About Us

Mission Statement

It shall be the aim of Plains Cooperative Telephone Association Inc., to provide dependable area-wide telecommunication services on the cooperative plan and at the lowest cost consistent with sound economy and good management.

PLAINSTEL HISTORY

The Association was formed by pooling seven local telephone firms and was incorporated in 1953. In the beginning, the Cooperative made its headquarters in a former hotel building. Today, the offices in Joes are triple the square footage of the original portion of the offices built in 1966. Plains Telephone serves the towns of Anton, Cope, Eckley, Idalia, Joes, Kirk, and Seibert, Colorado.

David G. Idler of Kirk, Colorado is standing in front of the original headquarters, Joes exchange and directors meeting room, of Plains Cooperative Telephone Association, which was a tightfitting one-car garage.

Bill Berry is standing by an old telephone booth in Kirk, Colorado.

Plains Telephone provides service over a 2000 square mile area.

Customer service is not a department, but a philosophy highly supported by all our employees. Plains Telephone depends upon each employee to deliver extraordinary customer service. We are committed to excellence in providing quality services and products by listening to our customers and responding to their changing needs, wants, and desires.

Career Opportunities

Interested in employment opportunities? Download and fill out this application and bring it on by and we’ll chat!

Staff

  • General Manager – Ronny Puckett
  • Plant Manager – Shawn Bellows
  • Office Manager – Miriam Berry
  • Senior Service Representative/Billing – Diane Mann
  • Customer Service Representative/Internet – KC Holtman
  • Marketing Specialist/Customer Service Rep. – Christi Herrick
  • Accountant – Melissa Satterly
  • Wray Area Customer Service – Sandy Wolf
  • Central Office Technician – Dan Underwood
  • Assistant Plant Manager – Frank Hernandez
  • IT/Network Technician – Jason Greenman
  • Combination Technician – Todd Roseberry
  • Combination Technician – Nate Box
  • Combination Technician – Philip Cox

Board of Directors

SHANE WEAVER – PRESIDENT

Shane and his wife Lisa currently live in the Joes area and have for the last 32 years. They have two grown children, Sam Weaver and wife Jordan of Kirk and Kayla Weaver of Dallas, Texas as well as grandchildren Wes and Wren Weaver.

Shane graduated from Norwood High School in 1988 and then attended Mesa Hotline School in the fall. He graduated in the spring of 1989 with a Lineman Certification. Following graduation, Shane was employed by the City of Loveland Light and Power for a summer internship. Shane also worked for a line contractor before becoming employed by Y-W Electric Association in February of 1990. He has worked and served the community through them for the last 32 years as an Apprentice, Journeyman, and Foreman lineman.

Shane has served on the Grassroots Community Center Board for the past eight years.

His hobbies include hunting, shooting sports and reloading. Shane has been a director for Plains Telephone since 2019.

CHAD RICHARDS – VICE-PRESIDENT

Chad lives northwest of Idalia where he has ranched for the last 23 years. His wife, Lindsey is an RN at Kit Carson County Public Health and they have 3 children: Aubrey,  Cade, and Addison.

Chad graduated from Idalia High School in 1994 and from Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma in 1998 with a BS in Agri-Business and a minor in Animal Science.

Chad serves as Vice-President/Secretary for the Bonny Community Club; he has volunteered for the Artist in Residence Program at the Idalia School, and has also served on the Idalia FFA Ag Advisory Board and the Idalia Fire Department. Chad enjoys country dancing, hunting and roping.  Chad has been a director for Plains Telephone since 2020.

 

LINDA SACKETT – TREASURER

Linda Sackett has lived in Cope for nearly her entire life. She is married to Steve and they raised their family in the Cope area. Tara is married to Ivan Steinke and they live in Eaton, Colorado and have two boys. Leif is married to Celena and they live in Parachute with their three kids.

Linda currently operates a home business in Cope. In the business operations, she utilizes and depends on Plains Telephone broadband. Linda manages a 15-employee Call Center where her duties include training, scheduling and bookkeeping. Linda is active in the Cope community. The Cope Community Church has been an important part of her life. She has had many leadership roles, including teaching Sunday School, Bible School, Jr. Choir, and leading a Ladies Bible Study. She currently serves on the Arickaree Ag Advisory Board.

Linda loves living in Cope, walking the dogs, riding her bike and spending as much time with her grandkids as possible. Linda has been a director for Plains Telephone since 2009.

LORA LIMING – SECRETARY

Lora has lived in the Kirk area for more than 40 years. Her husband Rodney was born in Kirk. Together, they have 3 grown children: Jay, Taryn and Blaine. They also have three grandchildren: Marishka, Ashton and Austin. Lora and Rodney farm together.

Lora graduated from Eaton High School and attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. After putting all three kids into school, she worked at Cargill, Inc. and most recently, has been a substitute at Liberty and Yuma area schools for the past 20 years. Lora is active in the Liberty School Scholarship Committee and the Liberty Accountability Committee. She is also a member of the Kirk United Methodist Church. Lora has been a director for Plains Telephone since 2009.

DWAYNE BOWERS – DIRECTOR

Dwayne Bowers has been a part of the Lindon community for most of his life and lives on the family farm. He and his wife Cyndi have 3 grown children, daughters Breeanna and Brittelle, and son Blaine.

Dwayne has used Plains Cooperative Telephone landline and broadband services for years in both his home and his farming business, and has experienced the benefit these telecommunications services offer cooperative members here in the Plains Telephone area, giving him a willingness to work for the future of the cooperative as a board member.

Dwayne has been a director for Plains Telephone since 2010.

GERALD GUY – DIRECTOR

Gerald (Jerry) Guy has lived in Seibert for many years with his wife, June. Jerry and June have two children. Son John is married to Rene and their children are Jeri Rose and Jakob. They live in Andrews, Texas. Son David is married to Carrie and they have two children, Evan & Lexi, and they live in Calhan, Colorado. He is a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Flagler. Jerry has served, and continues to serve, as a church elder for 20 years. Jerry also enjoys hunting.

Jerry retired after 31 years as a Junior High and High School Science teacher. He has been active in various areas in his community. He has served on the Seibert town council, the community ambulance service, Hi Plains School Board, Kit Carson County Planning Commission, Seibert Fire Protection District as well as holding the position as Deputy Corner for Kit Carson County. Jerry is also still actively involved in a farming operation. Jerry has been a director for Plains Telephone since 2009.

MIKE LEERAR – DIRECTOR

Mike Leerar and his wife Jeannie moved to Jeannie’s home town of Eckley in the year 2000. Prior to that time, they lived in and around Yuma, as well as in the Kirk area.

Mike serves on the Yuma County Landfill Board, Yuma County Water Authority and Yuma County Economic Development Board. He is employed at Central Plains Equipment. In August of 2018, Mike and Jeannie, along with Terry Oestman, purchased and reopened the Eckley Bar and Grill where Jeannie serves as manager. Mike and Jeannie enjoy volunteering their time to the community and helping out where they can. Their hobbies include camping, fishing and boating. Mike has been a director for Plains Telephone since 2010.