Andy Johns is joined by Chris Townson, CEO of West Carolina and Upcountry Fiber, to talk about what makes a strong partnership. Chris shares candid lessons from working with telcos, electrics and municipalities—including how to evaluate opportunities, align missions, manage egos and build lasting agreements.
Two Kentucky co-ops teamed up to foster community connections through casual coffee meetups. From discussing community concerns to sharing stories about the co-ops' histories, these meetups make a real impact. Learn why member engagement matters and how to create a community meetup of your own!
Are you tight on time and resources, but have a big event to plan? NTCA's Mark Marion outlines how an easy-to-build AI bot helped him plan and execute a recent big event.
As technology evolves, so do the challenges kids face while navigating the internet. CTC's Jenn Wilson-Kolesar shares how her telco created a children’s book, "Cyber Tech Critters," to engage kids and instill online safety lessons.
Sometimes the best storytellers aren't on your communications team--they're at your kitchen table. In this episode, White River Valley Electric Cooperative's Jaime Dopp shares how a simple video series featuring lineworkers' children captured hearts, racked up thousands of views and reminded members why this work matters.
Scott Meyer is back with more data to share on how younger subscribers feel about broadband pricing, customer attitudes toward satellite and cellular service and more. Recorded LIVE at StoryConnect 2026!Find the full 2026 Rural Broadbrand Subscriber Survey here: https://www.innovsys.com/innovsys/2026-rural-subscriber-study-2/
From cross-branding and tournaments to a local college team sporting the utility's name on its arena, Michigan's Midwest Energy & Communications plugs directly into a high-bandwidth internet subscriber audience. Candy Riem shares how Team Midwest turned an esports sponsorship into an effective broadband marketing story.
Erika Nelson of Lynxx Networks talks about the KPIs broadband providers should be paying attention to. From market share and ARPU to digital analytics and customer reviews, Erika shares how her team uses data to guide decisions and measure success.
Shelly Hansel, public relations director at SCTelcom, discusses creative ways cooperatives can incentivize employees and strengthen company culture. From referral bonuses to “Going the Extra Mile” awards and even monthly half-days off, Shelly shares how recognition, trust and leadership at every level help build a team of people who want to stay at the company for decades.
Andy Johns is joined by Chris Townson, CEO of West Carolina and Upcountry Fiber, to talk about what makes a strong partnership. Chris shares candid lessons from working with telcos, electrics and municipalities—including how to evaluate opportunities, align missions, manage egos and build lasting agreements.
KPIs, NPS, churn—oh my! Data doesn’t have to be daunting. Ty Houglum, CIO at ECE Fiber, shares how his team turns numbers into action, building a culture that makes data meaningful, not mysterious.
A blank page can be scary—unless you already know what you’re writing. In this episode, Mt. Wheeler Power’s Christina Sawyer shares how using AI to brainstorm story ideas at the start of the year gave her more time to research, write with confidence and even inspire other utilities through the Ruralite share package.
As a writer on shows like Paw Patrol, Spirit Rangers and Cocomelon Lane, Joey Clift shares some of the keys to reaching the youngest audiences. Joey will be a speaker at StoryConnect 2026.
