Election Information for the 2026 -2027 term
Thank you all for your continued support of the SCTE.
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Here are our board members that are running for election and new candidates.
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Incumbent Board member Candidates
Dan Langness, Sparklight Anthony Sterkel, Golden West Jeremy Billings, Midco Jeremy Ebsen, Midco |
Assistant board member
Mike DeZotell |
New candidates
Gary Graves, Jr - Midco Quincy Birgholtz - Midco Jeff Justesen - Midco |
Here are some BIO's from our candidates to be added as received.
Dan Langness, Sparklight
Dan has been in the industry for 25 years, and has also been active in the Dakota Territory chapter board. Past President and Vice President.
He has lots of knowledge to share, ask him about DOCSIS, EPON, XGS-PON, and Networking.
Dan has been in the industry for 25 years, and has also been active in the Dakota Territory chapter board. Past President and Vice President.
He has lots of knowledge to share, ask him about DOCSIS, EPON, XGS-PON, and Networking.
Anthony Sterkel
Golden West
Platform Engineering
I started in the cable industry as a contractor rebuilding and upgrading mainline systems for Adelphia and Time Warner around 2002. I moved back to South Dakota and started working in installation for McLeod/Prairie Wave then moved to Yankton and worked in the Mainline group for 3 years. I have worked at Golden West for 20 years, primarily in the Video and Broadband areas. I take care of the front end of all our HFC and video related systems for IPTV, DOCSIS, as well as manage the CPE’s for these systems. I have worked in almost every aspect of the cable business. Installation, maintenance, design and engineering.
If elected to the Dakota Territory Board I would like to help get training to improve members knowledge in their current field as well as training to show other areas that may create advancement opportunities. I think one of the great things about SCTE is it can also show the next generation of technology coming to the industry so we can all be better positioned to continue to provide the services our customers come to expect from us.
Golden West
Platform Engineering
I started in the cable industry as a contractor rebuilding and upgrading mainline systems for Adelphia and Time Warner around 2002. I moved back to South Dakota and started working in installation for McLeod/Prairie Wave then moved to Yankton and worked in the Mainline group for 3 years. I have worked at Golden West for 20 years, primarily in the Video and Broadband areas. I take care of the front end of all our HFC and video related systems for IPTV, DOCSIS, as well as manage the CPE’s for these systems. I have worked in almost every aspect of the cable business. Installation, maintenance, design and engineering.
If elected to the Dakota Territory Board I would like to help get training to improve members knowledge in their current field as well as training to show other areas that may create advancement opportunities. I think one of the great things about SCTE is it can also show the next generation of technology coming to the industry so we can all be better positioned to continue to provide the services our customers come to expect from us.
Jeff Justesen
Midco
Category Manager I IT/Software
Education:
Saint Paul Nebraska Elementary/High School grad class of 1990
University of Nebraska Kearney Graduate 1995
Studio Art, Art History BFA, Economics Minor
Hobbies/Free Time:
My wife and I enjoy international travel, and we try to schedule a trip every couple of years. I hunt and fish, although not as much as I would like. I am an avid Hiker and Mountain climber. My daughters (26 yrs and 29yrs) and I have summited 22 of the 53 Colorado 14ers (peaks over 14,000 ft). We try to climb between 3-5 peaks a year. I have summited 2 of the 7 summits (the tallest mountains on all seven continents) Mount Kilimanjaro in August of 2019 and Mount Kosciuszko in 2021.
Work experience:
During College, I worked for Eaton Corp. Engine parts division in Kearney NE, where I worked on a production line manufacturing engine valves. After graduation, I continued working at Eaton’s, eventually moving to the Metrology lab (gage building and QC parts measuring). For 5 years.
In 2000 I took a position with Nebraska Central Telephone Company as a phone technician. This position included all aspects of a small rural telco. Plant bury and splicing, installation and troubleshooting of twisted pair Telephone services, Locating buried cable, switch maintenance and line terminations, and map maintenance. I worked in this position for 5 years.
