Best Pioneer Utility Resources Podcasts (2025)

1
Bringing on Junior Board Members, With Amanda Steeb 26:51

6d ago26:51

26:51

Seeking to engage younger members, Kankakee Valley REMC launched a Junior Board program to introduce high school students in the co-op's operations.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Reducing Broadband Business Churn, With Shannon Stafslien 12:02

20d ago12:02

12:02

Business customers need reliability, flexibility and simple billing. Delivering and communicating about those value adds can lead to long-lasting customer relationships.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
The Value Based Approach to Selling Broadband, with Joe Kohegyi 18:26

1M ago18:26

18:26

Calix’s Joe Kohegyi says competing on price and speed is a recipe for failure. Modern consumers want value in their connection and smart broadband marketers are working to communicate the value they deliver.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
The Importance of Alignment and How to Get There, With Vernon Johnson 14:11

2M ago14:11

14:11

Clever marketing campaigns are fun, but they are ineffective unless staff and sales processes are aligned behind them.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Food Trucks and Fireworks: How to Creatively Connect Community Events, With Greg Mullis 20:25

2M ago20:25

20:25

When you have multiplebroadband competitors pulling potential subscribers away, how do you set your story apart? Hear how Georgia's Tri-CoGo turned powering food trucks, fireworks shows and parks and recreation spaces into a way to build brand awareness in its community.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Strategies for Getting Out of the TV Business, With Jason Cohen 22:15

2M ago22:15

22:15

Facing increasing costs and angry subscribers, many broadband providers are looking to drop TV service. Ending linear video service in a strategic way can leave customers and broadband providers in a better way—as long as it's done in a smart way.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Weaving Compelling Narratives into Your Marketing Strategy, With Wendy Crenner 18:35

3M ago18:35

18:35

The broadband packages at SCTelcom don’t focus on speed. Instead, they highlight experiences like the connected family, high techies, home tech starter and a package for a simple and secure experience. Wendy Crenner shares how her team uses the power of narratives to connect with subscribers.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
What Can We Learn from 31 Years in Utility Communications?, With Mike Teegarden 26:16

3M ago26:16

26:16

Mike Teegarden is retiring from Pioneer after 31 years of telling stories, first through his photography and then through his editorial leadership. Mike joins “The StoryConnect Podcast” to discuss lessons learned from photography to leadership to storytelling.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Frontline Storytellers: How to Train Your Team on Subscriber Experience, With Scott Paul 21:48

3M ago21:48

21:48

Is your consumer service team built to care? Scott Paul, of Beacon Broadband, shares how he uses team building and mentoring to turn his frontline team into storytelling specialists!By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Team ThunderForce: How a Dino-Riding Hero Turns Humor Into Sales, With Gene McCoy and Patrick Wood 30:46

3M ago30:46

30:46

Incorporating humor into broadband marketing has skyrocketed sales at Co-Mo Communications over the past several years. How did dino-riding Chip Thunder go from a short-lived advertisement to a beloved character among subscribers? Listen to the story on this podcast episode! Find Chip Thunder videos on YouTube.…

1
Football and WiFi: How One Utility Connects with Fans (and Subscribers) on Friday Nights, With Brenda Overton 17:40

4M ago17:40

17:40

Every Friday night, stadium lights flash on and fans in purple or red file in. Before the crowd roars for touchdowns, they pull out their phones to connect to free Wi-Fi from the co-op. Pea River Co-op's Brenda Overton shares how this tradition kicked off and why it might score for you, too.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Major Takeaways from the 2024 Calix ConneXions Conference 16:57

4M ago16:57

16:57

The era of selling broadband based on speed alone is over. At Calix ConneXions 2024, industry leaders focused on subscriber experience and community connection to drive rural broadband success. From outdoor Wi-Fi innovations to strategic planning shifts, here’s what’s next for rural broadband providers.…

