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Jesse Ketteman Promoted to SRT Director of Regulatory Compliance

Jesse Ketteman Promoted to SRT Director of Regulatory Compliance

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MINOT, N.D. – SRT Communications has promoted Jesse Ketteman to Director of Regulatory Compliance. He brings more than 20 years of experience with the cooperative to his new role.

Ketteman joined SRT in 2005 as Network Operations Engineer. He subsequently served as Regulatory Affairs Manager from 2022 until his promotion to Director of Regulatory Compliance. He is responsible for leading effective compliance strategies to manage risk and ensure ethical conduct across all areas of the cooperative.

“It is imperative that SRT stay engaged within the telecommunications regulatory environment for the good of our members and the future of rural broadband,” said Cassidy Hjelmstad, SRT Chief Executive Officer and General Manager. “An expert in navigating regulatory developments, Jesse is committed to maintaining compliant business practices and upholding SRT’s high standards. We appreciate his leadership and sound judgement in this vital role.”

Ketteman is a U.S. Army Veteran and served eight years in the Signal Corps. He lives on a small farm near Granville with his wife, Tammy.

SRT Communications, headquartered in Minot, North Dakota, is the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative and a multi-gig internet provider. Established in 1951, SRT employs roughly 180 people and serves more than 25,000 customers across north-central North Dakota. SRT built a fiber optic broadband network throughout its service area. Services include high-speed internet, phone, and security and surveillance systems for home and business. Learn more at www.srt.com.

Jessamy Fornshell Promoted to SRT Chief Financial and Operating Officer

Jessamy Fornshell Promoted to SRT Chief Financial and Operating Officer

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MINOT, N.D. – SRT Communications has promoted Jessamy Fornshell to Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFOO). Fornshell served as SRT’s Chief Financial Officer since May 2025, leading the cooperative’s strategy for driving financial performance, ensuring operational efficiency, and providing guidance to propel growth.

“Beyond her advanced financial acumen, Jessamy has deep knowledge of operations for both local and global cooperative models,” said Cassidy Hjelmstad, SRT Chief Executive Officer and General Manager. “SRT is in a transformational moment as we provide critical telecommunications infrastructure across the communities we serve. Jessamy’s track record and commitment position her perfectly for leading SRT into the future in this dual role.”

Prior to joining SRT, Fornshell was CFO at United Quality Cooperative, where she was responsible for finance, accounting, inventory, human resources, and credit/collections. She also previously served ten years at CHS, Inc., both as Northland Region Accounting Manager overseeing business units across North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, and as Controller for local Country Operations locations: CHS SunPrairie and Dakota Agronomy Partners.

Fornshell earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of North Dakota and is a Certified Public Accountant. She lives in Minot with her family.

SRT Communications, headquartered in Minot, North Dakota, is the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative and a multi-gig internet provider. Established in 1951, SRT employs roughly 180 people and serves more than 25,000 customers across north-central North Dakota. SRT built a fiber optic broadband network throughout its service area. Services include high-speed internet, phone, and security and surveillance systems for home and business. Learn more at www.srt.com.

Scam Alert: Always Think Before You Click

Scam Alert: Always Think Before You Click

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Phishing scams, or emails pretending to be reputable companies like SRT, are making the rounds again. Some of these scams claim there is an upgrade for SRT or SRT webmail, which is not true. As a general reminder, the best rule of thumb is to never click on suspicious emails, watch for misspellings since that is usually a key indicator of spam, and always call SRT directly when questioning if an email is legitimate.

Before you click, check for these 4 Red Flags:

1. The Sender: Does the email address look suspicious or unusual? Check for strange domains (e.g., urgent@SRTalertaccount.net).

2. High Pressure: Does it say, “Urgent Action Required” or “Account Suspended”? Phishing scams use urgent and often threatening language to make customers panic and click.

3. Generic Greetings: Beware of greetings like, “Dear Valued Customer,” or “Dear Sir or Madam.”

4. The “Hover” Test: Hover your mouse over any link, but don’t actually click on it. If the URL looks like a jumbled mess or doesn’t match the company’s legitimate website, delete the email.

When in doubt, contact SRT directly at 701.858.1200 instead of clicking any links. Follow our Facebook page for more cybersecurity tips shared each month.

SRT Plans 75th Anniversary Celebration Activities

SRT Plans 75th Anniversary Celebration Activities

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Minot, ND – SRT is planning activities and events throughout the year to mark its 75th anniversary. 

Summer and fall in particular will feature SRT’s Annual Meeting in June, as well as a celebration tour throughout the communities of the cooperative’s four districts.

SRT was established in 1951 to bring telephone service to rural north-central North Dakota. Since then, SRT has grown into the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative, connecting communities across more than 5,500 square miles with high-speed fiber internet.

Information on upcoming activities and a schedule of events will be updated regularly at srt.com/75years and SRT’s Facebook page.

SRT Communications, headquartered in Minot, North Dakota, is the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative and a multi-gig internet provider. Established in 1951, SRT employs roughly 180 people and serves more than 25,000 customers across north-central North Dakota. SRT built a fiber optic broadband network throughout its service area. Services include high-speed internet, phone, and security and surveillance systems for home and business. Learn more at www.srt.com.

 

Cybersecurity Month: Tips to Protect Yourself Online

Cybersecurity Month: Tips to Protect Yourself Online

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Feeling intimidated by online security? You don’t have to! Since October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s turn that fear into action. With a few simple steps, your online safety will be more manageable. These easy tips will help you feel safer online:

1.Vary Your Passwords

Many people are guilty of using one password for every login they have. However, it is strongly recommended you don’t use the same password for every account, email, and app. Varying passwords limits the potential for someone to access all your accounts if they have gained access to one. There are reputable password managers available that will randomly generate secure passwords. You are only required to remember one password to access the password manager.

2. Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication

This simple additional step can make a huge difference when protecting yourself online. Multi-factor authentication can require a text or email to be sent to registered contact information that acts as a second layer of defense.

3. Keep Your Software Updated

Software updates aren’t just about new features; they frequently contain security patches that fix vulnerabilities hackers actively exploit. If your phone or computer are notifying you of an update, especially one with security patches, it’s best to update as soon as they are available.

4. Limit Information Shared on Social Media

As tempting as sharing personal information with your social network might be, hackers can use the information to gain access to your personal data. Security question answers can often be determined by scrolling through someone’s social media feed, like the name of your pet, your favorite sports team, where you like to travel, or names and/or birthdays of your children. Making your social profiles private instead of public can also help protect the information you share on social media.

5. Be Suspicious

When it comes to your personal data, you can never be too cautious. It is best to always be suspicious of anyone or anything asking for information. If you think it seems suspicious, it probably is. This is especially true when it comes to phishing (emails pretending to come from a trusted source), or smishing (text messages that appear to be from someone you know).