Press Release

Lake Saint Louis, Mo., Aug. 29, 2019 – National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), a leading provider of software and solutions to utility and telecommunication companies, announced today that Dan Wilbanks will succeed Vern Dosch as its new president and chief executive officer effective Jan. 1, 2020. Dosch will remain in his capacity through the end of 2019. Dosch has been CEO and president of NISC since 2002. Prior to his appointment, Dosch served as chief operating officer from 2000-2002, and general manager/CEO of North Central Data Cooperative (NCDC), Mandan, N.D., from 1991-2000. NISC is the resulting organization created by the July 1, 2000, consolidation between Central Area Data Processing (CADP) and NCDC. “It is with a great sense of humility, honor and gratitude that I close out my chapter at NISC,” Dosch said. “To see the transformation NISC has experienced over the years is nothing short of awe-inspiring. It wouldn’t have happened without the laser focus of our Board of Directors, the selfless dedication of our employees, and the many Members who believed in us, stood with us, and decided to put the importance and vision of NISC before their own needs.” Dan Wilbanks, a native of St. Louis, most recently served as chief operating officer and vice president of Research, Development and Quality at NISC. A graduate of Lindenwood University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration, Wilbanks has more than 40 years of experience in the technology industry, having started at NISC predecessor CADP as a software developer in 1979. Under Wilbanks’ leadership, NISC’s legacy software platform, the iVUE® Enterprise System, was developed and today supports NISC’s more than 840 Members with accounting, engineering, operations and customer care functions. A resident of [...]

Lake Saint Louis, Mo., Aug. 16, 2019 – NISC is rooted in a commitment to maintain a strong and transparent relationship with its Members. To uphold the highest Member service standard, NISC continually upgrades solutions and recently expanded its regional business manager team to better serve the Membership. “The work we do in partnership with our Members is key to improving the quality of life for the more than 20 million consumers receiving services from our Members,” said Susan Imm, NISC vice president of Member and Industry. Strong and deliberate Membership growth also plays a critical role in maintaining that standard. The NISC Board of Directors approved the addition of several new Members and Associate Members as part of the June-July 2019 Membership Report, bringing NISC’s Membership total to 840. “Growth of our Membership enhances NISC’s economies of scale, allowing for continued significant investment in research and development and steady Membership rates for the last eight years,” Imm said. The following utility and telecommunication companies were welcomed to the NISC family. Utilities Kingsbury Electric Cooperative, headquartered in De Smet, S.D.City of Le Sueur, Minn.South Norwalk Electric and Water, headquartered in Norwalk, Conn. Telecoms Stayton Cooperative Telephone Company, headquartered in Stayton, Ore.Guadalupe Valley Telephone Cooperative, headquartered in New Braunfels, Tex.McDonough Telephone Cooperative, headquartered in Colchester, Ill.Range Companies, headquartered in Forsyth, Mont.IAMO Telephone Company, headquartered in Coin, IowaMTC Technologies, headquartered in Mediapolis, IowaWhidbey Telecom, headquartered in Langley, Wash.Point Broadband of Opelika, LLC, headquartered in West Point, Ga. “We appreciate the trust these new Members have placed in NISC to improve efficiencies and enhance their ability to be competitive and relevant in a rapidly-changing market,” Imm said. About NISCNational Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) is an information technology organization [...]

Lake Saint Louis, Mo., June 17, 2019 – National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), a leading provider of software solutions to utility and telecommunication companies was named a Best Place to Work in Information Technology (IT) by IDG's Computerworld, ranking no. 13 among midsize organizations (1,001 – 4,999 employees). 2019 marks NISC’s 16th straight year on the list and 17th recognition overall. "We are humbled and honored to be selected as a top employer in the information technology field," said NISC president and CEO Vern Dosch. "Our employees are the heartbeat of this organization and their knowledge and expertise is essential in helping NISC stay ahead of the curve in the technology industry. The fact that this award is based off feedback from our employees means even more and speaks volumes about the work we do to provide our employees with the best possible careers at NISC." While competitive salaries and benefits packages, retirement plans and paid time off all factor into Computerworld’s list, it’s also the opportunities for employee growth and empowerment that play a role in companies receiving the recognition. "The market for IT talent remains very tight, and employers continue to focus on finding and holding on to the best people," said Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis. "Our 2019 survey shows again that the Best Places to Work in IT are dynamic organizations that provide top pay and a broad array of programs and benefits designed to make them attractive places to work. Many show that they have a commitment to training, to diversity and to improved communication and teamwork." NISC was also named a 2019 Top 10 Workplace by the Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals Network, which recognizes local businesses committed to recruiting and [...]

