Episode notes
In Episode 15, Vincent and Warren sit down with Holly Utke and Brianne Partlow of Dakota Central as the company celebrates 75 years of keeping people connected. What begins as a look back at rural telephone lines quickly turns into Dakota Central trivia, party lines, chicken hatcheries, dial-up internet, fiber, and a reminder of just how much the way we communicate has changed.
Holly and Brianne share how Dakota Central grew from its rural telephone roots into the company it is today, including its expansion into Jamestown and becoming the first provider in North Dakota — and one of the first in the nation — to fully connect its service area with fiber. Along the way, Holly shares her own path from the internet help desk in 2000 to CEO and General Manager, while Brianne talks about the marketing, PR, social media and other work that helps tell Dakota Central’s story.
But 75 years of connection turns out to mean more than technology. The conversation explores why community is one of Dakota Central’s core values, why relationships built while knocking on business doors more than two decades ago still matter today, and why having local people available when something goes wrong continues to separate a local provider from other options. The episode also gets into the people behind Dakota Central, including long-tenured employees, popcorn in the office, cubicle golf and what new employees say they enjoy most about working there. Holly and Brianne also look ahead at AI, growing data use and the challenge of predicting whatever comes next — something Dakota Central has been doing in one form or another for 75 years.
Guests
Holly Utke CEO & General Manager Dakota Central
Brianne Partlow Dakota Central
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