Nominee Questionnaire

Please provide a short bio for voters to get to know you. 

I am the Vice President of Marketing & Customer Solutions at Midwest Energy & Communications. Throughout my career, I have focused on one simple goal: understanding customers and improving their experience. My work spans customer solutions, communications, marketing, and community engagement, all with a commitment to helping rural communities thrive through electric, propane, and broadband services. 

In addition to my leadership role at MEC, I am actively involved in the Fiber Broadband Association, Women in Fiber, and the Calix Customer Advisory Board. I previously served on NISC’s Marketing & Customer Experience Advisory Board and as Chair of the Cass County Economic Development Corporation. These roles reflect my commitment to industry collaboration, leadership development, and customer-centered decision-making. 

I believe the strongest organizations combine vision with action. I am committed to advancing initiatives that create meaningful value for members, customers, and communities.

Please summarize why you consider yourself an excellent candidate for the FBA Board of Directors? 

I believe I am an excellent candidate for the FBA Board because I bring a combination of industry involvement, leadership experience, and a strong commitment to execution. Throughout my career, I have focused on turning ideas into measurable results, whether improving the customer experience, advancing broadband adoption, developing leaders or strengthening the communities we serve. 

I am known as someone who follows through on commitments, tackles challenges directly, and works collaboratively to move initiatives from discussion to action. I would bring that same approach and dedication to serving on the FBA Board. 

Describe your current position and functional responsibilities to your company. 

As Vice President of Marketing & Customer Solutions at Midwest Energy & Communications, I lead customer solutions, dispatch, marketing, communications, and public relations. I keep customer needs at the center of business decisions while supporting growth, operational excellence, and community engagement. 

In my role, I oversee customer experience strategy, customer communications, sales and retention initiatives, brand and marketing strategy, crisis and outage communications, and key customer-facing operational functions. I also work closely with executive leadership to evaluate emerging technologies, competitive threats, new service opportunities, and long-term strategic initiatives that support our electric, propane, and broadband businesses and the communities we serve. 

A significant part of my work involves connecting customer insights with organizational strategy, helping ensure that investments, programs, and initiatives deliver meaningful value to both customers and the company. 

What was your previous position, and how long did you hold that position before transitioning to your current one? 

Before becoming Vice President, I served in several roles at MEC, including five years as Marketing Manager.   

Do you have any experience as a member of a Board of Directors? If so please provide name of the entity and number of years of which you served. 

I served on the Cass County EDC/Brownfield Board of Directors, including one term as Chair. 

I also served on NISC’s Marketing & Customer Experience Advisory Board and currently serve on the Calix Customer Advisory Board. 

How many years has your company been a Fiber Broadband Association Member?

MEC has been a member of the FBA since 2008. 

How many years have you participated in Fiber Broadband Association activities? 

I have been active in the Women in Fiber Committee for five years. 

Please indicate any Fiber Broadband Association Committees or working groups you have participated on including position and years served. 

I have served on the Women in Fiber Committee for five years. For the past two years, I have served as Chair. Previously, I served as committee secretary and as co-chair of the committee’s social media and marketing working group. 

Please list any Fiber Broadband Association Contributions (activities supported, assets developed, documents drafted, webinars presented, etc.) 

My primary contributions to the Fiber Broadband Association have been through my involvement with Women in Fiber. I actively participate in Women in Fiber leadership meetings, helping advance initiatives that support member engagement, professional development, mentorship, and industry collaboration. 

I support the planning and delivery of the Women in Fiber monthly webinar series and serve as a presenter and panelist multiple times each year. I have also presented at the Women in Fiber Luncheon and other Association-sponsored events, sharing perspectives on customer experience, leadership, communications, and broadband industry trends. 

I helped launch an ambassador program that represents the FBA at regional and industry events, builds engagement, and raises awareness of both Women in Fiber and the FBA. 

In addition, I am an active mentor in the Women in Fiber mentoring program, supporting the development of emerging leaders within our industry. I have contributed to FBA promotional and advocacy efforts, including supporting the Association’s Dolly Parton initiative and participating in video productions used to promote Association programs and initiatives. 

Through these activities, I have helped strengthen member engagement, develop leaders, raise broadband awareness, and advance the Fiber Broadband Association’s mission. 

Please provide a short overview of your experience with telecommunications, fiber optics, and FTTH technologies. 

I began my career in the electric utility industry in 1998. In 2015, Midwest Energy & Communications made the strategic decision to expand into fiber broadband, and I was part of the leadership team challenged with learning an entirely new industry while building and growing a fiber-to-the-home business. 

Building the fiber business required significant education, training, and industry engagement as we developed expertise in telecommunications, fiber technology, broadband operations, and regulatory requirements. I helped build customer-facing teams from the ground up and develop the processes, communications, and customer experience strategies needed to launch and scale our FTTH business within our existing service territory and later in new markets. 

Today, we serve more fiber broadband customers than electric customers, a milestone that reflects the dedication of our team and the growing importance of fiber connectivity in rural communities. While I am proud of the growth we have achieved, I am most proud of the teams we have built and the opportunities we have created for customers who previously had little or no access to reliable broadband. Seeing the impact that fiber connectivity has on families, businesses, education, healthcare, and local economic development continues to be one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. 

Please describe the goals you would like to accomplish during your term as Fiber Broadband Association Board Member. 

If elected to the Fiber Broadband Association Board, I would help the Association prepare for what comes next. As BEAD-funded projects are completed and more communities gain access to fiber, the industry must focus on continuing to deliver customer value, remaining relevant as technology changes, and anticipating the challenges providers may face over the next five years. 

Throughout my career, I have learned that the best decisions start with curiosity, not assumptions. I would like to help ensure FBA continues listening to customers, understanding changing expectations, and helping members anticipate what’s ahead. Whether the challenge is competition, adoption, customer experience, emerging technologies, workforce development, or new uses for fiber networks, we need to keep our finger on the pulse of our industry and the communities we serve. 

I would also like to continue supporting leadership development and industry engagement, helping cultivate the next generation of leaders who will guide our industry forward. 

I bring a customer-focused perspective and a track record of turning ideas into action. My goal would be to help ensure FBA remains the leading voice for the fiber industry while continuing to deliver meaningful value to its members, customers, and communities. 

Please describe the level of commitment (in terms of time and effort) that you intend to make to the Association during the three-year term. 

I choose my commitments carefully, and when I make one, I give it my full effort. 

My responsibilities to MEC, our customers, and our employees will always come first. I would not seek a Board position without my organization’s full support and confidence that I can fulfill both my MEC responsibilities and my commitment to the Association. 

If elected, I will be an active and engaged Board member who comes prepared, follows through on commitments, and contributes in meaningful ways throughout my term. 

Please use this space to include any additional information you feel is important to share with voting members.   

Strong leadership begins with listening, staying curious, and keeping customers at the center of decisions. I also value strong relationships and bring positive energy, a collaborative approach, and a practical mindset to the work. 

If elected, I will bring that mindset to the Board and work with others to help the fiber industry remain responsive, relevant, and prepared for what comes next.