transfer of very large files over the Internet, like medical images or multimedia programming. A fiber infrastructure also levels the playing field for small, rural communities to compete with larger, urban areas for business growth, expansion and economic development.

 

The Nex-Tech Great Bend residential expansion continues a long-planned build, coming on the heels of extending fiber facilities to seven Great Bend schools, the district office, maintenance shop and food service center, alongside the completion of a sizable build to area businesses. The residential build completion will roll out in phases. Each neighborhood that meets the required number of customers to achieve feasibility will be prioritized in the buildout process. Neighborhoods with lower interest levels may be served with a hybrid wireless Internet solution instead of fiber. The project is estimated to take five years to complete.

 

“Nex-Tech expansion plans are driven in large part by our commitment to making connectivity an integral part of rural America,” says Dustin Schlaefli, Director of Customer Engagement. “That said, it’s an expensive proposition, so when we build, it is with an eye to the future. We know that a 10 Mbps connection is no longer enough for the average household and demand will continue to increase as technology advances.”

 

For more information on Nex-Tech’s fiber expansion in Great Bend, please visit fiber.nex-tech.com or you may stop by our store. Residents can show their interest in bringing service to their neighborhood. The web site tracks the interest level per zone and shows the progress. When the required level of interest is reached in a zone, the zone will then be converted to the sign-up phase, and customers that have showed interest will then be asked to select and commit to services.

 

Nex-Tech, a technology service provider in Great Bend since 2002, maintains a local office at 3700 10th Street. In addition to providing phone, Internet, Nex-Tech Wireless and business technology services, the Internet expansion will allow Nex-Tech to deliver TV Now service as well, providing a new option for TV service to Great Bend residents. Nex-Tech currently offers fiber service in nearly 60 communities throughout Kansas and was the first company in the nation to bring fiber to the home.

 

Featured speakers were:

 

Dave Kinsey, President of Total Networks, spoke about his book, The Blockchain Code: Decrypt the Jungle of Complexity to Win the Crypto-Anarchy Game, describing blockchain, cryptocurrency and the impact technology-based currency structure has on society.

 

Mark Matthews, ATG CEO, (Bromsgrove, England) focused on corporate culture, defining exactly how his dedication to empowering employees was key toward realizing record and sustainable growth at his award-winning IT company.

 

“Nex-Tech provides the latest and best-performing technologies to rural America,” said Jimmy Todd, Nex-Tech CEO and General Manager. “Tech Edge is a place where the brightest minds in business converge to discuss and explore cutting-edge technology, ultimately defining for themselves the best ways to incorporate it into their own businesses.”

 

Throughout the day, 27 breakout sessions and 26 vendors representing 14 national manufacturers kept attendees engaged. The day ended with Prize-A-Palooza excitement as randomly selected attendees won over $11,000 in tech-savvy gadgets.

 

“The amount of value a person gets from this $75 conference is phenomenal. It doesn’t matter what business you are in, or how involved you are with technology, you will take home something essential to moving your business forward, said Steve Riat, Director of Sales, Nex-Tech. “Add a reminder to your calendar for 2020! Planning for the 7th annual Tech Edge is already in the works.”

 

“Internet access is important to every person in America, whether living in a large city, or living on a rural farm, producing food for the nation. All consumers deserve the bandwidth necessary to deliver educational opportunities, telemedicine care, work from home opportunities and we need more markets that can support business growth and development,” said Jimmy Todd, CEO/General Manager of Nex-Tech, a rural telecommunications cooperative in Kansas.

 

The six independent telecoms that joined to write the RBNA Act, EATEL, SilverStar, Nex-Tech, Smithville, Totah and Chickasaw, recognized that the current USF funding support is capped while Internet usage continues to increase and the funding reform has failed to recognize the increasing data usage. Edge providers, specificially over the top video providers, are the biggest impact on network usage today. These providers utilize rural broadband networks without paying any transit fee and the ever-increasing capacity leads to network investments and upgrades by the rural broadband providers. “It is essential to address how the level of rural broadband infrastructure investments can continue to support the ever-increasing data growth. Companies, like Netflix and Amazon Video, use the networks of these rural telecoms daily for free, profit from their usage, yet pay none of the necessary infrastructure upgrades or upkeep costs of these networks,” explained Rhonda Goddard, Chief Financial Officer of Nex-Tech.

 

The RBNA Act establishes a new program at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would collect Network User Fees from edge providers such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Video, based on the data transported over the last mile of networks. User fees would then be invested by the rural broadband providers to help build, maintain and operate robust broadband networks in high cost rural areas. All rural broadband providers would be eligible for the program if they provide broadband access in high cost rural areas to fewer than 100,000 customers within a state and provide the speeds required by the FCC.