1
Fostering Success Through Surveys, With Cameron Daline 21:47

4M ago21:47

21:47

Clark Public Utilities has been surveying its customers since the 1960s. How have the valuable insights gleaned from surveys helped the utility successfully serve its community? Customer Experience Manager Cameron Daline tells us on this podcast episode.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Raising Your Community’s Story with a Business Summit, With Paige Witham 23:28

4M ago23:28

23:28

Hear how Power Eastern Oregon—an economic development summit bringing together regional legislators, nationally known speakers and rural Oregon's business community—has become a way for Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative to strengthen its community's story.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
How to Make a Splash with Hydromania Summer Science Camp!, With Weston Putman 22:45

4M ago22:45

22:45

Hydromania may sound like a music festival in the Gorge, but it’s a free summer camp for fourth and fifth graders from Umatilla Electric Cooperative. Weston Putman shares the camp's origin story and how it is building the next generation of co-op members.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Get Out of Gotcha Moments, With Ryan Hall 14:35

5M ago14:35

14:35

How much of the publicly-shared interactions with utility staff is trolling versus investigative reporting by concerned citizens who have a right to hold the utility accountable? We're talking to Ryan Hall about “Getting Out of the Gotcha Moments” at NWPPA’s Northwest Innovations Conference in Idaho.…

1
Building on Broadband: Utilizing Personal, Targeted Stories for Sales, With Erin McKnight 29:38

5M ago29:38

29:38

How do you boost your take rates and cut churn after you've built broadband? OEC Fiber’s Erin McKnight shares her storytelling tactics, including a three-tiered marketing approach by zone and her subscriber stories series. Tune in for fresh ideas!By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Happy Employees, Happy Customers, With Dr. Trish Holliday and Brent Baker 32:25

5M ago32:25

32:25

It's difficult to have happy customers if you have unhappy staff. Dr. Trish Holliday and Brent Baker of NES talk about the connection between the two and how to improve both.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Getting Ready for 'The Year of the Co-op’ in 2025, With Adam Schwartz 22:52

6M ago22:52

22:52

We’re gearing up to celebrate the United Nations’ International Year of Cooperatives in 2025, so we’ve invited co-op cheerleader Adam Schwartz onto the podcast to help Utility Pioneers brainstorm how to tell our co-op stories in fresh, engaging ways.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
A Scavenger Hunt and Livestream for World Wi-Fi Day, With Lisa Fannin 18:23

6M ago18:23

18:23

Mountain Rural Telephone wanted to educate members about Wi-Fi, broadband and the capabilities they provide. So working with local businesses, they built a campaign around World Wi-Fi Day in June.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Are you an Explorer, Creator or Servant? Use Brand Archetypes to Strengthen Campaign Strategies, With Sarah Lancaster 13:51

6M ago13:51

13:51

Dig into the psychology of marketing with Pioneer’s Sarah Lancaster to learn how using archetypes can help your marketing create more meaningful connections with your target audiences.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Is Nextdoor a Good Social Media Option for You?, With Adam Spencer 26:25

6M ago26:25

26:25

EWEB is one year into trying out Nextdoor as a communication tool, and they are seeing good results due to the platform’s focus on geographic filters.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Broadband Labels Deadline Insights, With Dounia Chikhoune 26:09

7M ago26:09

26:09

With about two months to go before the Oct. 10 broadband label deadline, Dounia Chikhoune, from JSI, shares insights about on what she's seen big and small ISPs do to be ready.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
SEO's Not Dead in North Carolina, With Edward Hinson 28:41

7M ago28:41

28:41

SkyLine/SkyBest doesn't let the fact that they are a member-owned telephone cooperative in the North Carolina mountains stop them from fighting hard against big competitors in the search rankings. Edward Hinson shares examples of what they’ve done to move up in the rankings and why it’s worth it.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Putting Pets to Work in the Office, With Scott Peters 17:53

7M ago17:53

17:53

Employees at Columbia REA are allowed to bring their pets to work. CEO Scott Peters says it’s a beneficial policy as long as you “paws” to think about the guidelines first.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Broadband and Bigfoot: Building Engagement into Your Service Strategy, With Kelly Burns 22:46

