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Topic: Employees

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  1. Meet Ryan Punt, our new CEO
    Ryan Punt didn’t always dream of a career in telecommunications. The Stickney High School grad studied accounting his freshman year of college, at the urging of his parents. But it was the mid-1990s, and this thing called the internet was exploding around the world.
  2. Up-And-Comer: Jamie Stanley
    Jamie Stanley, a carrier management coordinator at SDN Communications, was recently featured in SiouxFalls.Business, as an Up-And-Comer in the community and leadership roles with the company.
  3. Internal leadership program grows SDN employees from within
    SDN Communications sees the value of investing in employees to foster leadership. So much so, a new program is underway to further develop a culture of personal and professional growth.
  4. Ten lessons I learned from my boss, Mark Shlanta
    The recent passing of our visionary and former, long-serving CEO Mark Shlanta casts a dark shadow over our office. But as we try to find our bearings in his passing, Vernon Brown shares the more personal leadership gifts he provided.
  5. SDN mourns loss of former CEO Mark Shlanta
    SDN’s employees and Member Companies mourn the loss of its former, long-time visionary Chief Executive Officer Mark Shlanta. He died February 23, 2022, just more than a week after his 57th birthday and following a two-year battle with cancer.
  6. SDN's Sarah Tuntland blends her creative side with accounting background to make an impact
    Sarah Tuntland calls herself a problem solver — whether that’s crunching numbers as part of her day job or volunteering with non-profit boards across the community.
  7. Missed field trip connected Eich to opportunities that led to telecom career
    Dan Eich is the Director of Wholesale and Carrier Management for SDN Communications, where he’s been employed since 2010. How he got there can be traced back to missing out on a field trip.
  8. People are at the center of our 'Top 2021 Articles'
    When it comes down to it, people want to read about other people and how technology affects those people. So, it should be no surprise to learn that SDN Communications' top blog article of 2021 was about two people in the company.
  9. Change in Leadership at SDN Communications
    After more than 21 years as CEO of SDN Communications, Mark Shlanta is stepping down. On Monday, December 20, SDN Vice President of Sales, Ryan Punt, will become CEO and lead the company that has evolved to become an industry-leading provider of telecommunications services.
  10. Company values at the core of hiring and growing employees
    SDN’s core values drive more than the customer experience; they also impact hiring and culture within the organization. Like many companies across the country, SDN is seeking qualified people to join the team. However, just having the technical know-how isn’t enough.
  11. Employee engagement stays strong at SDN even through pandemic
    SDN Communications employees completed their fourth employee engagement survey this past spring, with overall positive results and opportunities for improvement said Amy Preator, SDN’s HR Director.
  12. SDN, Dutton join MN initiative launched to grow ag-related businesses
    There’s a different kind of Silicon Valley that exists in the upper Midwest. Its product is agriculture and an initiative called GreenSeam is working to elevate the region as a world-class food and agribusiness epicenter — making it the Wall Street of agriculture.
  13. Build Dakota scholarship offers debt-free tech degrees in high-need careers
    2020 Mitchell Technical Institute graduate Connor Wendland’s face has appeared on several marketing pieces, including a billboard banner visible along Interstate 90. He wasn’t paid for his modeling gig but he did graduate debt-free thanks to the Build Dakota scholarship program.
  14. SDN accounting managers work separately but closely together
    Sarah Tuntland and Susan Kyte, who co-manage SDN Communications' accounting department, have mastered the ability to communicate effectively. It's especially important that sharing information between co-leaders of the company's accounting and financial operations is easy and accurate. They have that covered, too.
  15. SDN employees pin leadership on CEO Shlanta, raise funds for cancer research
    At SDN Communications, Mark Shlanta’s leadership recognition is literally pinned to employees. A grassroots employee idea resulted in a caricature lapel pin of SDN’s CEO attached to a valentine to raise money for the Avera Race Against Cancer.
  16. Video on or off? Some virtual meeting etiquette tips
    Some video conference participants are still learning and refining their skills, while some more experienced users might be picking up some bad habits. A refresher on video etiquette might be in order.
  17. SDN focuses on elevating employee engagement to boost business outcomes
    Getting a glowing report card on an employee engagement survey can help reinforce strong company culture. Doing so during a global pandemic while employees are working from home — even more impressive.
  18. So long, everyone, and thanks for the great opportunity, SDN
    The time has come for me to free up more time for personal projects and move closer to retirement. So this is my 695th and final blog for SDN.
  19. 20+ Gift ideas for the techie on your list
    With Cyber Monday billed as the biggest online shopping day of the season, here are some cool gadgets to inspire your gift-giving. We asked SDN Communications employees for their suggestions, too. Take a look at some of their responses, along with a few other eclectic ideas to consider.
  20. What to gift a retiring writer? A few words of appreciation for Rob Swenson
    It’s hard to know what to gift someone retiring. By that point in their life, their desire for material things diminishes. So, what to give Rob? I decided on something a writer most values: words.