 

Tiffany Pfeifer, Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. Tiffany is the daughter of Gerald and Marcia Pfeifer of Hays. Her career goal is to teach high school math. Tiffany will attend Kansas State University to earn a dual major in Secondary Education and Math.

 

Ethan Lang, Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. Ethan is the son of Greg and LaNae Lang of Hays. Ethan is fascinated with finance and wants to become a Certified Financial Planner. He will attend Fort Hays State University studying finance in pursuit of his career goal.

 

Eli Reling, Quinter Junior/Senior High School. Eli is the son of Jessica Reling, Quinter and Daniel Reling, Topeka. Eli will attend Cloud County Community College and transfer to Kansas State University to pursue a Mechanical Engineering degree.

 

Kourtney Davidson, Quinter Junior/Senior High School. Kourtney is the daughter of Darrin and Amy Davidson, Park. Kourtney will attend Fort Hays State University to pursue a Business Management degree. Her goal after college is to own and operate a hair salon with her sisters.

 

Keaton Schlaefli, Hays High School. Keaton is the son of Dustin and Kristy Schlaefli of Hays. Keaton’s chosen career is Diesel Mechanics. He will attend NCK Tech, Beloit Campus, enrolling in the Diesel Technology program.

 

Ashlyn Windholz, Victoria High School. Ashlyn is the daughter of Jared and Andrea Windholz of Victoria. Ashlyn’s career goal is to become a Nurse specializing in Pediatrics. She will begin her studies for two years at the University of Kansas and apply her sophomore year to the University’s School of Nursing in Kansas City.

 

Ricole Blecha, Northern Valley High School. Ricole is the daughter of Lisa Brown, Long Island and Robert Blecha, Garfield. Ricole has a great love for animals and aspires to be a Veterinarian. She will begin her studies at Hastings College and hopes to transfer to Kansas State University.

 

Dylen Trecek, Trecek Academy. Dylen is the son of Troy and Marla Trecek, Alton. Dylen’s love for engineering, especially robotics has led him to pursue a Mechatronics degree at Wichita State University. Focusing on Robotic Engineering, Dylen wants to help people with physical disabilities. His studies will begin at Cloud County Community College for one year to obtain a Pre-Engineering degree.

 

Sienna Wingerson, Smith Center Junior/Senior High School. Sienna is the daughter of Steve and Annette Wingerson of Smith Center. Sienna will attend Kansas State University majoring in Marketing with a minor in Journalism and Mass Communications. Her future goal is to become a multi-media manager for a rural Kansas business.

 

Kallie Leiker, Hays High School. Kallie is the daughter of Corey and Kenda Leiker of Hays. Kallie aspires to become a Pharmacist. She will attend Fort Hays State University to obtain a Pre-Pharmacy degree, then transfer to the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy to earn her Doctorate.

 

Ellis County Administrator Phil Smith-Hanes said, “Ellis County is a great place to live, work, shop and play, and I’m so excited to show off a few of our gems through this video project. Whether it’s our German and Wild West history or our modern healthcare and economic opportunities, these videos are sure to offer something for everyone.”

 

The project took more than a year to complete and couldn’t have been accomplished without the partnering organizations and other businesses that chose to sponsor the videos.

 

“In this highly visual world we live in, it is crucial that our community presents itself in manners that appeal to the public,” said Tammy Wellbrock, Executive Director of the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce. “These promotional videos truly show off the beauty in Ellis County while being both entertaining and informative.”

 

The videos are available to view at www.nex-tech.com/elliscounty.

 

“It was great to be involved with this collaborative project that will be a fantastic public relations tool for Ellis County, Hays, Ellis and Victoria. Thank you to the businesses that helped sponsor the project,” said Dustin Schlaefli, Nex-Tech’s Director of Customer Engagement.

 

Wellbrock added, “Thanks to the creative crew at Nex-Tech for taking this project on to completion; having a local company produce this video aided greatly in highlighting the nuances that make Ellis County so special.”

 

Digital Marketing Specialists Aubree Broyles of Hays and Daniel Schwindt of McPherson are the Nex-Tech employees that maintain certification in Google Ads. They, along with a talented team of marketing specialists, web designers, audio and video production specialists and graphic designers, provide expert Google Ads services and wide variety of digital, design, web, social media and consulting services to nearly 100 businesses throughout the United States.

 

“This recognition from Google proves that even though we live in a rural area, we’re keeping pace with technology experts around the world and bringing powerful advertising tools to our local businesses,” said Broyles.

 

Schwindt added, “It’s really an honor to be trusted by so many clients to manage these complex campaigns and influence the digital presence of their businesses.”

 

He was in Seattle for the NTCA Fall Conference from September 16-19. NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association represents independent telecommunications companies in rural and small communities in America. Schlaefli’s presentation was called, “Customer Feedback and Reviews—Your Most Unhappy Customers Are Your Greatest Source of Learning”.

