Behind the Board
A Conversation with Chase Dewitz
July 2026
Chase Dewitz hasn’t had to look far for his sense of purpose. He grew up east of Steele on the family farm, has lived in the area his entire life, and is now the fourth generation to work land that was homesteaded in 1916.
Dewitz farms and ranches alongside that legacy every day, and he’s built on that by adding a seed and chemical sales business to the operation. He and his wife Erin are raising three kids on that same ground: twin boys Clinch and McCoy, age 8, and five-year-old daughter Ella.
Roots don’t get much deeper than that.
A Fresh Set of Eyes, and a Full Cup
Dewitz was elected to the BEK Board of Directors at the June annual meeting, making him the cooperative’s newest director. He came to the role with a clear sense of what he wanted to contribute: helping drive continued growth, supporting technology integration in agriculture, and ensuring that BEK’s premium service continues across all the communities it serves. This, all while keeping the network firmly in member hands.
He didn’t waste any time getting up to speed. In the weeks since his election, Dewitz has had the chance to meet with BEK employees and representatives from partner organizations including, DCN, NISC, BAND, and the Public Service Commission. “The last couple of weeks are literally drinking from a fire hose,” he says. What he’s learned has left an impression. “I can assure that your cooperative is working hard for the members. There are so many moving pieces within the broadband network in North Dakota, and that synergy is the envy of the rest of the nation.”
What He Wants Members to Know
For members who wonder what’s really happening behind the scenes at BEK, Dewitz has a simple message: get engaged, and you might be surprised by what you find. “I think you would find it very complicated while also being a well-oiled machine,” he said.
More stories in this Issue
Hidden Stories Among Us
July 2026
Message from the CEO
July 2026
Annual Meeting Review
July 2026
Behind the Board
July 2026
New Program on BEK TV
July 2026
From the Fire Station to the Playground
July 2026
Is Your Router Putting Your Home Network at Risk?
July 2026
Six Times and Counting
July 2026
Click Smart – Stay Cyber Safe
July 2026
