Officials with Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company (METC) recently announced that Rachel Hamilton, currently the office manager of the Walnut and Avoca offices of Marne Elk Horn, has been selected by the company’s Board of Directors to be the next CEO. According to Janell Hansen, Marne Elk Horn’s retiring CEO, Hamilton will start her new duties officially July 1^st. Marne Elk Horn is a provider of telephone, Internet, and Cable TV serving thousands of customers in communities along the I-80 corridor from Exira to Underwood.

Rachel Hamilton

Hansen says with 20 years of service to the communications industry, Hamilton brings a strong understanding of regulatory operations, customer service, billing, and financial matters to her new role. She recently graduated from the Iowa Communications Alliance Leadership program in March. Hansen plans to stay on with the company through the end of 2020 to aid the transition.

Hamilton started in customer service with Walnut Communications in June of 2000. By 2005, as the company began its growth to the west – in Avoca, Neola, Underwood, Persia, and Shelby, she was named office manager. In October of 2016, Marne Elk Horn acquired Walnut Communications.

In the press release, Rachel Hamilton said “I’m very passionate about our company, communities, employees, and customers. The last few months have illustrated the importance of what we do as a company and our employees have demonstrated that commitment repeatedly in their actions as the necessity for internet access accelerated due to the pandemic and work from home situations increased. Providing superior service is what Marne Elk Horn is all about and I am honored to continue what Janell has so successfully grown over the last 22 years.”