Mandan, N.D., Dec. 5, 2024 – National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), a leading provider of software solutions to utility and broadband providers, has announced the results of its 2024 Board Director election.

The following Directors were elected:

District #4 Rick Lemonds President & CEO South Central Power Co. Lancaster, Ohio	District #6 Paul Fitterer General Manager Capital Electric Cooperative Bismarck, North Dakota	District #8 Dan Sisco CEO & General Manager Se-Ma-No Electric Cooperative Mansfield, Missouri	District #13 Blake Callaham General Manager Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Kingfisher, Oklahoma	District #14 Cassidy Hjelmstad CEO & General Manager SRT Communications Minot, North Dakota

Director elections are held at the district level. Voting opened on October 15, 2024, and closed on December 1, 2024. The new Directors will take office in January 2025, and serve a three-year term, with the exception of Blake Callaham of District #13, who is fulfilling the remainder of Gary Johnson’s term which will expire in 2027. 

“We are excited to welcome two new Directors to the NISC Board and three returning Directors,” said NISC President and CEO Doug Remboldt. “We greatly appreciate their willingness to serve and represent the Membership. The Board is crucial to how we serve our Members and ensures that NISC stays focused on our strategic goals.”

Fitterer, Sisco and Hjelmstad are returning to the Board while Callaham and Lemonds are new to the role.

“It has been a blessing to be a part of the NISC cooperative family for the past five years,” said Callaham. “I look forward to contributing alongside the Board of Directors as we further the mission of providing quality and value-driven information technology solutions.”

“Now more than ever, leading-edge technology and innovation are essential to the successful operation of our cooperative,” said Lemonds. “I am looking forward to working with the NISC team and the rest of the Board to continue building on NISC’s vision of value and past success.”

NISC would like to recognize and thank retiring Directors Gary Johnson and Ron Salyer. Johnson has been the CEO and General Manager of Paul Bunyan Communications in Minnesota for 12 years and has served on the NISC Board for 11 years, including two years as Board Chairman. Johnson plans to retire from Paul Bunyan Communications in December 2024. Salyer previously served as President and CEO of Pioneer Electric Cooperative in Ohio for 23 years, and served on the NISC Board for eight years, most recently as Vice Chairman. Salyer retired from his cooperative in September 2024.

“Both Gary and Ron have been instrumental to our success and will be greatly missed,” said Remboldt. “We look forward to working with our new Directors and the full NISC Board as we continue to navigate new challenges and opportunities and provide the best solutions and support possible to our Members.”

A current list of the NISC Board of Directors can be found at nisc.coop/about.