 

At the Calix ConneXions Innovation and User Conference in Las Vegas from October 28-30, Schlaefli joined a discussion on service provider plans for the future of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). Calix is a leader in cloud and software programs and is a vital part of Nex-Tech’s Smart Home WiFi product. The title of the presentation was, “How Will Streaming Video Change IPTV and Drive Wi-Fi Saturation?”

 

The 2018 Calix Innovation Award winners for Innovations in Subscriber Experience are:

 

The 2018 Calix Innovation Award winners for Innovations in Next Generation Networks are:

 

“Our partnership with Calix has been a vital part of our Smart Home Wi-Fi product, and it is an honor to be recognized as one of the 2018 Calix Innovation Award winners,” said Jimmy Todd, CEO and General Manager of Nex-Tech. “We can’t wait to take our service to the next level and cement our place as the smart home experts for our subscribers.”

 

“Calix ConneXions 2018 once again showed the event is the industry’s premier educational conference with record-setting attendance from broadband service providers around the world,” said Michael Weening, Calix Executive Vice President of Field Operations. “The Calix Innovation Award winners were a highlight of the conference as they serve as examples for others to take concepts that were once imagined and make them real, with exceptional results. Each of these broadband leaders has taken control of their future success by building next generation networks and showing a commitment to the subscriber experience that sets the pace for the rest of the industry to follow.”

 

More information and insights from Calix ConneXions, including video recordings of many of the keynote presentations, will be posted on the Calix ConneXions site at https://www.calix.com/events/calix-connexions.html.

 

 

“The accounting department collectively has more than 160 years of experience in supporting the various lines of business throughout Nex-Tech,” noted Lindenman. “It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to lead this excellent group of individuals.”

 

 

Bieker will be the Director of Accounting, Finance and Billing and also a member of the executive management team for the company. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Fort Hays State University. Bieker joined Nex-Tech as a bookkeeper in 1998, was promoted to Accounting Supervisor in 2001, then Accounting Manager in 2006.

 

“I am excited for the opportunity to grow and expand my knowledge in the finance and billing areas of the company,” said Bieker. “I have really big shoes to fill with the well-deserved retirement of the supervisors in these areas, but Nex-Tech has amazing people and we all work well as a team. I know with the help of their staff and my accounting team, this transition will be successful.”

 

Originally from Hoxie, Bieker lives in Hill City with her husband, James, and 13 year-old twin daughters, Gretchen and Grace. In her free time, she supports her children in sports and special interest activities, and volunteers for community organizations such as 4-H, County Extension, and Graham County Recreation. She has served as a cheer sponsor for every level of cheerleading in Hill City.

 

Lindenman has been selected as the Accounting Supervisor. Like Bieker, she started as a bookkeeper with Nex-Tech in 2001, and was promoted to Plant Accountant in 2006. After growing up in Dodge City, Lindenman earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Business Management from Fort Hays State University. She now resides in rural Morland with her husband, Shawn, her son, Jacob, a junior at Hill City High School, and daughter Leah, a freshman and dancer.

 

Lindenman serves on the booster club and as a cheer sponsor. She teaches Sunday School and has volunteered for the Graham County Recreation Commission. Most importantly, she is her kids’ biggest fan for their activities.

 

“The accounting department collectively has more than 160 years of experience in supporting the various lines of business throughout Nex-Tech,” noted Lindenman. “It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to lead this excellent group of individuals.”

 

Nickelson will advance to Human Resources Manager. She has been with Nex-Tech since 2008, when she started as the Administrative Coordinator for the Chief Information Officer. She transferred to Human Resources in 2011, serving as an assistant, then generalist, and most recently, coordinator. Nickelson lives on a farm near Hill City with her husband, Jay, and two beautiful little girls, Kimber and Remi. They enjoy time as a family checking cows and playing with the dogs.

 

“I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges this new leadership role will bring,” said Nickelson. “I feel blessed to be a part of this fascinating, growing and very important part of our business.”

 

Nickelson graduated from Weskan High School and Colby Community College before earning a Bachelor of Arts from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, where she played Coyote Volleyball and was recently inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame with her team. Before starting her family, Nickelson coached volleyball at Hill City High School.

 

Chief Financial Officer Rhonda Goddard will work with all three women in their new positions. Said Goddard, “I’m very excited for the future of these three talented, professional women. Growing this kind of expertise in our organization and being able to make these promotions from within is The Nex-Tech Way.”

 

The remodels are already underway. The Russell building will be the new home for thirteen Russell-based employees in a variety of departments, including Customer Sales, Technology Services, Field Operations and Business Services. The Osborne building will house three Osborne-based employees.

 

When a move date is confirmed, Nex-Tech will notify its customers.