Our Board of Directors
Paul Nieman Jr. - President - District Two
Paul has been on the Board of Directors at Consolidated Telephone Company since 1982 and served as the Vice President from 2003-2010 and as President since 2010. When asked why he is interested in continuing to be on the Board of Directors, he replied, “I have a sincere interest in seeing the continuum of this successful company. It has gone from a cooperative of rural individual telephone companies to a telecommunications company.”
Paul has served on numerous boards and has been involved in several organizations that include Belle Prairie Township, FHA, Morrison County, the American Legion, Elmdale Insurance, Creameries Blending Inc., and Region V.
Mr. Nieman has lived in the Freedhem area his entire life. He currently owns the Freedhem Store in addition to operating a dairy and hog farm outside of Freedhem.
In his free time, Paul enjoys staying active with local government, observing wildlife, fishing, reading, networking and acting as an advocate for neighbors and the community, attending musical functions, and spending time with his family.
Paul and his wife, Cecilia, have three children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
John Luce - Vice President - District Five
John has been on the Board of Directors at Consolidated Telephone Company since 2008 and has held the position of Vice President since 2010. John has worked as an Electrical
Designer and Office Manager for Gausman & Moor Engineers, Director of Buildings & Grounds for the Brainerd Public Schools and as a Project Manager for Widseth Smith Nolting. He is
currently semi-retired and self-employed as a building design/construction management consultant. John has also been active with the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport
Commission as Chair, the Rosenmeier Center for State & Local Government as Vice Chair and the Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club as Vice-President and President. He has also been active with the Brainerd Rotary Club as Director, Vice-President
and President.
John has two sons and five grandchildren. He enjoys volunteering in the community and public service as an amateur radio operator. He has been a teacher in community education programs in the Brainerd Public Schools and is active with Grace United Methodist Church in Pequot Lakes.
Michael "Mike" Wetzel - Secretary - District Four
Mike has been on the Board of Directors at Consolidated Telephone Company since 2004 and has served as Secretary since 2010. In addition, he is the Chairman of the Cass County Planning Commission and also serves on the Cass County Board of Adjustment.
Mr. Wetzel is semi-retired and owns and operates Wetzel's Auto Service Center, where he has worked for over 50 years. His interests include cars, being around the water, traveling, camping and woodworking.
Mike and his wife, Kathy, have eight children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Morris Nelson - Treasurer - District One
Morris has been on the Board of Directors at Consolidated Telephone Company since 2004 and has served as Treasurer since 2010. In addition, he is the Treasurer of Darling Lutheran Cemetery Association and a member of the Randall Sportsman Club, MN Steam Engine Association, Morrison County Deer Hunters Association and a volunteer at Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls.
Mr. Nelson is retired and has lived in the Randall Area his entire life. He worked for Minnesota Power for 21 years and in road construction for 20 years prior to that.
Morris enjoys working with steam equipment, black powder hunting, fishing, building model airplanes, and refinishing furniture.
Edward "Bud" Swecker - District Four
Bud has been on the Board of Directors at Consolidated Telephone Company since 1978 and held the position of President from 2003-2010.
He has also served on the boards for Land O' Lakes, Cass County Extension, May Township and Morrison County Fair. In addition, Bud is also involved with the Staples Area Men's Chorus, 4-H, St. Michael's Catholic Church and the local food shelf.
Mr. Swecker has lived in the Motley area his entire life and has worked at his farm, Sweckers' Hilltop Farm, for over 50 years. He enjoys singing, working with children, and tending to his flowers and raspberries.
Bud and his wife, Gay, have seven children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jerry Palm - District Two
Jerry has been on the Board of Directors at Consolidated Telephone Company since 2003. When asked why he is interested in continuing to be on the Board of Directors, he replied, “CTC is a great, expanding company that I feel I will be a big asset to because of my years of experience with the company.”
Prior to his election to the Board, Jerry spent over 30 years as a Combination Technician with CTC.
Jerry has been a member of the American Legion for over 40 years and is also a member of First Lutheran Church in Brainerd.
Mr. Palm is retired and has lived in the Nokay Lake area for most of his life. He enjoys fishing, hunting and gardening in his spare time. He and his wife, Peggy, have five children and several grandchildren.
Kathy Kobliska - District One
Kathy has been on the Board of Directors at Consolidated Telephone Company since 1998 and held the position of Treasurer at Large from 2003-2010.
She is also a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Staples, Lincoln Area Business Association, and the Lincoln Lakes Snowmobile Club.
Ms. Kobliska has lived in the Lincoln area her entire life and is the owner/operator of Kathy's Kut & Kurl in Lincoln. She enjoys walking, biking, four-wheeling and snowmobiling in her spare time.
Kathy and her husband, Steve, have two sons and grandchildren.
Stanley "Stan" Johnson - District Three
Stan has been on the Board of Directors at Consolidated Telephone Company since 1985 and held the position of Secretary from 1991-2010. He is also a member of the Northern MN Builders Association and has served on their Board of Directors holding the office of Secretary for a number of years. In addition, Stan is a past member of the Outing Chamber of Commerce, Our Saviors Lutheran Church council, and the Lions Club.
Mr. Johnson moved to the Outing area in 1960 and started Johnson Lumber and Hardware. He owned and operated the business until 1992, at which time he sold the business and become a licensed construction contractor. Stan enjoys fishing, woodworking and reading in his free time.
Stan and his wife, Shirley, have two sons and several grandchildren.