7M ago22:46

22:46

Storytelling is a HUGE component of broadband marketing. But how can you make a technical subject engaging and memorable for your community? Kelly Burns, marketing manager at CTC in Minnesota, tells us how Bigfoot and its own Gig A. Byte monster keep people interested and engaged in broadband services.…

1
Harnessing Your Personal Experiences to Improve Broadband Programs, With Naylor Gray 25:48

8M ago25:48

25:48

Speed is so 2020. To connect with today’s broadband subscribers you need data-driven storytelling, persona-based service tiers and the know-how to read digital body language. Calix's Naylor Gray shares insights from the 2024 update of Calix’s e-book, “The Definitive Guide to Subscriber Experience.” Link to the e-book: www.calix.com/forms/marketer/d…

1
The 'Rural Mural' Program, With Marian McLemore 21:52

8M ago21:52

21:52

Flint Energies has started a matching grant program with artists and community groups to paint murals in towns around its service territory. In addition to adding beauty to the community, they’re seeing positive economic impacts.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Cram the Van — A Community Fundraiser Becomes a Storytelling Powerhouse, With Alli Conine 19:05

8M ago19:05

19:05

Hear how a Kansas utility delivered 159 TONS of food with a branded van, school competitions and coordinated, consistent messaging over the last 10 years.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Line Life – Giving Students a 40-foot View of Utility Careers, With Jessica Parr 22:24

9M ago22:24

22:24

Want more people to apply for lineworker jobs? Show your story to high school seniors! Learn how Community Electric Co-op’s “Day in the Life of a Lineworker” student experience raises awareness of utility career paths and lineworker scholarships every spring.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Boosting Member Engagement with Youth Programs, With Tory Tedder-Loffland 15:17

9M ago15:17

15:17

Starting in kindergarten, the team at Oklahoma Electric Co-op offers educational programs to students throughout their school experience. Hear how the programs developed and why engaging children became a strategic focus for the utility over the last decade.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Telling Timeless Stories in Engaging Ways, With David Latona 29:13

9M ago29:13

29:13

Energy efficiency is a story that can feel stale. Hear how Louisiana Utility Pioneers rebranded existing resources with an owl mascot and cohesive storytelling to help both staff and members be Power Smart.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
2024 Rural Broadband Streaming and Social Media Study, With Scott Meyer 11:39

9M ago11:39

11:39

For the second year in a row, price was not the No. 1 concern for respondents in Innovative Systems’ annual broadband survey. What is it that matters most? This episode also includes notes on bundling, social media platform usage, streaming options and communication preferences. Special: Recorded LIVE at StoryConnect 2024!…

1
Unlocking Staff Strengths to Harness Your Internal Storytelling Potential, With Katie Haby 21:16

10M ago21:16

21:16

Internal communications is a critical part of storytelling, but one we often forget. At Medina Electric, Katie Haby's using the CliftonStrengths training program to help staff focus on strengths to build cross-department teams and happier, more engaged employees. Hear how the program’s helping the co-op strengthen its internal storytelling approach…

1
Using an Internal Newsletter and Intranet to Engage Employees, With Allison Young 8:41

10M ago8:41

8:41

Allison Young and the Kauai team just won an NRECA Spotlight award for their internal newsletter and intranet. What's their secret for engaging internal communications? Special: Recorded LIVE at StoryConnect 2024!By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
How Can Empowered Youth Build Your Brand Story?, With Chinelle Christensen 20:38

10M ago20:38

20:38

Icebreakers, scholarships and character building — meet EmPOWER, a youth leadership program for high school juniors in South Dakota and Minnesota. Learn about Sioux Valley Energy’s long-term investment to build future leaders in its community.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Weaving the Co-op Difference into Economic Development and Staff Storytelling, With Marty Walsh 24:28

10M ago24:28

24:28

Do you have a local network of cooperative storytellers? From his dual roles as an economic development manager at People's Energy and board member for Cooperative Development Services, Marty Walsh’s has a unique take on co-op education and how Utility Pioneers can turn the cooperative difference into shared storytelling opportunities to foster mem…

