Uncategorized

HBC to Build Out Red Wing; Names Olson COO

pscherbr — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:27:34 -0500

For Immediate Release (August 10, 2010)

RED WING, Minn. – Speaking to a group of Chamber of Commerce members today at the Red Wing Golf Club, Hiawatha Broadband Communications President and CEO Gary Evans delivered a message he said he has been waiting to convey for five years.

“It gives me great satisfaction to tell you that HBC will begin this year to build a full fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) infrastructure in Red Wing,” said Evans, noting that it will take several years to complete the project.

“We will build the first part of the business district this year,” said Evans, “and then complete that task in 2011 before beginning the residential phase of the project in 2012. We very much hope this is pleasing news for the community, because we know such infrastructure has been the subject of much work here over the past years.”

“We have wanted to be the company that stepped up to get the job done,” said Evans, “and I can assure you that we will make a major commitment to this community, to its future and to the wellbeing of its residents.”

There was another announcement, too. Citing its interest in Red Wing and its residents, Evans announced that Red Wing resident and community leader Jerald K. Olson will begin work as HBC’s chief operating officer on August 16.

“Our board made a commitment two weeks ago to this community and to doubling the size of HBC over the next four years,” Evans told the group. “I told my fellow directors when we voted to expend more than $20 million for FTTP construction in Goodhue, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties that finding right-fit talent is the most critical need.”

When the position of COO was approved, Evans said, “I knew who I wanted. I came to Red Wing four days later, visited with Jerry and told him that I wanted him to be part of HBC’s exciting future. I am delighted that he has decided to do that.”

“It has been a pleasure to be associated with HBC as a consultant,” said Olson, “and I am excited to now become a full-time member of the HBC team, working with people who are committed to the important mission of enhancing and enriching the lives of people in the communities they service,” said Olson. The long-time Red Wing resident added that he is “honored to be part of a growing company embarking on an exciting expansion that will bring fiber-optic services to our community.”

“In the process of doing that successfully,” Evans said, “Jerry helped us immensely in refining and developing internal processes. In fact, we got even more than we asked for and every bit of it was quality work.”

“I believe HBC is a very good company,” said Evans, “but all of us who work there aspire to have it become a great company. To do that, we need the kinds of experience and skills that Jerry Olson possesses.”

In addition to heading his own business, Olson served as human resources vice president for Capital Safety and DB Industries, Inc., from July 2001 to October 2005, was director of Leadership Red Wing from 1997 to 2000, and served as vice president for human resources and corporate secretary of Citizens Security, Red Wing, from 1983 to 1996.

His impressive community contributions include serving as board member and chairman of the Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce; board member and chairman of Fairview Red Wing Health Services; board member and vice chairman of River Region Health Services, and board member, president and campaign chair of Red wing Area United Way, among many others.

Olson, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, is married. He and his wife Peggy are the parents of five children: Elizabeth, Jenna, Jessica, Nicholas and Courtney.

In his new position, Olson will maintain offices both in Red Wing and Winona. HBC currently is negotiating for office space in Red Wing. The firm expects, when the network is complete, to employ more than 30 people in Red Wing.

HBC History

Created in 1997 as a successor to a not-for-profit education initiative called Luminet, Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc., provides high-speed and dial-up Internet connections, telephone, and cable television services to the greater Winona area, St. Charles, Wabasha, Lewiston, Rollingstone, and Stockton, Minnesota. The Wabasha build, completed in the fall of 2005 was among Minnesota’s first fiber-to-the-home projects. Lewiston, Rollingstone, and Stockton are also FTTH communities.

More than 40 percent of the stock in HBC is owned by Winona area not-for-profit institutions. The stock was purchased for the community’s schools by anonymous benefactors as the new company was organized to build upon the history of Luminet. Begun in 1992, Luminet utilized a leased fiber-optic network to connect the community’s educational institutions for the purpose of extending the reach of teaching and learning.

HBCI is a privately held for-profit corporation. The firm employs 72 people.

(For additional information contact Gary Evans: 507-458-5211 or garye@hbci.com)

HBC Reorganizes Leadership Team

pscherbr — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:19:25 -0500

CFO, COO selected; Pecarina, Pervisky, Malloy promoted

For Immediate Release, Tuesday, August 10, 2010

With Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc., poised for dramatic and sustained growth, the reorganization of its Leadership Team was announced today.

The reorganization plan communicated by Gary Evans, the firm’s president and CEO, provides one new position and significantly revamps HBC’s supervisory infrastructure in line with its Board of Directors’ decisions to double the size of the company in the next four years.

