Marcie Boerner, Webster Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association COO and outgoing ICA President, provided opening remarks at the 2023 Iowa Communications Alliance Annual Meeting and Expo recently held at the Community Choice Convention Center in Des Moines, IA.
In celebration of the 10th meeting of the association, which was formed after the unification of two entities known as the Iowa Telecommunications Association (ITA) and Rural Iowa Independent Telephone Associations (RIITA), this year boasted record attendance. The Iowa Communications Alliance is the nation’s largest state-based association of community-based broadband providers. Its 250+ members provide and enable high-quality, state-of-the-art communications services to Iowans, leading the state to be among the nation’s leaders in fiber-optic deployment.
During opening remarks, Boerner appreciated and recognized that the strength of the association lies among the membership and leadership within the committee work. “I can’t say enough about the great people we have in this industry and especially those willing to take on the responsibility of leading our committees and the engagement of the committee volunteers. They are an extremely important part of the success of the ICA as they drive the content and discussion for policy, advocacy, education and events.”
Never stop learning. That seemed to be a consistent theme from the Women in Telecom panel moderated by Martha Galley, Chief Customer Success Officer for Calix. Boerner sat on this panel along with other Iowa women in leadership roles, Andrea Hanson, CEO of Butler Bremer Communications, and Deb Lucht, CEO of Minburn Communications. While it is no secret that broadband has historically been a male dominated field this panel shared experiences and insight into their challenges and successes as women working in the telecommunications industry.
This year Boerner will remain on the ICA executive committee as Immediate Past President along with Tim Fencl, President, from Danville Telecom; Jamie Daubendiek, 1st Vice President, from Jefferson Telecom; and Tammy Wheeler, 2nd Vice President, from Farmers Mutual Communications of Moulton.
During closing ceremonies incoming ICA President, Tim Fencl, presented a plaque to outgoing President, Marcie Boerner, in appreciation of her leadership this past year.
Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association provides Landline Telephone, Digital TV and Internet service to 20 rural communities on a Fiber driven network just outside the Fort Dodge, Iowa area: Pilot Mound, Boxholm, Lanyon, Paton, Churdan, Farnhamville, Gowrie, Somers, Moorland, Knierim, Barnum, Clare, Thor, Badger, Vincent, Duncombe and in the towns of Lohrville, Manson, Rockwell City and Lake City.
WCCTA is Gigabit Certified and designated a Smart Rural Community by NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association.