1
Managing a New Brand, With Larry Mattox 11:42

11M ago11:42

11:42

In under three years, Central Rural Electric Co-op moved from breaking ground to 85% buildout of their broadband service, CentraNet, in Oklahoma. During a break from the Calix event, Larry Mattox shares how the small team managed this growth, a new brand and evolving member expectations.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Persona Based Marketing, With Chris Lovell 12:59

11M ago12:59

12:59

In an effort to move beyond features like speed, CL Tel has begun discussing its broadband based on what their service can do for specific customer profiles of personas like gamers, remote workers and families. Special: Recorded LIVE at NTCABy Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Broadband Labels Rules and Regulations, With Dereck DeVries 23:12

11M ago23:12

23:12

Now that the rules have been finalized, Dereck DeVries, of Vantage Point, shares the latest on what marketers, communicators and executives need to know about the where, what and when of broadband labels.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Staff Leadership Programs to Grow Future Leaders, With Chinelle Christensen 21:13

11M ago21:13

21:13

Sioux Valley Energy's staff LEAD program builds a culture of cooperation across the utility, creating a competitive edge when recruiting talent. Learn how projects from the leadership program improved volunteerism programs, removed silos and strengthened the co-op's internal communications.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Working with Different Kinds of Co-ops to Build Our Shared Story, With Cathy Statz 18:46

11M ago18:46

18:46

Food co-ops, credit unions, utilities and other types of co-ops may serve different needs, but we share many of the same stories. Cooperative educator Cathy Statz talks about the power of sharing the cross-sector co-op story with young people, then offers advice for building your local cooperative community.…

1
Photo Tips to Tell Better Stories, With Chris Pietsch 14:45

12M ago14:45

14:45

Chris Pietsch, director of photography for Gannett Newspapers in Oregon, shares tips on "making — not taking" better photos while previewing the sessions he will lead at StoryConnect in April.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
How Self-Editing Can Make You A Better Writer, With Teddy Feinberg 18:26

12M ago18:26

18:26

Teddy Feinberg, managing editor at the Idaho Press, gives us a preview of his sessions at StoryConnect 2024, where he will be the writing instructor. In this episode, Teddy focuses on the value of concise writing and gives tips on how to improve your writing by self-editing.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Questions to Ask Before You Start Market Research, With John Marling 25:23

12M ago25:23

25:23

John Marling has been conducting market research for almost four decades. In this episode, he shares insights on what marketers and communicators need to think about in order to get meaningful, actionable data from their research. Learn more at pioneer.coop/surveys.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Recruitications: Using Communications to Recruit Staff, With Weston Putman 24:20

1y ago24:20

24:20

Today's jobseekers are watching your utility's communications to see what kind of organization you are. And while your primary audience will almost always be your members or customers, Weston Putman says it's crucial to signal to potential new hires that your organization is a place they would want to work.…

1
Storytelling Tactics From Different Types of Cooperatives, With Mary Miller 30:04

1y ago30:04

30:04

With a story-packed career spanning three different types of co-ops, WCTEL’s Mary Miller shares ideas for co-op culture-building, effective campaigns and co-opportunities for growth.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Preparing Your Co-op to Launch Fiber in a Competitive Area, With Lindsay Brinker 13:13

1y ago13:13

13:13

Communicating in a competitive community? Prepare yourself by learning who you're up against — and know your differences — focus on your community, get peer support and strengthen your story.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Finding Staff Who Champion Your Story, With Gregg Hunter and Peter Davies 19:15

1y ago19:15

19:15

How can you get an engineer excited about telling your utility story? Gregg Hunter, one of Nemont’s storytellers, sits down to talk culture and the value of story with network engineer Peter Davies.By Pioneer Utility Resources

1
Transforming Communication Skills into Broadband Marketing Tactics, With Bonnie Baty 22:01

1y ago22:01

22:01

Like many broadband storytellers, Bonnie Baty began working on the electric utility side. She offers advice for communicators making the switch and shares her take on how broadband communications will evolve over the next 5 years.By Pioneer Utility Resources

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