Western Telecommunications Alliance Elects New Officers and Board of Directors

HELENA, MONTANA ’Äì The Western Telecommunications Alliance (WTA) today announced the election of its new officers for the coming two years: David R. Arvig, COO and Vice President of Arvig Communication Systems in Perham, Minnesota as President; Bruce Todd, CEO of UBTA-UBET Communications in Roosevelt, Utah as Vice President; Denise Russell of Northern Arkansas Telephone Co., Chattaroy, Washington as Secretary-Treasurer; and Robin Stephens, CEO of Range Telephone Cooperative in Forsyth, Montana as Past President. Additionally, David Baker, Sierra Telephone Company, Oakhurst, California; Dave Goggins, TelAlaska, Anchorage, Alaska; and Al Pedersen, Sandwich Isles Communications, Honolulu, Hawaii, were elected to serve on the Executive Committee.

’ÄúI am humbled by the fact that the WTA Board of Directors is entrusting me to lead the association over the next couple of years. This is a crucial time for rural telco’Äôs and their customers. A lot is at stake and we need to work together to assure that all our customers have fair access to advanced telecommunications services at affordable rates. I look forward to working as hard as possible to represent the interests of the WTA members,’Äù said Arvig.

The WTA membership elected the following members who will serve three year terms on the Board of Directors: Aloa Stevens, Frontier Communications (AZ); Al Pedersen, Sandwich Isles Communications (HI); Emory Graffis, Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company (NE); Glenn Ramsey, The Toledo Telephone Company (WA); Ted Koerner, CoBank (Associate Member); and George Clark, TCA (Associate Member).