RAPID CITY, S.D. – Aug. 4, 2025 – SDN Communications, the regional broadband provider interconnecting South Dakota’s rural telecom network, has announced a new executive team and board member following its annual Board of Managers meeting.
Ross Petrick, General Manager and CEO of Alliance Communications in Garretson, was elected as the new President of the SDN Communications Board. Petrick has served on the board since 2016.
Tracy Bandemer, GM and CEO of Clear Lake-based Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative (ITC), was elected Vice President. Bandemer has been a board member since 2021. Chad Mutziger, who leads Midstate Communications in Kimball, was named Secretary/Treasurer. He joined the board in 2022.
The board also welcomed Nick Rogness, General Manager and CEO of Golden West Telecommunications in Wall. Rogness replaces Denny Law, the retiring GM and former board president.
SDN’s board consists of leadership from across its 17 member-owner companies, which collectively cover more than 90% of South Dakota’s geography with broadband services. Other board members include:
- Fay Jandreau, Venture Communications (Highmore)
- Heather Kranz, TrioTel Communications (Salem)
- Steve Meyer, Swiftel (Brookings)
- Jeff Symens, Valley Telecommunications (Herreid)
- Ryan Thompson, Santel Communications (Woonsocket)
SDN Communications operates a high-capacity fiber-optic network spanning more than 50,000 miles across eight states, including South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.
The organization and its member companies provide managed services and broadband connectivity to a variety of sectors crucial to the region—including banking, health care, agriculture, government, manufacturing, and education.
