Vision Net’s 23rd Annual Golf Tournament – A Day of Community, Competition, and Connection
Vision Net celebrated another successful year of camaraderie and community at our 23rd Annual Golf Tournament, bringing together clients, partners, and employees for a day of fun on the course. This long-standing tradition not only highlights our commitment to building strong relationships, but also showcases the spirit of teamwork that defines Vision Net.
A Tradition of Bringing People Together
For more than two decades, our golf tournament has been one of our most anticipated events of the year. It offers a relaxed environment for networking, friendly competition, and strengthening the partnerships that help drive innovation and connectivity across Montana and beyond.
Great Weather, Great People, Great Play
This year’s tournament featured:
A full roster of teams hitting the course
Friendly competition and impressive shots throughout the day
On-course games and challenges that kept things exciting
Opportunities to connect with industry peers and Vision Net team members
The weather cooperated, the atmosphere was upbeat, and the course provided the perfect backdrop for a memorable day.
Thank You to Our Participants and Sponsors
Events like this wouldn’t be possible without the support of our amazing sponsors and participants. Your involvement helps us continue this tradition year after year, and we’re grateful for the relationships we’ve built through this event.
Looking Ahead
As Vision Net continues to grow and support businesses and communities with reliable technology solutions, events like our annual golf tournament remind us of the importance of connection—not just through networks and infrastructure, but through people.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 23rd Annual Golf Tournament. We look forward to seeing you at the 24th!
Uniting for a Cleaner Community: Wadsworth Park Clean-Up
On June 16th, Vision Net employees and their families joined forces for a rewarding Community Clean-Up morning at Wadsworth Park. With warm greetings and valuable support from the Sun River Watershed Group and the Parks Department, volunteers collected trash and removed invasive plants.
Dividing into teams, the volunteers enthusiastically tackled the tasks at hand: collecting trash and removing invasive plants. Their combined efforts resulted in a noticeable improvement, leaving behind a cleaner and healthier park environment.
Vision Net employees and their families came together, exemplifying unity and responsibility towards their community. It was heartwarming to see parents and children working side by side, demonstrating the importance of caring for our environment as a family.
Let's cherish this experience and keep the spirit of unity alive as we continue to create a more beautiful and sustainable community.
Recap of the 21st Annual Customer Appreciation Vision Net Golf Tournament
We recently hosted the 21st Annual Customer Appreciation Vision Net Golf Tournament, and what an incredible day it was! Clients, sponsors, and dedicated staff gathered at the picturesque Briarwood Golf Course for a day filled with camaraderie, friendly competition, and memorable moments. Let's take a swing down memory lane and relive the highlights of this remarkable event!
Perfect Weather and Fantastic Company
Mother Nature blessed us with a picture-perfect day on the green, but it wasn't just the weather that made the day special; it was the amazing company. From clients to sponsors and our hardworking staff, everyone brought their A-game and infused the atmosphere with laughter, excitement, and a true sense of community.
Sponsorship that Elevated the Experience:
Today, we raise our glasses in a toast to our incredible sponsors who took our tournament to new heights.
Arista and Goldfield Telecom sponsored delightful beverages as our Drink Sponsors, adding an extra swing of enjoyment to the day. The drinks were the perfect caddy to the golfing experience, and we're immensely grateful for their generous support.
Our Putting Challenge Sponsor, Calix deserves a hole-in-one thank you for adding an extra layer of excitement and friendly competition to the tournament, making every putt count.
A hearty thank you goes to OSI Global, our Lunch Sponsor, for fueling us up with a scrumptious feast at the conclusion of the tournament. Their generosity and support transformed the post-game meal into a mouthwatering celebration, allowing our participants to savor and recharge after an exceptional round of golf.
We also extend our sincerest gratitude to our remarkable Eagle, Par, and Birdie Sponsors, whose support took our tournament to new heights. Their support made this event a round-of-applause-worthy success.
Looking Ahead
We're already looking forward to the future as we bid farewell to this year's tournament. The success of the 21st Annual Customer Appreciation Vision Net Golf Tournament has inspired us to make the next edition even more exceptional. We can't wait to tee off again, creating unforgettable memories and strengthening our community.
