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Fargo, ND
Permit #1159
3901 Great Plains Dr. S.
Fargo, ND 58104
800.814.3333
www.DakotaCarrier.com
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DCN SUPPORTS MEF-CECP CERTIFICATION
We are proud to have such a diverse group of individuals employed at DCN holding the certificate of Metro Ethernet Forum’s
Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional (MEF-CECP). The MEF-CECP certification program allows telecommunication
professionals to demonstrate his or her expertise, skills and knowledge of Carrier Ethernet technologies, standards,
services and applications.
DCN currently has nine employees that are MEF-CECP certified, which consists of positions held by the CEO, Director of
Operations, Wholesale Carrier Relations, Commercial Account Executive, NOC Ethernet/IP Supervisor, Network Design
Specialist, and NOC Ethernet/IP Technicians.
Customer service is important to us and to better serve our customers, DCN encourages their employees to keep up
with state-of-the-art technology. Our employees have the opportunity to attend training courses that will help them gain
knowledge in this world of ever-changing technology.
MEF-CECP certified DCN employees are, back row, left to right, Seth Arndorfer (CEO), Jim Swenson (Network Design Specialist), Jennifer Guthmiller
(Account Executive), Jody Sommer (NOC Ethernet/IP Tech), Mark Aslakson (Wholesale Carrier Relations), front row, Steve Frank (NOC Ethernet/IP Tech),
Jesse Heck (Director of Operations), Tim Paulson (NOC Ethernet/IP Supervisor), Aparna Subramanian (NOC Ethernet/IP Tech).
SEPTEMBER 2014
Helping organizations achieve greater
value through the advancement of fiber
optic telecommunications
CEO’S MESSAGE
ARNDORFER NAMED IN NORTH DAKOTA’S 40 UNDER 40
DCN’s CEO, Seth Arndorfer was one of the 40 professionals in the Bismarck,
ND area to receive special recognition recently by The Bismarck Tribune.
Arndorfer was among the winners of the newspaper’s 40 Under Forty award,
which recognizes North Dakota’s top 40 professionals younger than 40. This
award honors young professionals that provide leadership, professional
development and commitment to the community. There were 77 individuals
nominated and Arndorfer was among the forty that were selected to receive
this prestigious award. Seth joined DCN in 2002 as an account executive and
was named DCN’s CEO in 2013.
Seth Arndorfer, CEO
As a North Dakota native, I have
noticed North Dakota residents
have a sense of urgency this time
of the year. Whether it is trying to
squeeze in that one last summer
vacation or completing an outdoor
project prior to freeze up, DCN
is no different. We are working
as aggressively as possible to
finish our 2014 fiber construction
plans before the ground turns into
concrete for six months. Though
short, it has been a great year for
construction, as DCN and Owner
Companies bored, trenched and
knifed in over $100 Million Dollars
in fiber infrastructure statewide.
As far as current community involvement, Seth is the President on the Mandan
Golf Association Board of Directors, Vice President on ITCND, and assists in
coaching youth sporting activities including basketball, football, and baseball.
Seth graduated from Dickinson State University with a degree in business
administration. In 2007, Arndorfer received an Executive MBA degree from the
University of Mary. Seth and his wife, Ali, have been married over 15 years and
have two boys, Jace, and Reese.
Congratulations Seth, DCN is proud of your leadership, professional
development and commitment to the community.
More information relating to Bismarck Tribune’s 40 Under 40 can be found at:
http://content.yudu.com/Library/A2yumr/40Under4007202014/resources/3.htm.
PAUL SCHUETZLER NAMED DCN’S BOARD CHAIRMAN
As fall rapidly approaches, we
prepare for another North Dakota
winter and we look forward to
continuing our fiber deployment
in 2015.
www.DakotaCarrier.com
Paul Schuetzler (GM/Consolidated Telcom), left, presents an award to outgoing
Board Chairman, David Dunning (GM/Polar Communications), right, in March of 2014.
