MTC Staff
John Tietjens, MTC President and GM, 2005
John and his wife Chandra have two sons, Westin and Tucker and a daughter Emma. In his personal time, John enjoys spending time with family and friends and enjoys outdoor activities. John focuses on guiding the strategic growth and direction of the company, allocating budget resources, coordinating business operations, monitoring and motivating staff, managing operations, ensuring great customer service, improving process and procedures and hiring and training of employees. “My favorite thing about working at MTC are the folks I get to work with. It is a true pleasure working alongside some of the hardest working individuals I know. My fellow co-workers strive every day to do their best and push themselves to grow with the company, creating a thriving atmosphere. MTC also understands that family is a priority, with many of our staff having younger children; we are blessed to have a company that is very family orientated”.
MTC Office Team
Becky Erickson- MTC Office Manager/ Controller, 2007
Becky and her husband Ryan have two daughters, Peyton and Reece. She also has a Labrador Lila and a couple of cats. In her personal time, Becky enjoys boating, camping, hunting, fishing, gardening and reading. At MTC, Becky handles all aspects of customer billing, accounts receivable/payable, capital credit maintenance and documentation, managing Office staff and associated responsibilities, compiling data for completion of reports required by regulatory agencies and working with cost consultants and tax accountants for necessary filings. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is working for a company with good values and MTC has great employees”.
Susan Wempe- Office Assistant, 2012
Susan is married and has two children and five grandchildren. She enjoys sewing, piano, crafts and gardening. At MTC, Susan’s responsibilities include assisting with Capital Credits, billing and filing, sending appropriate correspondence, collecting and maintaining MTC history records, handling the cash receipts and cash disbursement register, keeping updated employee information, and filing/organizing company documents and records. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is the great staff”.
Dalene Teeters- Office Assistant, 2015
Dalene is married to Don and they have three children. In her personal time, Dalene enjoys camping, fishing and quilting. At MTC, Dalene’s responsibilities include assisting with Capital Credits, billing and filing, sending correspondence, collecting and maintaining MTC history records, handling the cash receipts and cash disbursement register, keeping updated employee information, and filing/organizing company documents and records. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is that the workplace environment is great!”
Sara Nelson- Office Assistant, 2020
Sara lives in Little River with her husband Gabriel and her son Logan. She has a blue heeler/aussie mix named Jax and a cat named RJ. In Sara’s free time she enjoys hanging out with family and friends, going on walks with my husband and son and enjoying the outdoors. Sara's responsibilities at MTC include assisting in all activities billing related and cross training on inventory and other accounting functions. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is the family oriented atmosphere which helps when you have young children! In addition, the staff is very inviting and amazing to work with”!
Gina Rugan- Supply and Inventory Specialist, 2010
Gina and her husband Gene have four children and seven grandchildren. In her personal time, Gina enjoys attending her grandchildren’s activities, going to auctions and “junking”. Gina’s responsibilities at MTC include maintaining inventory records, ordering all equipment/supplies for MTC projects, setting up account IDs for all inventory, sending and tracking equipment sent in for warranty repairs, and preparing inventory reports. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is that everyone shares the same vision and is dedicated to MTC’s mission. This truly creates a family environment where everybody is there for each other”.
Racheal Engelland- Billing & Accounting Assistant, 2022
Racheal lives outside of Sterling on the farm with her husband Brandon. In her personal time, Racheal enjoys hanging out with friends and family, working out, and spending time on the farm with her husband. Racheal’s responsibilities at MTC include all billing cycle related responsibilities, payroll processing, cross training on other monthly accounting functions and regulatory filings. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is the family oriented atmosphere, and a great work environment”!
MTC Operations Team
Jason Crotinger- MTC Operations Manager, 2009
Jason is married and has four daughters. In his free time, Jason enjoys spending time with family, working with livestock and various technology related interests. Jason’s responsibilities at MTC include supervising the operation technicians and the network administrative engineer, being available for call-outs outside regular operating business hours and ensuring that a technician is available to respond at all times, budgeting and managing operation expenditures, encouraging initiatives, promoting morale, teamwork, and productivity and ensuring competitive services and associated equipment are operating at optimum efficiency and proficiency. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is working closely with the entire staff of MTC to apply the latest technology to meet the needs of our customers, it is very rewarding!”.
Austin Eberle- Operations Technician, 2013
Austin is married to Katie, and they have a son, Emitt. He enjoys working out, motorcycles/dirt bikes, working on vehicles and watching his family grow closer together. At MTC, Austin’s responsibilities include completing network service orders, service support and troubleshooting, educating customers on service equipment, being available for call-outs outside of regular operating business hours, and ensuring that excellent customer service is maintained at all times! “My favorite thing about working at MTC is that working here feels like I am working with family”.
Howard Moore- Operations Technician, 2014
Howard and his wife have four kids. In his personal time, he enjoys long range target shooting and networking. Howard’s responsibilities at MTC include completing network service orders, service support and troubleshooting, educating customers on service equipment, installing and troubleshooting Security & Automation systems, being available for call-outs outside of regular operating business hours, and ensuring that excellent customer service is maintained at all times! “My favorite thing about working at MTC is the family environment”.
John Gillen- Operations Technician, 2014
John has been married to his wife since 2011. In his personal time, John enjoys learning about new things, playing video games, tabletop RPGs and card games with friends and family. Some of John’s responsibilities include completing network service orders, cable and fault locating & troubleshooting, educating customers on service equipment, being available for call-outs outside of regular operating business hours, and ensuring that excellent customer service is maintained at all times! "My favorite thing about working at MTC is all of the changes that are happening”.
