April 2006

Molalla Communications Company New President

Molalla Communications Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Loutzenhiser as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.  He will assume the post April 3.

Mr. Loutzenhiser replaces Michael East who resigned on Dec. 31 to join another cooperative telephone company in Indiana.

Mr. Loutzenhiser has a wealth of experience in the rural telecommunications industry. He comes to Molalla from the KanOkla Telephone Association and KanOkla Communications, where he has worked since 1997 and most recently served as Chief Operating Officer. KanOkla Telephone is an independent telecommunications provider in Caldwell, Kan., that formed in 1951.

Mr. Loutzenhiser was recruited by the Molalla Communications Company Board of Directors through a national search.

“The Board of Directors is delighted to have successfully recruited Steve for the position.  He brings years of experience in the telecommunications industry and has an impressive list of accomplishments from his work at KanOkla Telephone and in his community.  Steve is an enthusiastic leader and will be a valuable addition to Molalla’s business community,” Board Chairman Ed Lettenmaier said.

Mr. Loutzenhiser is married with two children. He said he looks forward to the new position and joining the Molalla community.

“Molalla Communications Company employees have a long tradition of providing innovative and useful products and services as well as serving its members and the community,” Mr. Loutzenhiser said.  “This is what interested me in the position.  Through community involvement, board direction and employee commitment, I believe Molalla Communications Company will continue to play a key role in providing new services to members and partnering in local economic development.  My family and I are excited about moving to such a beautiful area and we were impressed with how helpful and kind everyone in the community was during our recent visit.”

During his first month on the job, Mr. Loutzenhiser said he plans to obtain a good sense of the company’s operations and will immediately become involved in the Chamber of Commerce, Team Molalla and other community and economic development activities.

Molalla Communications was formed in 1913 by residents who wanted to stay connected with their surrounding area. They pooled their resources and purchased the equipment needed to start to their own telephone company. The Molalla Communications mission statement is to be a “progressive telecommunications cooperative committed to providing state-of-the-art voice, data, and entertainment services.”

KanOkla Telephone Association was formed in 1951 to provide rural telephone service. Today, the cooperative serves approximately 3,600 access lines in 20 exchanges over an area of more than 1,400 square miles in South Central Kansas and North Central Oklahoma.