Big congrats to Gary Johnson and Leo Anderson at Paul Bunyan Communications…

Paul Bunyan Communications has been awarded two national Excellence Awards from NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association that represents over 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovative change in smart rural communities across America

James L. Bass Manager Life Achievement Award: Gary Johnson, CEO of Paul Bunyan Communications, for his 35 years at Paul Bunyan, working his way up from computer programmer to CEO. Johnson led the charge to leverage Paul Bunyan’s all-fiber network and other initiatives including the Bemidji Technology Park, 218 Relocate program and GigaZone Gaming Championship and TechXpo. He has also served on several NTCA committees, the NISC Board, Calix Leadership Advisory Board as well as many local boards focused on healthcare and economic development. 

Innovation Award: Leo Anderson, Chief Technology Officer, and Brian Bissonette, Marketing Supervisor, for Paul Bunyan Communications, for teaming up to create and lead the GigaZone Gaming Championship and TechXpo. The GigaZone event not only highlights Paul Bunyan’s all-fiber network, but it also brings innovation to the forefront in how it connects the cooperative to school-aged gamers by showing them that the potential for successful careers in tech exist at home. Last year, Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, was the keynote speaker, thanks in large part to Anderson and Bissonette’s outreach efforts.

The NTCA Excellence Awards recognize broadband providers who have exceeded expectations to support their customers and community members and to advance communications services in rural America. Winners are selected by the association’s Awards Committee comprising NTCA members.