October is National Co-op Month. A time to celebrate the many ways cooperatives strengthen their communities, something Ace Telephone Association, doing business as AcenTek, has exemplified since its founding.
From the beginning, AcenTek has been guided by cooperative principles and a deep commitment to its members. From day one until today, AcenTek’s commitment has been to meet the needs of their members by providing them with the unmatched services they need and the customer care they deserve.
COO Ethan Webinger said, “Our co-op values fuel our desire to deliver only the best to our customers. They deserve unparalleled services, and we are excited to deliver that. Rural communities deserve the same technology as those bigger cities, and AcenTek can provide that, along with unmatched customer care. That’s our foundation.”
AcenTek serves 23 communities, both business and residential, across Southeast Minnesota and Northeast Iowa. The co-op employs 74 people across its service region, with nearly 70% (51 employees) living in Houston or Fillmore County.
Members of AcenTek exercise their cooperative voice by electing a nine-member board of directors who live and work within the communities they serve.
Current board members include Barry Fruechte, Cindy Wright, Joseph Thesing, Lesa Moose (treasurer), Garth Zenke (president), Brad Hoiness, Connie Edwards, Bruce Lehmann (vice president), Bobbie Hillery (secretary)
Two board members represent Houston County, two represent Fillmore County, one represents Winona County, and three represent the members located in Iowa, and one director at-large. Members play an active role in shaping the cooperative’s future by voting each spring and approving any bylaw changes. As the local provider, members can easily communicate with AcenTek.
AcenTek’s story began in 1950, when a group of determined farmers gathered with one shared goal: to improve rural telephone service in southeast Minnesota. What started as a small initiative quickly grew into a thriving cooperative serving in an even larger area.
As the needs of its members evolved, so did AcenTek’s services. Beyond voice services, the cooperative now offers internet, video, and business solutions across Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan.
“Our goal has been to give the people the communication services needed for daily life,” Webinger explained. “We are constantly evaluating the needs of our customers, which is the motivation for providing unparalleled services and superior customer care.”
Webinger continued, “We have a commitment to the community, our members, and our employees. We provide our members with the technology their lives demand. We support our community by giving back monetary donations and by volunteering at local events. We invest in our employees to empower them to learn more. Our vision and mission statements were built on the very foundation of what a co-op means. These are our guides every single day.”
The cooperative is currently expanding its fiber network to two of the communities it serves, Canton and Dakota. “As technology demands grow within the home, we recognize our rural communities need to have the same capabilities as larger communities,” said Webinger. “Our ongoing deployment of fiber is proof of our commitment to helping our members to do things like work from home, do online school, stream, game, and so much more without any interruption. We have built fiber to many of the communities we serve and are steadily working to bring fiber to all members.”
Giving back to the communities they serve is an important part of who they. AcenTek recently donated to 12 public libraries to help them continue offering valuable resources and programs. AcenTek’s foundation has provided longstanding support to non-profit organizations focused on education, teaching, or economic development. In addition, AcenTek proudly sponsors numerous local programs to help their communities flourish.
Webinger shared, “We also get involved with events out in the community, participating in local festivals, area parades, or specific events. Recently, we had a booth at Exploration Day at Caledonia High School. This event brought in over 700 area students to explore different career opportunities. It was great to be part of this event and interact with area youth.”
Looking to the future, AcenTek’s goal is to ensure that the communities they serve have access to the best technology and communication services-which means the best fiber. AcenTek said that they will continue building until every community they serve has access to fiber internet.
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