HBC early last month announced that it will extend its fiber-optic transport network from Wabasha northward through Lake City and Red Wing to the junction of Highways 50 and 52 at Hampton. At the July 22 board meeting, directors approved a phased approach to a number of fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) builds in Goodhue, Wabasha and Olmsted counties in Minnesota, and to examine what west central Wisconsin communities might benefit from advanced telecommunications networks.

At the annual meeting July 23, the development plan was previewed for shareholders, who also were told that Evans, who earlier this year had set his retirement date for next year, will remain with the company to help shepherd the accelerated growth plan.

The plan calls for FTTP networks in Red Wing, Lake City, Plainview, Elgin, Dover and Eyota. If all goes according to plan, construction would be completed in 2014. The builds will begin with the network extension through Red Wing this year, in addition to providing services part of the business districts in Red Wing and Lake City. Business connectivity in those two communities will be completed in 2011 and residential construction will begin in 2012. Simultaneous with the builds in those communities, construction will also be completed in the other four communities. HBC this summer is completing networks in Minneiska and Utica, as it expands infrastructure in Winona County. In addition, the company has begun to use new wireless technology to extend its network reach in the communities it currently serves.

Along with the growth plan, Evans points out, comes the need to redefine the leadership team staff in preparation for dramatic growth also in the number of employees. During the next four years, HBC will add 35 employees, building its FTE component to more than 100. Additional office locations are also planned.

Reorganization results in the addition of two new employees, the promotion of three, and a team that now will number 11 members.

Joining HBC will be Manuel F. de Angel, a resident of Wabasha, as chief finance officer, and Jerald K Olson, a resident of Red Wing, as chief operating officer.

De Angel, a CPA, comes to HBC from McGladrey & Pullen. A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and the Person Wolinski CPA review course, de Angel began work as an accounting clerk in San Juan, Puerto Rico and also worked as a legal assistant there, before becoming assistant general manager of the Wabasha Boatworks in 1996. He became a general accountant with Facts Company, Inc., in San Juan, and then worked for Deloitte & Touche in Minneapolis from 1999 until 2007, when he joined McGladrey & Pullen as a senior manager.

De Angel is a member of the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants, an active member of the AICPA, a board member and finance committee member of the Rochester Art Center and a committee member for the Business Learning Network.

De Angel is married to Heidi Edelbach. They are the parents of three children: Alana, Lito and Ileana.

Olson for 10 years has operated Olson HR Consulting in Red Wing, the role that two years ago introduced him to HBC. Olson assisted HBC in its efforts to significantly increase the size of its field operations staff. In addition to heading his own business, Olson served as human resources vice president for Capital Safety and DB Industries, Inc., was director of Leadership Red Wing from 1997 to 2000, and served as vice president for human resources and corporate secretary of Citizens Security, Red Wing, from 1983 to 1996.

His community contributions include serving as board member and chairman of the Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce; board member and chairman of Fairview Red Wing Health Services; board member and vice chairman of River Region Health Services, and board member, president and campaign chair of Red Wing Area United Way, among many others.

Olson, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, is married. He and his wife Peggy are the parents of five children: Elizabeth, Jenna, Jessica, Nicholas and Courtney.

The promotion of Dan Pecarina, Rochelle Pervisky and Mary Malloy was also announced. Pecarina’s new title will be executive vice president for corporate development, Pervisky will move to vice president for regulatory affairs and Malloy to vice president for local programming and marketing.

Pecarina, who served formerly as vice president for technical operations, has 30 years of experience in the technology and telecommunications industry. He joined HBC in 1999 and has overseen the implementation of a wide range of television, broadband data and telephone services. For the past five years, focus has been on working with communities to build FTTP networks and expanding the available applications that run on them. In completing FTTP networks in four communities over the past five years, several new services including IPTV, Video on Demand, and Health Care Monitoring have been added to the HBC network. Prior to joining HBC, Pecarina spent 12 years at Winona State University as director for technology. While at WSU, he developed its campus-wide fiber-optic network and started the Laptop University initiative that provided laptop computers to all students.

Pervisky joined the company in July 1995. One of the first two people hired for Luminet, as HBC then was known, Pervisky is a long-time resident of Trempealeau, Wis., but has worked for more than 26 years in Winona. She was employed by the Winona Daily News as classified sales manager for 13 years before moving to Luminet in 1995. While at Luminet, Ms. Pervisky handled sales and customer service, also her initial assignment with HBC. She served in that capacity from 1997 until 2003, when she was promoted to director of wholesale markets and regulatory affairs. Pervisky participates in the delivery of meals for Winona Volunteer Services and volunteers in numerous capacities in Trempealeau. Pervisky is married. She and her husband, Tim, are active outdoors enthusiasts.