Lake St. Louis, Mo., May 30, 2019 – National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), a leading provider of software solutions to utility and telecommunication companies, has named Susan Imm vice president of the Member & Industry division. Imm, who has 25 years of experience in the utility, gas and water software industry, has led the utility sales team at NISC for more than six years. During that time, NISC has grown significantly, adding an average of 20 new utility Members per year and exceeding revenue targets. Prior to joining NISC, Imm worked as a sales director for Aclara and Nexus Energy Software where she gained experience providing software solutions focused on consumer engagement, energy efficiency, call center applications and meter data management. Prior to the utility industry, Imm held development positions in the non-profit arena including Very Special Arts and Parkland Hospital Foundation. "At NISC, we have a great tradition of promoting from within and providing career opportunities for our employees," said Vern Dosch, NISC president and CEO. "The selection of Susan as vice president of Member & Industry continues that important tradition. She has demonstrated not only her effectiveness as an integral part of NISC's growth, but more importantly, her actions have demonstrated the effective and sincere way in which she has embraced the values and the culture of our organization." As vice president of Member & Industry, Imm will be responsible for utility and telecom sales, Member engagement, marketing communications and events. Imm will begin her new role with NISC effective immediately, working virtually out of Wisconsin. About NISCNational Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) is an information technology organization that develops, implements and supports software and hardware solutions for our Members. We deliver advanced solutions, [...]

Lake Saint Louis, Mo., May 8, 2019 – National Information Solutions Cooperative's (NISC) SmartHub® web and mobile application has been helping telecommunications and utility customers manage their accounts for more than five years. Getting the word out on the benefits of SmartHub is now easier than ever with the SmartHub Marketing Kit, available for NISC Members through the NISC Community. "SmartHub can help telecom and utility customers in a number of ways, including providing them a convenient way to pay their bill or get information on service interruptions," said Susan Imm, interim vice president of Member and Industry for NISC. "This kit helps our NISC Members showcase the benefits of SmartHub, enabling a better customer experience and helping increase communication with utility and telecom customers." The SmartHub Marketing Kit includes everything an NISC Member needs to showcase the app to utility and telecom customers. Bill inserts, social media materials, posters, banners and videos are all included and available to use at no cost as a way to increase engagement with the web and mobile app. NISC's SmartHub launched in 2012 to improve communication and customer service for NISC Members. Available on the web and through a mobile app, SmartHub allows customers to pay their bills, report service issues, monitor their usage and receive important information from their provider. NISC Members can access the SmartHub Marketing Kit through the NISC Community by visiting smarthubkit.com. For more information about SmartHub, please visit nisc.coop. If you don’t have a Community login to access this kit, please contact Scott Wild. About NISCNational Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) is an information technology organization that develops, implements and supports software and hardware solutions for our Members. We deliver advanced solutions, services and [...]

Lake Saint Louis, Mo., March 13, 2019 – National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), a leading provider of software and solutions to utility and telecommunication companies, has expanded its SmartHub® web and mobile app into the smart home. SmartHub’s new voice assistant functionality allows utility consumers to access the app via a Google Home or Amazon Echo, just by using their voice. "One of our goals as an organization is to keep our solutions at the forefront of technology," said David Bonnett, NISC vice president of product management. "The new voice assistant functionality in SmartHub takes advantage of the latest innovations in the smart home to help give consumers an easier way to interact with their utility." SmartHub allows utility consumers to interact with their utility provider anytime, anywhere via the web or a mobile device. Launched in 2012, SmartHub allows consumers to pay their bill, view their usage and interact with their provider by submitting outage updates and receiving important news right at their fingertips. The new voice assistant functionality takes SmartHub into the smart home. These new features allow users to utilize their Amazon Echo or Google Home devices to interact with their utility similarly to how they would when using the SmartHub app. Consumers can ask their device to talk to their utility and perform a variety of tasks like checking account balance and news updates, getting payment history, checking outage information and soon making a payment. "Consumers value convenience," said Nate Boettcher, NISC product line manager. "SmartHub's voice assistant functionality helps to continue leveraging new technology to give consumers options on how and when they communicate with their utility." For more about SmartHub's voice assistant capabilities, visit www.nisc.coop. About NISCNational Information Solutions [...]

Lake Saint Louis, Mo., March 7, 2019 – National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), a leading provider of software solutions to utility and telecommunication companies, is sponsoring and exhibiting at NRECA's TechAdvantage Conference & Expo March 10-13 in Orlando, Fla. NISC will be exhibiting in Halls B4 and C of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando Monday, March 11, from 4:30 to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, March 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, March 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Expo attendees are encouraged to stop by booth No. 1678 to hear the latest in NISC innovations, test drive solutions and speak one-on-one with our dedicated regional business managers. Visitors will also have an opportunity to check out NISC's new SmartHub Voice Assistant, combining the features of NISC's SmartHub web and mobile app with smart home devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home. Attendees will also have a chance to win an Apple iPad or a Google Home Hub. TechAdvantage is the leading technology event for professionals in the electric cooperative sector, focused on new innovations and critical technologies that will be instrumental for electric cooperatives' success in the future. The conference brings together thousands of attendees from across the country in departments including engineering, information technology, energy services, operations and supply management. For more information on TechAdvantage, please visit www.techadvantage.org. Annual Meeting to Provide NISC HighlightsIn conjunction with TechAdvantage, NISC will be hosting its Annual Meeting Sunday, March 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Valencia D, located in the west concourse of the Orange County Convention Center. NISC president and CEO Vern Dosch alongside the vice presidents and representatives from NISC's Board of Directors will report on NISC's finances, [...]