13TH ANNUAL DAKOTA CARRIER CLASSIC
On July 22, 2014, DCN held
their thirteenth annual customer
appreciation Golf Classic at
the Hawktree Golf Course in
Bismarck, North Dakota.
DCN had 98 golfers participate
in this fun-filled event. A
nice evening meal followed,
along with the presentation of
numerous prizes and awards.
Here are a few snapshots of the
memorable day.
DCN SELECTED TO SERVE STATE ENTITIES
In June of 2014, Mike Ressler, the State Chief Information Officer with the North Dakota Information Technology Department (ITD),
signed a contract with DCN for Internet Access and Ethernet Access for state locations. In addition, DCN will provide ITD fiber
backbone services scalable from 10 megabits to 100 gigabit speeds.
The new contract also includes provisions for fiber-based
facilities to over 300 ITD locations throughout the state of North
Dakota. Entities served by ITD include K-12 Schools, Higher
Ed Institutions, State Agencies, and State Radio sites. DCN
CEO, Seth Arndorfer states, “DCN’s commitment to North
Dakota’s broadband infrastructure resulted in being selected
by ITD to continue providing North Dakota users with reliable
high-speed services to meet consumers’ growing broadband
demands.”
Pictured above are: Seth Arndorfer, DCN’s CEO (left), with Mike Ressler, ITD’s CIO (right).
ITD users will have access to DCN’s Gigabit services in every
community across North Dakota. In fact, by 2015, DCN’s
Ethernet backbone will be capable of delivering multiple
Terabyte connections to various cities in the state of North
Dakota. The new contract will expire in 2019 with provisions
for contract extensions.
TWO NEW EMPLOYEES HIRED
Aparna Subramanian
Steve Schmit
Aparna Subramanian has been
hired as a NOC Ethernet/ IP Tech
in DCN’s Bismarck location.
Steve Schmit has been hired
as an Inventory Controller in the
Bismarck DCN location.
Aparna has a bachelor’s degree
of science with a double major
in computer science and
mathematics, and a minor
in leadership studies from
Dickinson State University.
She also holds certifications
as a Cisco Certified Network
Associate (CCNA), and is a
MEF-CECP 2.0 Carrier Ethernet
Certified Professional.
Steve’s prior experience working
with customers and managing
inventory will greatly benefit
DCN. With the continuing growth
of DCN’s network and the
need for additional equipment,
Steve was hired to monitor
and manage all inventory.
Additionally, this will allow DCN’s
technical staff to focus on our
customers needs and maintain
DCN’s state-of-the-art network.
DCN WAS A SPONSOR AT THE ICBND
47TH ANNUAL CONVENTION IN AUGUST
DCN’s Booth Display
EMPLOYEE PROMOTIONS
Mark Aslakson
Jennifer Guthmiller
Barb Pfeifer
Mark Aslakson was promoted to
Wholesale Carrier Relations in DCN’s
Fargo location. Aslakson previously
worked for DCN as a Commercial
Account Executive.
Jennifer Guthmiller was promoted
to Commercial Account Executive
from Network Support Rep in the
Bismarck office.
Barb Pfeifer was promoted to NOC
Ethernet/IP Technician I from Network
Support Rep in the Bismarck office.
Mark graduated from Colorado
Technical University in Colorado
Springs, CO. with a Masters of Science
in Management and has over 13
years experience in the information
technology field. Aslakson also holds
certifications in project management,
and is a MEF-CECP 2.0 Carrier Ethernet
Certified Professional.
Guthmiller graduated from NDSU
with a Management in Information
Systems degree and has over 16 years
of experience in various IT industries.
Jennifer also holds a certification as
a MEF-CECP 2.0 Carrier Ethernet
Certified Professional.
Prior to joining DCN, Barb worked
at US West/Qwest for over 19 years
and has approximately 10 years of
technical network experience.
Pfeifer graduated with bachelor’s
degree in Office Administration and
a minor in Business Administration
from Concordia College, Moorhead,
Minnesota.