Paul Bunyan Communications, Minnesota’s largest broadband cooperative, announced today plans for its growing 2025 Leadership Team. With an expanded structure, several promotions and additions to the team will allow for the continued success of the cooperative and
its focus on member service. It will empower their dedicated and talented employees, preserve cooperative culture, and take advantage of new technologies and opportunities for continued growth.
Several promotions of long-time management personnel will take place throughout 2024. Christie Turn will be promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Christie has served the cooperative in several customer service and operational leadership roles for 28 years, including the last ten years as Customer Service Manager. Rob St. Clair will be promoted to Chief Network Officer, overseeing Paul Bunyan’s expansive fiber network infrastructure, engineering and expansion. Rob has been with the cooperative 24 years, serving the last 17 as Network Operations Manager. Leo Anderson will be promoted to Chief Technology Officer. Leo’s technology leadership will continue to guide the cooperative’s innovation and technical services. Leo has been with Paul Bunyan 25 years, most recently serving as Technology Experience
Manager.
New to the team is Chad Bullock who will join the experienced group as Paul Bunyan Communications’ new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding current CEO Gary Johnson who intends to retire at the end of 2024. He’ll serve in the transitional role of Assistant General Manager throughout 2024. Chad is the current CEO of West Central Telephone Association, a broadband cooperative based in Sebeka, Minnesota. Chad has led West Central since 2015 and has been in the telecommunications and broadband industry for 30 years.
“The Board of Directors congratulates these dedicated managers as they are promoted to new C-Level leadership positions with our growing cooperative. And we are very pleased to welcome Mr. Bullock as our new CEO in 2025. This proactive expansion of our leadership team will provide a seamless transition, and create a number of new opportunities for employee advancement and leadership as we look forward to continued success for our cooperative and our members”, said Randy Frisk, Paul Bunyan Communications’ Board President.
Also retiring at the end of 2024 are current CFO Dave Schultz, and IT & Development Manager Steve Howard. More details about these retirements will be shared next year.
“We want to thank our retiring leaders, Gary, Dave, and Steve. Their decades of service and dedication to our cooperative and the impact they’ve had on the region we serve cannot be overstated. We look forward to celebrating their retirements with them when that time comes later next year.”