Chad Bullock to take over as head of Paul Bunyan Communications

Dec. 28—BEMIDJI — Chad Bullock is no stranger to the Bemidji area.

The new leader of Paul Bunyan Communications is a graduate of Bemidji State University, and two of his three children were born here when he worked for Blackduck Telephone Company.

“So we feel like we’re moving home,” Bullock said.

He actually joined the cooperative 12 months ago and has spent the past year learning the ropes from Gary Johnson, the man he is replacing next week as chief executive officer and general manager.

“It was a great opportunity,” Bullock said. “Gary’s a great mentor. He’s a leader in our industry, and the fact that I could spend a year learning from him, I’m going to soak it up as much as I can and use that as an opportunity to grow myself.”

Bullock grew up in the Remer, Minn. area, and studied technology at what is now Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Wadena before landing his first job in Iowa.

After being hired at Blackduck Telephone, he attended BSU and earned a management degree. He was in Blackduck for 12 years, then spent seven years managing Emily (Minn.) Cooperative Telephone and nine years managing West Central Telephone in Sebeka.

Bullock looks forward to leading Paul Bunyan Communications as it continues to grow into areas that are unserved with broadband.

“Paul Bunyan’s goals have always revolved around their commitment to the cooperative membership,” he said. “That idea of serving communities will continue. Our expansion focus will still be on areas that don’t have service, growing our membership. Paul Bunyan is always going to be at the forefront of technology. That won’t change.”

He also is excited to follow Johnson’s lead in serving the Bemidji community and the telecommunications industry.

“I worked in the industry as a colleague of Gary’s for the last 10 to 12 years,” Bullock said. “He has always carried the Paul Bunyan Communications banner wherever he went. They’re definitely big shoes to fill, but the team that has been built here and the board’s focus is consistent, and that consistency is going to carry through regardless of who’s leading us.”

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