In this episode of Broadband Breakdown, host Scott Meyer talks with Mike Becker, General Manager of East Buchanan Telephone Cooperative (EBTC) in Iowa, about the real-world challenges of leading a small service provider.
Mike shares how he rebuilt his team after a wave of retirements, why he hires for personality and communication skills over technical résumés, and how he manages a board of directors made up of farmers, business owners, and retirees. He also discusses staying on top of regulatory changes like USF reform, competing against larger providers with deeper pockets, outsourcing cybersecurity, and getting vendors to work together.
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Broadband Breakdown, the Innovative Systems podcast, dives into real-life challenges broadband leaders are facing and help them find solutions. Whether you’re working to improve NPS, modernize outdated systems, hire new talent, or stay competitive in your market, this is your space for innovative ideas and expert solutions.
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Keep your finger on the pulse.
In this episode of Broadband Breakdown, Brian Weis talks with Jimmy Todd, CEO and General Manager of Nex-Tech, about why succession planning became a core business priority and how the company turns it into a culture-wide system. Jimmy shares how Nex-Tech uses leadership development, cross-department exposure, and homegrown talent pipelines to prepare for retirements, reduce silos, and retain strong employees in a rural environment.
Subscribe and Listen
Broadband Breakdown, the Innovative Systems podcast, dives into real-life challenges broadband leaders are facing and help them find solutions. Whether you’re working to improve NPS, modernize outdated systems, hire new talent, or stay competitive in your market, this is your space for innovative ideas and expert solutions.