A Heartfelt Thank You
To all our participants, sponsors, and staff, we extend our sincerest thanks for making the 21st Annual Customer Appreciation Vision Net Golf Tournament an unforgettable event. Your support, enthusiasm, and generosity have touched our hearts and reinforced the sense of community that we cherish.
Until we swing into action again,
Vision Net team.
A Successful Engineering Summit and Vision Net Corporate Updates in Billings, MT
We had an amazing time at our Engineering Summit and Vision Net Corporate Updates on Wednesday, June 7, 2023!
We started the day at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Billings, MT, with an informative and inspiring Engineering Summit. Our brilliant engineers shared their expertise and discussed cutting-edge innovations in the industry.
After an engaging morning session, we took a well-deserved lunch break, giving everyone the opportunity to network and connect with fellow professionals.
In the afternoon, Vision Net took the stage to deliver engaging corporate and departmental updates. We learned about the latest developments, future plans, and exciting opportunities within our company.
To cap off the day, we headed to the scenic Billings Rod and Gun Club in Billings, MT, for trap shooting and a mouthwatering dinner from a fantastic local food truck, Let's Get Fresh. The evening was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and delicious food.
We extend our sincere appreciation to all the shareholders and partners who joined us in Billings, MT. Your presence and support contributed greatly to the success of this event!
Vision Net Hosted Business After Hours at Billings Office
On January 11, 2023, the Billings Vision Net team was thrilled to host a Business After hours winter wonderland theme with the Billings Chamber of Commerce.
Enjoying great company over some delicious food from Tiny’s Tavern. Guests were welcome to shake off the night’s chill at a hot cocoa bar and enjoy the Wheel of Fortune Spin game to win some fantastic door prizes.
During the event, our Business Development Manager, Roy Alexander, shared Vision Net’s investments in the Billings Community, without government or federal assistance, to install our fiber optic cable to ensure our client’s businesses stay online and secure. Now companies in Billings can have fast internet and local support. Check our fiber ring here.
Networking and enjoying the fellowship of other Chamber representatives is always a highlight of Business After Hours. The event reached full capacity, which was a fantastic way to start the year!
Vision Net hosted Business After Hours
We had so much fun hosting the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours last week!
It was a blast having guests enjoying great music with TOAST and delicious food by Clark & Lewie's. Michelle Dahl, our account executive, gave tours of our facilities, showcasing the Network Operations Center (NOC). Vision Net's NOC has operated in Great Falls since 2004 and provides 24/7/365 support and monitoring coverage to Vision Net clients nationwide.
We hope you had fun, and we truly appreciate your support!
Vision Net hosted Data Center Ribbon Cutting in Billings, Montana
On Sept 9th, Vision Net celebrated the acquisition of its new data center! We had a blast at our ribbon cutting and open house with Billings Chamber members, ambassadors, guests, and clients. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us.
After our interim CEO, Gary Evan's speech, our data center manager, Shawn Helmbrecht, led the facility tours for guests. The facility features Multi-factor Security, 24-hour customer access, diverse network connectivity, and reliable commercial power among other security measures.
In June, I had the opportunity to represent Vision Net at the 2022 NENA Conference and Expo in Louisville, Kentucky. I was able to connect (or even better, reconnect) with numerous 9-1-1 industry leaders, subject matter experts, vendors, and old friends to get a glimpse of the future of 9-1-1 across the United States.
NENA is the National Emergency Number Association and is responsible for developing standards, training curriculum, leadership, and outreach for the 9-1-1 community. From their website: ‘NENA is the only non-profit organization solely focused on improving 9-1-1. The organization represents tens of thousands of hard-working 9-1-1 first-responders who assist individuals in crisis and play a vital role in almost every emergency’. Vision Net has been a member of NENA for almost 15 years, and we’ve supported 9-1-1 in Montana since 2006.
Monday’s activities included NENA’a opening session featuring speeches from NENA’s Board of Directors 2021-2022 President Jennifer White, and the introduction of incoming President Laurie Anderson. They also announced this year’s Gold Line Scholarship winners and challenged NENA members to raise $30,000 for next year’s recipients. The NENA Gold Line scholarship provides funds for 9-1-1 dispatchers and managers who might not otherwise be able to attend. By Wednesday, we had raised well over $31,000, thanks to matching contributions from T-Mobile and RapidSOS!