Stan Wright- Operations Technician, 2021
Stan enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping. "My favorite thing about working at MTC is the variety of jobs we do so that no day is exactly the same."
MTC Construction Team
Heath Eberle- MTC Plant Manager, 1999
Heath is married and has four kids. In his free time, Heath enjoys wood working and watching movies. At MTC Heath manages the construction crew, is responsible for fiber projects and is responsible for the MTC plant and maintenance. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is that the variety of work we do keeps things interesting”.
Micah Crider- Construction Technician, 2015
Micah and his wife Shyna have two sons, Malakai and Tyler. In his personal time, he enjoys going to the lake and vacationing out of the state with the family. Micah’s daily responsibilities include placing fiber in the communities MTC serves. The process consists of placing conduit, drops, pulling and splicing fiber. “I enjoy working at MTC because it feels like a second family. They not only take good care of their employees, but they also care for your family’s well-being too. The job itself is fun and allows me to do construction which is what I love”.
Doug Eller- Fiber Plant Technician, 2011
Doug’s family includes his wife and children. In his personal time, he enjoys working outdoors and spending time with family. Doug’s daily responsibilities include placing fiber in the communities MTC serves. The process consists of placing conduit, drops, pulling and splicing fiber. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is being able to excel through adversity”.
Tanner Harms- Outside Plant Engineer, 2019
Tanner enjoys watching football and basketball, binging TV series and movies. At MTC, Tanner’s daily responsibilities include placing fiber in the communities MTC serves. The process consists of placing conduit, drops, pulling and splicing fiber. “Working at MTC, every day and project presents a new and unique challenge”.
Brandon Fugate - Operations Technician, 2022
Brandon grew up in southeastern Kentucky where he served in the National Guard as a combat medic. He moved to Kansas in 2022 after meeting his wife and together they have a cat named October. Brandon is currently enrolled, and double majoring at Liberty University. In his free time, Brandon enjoys lifting weights, playing guitar, hanging out with his wife, and enjoying the outdoors. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is that our company harbors an environment of growth. Learning is both encouraged and facilitated”.
Eli Rundle- Switching/Plant Technician, 2011
In his personal time, Eli enjoys woodworking and spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, hiking and exploring. Eli’s responsibilities at MTC include completing service orders, service support and troubleshooting, educating customers on service equipment, being available for call-outs outside of regular operating business hours, and ensuring that excellent customer service is maintained at all times! “My favorite thing about working at MTC is thanks to the varieties of services we offer; it allows me to do something different everyday”.
MTC Marketing & Sales Team
Shayla Grasser- MTC Sales and Marketing Manager, 2008
Shayla and her husband Gary have three kids, Braeden, Kami and Kelltyn. In her free time, Shayla enjoys going to the lake, camping with family and friends, and attending her kids’ activities from playing sports to showing pigs. She also enjoys cheering on OSU football in the fall season. Shayla’s responsibilities at MTC consist of managing performance and setting goals/expectations for the sales and marketing team, being responsible for all aspects of staff training, evaluating target markets for products and services, and proposing and meeting the annual sales and marketing budget. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is working with the staff and teams. Each day is different! I enjoy working with business customers so they have the latest technology available to them as well doing all the Sales and Marketing daily tasks”.
Jessica Andrews- Marketing Specialist, 2009
Jessica and her husband Tony have two kids, Kolt and Kinzie. She enjoys playing and watching sports, specifically KC Chiefs Football, KU Basketball and US Women’s Soccer. Jessica also enjoys going to the lake and hanging out with family and friends. At MTC, Jessica’s daily responsibilities include evaluating new markets, products and services, assisting in development and implementation of marketing strategies and promotions, maintaining online presence, and conducting customer penetration and competitive analysis reports. “My favorite thing about working at MTC are my coworkers! Not only do they take pride in helping our customers, but they take a great interest & care in their employees & employees families”.
Phoebe Lamb- Customer Service/Sales Representative, 2015
Phoebe and her husband Antowine have two fur babies. She enjoys being outside, spending time with family, watching movies and playing with her dogs. At MTC, Phoebe’s responsibilities include selling products & services, identifying and resolving customer concerns, handling the design work, and working with the HAW spell out Home and Wellness team with Pendants and the Senior Safety System. “My favorite thing about working at MTC are my coworkers. We are like a big family and everyone works so well together it makes the time enjoyable!”
Jen Armond- Customer Service/Sales Representative, 2020
Jen is a Little River native and is married to her husband John. In her free time, she loves spending time with her friends and family. She has her very own “funny farm” where her furry and feathered kids occupy most of her free time. She also loves to cook and bake, especially with her nieces. Jen's responsibilities at MTC include handling all aspects of MTC’s Security & Automation service, along with assisting with Home and Wellness. “My favorite thing about working at MTC are the people I get to work alongside with every day. It truly is like a second family.”
Ciera Salinas- Customer Service/Sales Representative, 2020
Ciera loves spending time with her family which includes her husband and kids! In her free time, Ciera enjoys noodling and bass fishing. At MTC, Ciera's responsibilities include handling incoming calls and helping customers with MTC services and questions. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is the people. You become a family, who in turn helps other families be able to enjoy the latest technology available!”
Sarah Birzer- CSR & Business Solutions Representative, 2023
Sarah was born and raised in Lyons, KS. After high school, she joined the Air Force and served 8 years, with a tour over in Bagram Afghanistan. Her and her son Landen moved back to Lyons in 2015. In her free time, Sarah enjoys doing home improvement projects and spending time with family. “My favorite thing about working at MTC is the comradery in all departments, and always willing to lend a helping hand and pitch in to make sure our customers are taken care of”.
