WTA Elects New President, Officers, and Directors

HELENA, MT – (October 15, 2025) – WTA – Advocates for Rural Broadband is pleased to announce the election of its new officers for the coming two years: Matt Johnson, VP, Government Policy, Shawnee Communications (IL) as President; Kent Schimke CEO/GM of Dickey Rural Networks (ND) as Vice-President; Jason Williams, CEO, Blackfoot Communications (MT), as Secretary-Treasurer; and Pat McElroy, CEO/GM, Northeast Nebraska Telephone Co. (NE) as Past President.

Additionally, Larry Jones, Chickasaw Telephone Co. (OK); Kristi Lee, Valley TeleCom Group (AZ); Daniel Meszler, Tularosa Communications (NM); Jimmy Todd, Nex-Tech (KS); Rick Vitzthum, Tenino Telephone Co. (WA); and Eric Votaw, Varcomm (CA) were elected to serve on the Executive Committee.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity to lead this fantastic organization for the next two years,” said Johnson.” As WTA begins its next twenty years I’m looking forward to building on the efforts of my predecessors and working on behalf of the industry to advance the goals of universal broadband service to Americans living in rural areas. I appreciate the WTA Board of Directors putting their trust in me.”

The WTA membership elected the following members who will serve three-year terms on the Board of Directors:

David Adams, Green Hills Communications (MO); Lennie Blakeslee, CoBank (Associate); Janet Britton, REV (LA); Volodymyr “V” Chornodolsky, Nokia (Associate); Sara Cole, TDS (OR); Kristi Lee, Valley TeleCom Group (AZ); Pat McElroy, Northeast Nebraska Telephone Co. (NE); Kent Schimke, Dickey Rural Networks (ND); and Rick Vitzthum, Tenino Telephone Co. (WA).

Full release can be found here.