A Chicago native, Malloy graduated with honors from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. She began her career as a special assignment and feature writer-reporter, spending 13 years in the newspaper business, after which time she moved to public broadcasting as a scriptwriter and then director of development. In her nine years with PBS, Malloy learned all aspects of production. Eight years ago she joined HBC as general manager of Media Productions, HBC’s local content division that operates the firm’s branded television station. Malloy’s outside interests include traveling, gardening and her many volunteer activities, including: Lions International (office holder); Winona Occupation and Rehabilitation Center (former board chair); Miller Mentoring Program; Winona Volunteer Services meal delivery. She has two children, Callie Wilder and Russell Wilder.

HBC customer reports scam, caution urged

webmaster — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:13:09 -0500

For Immediate release (Thursday, July 5, 2010)

Hiawatha Broadband Communications (HBC) has received a report that someone impersonating an HBC employee performed or claimed to perform work on a customer’s cable installation and charged the customer for the work. This has been reported to local police, who are investigating.

HBC employees carry identification and typically drive vehicles clearly identified as HBC vehicles. Charges for installations and service are billed by HBC. Employees are not authorized to charge or receive direct payments from customers.

If you receive an unsolicited visit from someone claiming to be an HBC employee, please ask for identification and if there is any question, please call HBC at 507-474-4000.

HBC to extend network to Red Wing

webmaster — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:14:31 -0500

RED WING, Minn. – Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc. (HBC), this summer will extend its fiber-optic network from Wabasha to Red Wing. That was the message delivered to a group in Red Wing City Hall this morning by Gary Evans, HBC president and CEO.
The first step in the process, said HBC Vice President for Technology Dan Pecarina, is to extend fiber from the current terminus of the HBC network north of Wabasha through Red Wing. “That is a key step,” said Pecarina, “because it is the foundation for everything that Red Wing residents have been trying to make happen for nearly a decade.”
Extending fiber from Wabasha through Red Wing and into Dakota County involves the cooperation of many entities, said Pecarina, including the City of Red Wing, Red Wing Port Authority, Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce, Goodhue County and State of Minnesota, to name a few.
The fiber extension was engineered as part of HBC’s application for a first-round American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 broadband grant. The grant request was denied in January. But business opportunities in Red Wing and Lake City prompted the HBC Board to approve the extension of the network.
It is expected, Pecarina said, that construction will begin in August, with completion scheduled for November, assuming normal weather patterns. When complete, the network will serve customers along the route with voice and data services.
“It’s not the full FTTH project that we want,” said Evans, “but it is a huge first step in that direction. We know that the Red Wing residents won’t rest until the full project is done, and HBC has the same resolve.”
HBC History
Created in 1997 as a successor to a not-for-profit education initiative called Luminet, Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc., provides high-speed and dial-up Internet connections, telephone, and cable television services to the greater Winona, St. Charles, Wabasha, Rollingstone, Lewiston and Stockton areas in Minnesota. Currently work is being completed on a fiber to the home network in Minneiska, with the construction of a Utica network to follow.
More than 40 percent of the stock in HBC is owned by Winona area not-for-profit institutions. The stock was purchased for the community’s schools by anonymous benefactors as the new company was organized to build upon the history of Luminet. Begun in 1992, Luminet utilized a leased fiber-optic network to connect the community’s educational institutions for the purpose of extending the reach of teaching and learning.
HBCI is a privately held for-profit corporation. It employs 68 people.
(For additional information contact Gary Evans (507-458-5211), Dan Pecarina (507-206-7745) of HBC, or Myron White (651-385-3697) of the Red Wing Port Authority)

Marina Services

webmaster — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:55:35 -0500

Broadband to the Boat: $19.95/mo.

HBC is now offering wireless internet service to the Winona Marina.Upload and Download Speeds up-to 5 Mbps!
* A one time activation fee of $10.00 is required.
* Price does not include any applicable taxes and/or surcharges.

Mobile Coverage Map

webmaster — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:33:08 -0500

Click the map to view a large scale version in another window.
Click here to download a PDF version.

