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BEMIDJI 鈥� 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.

鈥淪o we feel like we鈥檙e moving home,鈥� 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.

鈥淚t was a great opportunity,鈥� Bullock said. 鈥淕ary鈥檚 a great mentor. He鈥檚 a leader in our industry, and the fact that I could spend a year learning from him, I鈥檓 going to soak it up as much as I can and use that as an opportunity to grow myself.鈥�

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.

鈥淧aul Bunyan鈥檚 goals have always revolved around their commitment to the cooperative membership,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat idea of serving communities will continue. Our expansion focus will still be on areas that don鈥檛 have service, growing our membership. Paul Bunyan is always going to be at the forefront of technology. That won鈥檛 change.鈥�

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

鈥淚 worked in the industry as a colleague of Gary鈥檚 for the last 10 to 12 years,鈥� Bullock said. 鈥淗e has always carried the Paul Bunyan Communications banner wherever he went. They鈥檙e definitely big shoes to fill, but the team that has been built here and the board鈥檚 focus is consistent, and that consistency is going to carry through regardless of who鈥檚 leading us.鈥