In 2005 I moved to Sioux Falls SD, with my wife and 2 daughters and took an installer position with Midcontinent Communications. I was a residential Field Tech for 1 year before I was assigned the task of converting resold Century Link telephone lines to Midco HFC lines. I did this for 7 months until I took a position in the Helpdesk department. In the Helpdesk department, I performed many different tasks: building and repairing PC’s for the corporate environment, technical support for most technological needs, supported video conferencing units, VoIP desk phones, Call Center Virtual machines, GIS remote Virtual Machines, Managed the Cell phone plans and devices, Smartphone management (MDM) including Blackberrys, and iPhones with multiple MDM systems. I also managed PC updates, security, and remote software deployment with SCCM and later Microsoft InTune (now EndPoint Manager). After 15 years, I moved to Server Administration, where I continued to support Intune, MDM, and VDI environments, in addition to the entire array of corporate servers and many different software systems, support, and maintenance.
After 2 years of Server Administration, I decided to change things up and took a position with the Procurement department, specifically negotiating and supporting Midco’s software needs.
If elected, I will bring a wide range of experience spanning 25 years in the Teleco and HFC worlds with many different technologies.
Midco
Category Manager I IT/Software
Education:
Saint Paul Nebraska Elementary/High School grad class of 1990
University of Nebraska Kearney Graduate 1995
Studio Art, Art History BFA, Economics Minor
Hobbies/Free Time:
My wife and I enjoy international travel, and we try to schedule a trip every couple of years. I hunt and fish, although not as much as I would like. I am an avid Hiker and Mountain climber. My daughters (26 yrs and 29yrs) and I have summited 22 of the 53 Colorado 14ers (peaks over 14,000 ft). We try to climb between 3-5 peaks a year. I have summited 2 of the 7 summits (the tallest mountains on all seven continents) Mount Kilimanjaro in August of 2019 and Mount Kosciuszko in 2021.
Work experience:
During College, I worked for Eaton Corp. Engine parts division in Kearney NE, where I worked on a production line manufacturing engine valves. After graduation, I continued working at Eaton’s, eventually moving to the Metrology lab (gage building and QC parts measuring). For 5 years.
In 2000 I took a position with Nebraska Central Telephone Company as a phone technician. This position included all aspects of a small rural telco. Plant bury and splicing, installation and troubleshooting of twisted pair Telephone services, Locating buried cable, switch maintenance and line terminations, and map maintenance. I worked in this position for 5 years.
In 2005 I moved to Sioux Falls SD, with my wife and 2 daughters and took an installer position with Midcontinent Communications. I was a residential Field Tech for 1 year before I was assigned the task of converting resold Century Link telephone lines to Midco HFC lines. I did this for 7 months until I took a position in the Helpdesk department. In the Helpdesk department, I performed many different tasks: building and repairing PC’s for the corporate environment, technical support for most technological needs, supported video conferencing units, VoIP desk phones, Call Center Virtual machines, GIS remote Virtual Machines, Managed the Cell phone plans and devices, Smartphone management (MDM) including Blackberrys, and iPhones with multiple MDM systems. I also managed PC updates, security, and remote software deployment with SCCM and later Microsoft InTune (now EndPoint Manager). After 15 years, I moved to Server Administration, where I continued to support Intune, MDM, and VDI environments, in addition to the entire array of corporate servers and many different software systems, support, and maintenance.
After 2 years of Server Administration, I decided to change things up and took a position with the Procurement department, specifically negotiating and supporting Midco’s software needs.
If elected, I will bring a wide range of experience spanning 25 years in the Teleco and HFC worlds with many different technologies.
Gary Graves, Jr
Midco – Field Tech V
I joined Midco in early 2014 as a Field Tech and have had the opportunity to work and volunteer across multiple locations, gaining experience with both HFC and FTTP systems. Since 2014, I’ve spent about 8 years as a Field Tech and 4 as a Maintenance Tech, learning from every role and team I’ve been part of.
I hold a Certificate of Broadband Technology from Arapahoe Community College, along with NCTI Senior Master Technician and Master Installer certifications.
If elected to the Dakota Territory Board, I hope to bring my field experience and hands-on perspective to help promote continued learning, innovation, and engagement throughout our chapter.
