Lake Saint Louis, Mo., February 28, 2018 — National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), an IT cooperative serving utilities and telecommunications organizations worldwide, has reached 50 years in business and kicked off a year of celebrations at the 2018 NRECA TechAdvantage Conference in Nashville, Tenn., and the 2018 RTIME Conference in Austin, Texas.
“A 50-year technology cooperative is really something rare,” said Vern Dosch, NISC President & CEO. “We wouldn’t be here without the support of our Members and the dedication of our employees, and I’m very grateful to everyone for helping us hit such a tremendous milestone.”
NISC was the product of a merger between Central Area Data Processing (CADP) in Missouri and North Central Data Cooperative (NCDC) in North Dakota in 2000. The two technology cooperatives have been providing IT services to utility and telecommunications companies since the late 1960s, many of which are still Members today.
At TechAdvantage and RTIME, NISC recognized 29 utility and telecom Members that have been with the organization for 50 years. Today, NISC serves more than 860 independent telephone companies, electric cooperatives and other public power entities.
“It’s so exciting to see the dream of one NISC realized,” Dosch said. “We are not done. I can’t wait to see what the next 50 years bring to NISC, because it’s going to be exciting, innovative and absolutely driven by our Membership.”
As part of NISC’s 50th anniversary celebration, the company launched a charitable component called Giving 50@50. The organization raised $50,000 – half of which came from NISC employees. During the NISC Annual Meeting at TechAdvantage, NRECA CEO Jim Matheson and NRECA International Senior Vice President Dan Waddle joined Dosch on stage to accept a $25,000 donation to NRECA International.
“Congratulations on 50 years and thank you for the NRECA International program gift in honor of this great occasion,” Matheson said. “With NISC, you have a strong and committed co-op ally to help meet your technological challenges and support your aspirations.”
At the RTIME Closing Session, Jasper Schneider, NISC’s Vice President of Member & Industry, will present another $25,000 check to the Foundation for Rural Services (FRS). Both NRECA and NTCA have been integral partners with NISC since the beginning.
“We wanted to recognize and give back to the industries who have given so much to us,” Schneider said. “Our employees came together to raise funds for two exemplary organizations who have played a key role in the advancement of the cooperative business model.”
NISC will also provide a copy of the NISC 50th anniversary history book, The Power of Possibility: 50 Years of Innovation and Member Service. A digital copy of the book is available on the NISC 50th anniversary website, nisc50.coop, along with a timeline of NISC’s history, videos and more. The celebrations of NISC’s 50th anniversary at TechAdvantage and RTIME are just the beginning. For more of the celebrations in the coming year, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About NISC
National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) is an information technology organization that develops, implements and supports software and hardware solutions for our Members/Customers. We deliver advanced solutions, services and support to more than 860 independent telecommunication companies, electric cooperatives and other public power entities. NISC is an industry leader providing information technology solutions including billing, accounting, operations, automated mailroom services, third-party integration as well as many other solutions. With facilities in Mandan, N.D., Lake Saint Louis, Mo., Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Shawano, Wis., NISC and its subsidiaries employ more than 1,150 professionals between the four locations.