Time flies when you are having fun, right? I can, indeed, confirm that is the case because my first year with you has been a BLAST! I want to personally thank each of you for your part in making Central and Centranet incredible organizations.
All too often, we are focused on the road ahead of us and forget to glance in the rearview mirror occasionally. We don’t look back to dwell on the past but to remember the roads we’ve traveled, the lessons learned and the memories made along the way.
In 2025, Central surpassed 25,000 meters connected across roughly 19,000 members. Centranet is closing in on 13,000 subscribers and has completed off-system builds in Agra and Cushing. These are remarkable accomplishments and represent our mission statement, “Empowering our Members and Communities.” EACH of you plays a critical role in that mission, every single day. The rearview is full of accomplishment. I challenge each of you to glance in your rearview mirror and think about what you are most proud of from the last year.
So, what’s ahead as we look through the windshield to the horizon? We’re going back to the basics of
our business: safety, reliability and affordability. How are we accomplishing this?
• Our vegetation management program has been revamped with a renewed focus on right-ofway reclamation and removals.
• Our pole inspection and maintenance program is being overhauled to make sure we identify, prioritize and execute maintenance proactively and responsibly.
• Member Services is adapting to meet our members where they are, providing exceptional service.
Leadership Corner From Shane
IT and our network team are making sure the network remains secure and stable and is incorporating Centranet into core services such as internet and phone.
The list goes on and on.
• New fleet assets are being added and old ones replaced.
• We are investing in new tools to make jobs safer and more efficient, like specialized skid steer attachments, pole trailers and GPS equipment.
• The fiber network is being utilized for smart grid connectivity, allowing for visibility into the network and safer working conditions for linemen.
Your success is my success and my commitment to you is simple: I will equip each of you with the tools and resources you need to be successful and help you to achieve that success along the way. I am committed to a culture of accountability, mutual respect, transparency and communication. My standards for you are high and even higher for myself.
As we push on the gas pedal and head into the next year, I encourage each of you to bring the best version of yourself and don’t forget your “Why.” Be safe, be kind and be humble.