CNN to visit Southeastern Minnesota, HBC

webmaster — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:15:04 -0600

CNN to visit Southeastern Minnesota, HBC
For Immediate Release (Sunday, February 14, 2010)
CNN will visit Southeastern Minnesota this week to examine the region’s need for advanced telecommunications connectivity and to look closely at Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc., and its failed application for first-round funding from the broadband component of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). HBC recently was informed that its request for funds was denied by both the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
HBC applied for funds with which to extend its services to five currently unserved areas in the region (Minneiska, Miesville, New Trier, the Prairie Island Dakota Indian Reservation at Red Wing, and Wacouta, an unincorporated area southeast of Red Wing), in addition to extending its services to Lake City and Red Wing.
The ARRA broadband program set aside $7.2 billion to be used to build out more broadband throughout America, particularly in places without broadband, with very slow broadband speeds or where Internet penetration fell beneath 40 percent.
As CNN began to examine the ARRA and its impacts, HBC was identified by a number of sources as a firm whose application would have provided the benefits (new jobs, new commerce and new applications) the program is seeking to achieve. Conversations between HBC officials and CNN resulted in the visit that will take place Tuesday and Wednesday.
While in Southeastern Minnesota, the CNN team will visit with residents in Red Wing, Lake City, Minneiska and Winona, in addition to viewing applications the ARRA funding would have created and spending time at HBC’s corporate headquarters at 58 Johnson St., Winona.
Of special interest to the team is the lack of connectivity on the Prairie Island reservation, Minneiska’s desperate need for an emergency warning system and the A-VU Media project to aid seniors and special needs people, scheduled for development in Winona, that would have been jump-started by a successful grant request.
HBC President and CEO Gary Evans said, “It’s satisfying to be identified by CNN as a worthy applicant. We were exceedingly disappointed that our request was rejected. And even though we know the government was buried in applications, we hoped there would be some information available as to why our request failed.”
Evans noted that the deadline for ARRA second-round grant requests is March 15. “We are undecided about another application,” Evans said. “Perhaps CNN will help us uncover reasons behind the rejection that will help facilitate a decision. But regardless of that, it will be nice to have a leading national information source see our beautiful area of the world and meet some of its residents.”
The CNN report will be produced by Emily Probst. CNN was created in June 1980 and has expanded its reach to a number of cable and satellite television networks. CNN has launched many regional and foreign-language networks around the word. CNN is owned by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

For additional information, please contact HBC CEO and President, Gary Evans, at 507.474.4000.

Mobile Services

webmaster — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:56:42 -0600

HBC Mobile has the plans and features you want from the company you already know and trust!

A few reasons to switch to HBC Mobile:

Customize your plan with the features you want!
Enjoy convenient bundled services all on 1 bill!
Nationwide coverage (Click here to view our coverage area.)
Easy payment options include: E-Pay, Auto-Pay, Credit Card and Monthly Billing!
Friendly LOCAL customer service and technical support!
Environmentally conscious company because it's our community too...

Want to know more? Click on the type of service you are interested in below.

Mobile Phones

webmaster — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:29:24 -0600

Click here to download specs and pricing on our current phone offers.

Family Mobile Plans

webmaster — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:21:23 -0600

Family Plan Details
Anytime Minutes	Night & Weekend Minutes	Monthly Price	Roaming	Additional Minutes
500	Unlimited	$65.95	$0.50	$0.45
1000	Unlimited	$79.95	$0.50	$0.40
1500	Unlimited	$99.95	$0.50	$0.35
2100	Unlimited	$114.95	$0.50	$0.35
3000	Unlimited	$144.95	$0.50	$0.35
4000	Unlimited	$199.95	$0.50	$0.35
6000	Unlimited	$295.95	$0.50	$0.35
*Add'l Lines	Unlimited	$12.95	See Plan	See Plan

* Add up to 5 additional lines to your plan selection for just $12.95 each per month and share your minutes with the whole family. Add unlimited text messaging for just $39.95 per month.

Mobile Features Include:

• Unlimited Nights and Weekends Starting at 7pm
• Nationwide and International Calling
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• Free nationwide long distance!
• Bundled Discount Pricing for Multi-Service Customers
• Convenient All-In-One Billing
• Local Customer Service
• Voicemail, Caller ID, Caller ID Blocking, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, No Answer/Busy Transfer and 3-Way Calling

Optional Add-on Features & Services

Enhanced Voicemail, International Long Distance, Data Plans(Internet Access), Learn more

Uncategorized

HBC to Build Out Red Wing; Names Olson COO

HBC Reorganizes Leadership Team

CFO, COO selected; Pecarina, Pervisky, Malloy promoted

HBC customer reports scam, caution urged

HBC to extend network to Red Wing

Marina Services

Broadband to the Boat: $19.95/mo.

Mobile Coverage Map

CNN to visit Southeastern Minnesota, HBC

Mobile Services

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Night & Weekend Minutes

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