Telephone cooperative under new management BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
MONTEREY -Highland Telephone Cooperative has experienced some growing pains in recent years. Competition from other companies has increased in its service area, technology changes at an incredible speed, and federal regulations are consistently altering the requirements that govern the communications industry.
Keeping HTC proactive and stable has fallen primarily on the cooperative's longtime general manager, Elmer Halterman, and the HTC board of directors.
At the end of this month, Halterman retires after 36 years with the company, having made his intentions known to the board a few months ago. After a intensive search, the board has hired Philip Munchel, 53, who began getting oriented in his new post two weeks ago.
"Elmer has been a very good manager of the cooperative," said Kirk Billingsley, HTC board president. "Elmer is a good technician. He has helped us stay up on technology.
"What we get with Phil is someone hands-on with these new technologies. He has dealt with the same companies we are starting to deal with now … New ideas and a spirit to help the cooperative think what avenues to take next are what Munchel brings to the job … We are excited to have Phil on board."
Before the interviewing process, the HTC board called on Jim Newell, a consultant with experience in the telecommunications industry, to advise the board on selecting its new manager.
The first thing the board did was think about the future of HTC, and how it could best set goals and direction. The phone industry is evolving and HTC needs to adapt, Billingsley said. "We are changing from a monopoly to a competitor," he said. "We're not just a plain old telephone system anymore."
Highland's cooperative, despite the changes and challenges ahead, is at the top of its class in size and modernization. "This cooperative far surpasses any comparable system of the same size," Billingsley said.
"I have seen drastic changes over the years," Halterman said, "from open wire and round distribution wire to shouldered cable, internet, DSL and fiber optics. When I first started, I was working for Monterey Telephone Company. At the time there was a telephone company in Blue Grass, too."
The two companies were separate, but worked under an umbrella organization, Mutual Telephone of Highland County. By 1975, the two had merged.
Billingsley said the top three things the board sought in a new general manager were direct knowledge of current technologies, personnel and financial management experience, and a vision of where the cooperative needs to go. Munchel, one of 10 applicants interviewed over the phone and four considered in a second round of interviews in person, was the top choice. Applications from HTC employees were also considered, Billingsley said.
"The future looks very bright (for HTC)," Halterman said, though he is concerned about increased competition from Internet and wireless services.
Munchel says the cooperative will have to work hard to stay competitive with other companies offering similar services, but he remains optimistic. "I was very impressed with the cooperative and infrastructure," he said. "It was quite good. It has state of the art equipment."
He said one way HTC can maintain its edge is by providing long distance bundles to its customers. A bundle is a package of services in one bill that telecommunications companies are turning to as a way to increase revenue. They may include long distance and local phone service, broadband Internet, and wireless service.
He would also like the HTC board to consider introducing some form of video. Last year, Highland Communications Cooperative, the cable arm of HTC, dissolved. It had provided cable television service to subscribers in Monterey and Blue Grass, but in the last few years, as customers switched to one of two satellite services offered in the area, cable became a liability.
Munchel is says HTC can help build a strong local economy. "I want to provide goods and services so that businesses could relocate here," he said.
But Munchel is confident the groundwork for growth is in place. "Elmer has built a good infrastructure to springboard from," he said.
Munchel worked for GTE in York, Pa., his hometown, from 1974 to the late 1990s. He started as a technician and moved up to supervisory and management positions. He also moved around - first to Erie, Pa., then back to York and then to Alaska. He was manager of the telephone company in Bethel, Alaska. He left GTE in Alaska and moved to Colorado, becoming a manager at FairPoint Communications in Mosca, Colo. and regional operations manager for five phone companies.
Munchel and his wife, Lisa, bought a house on Myers-Moon Road. They have three children -a son (also in the phone business) in Richmond, another in New Jersey and a daughter in Littlestown, Pa.
Munchel said he left Colorado to be closer to his family. His grandson, who also lives in Richmond, is a central reason Munchel chose to relocate. "The county is very appealing to my wife and me," he said. He had hoped to find a rural place to live and work with a climate similar to his former northern homes. Munchel feels Highland County is the right choice. "We are not warm weather people," he said. "And the town of Monterey looks like a hamlet, which appeals to us."
Bethel was in the Alaskan bush, he explained. The only way in and out was by airplane, so he is used to traveling two hours to shop for groceries. Going to Staunton is no hardship, he said.
Munchel is still getting settled into his job at HTC, but hopes to find time for fly fishing.
Halterman, who turns 66 this week, was HTC's first general manager, a position he held for 18 years. He is also the first HTC employee to retire.
He grew up in Highland County, graduated from Monterey High School in 1959 and enlisted in the Army for two years, serving at various posts on the East Coast with the military police. After leaving the Army, Halterman went to work for CFW (now Ntelos) in Waynesboro.
Halterman and his wife, Mary, plan to continue to work on their property along Thorny Bottom Lane in Halterman Hollow, where they rent part of his 166 acres for pasture. He owns a boat and likes to bass fish, particularly at Lake Moomaw. They have one daughter, who lives in Weyers Cave.
"I'm thankful for good health, the opportunity to work, and good people to work with," Halterman said. "Everybody was good to work with … Everyone knows their job and knows what needs to get done."
HTC employee Ruth Newman, speaking on behalf of all employees, said, "We have enjoyed working with Elmer and have learned many things from his expertise. We all wish him the very best in his retirement."
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