Monday morning’s session was highlighted by motivational speaker (and tour drummer for P!nk) Mark Schulman. Mark had everyone up and moving! He has performed with Cher, Billy Idol, Foreigner, Stevie Nicks, Beyonce’, and many others.
The rest of the Monday and Tuesday was all about the Trade Show! It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been able to visit and catch up with people that I’ve been working within the industry for so many years. I was also able to get ‘hands-on’ with the latest technology for 9-1-1 call-taking and location information. I got demonstrations from companies such as Intrado, Synergem, MicroAutomation, ECaTS, and Carbyne. I also spent time discussing technical challenges with Sales technicians from Motorola (Thanks, guys!). There were around 125 different booths, with vendors, consultants, and experts from every facet of Public Safety.
The 3 days were also filled with numerous Break-Out sessions with opportunities to learn about subjects as varied as the future of 9-1-1, Cybersecurity (that one’s always pretty full!), GIS mapping data, training and staffing, and Resilience for 9-1-1 professionals. I was personally able to attend workshops on 9-1-1 leadership, mental wellness (we all need that!), and FEMA’s IPAWS Alerting system.
On Wednesday, we were introduced to NENA's Board of Directors for the coming year and were entertained after lunch by Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta (Yes, I’m a triangle 😊 ).
On Thursday, even though the conference was ‘officially’ over, I attended a 5-hour Bootcamp in preparation for taking the ENP (Emergency Number Professional) Certification. The cert will be 50% technical (my forte) and 50% PSAP Management (notmy forte).
The week was also filled with some events for a little fun and a chance to see Louisville, including a 5k Run/Walk for charity on Saturday, a visit to the Louisville Slugger factory, several tours of the Louisville PD Dispatch center, and Wednesday night’s closing celebration at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby Museum!
It was an excellent opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, make some new friends, work with the newest in 9-1-1 technology, and have just a little R&R.
Bill Daniels is Vision Net 9-1-1 Supervisor, he and his team are responsible for maintaining and monitoring Montana’s IP-based Emergency Services network (or ESINet), Network centers in Billings and Missoula, and the 9-1-1 call-taking equipment in many of those counties. He cannot resist spicy food, especially in chocolate.
SHARE THE VISION CONFERENCE 2022
Over the 2-day Share the Vision Conference at the Northern Hotel in Billings, Vision Net employees provided updates on each department's projects and progress, where we are at coming out of COVID, and keeping the shareholders informed on our future. Our very own Ben Mayo and Seth Boucher shared Updates on the VN network and transit posture.
Shawn Helmbrecht, the newest addition to Vision Net's portfolio of services, shared his passion for the industry and was proud to be a part of a forward-thinking company. The data center brings another layer of protection for our customers.
Rocky Erickson, Vision Net's keynote speaker on the first day, shared stories of being a sportscaster in today's world. Aired on 50 stations across the state to bring a little humor to the sports fans.
Panel discussions included information on robocalls, network security, supply chain - lead-time issues, legislative updates, and technology overviews. The Share the Vision conference is an excellent opportunity to unite different departments and shareholders across the state and ensure goals are aligned.
Scott Paul, with Nemont, was the lucky winner of this year's drawing for a drone! Congratulations Scott!
For evening entertainment we had a Cornhole Tournament on Tuesday.
2022 VISION NET GOLF TOURNAMENT
On a beautiful June 9th, Vision Net employees, shareholders, and clients enjoyed an amazing day of golf at Briarwood Country Club for the 20th annual Vision Net Golf Tournament. The visors, hats, sunscreen, and snacks were a plus on such a nice day! This annual scramble is a great way to connect, network, and enjoy the gorgeous Billings landscape! Thank you to everyone who attended the tournament; we look forward to seeing you next year! We had a record 23 teams register!!!
Congratulations to Kirk Hansen with First Interstate Bank, Ken Meyer with Vision Net, Jeff Slavick with Yellowstone County, and Bob Duncan with Global Fiber Vision for winning this year's scramble!
