I was born and raised in Peru, South America, coming to the US to attend Hesston College after I graduated from high school.  After Hesston I spent a year in Europe and then completed my bachelor’s degree at Eastern Mennonite College where I majored in Management Information Systems and minored in accounting.  Upon graduating, we returned to Kalona (Dawn’s hometown) and I went to work as a computer programmer at Yoder Feeds in Frytown.  That was followed by positions managing the computer departments at Fansteel Washington Manufacturing in Washington and Hawkeye Foodservice in Iowa City.  I have worked at JW’s Foods since 2004, and my wife and I purchased the business at the end of 2008 and continue to run it together.  In 2007 I earned an MBA at the University of Iowa.

I’ve been involved in various activities in the Kalona and Washington areas, including Rotary Clubs, the Kalona Chamber of Commerce, and serving on the board of the Washington chapter of Habitat for Humanity.  We attend Kalona Mennonite Church and have served in various capacities there as well.

“A local co-op, such as KCTC, has a vested interest in its community.  Larger corporations make decisions based strictly on dollars and cents, but a local co-op looks out for the good of the community and all the cooperative members.  Many times I’ve tried to talk to a person at a large corporation and ended up in a maze of telephone menus that make no sense.  A local co-op actually cares about its members and wants to talk to them.  At KCTC, you are likely to be friends or neighbors with the people who answer the phone, install new products, or come to your house to resolve any issues you may have.

I am honored to serve on the KCTC board and will look out for the interests of all our members by making wise financial decisions and pursuing technologies and services that will keep the Kalona community an attractive place for people to live and grow businesses.”

“I have spent my entire life in the Kalona community, currently owning and operating Troyer Farms on the farm where I grew up. I’m an active member of Kalona United Christian and Baptist Church and a member of the Washington Township Optimists. I support a number of local organizations by providing grilling services for fundraisers.”

I’m a member of several cooperatives, and I’ve seen many benefits to the members and community of having local control of the businesses.

My goals are to finish fiber-optic projects and to keep KCTC a leader in broadband services.

I have been working at Horak Insurance since October of 1997.  My days are spent meeting with clients, listening and advising them on their insurance needs.  Without question, the most enjoyable part of my job…. Meeting directly with our customers.  I also serve as a Board of Director for the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa.

“Advertising as “local” or to ask customers to “shop local” is a slogan that can be over used and watered down.  As a “local” business owner, I’ve expressed concerns to my team members that we must not expect “local” to be a verb or action item.  Being local must translate to an overwhelming level of customer service, and intimate understanding of customer expectations, accountability, follow up, and the highest level of professionalism.  Without question, KCTC team members have embraced these “local” ideals and work place values.   As technology providers have globalized and have lost those “local” service values, the communities served by KCTC will certainly notice an obvious difference in the level of customer and professional services.“

As a board member with KCTC my goals are to continue to invest, empower, train, and provide the best environment for our greatest resource… our employees.   Challenge KCTC to continue to look for broadband opportunities in our surrounding communities and rural areas.  Encourage management to stretch out and take calculated risks to encourage growth.  Be a listener and resourceful director for management staff and fellow board members.  Challenge KCTC to continue offering top-level customer service and innovative products. I will continue to ask the question, what can KCTC do today to be the technology leader for our communities.

It is rare to see communities of our size be completely serviced by underground fiber.  This is a major consideration for our current and future employers.  During the pandemic, KCTC played a critical part in keeping our youth connected with their education.  Washington, Kalona, and our surrounding areas have a technology resource right in our back yards.  A unique asset to our community.