There’s been a changing of the guard on the Santel Communications Cooperative Board of Directors this year.
After ten years representing Santel’s North District, Jerry Jenssen of Woonsocket is wrapped up his time on the board in March. Stepping into the seat is another familiar Woonsocket face, Jeff Tiede, who joined the board earlier this spring.
For Jerry, it closes a chapter that began in February 2016, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board. What followed was a decade of learning, asking questions, making decisions and helping guide Santel through a period of significant change.
Jerry brought a little bit of everything with him to the boardroom. He’s been a teacher, coach, mentor, business owner and entrepreneur, experiences that gave him a practical perspective and, maybe just as importantly, a natural curiosity.
That curiosity mattered.
Telecommunications is not an industry that sits still for very long. Technology changes. Regulations change. The expectations of members change. During Jerry’s time on the board, Santel continued making major investments in its network and operations, further building out and modernizing the fiber network our members rely on today.
Santel General Manager Ryan Thompson said Jerry’s background served him well during those years.
“Observing Jerry, one could see he took pride in being part of a member-owned broadband cooperative and in his role on the board of directors,” Thompson said. “His inquisitiveness and intuition as both a teacher and business owner helped him navigate the board’s business and leadership responsibilities.”
Jerry’s fellow directors also trusted him with an additional leadership role. In 2021, they selected him to serve as Board President, a position he held through 2024.
Current Board President Pam Moore said the job requires someone willing to keep learning and think beyond the next meeting or the next year.
“Being on the cooperative’s board takes dedication, long-term thinking, and thoughtful diligence,” Moore said. “It’s a unique type of business, where one must keep learning about advancing technology, regulations, and business opportunities. We appreciate Jerry’s energy and passion to help make the cooperative the best it can be, and we wish him the best on his retirement from the board.”
For Jerry, though, one of the biggest takeaways from his ten years of service is pretty simple: when you get the chance to be involved in your community, take it.
“I’d encourage all of our service area communities to consider this type of community stakeholder role for yourself if it becomes possible for you,” Jerry said. “It was a great opportunity for me. I thoroughly enjoyed working together with the directors and staff, continuing the rich heritage of community cooperation.”
That idea of local people stepping up to serve also makes for a fitting transition to Santel’s newest director.
Welcoming Jeff Tiede
Jeff Tiede was appointed to the Santel Board of Directors in March to fill the remainder of Jerry’s North District term and attended his first board meeting in April.
Jeff may be new to telecommunications, but he is certainly not new to cooperatives, business or community involvement.
A lifelong Woonsocket resident and Augustana University graduate with a degree in business administration, Jeff spent more than 40 years working in agriculture-related businesses. That includes 20 years as the owner-operator of a family farm supply business, 15 years managing a large agricultural cooperative and time working as a lender at a community-based independent bank.
In other words, he already understands plenty about budgets, operations, customers, cooperative organizations and the realities of doing business in rural South Dakota.
He’s also spent much of his life involved in the community around him.
Jeff served 30 years with the Woonsocket Fire Department, including time as membership president and assistant chief. He is a past president of the Woonsocket Jaycees, served for years on the Woonsocket FFA Advisory Committee and for more than 25 years on the St. Wilfrid’s Catholic Church council. He also helped establish the Woonsocket High School Activity Hall of Fame and serves as secretary-treasurer of Pony Hills Golf Course.
That’s quite a résumé before you ever get to broadband.
Jeff says he is looking forward to learning that side of the job from Santel’s directors and employees while bringing his own experience to the table.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to serve the members of Santel and learn more about the cooperative and telecommunications industries,” Jeff said. “Throughout my career, I’ve seen the value that strong local organizations bring to rural communities. I look forward to learning from fellow directors and staff while contributing my own business, operational, financial, and cooperative experiences to help keep Santel strong for future generations.”
Board Vice President Cindy Neuharth said Jeff’s long history of local involvement made him a natural fit for the role.
“Jeff has a long history of leadership and community involvement throughout the Woonsocket area,” Neuharth said. “We are pleased he was willing to step forward and serve. His business experience, cooperative background, and commitment to our local communities will be valuable assets as he continues learning about Santel and representing the members of the North District.”
Jeff and his wife, Vickie, raised three children and now enjoy camping and spending time with their growing family, including five grandchildren and another on the way.
There’s no single background that prepares someone to serve on a cooperative board. Jerry came to Santel as a teacher, coach and business owner. Jeff arrives with decades of experience in agriculture, finance, cooperatives and community organizations.
What they have in common is probably more important: both were willing to raise their hand and serve.
So, as we welcome Jeff to the Santel Board of Directors, we also want to say thank you to Jerry for ten years of questions, conversations, decisions, leadership and time given to Santel and its members.
We’re grateful Jerry said yes in 2016.
And we’re glad Jeff said yes in 2026.