Midco – Field Tech V
I joined Midco in early 2014 as a Field Tech and have had the opportunity to work and volunteer across multiple locations, gaining experience with both HFC and FTTP systems. Since 2014, I’ve spent about 8 years as a Field Tech and 4 as a Maintenance Tech, learning from every role and team I’ve been part of.
I hold a Certificate of Broadband Technology from Arapahoe Community College, along with NCTI Senior Master Technician and Master Installer certifications.
If elected to the Dakota Territory Board, I hope to bring my field experience and hands-on perspective to help promote continued learning, innovation, and engagement throughout our chapter.
Mike DeZotell
Midco - Maintenance Technician III
Mike DeZotell is an experienced Maintenance Technician with a background in network infrastructure and system reliability. With 8 years of hands-on experience in troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and optimizing performance, Mike brings an understanding of the technical challenges and innovations shaping the broadband and telecommunications industry. He brings practical field expertise, a commitment to professional growth, and a passion for advancing technical excellence within the industry. Mike is dedicated to fostering collaboration, supporting technician education, and helping guide the region’s continued development in broadband technology and service quality. Currently an assistant board member with the chapter.
Midco - Maintenance Technician III
Mike DeZotell is an experienced Maintenance Technician with a background in network infrastructure and system reliability. With 8 years of hands-on experience in troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and optimizing performance, Mike brings an understanding of the technical challenges and innovations shaping the broadband and telecommunications industry. He brings practical field expertise, a commitment to professional growth, and a passion for advancing technical excellence within the industry. Mike is dedicated to fostering collaboration, supporting technician education, and helping guide the region’s continued development in broadband technology and service quality. Currently an assistant board member with the chapter.
Quincy Birgholtz
Maintenance Tech-Midco
I am a Plant Maintenance Technician with Midco, responsible for maintaining the reliability of outside plant systems through routine inspection, repair, and general network upkeep. I help support system upgrades in existing service areas and have helped improve internal maintenance applications by providing practical field driven feedback to streamline operations and reduce customer downtime.
I hold multiple SCTE and NCTI certifications including Broadband Distribution Specialist, Optical Fiber Maintenance and Construction and Proactive Network Maintenance along with NCTI Master Technician showing my commitment to advancing my skills and contributing to the industry.
I bring a hands-on maintenance background, a strong focus on service reliability, and a commitment to professional development. I am dedicated to supporting SCTE’s mission of advancing technical standards, workforce education, and the overall quality of broadband services
Maintenance Tech-Midco
I am a Plant Maintenance Technician with Midco, responsible for maintaining the reliability of outside plant systems through routine inspection, repair, and general network upkeep. I help support system upgrades in existing service areas and have helped improve internal maintenance applications by providing practical field driven feedback to streamline operations and reduce customer downtime.
I hold multiple SCTE and NCTI certifications including Broadband Distribution Specialist, Optical Fiber Maintenance and Construction and Proactive Network Maintenance along with NCTI Master Technician showing my commitment to advancing my skills and contributing to the industry.
I bring a hands-on maintenance background, a strong focus on service reliability, and a commitment to professional development. I am dedicated to supporting SCTE’s mission of advancing technical standards, workforce education, and the overall quality of broadband services
Jeremy Ebsen
Midco
Field Operations Manager
I have been in the cable industry for over 20 years. I started working at Midco in 2005 as a cable and data installer in Sioux Falls. In 2006 I was promoted to service technician and relocated to Watertown SD. While in Watertown I held roles as a technical trainer as well as my current role as field operations manager which I have been in for the past three years. I have an associates degree in communications from Arapahoe Community college.
I have held various roles within the SCTE chapter over the past 20 years with my current role being the vice president. If elected to the board I will continue to strive to grow the chapter and bring continued training opportunities to our members.
Midco
Field Operations Manager
I have been in the cable industry for over 20 years. I started working at Midco in 2005 as a cable and data installer in Sioux Falls. In 2006 I was promoted to service technician and relocated to Watertown SD. While in Watertown I held roles as a technical trainer as well as my current role as field operations manager which I have been in for the past three years. I have an associates degree in communications from Arapahoe Community college.
I have held various roles within the SCTE chapter over the past 20 years with my current role being the vice president. If elected to the board I will continue to strive to grow the chapter and bring continued training opportunities to our members.