For many electric cooperatives, fiber projects often go beyond their own membership to serve surrounding areas with the high-speed internet desperately needed to stay connected in the digital age. This episode, listen in as Co-Mo Connect's CEO, Aaron Bradshaw, speaks with Conexon's SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Account Management, Abby Carere, on the ins and outs of expanding fiber networks.
Oct 4, 2022
35 min
Electric cooperatives made it their mission in the '30s and '40s to bring electricity to rural America. Today, they are committed to doing the same with fiber broadband projects. Tune in this week as Conexon's SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Account Management, Abby Carere, is joined by Cumberland EMC's Manager of Broadband Division, Mark Cook, and General Manager, Chris Davis, to discuss their strategy in translating Cumberland EMC's values to the Cumberland Connect brand.
Aug 31, 2022
35 min
It's no secret that a fiber project is both an intricate construction process and a costly undertaking, but it is a necessary addition to electric cooperatives to close the digital divide with today's levels of connectivity. Listen in as Conexon's SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Account Management, Abby Carere, speaks with North East Mississippi Electric Power Association's (NEMEPA) General Manager/CEO, Keith Hayward, on the topic of how funding made fiber a reality for NEMEPA members.
Aug 8, 2022
23 min
Fiber broadband offers communities so much more than high-speed internet: It also enables Smart Grid capabilities to improve connectivity and communications on the electric system. Tune into the latest episode of Co-ops Connect as Conexon's SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Account Management, Abby Carere, and guest host Carl Meyerhoefer, Conexon’s SVP of Business Development, are joined by Patrick Grace, CEO of Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, and Colby Wells, CEO of South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative, to discuss the impact of fiber internet and smart grid technology on their co-ops’ business practices.
Jun 20, 2022
37 min
Funding for broadband networks is a critical component of connecting rural America to high-speed fiber internet. This week, guest host Jonathan Chambers, Conexon Partner, and special guest Gary Wood, President/CEO of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative and Firefly Fiber, join Abby Carere, Conexon's SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Account Management, to dive deeper into all things funding. They discuss the programs Firefly Fiber took advantage of and how Conexon helped secure funding to make the project feasible.
May 11, 2022
48 min
The need for fiber broadband services was one that Central Georgia EMC was well aware of for many years. After two years of conversations with eight different broadband entities, Conexon Connect turned Central Georgia's dream of broadband to a reality with members beginning to connect to its service less than a year after the project announcement. Tune in as Conexon's SVP of Sales, Marketing and Account Management, Abby Carere, speaks with Central Georgia EMC's SVP of Energy Supply and External Services, Herschel Arant, to reflect on the Conexon Connect's first partnership, Connect, powered by Central Georgia EMC.
Apr 8, 2022
24 min
When it comes to building a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network, everyone has a story that needs to be heard. GoSEMO Fiber, subsidiary of SEMO Electric Cooperative in Missouri, began its fiber network project in 2017 and has built nearly 2,000 miles of fiber, with over 7,000 connected subscribers. Sean Vanslyke, SEMO Electric CEO/General Manager, and Loyd Rice, SEMO Electric Cooperative's Manager of Fiber Services, sat down with Conexon's SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Account Management, Abby Carere, at the Co-ops Connect workshop to discuss how they've seen the workshop grow and the power of the true co-op spirit in forming relationships and sharing learnings.
Mar 3, 2022
10 min
After starting its fiber-to-the-home broadband project in 2018, Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative and its fiber subsidiary, WAVE Rural Connect, dove head-first into the project to start connecting members that next year. Today, Wave has more than 10,000 subscribers. Arkansas Valley's Barret Ewing and Brandon Fischer join Conexon SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Account Management, Abby Carere, at the recent Co-ops Connect in Tampa to reflect on past workshops and discuss how Wave has achieved significant customer milestones.
Feb 8, 2022
7 min
In 2017, Oklahoma Electric Cooperative formed OEC Fiber to move full speed ahead with a fiber network build to bring high-speed internet to members. As one of Conexon's earliest clients, the OEC Fiber team has seen the growth of the electric co-op broadband movement, and more and more co-ops taking advantage of Conexon's industry-leading Co-ops Connect Workshops. OEC's CEO, Patrick Grace, joins Conexon's SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Account Management, Abby Carere, at Co-ops Connect 2021 to talk about OEC Fiber's journey to more than 20,000 connected subscribers and the power of cooperative spirit.
Jan 26, 2022
20 min
Washington EMC management waited and hoped for a provider to serve its rural Georgia residents with critical high-speed internet, but it became apparent that no one would. The EMC stepped up to deliver this life-changing service. Washington EMC's President and CEO, Wendy Sellers joins Conexon's SVP of Sales, Marketing, and Account Management, Abby Carere, to discuss how attendance at another EMC's broadband meeting led Washington EMC to partner with Conexon Connect to bring service to its members.
Jan 7, 2022
17 min
Load more