I work at Yottys Ace Hardware, Yottys Ice Cream, and Yottys Golf Cars in sales and bookkeeping. I am one of the co-owners in the Yotty Corporation and have been here for 49 years. I’ve served on the Kalona Volunteer Fire Department for many years in addition to the KCTC Board of Directors for the past 17 years, currently as the Board President.

Kalona Cooperative Technology Company is important to the community, KCTC provides support for local projects, clubs, organizations and schools. KCTC was one of the first in the state to offer a 100% fiber optic network directly to each home and business in its exchange. Being a local  cooperative, you are able to go directly to the business office and speak to someone in-person rather than a long telephone call  that only offers automated voice options and endless frustration.

Being on the Board of Directors is an honor because we are always looking to improve and make our cooperative a better one. I am proud of the fact that we are the leading the way in the communications industry with our fiber network and currently, the expansion into Washington to provide dependable internet, TV and phone services to the community. I hope to continue serving on the KCTC Board of Directors and see these projects to completion, providing essential and state-of-the-art services to all those who value hometown service and a prospering local economy.

Family: wife, Heather, Tyler (son), Caitlin (daughter) Landon (son), Mick (son) and Jaxon (son)

Outside of KCTC, I own and operate Kuenster Plumbing Heating & Air with my wife, Heather where we strive to make sure our customers know they come first. We have been in business for the past 15+ years. We enjoy helping people with heating, cooling, and plumbing problems. We service all brands of heating and air-conditioning equipment and are available 24 hours a day seven days a week for any heating, cooling or plumbing emergency that may occur.

I feel that a local cooperative is important and beneficial because we are right here for our customers, which can provide them with a sense of security, when they call in they are talking to a person that is local, understands the needs of what our customer are looking for and help resolve any issues that arise.
With currently being on the board I want to continue to see that KCTC thrives in and with the community. I will continue to educate myself in the co-op’s responsibility to the members and how best to make sure KCTC is a proud contributor of the community for many years to come.

It is important for KCTC to be a part of the community so that we know what our customers are looking for in a local co-op for technologies and services and attract people to want to relocate here. The one thing that I think that KCTC can improve on is educating customers on all the services we have to offer.

My wife Katie owns and operates the Woodin Wheel Quilts and Antiques Gift Shop in Kalona for the last 22 years and puts on the annual Kalona Quilt Show & Sale in Kalona. My son Koby Karnes is a sophomore attending Iowa State University and is majoring in Mechanical Engineering & my daughter Kyla Karnes is a senior at Mid Prairie and will be attending University of Northern Iowa this fall majoring in athletic training. Currently, I am the High School Archery coach for the Golden Hawk Archery Club for the last 6 years.

I have worked for Federation Bank in Wellman for 27 years, I am a Personal Banker & Security Officer for Federation Bank. Since we have only four employee’s in our branch office, I do everything from new accounts, CDs, IRA’s, Process Loans, and take care of the banks overall security. While my time at
the bank I have been involved with several community boards which include past board member of Mid Prairie Foundation for 18 years, Kalona Historical Society for 13 years, Wellman Rotary for 13 years, Holy Family Parish Church Council 3 years, Mid Prairie Athletic Boosters for 6 years, National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for 18 years.

I feel a Local cooperative is extremely important to be able to service the needs of the local people. Being local and being able to keep the services in town is a huge asset for the community and its members. It keeps a town or a community that you are living in thriving, it makes people want to live in your town or community, allows for better customer service & the money spent locally stays locally.

I hope to achieve as a board member keeping the needle pushed on the latest technology and staying on the up and up for the company and its customers. Through my leadership I hope to achieve the wellbeing of the staff, customers, and administration. I hope to continue the mission of KCTC with providing world class technology services with a home town touch.

I feel KCTC is an important part of the community because being a local provider to area businesses, schools, churches and local community members is essential and allows them each to be successful and able to do the things they need to do to function properly. When customers invest in a company like KCTC, then KCTC is able to invest in many different aspects of the community furthering its growth and prosperity.

I think the greatest asset to any company is its customers, so pushing to improve customer service is always a continuous goal, with my leadership & customer service skills I think I can help with that.