Full-Time
Job Not Found
IdeaTek Systems
51-200 employees
Rural fiber-optic ISP delivering high-speed internet
No salary listed
No H1B Sponsorship
Newton, KS, USA
Hybrid
 Sales & Account Management (3) |
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- 3+ years of progressive sales experience, with a significant portion focused on residential or direct-to-consumer sales.
- 5+ years of experience in a leadership role, including team building and coaching.
- Proven track record of exceeding sales targets, both individually and through a team.
- Proficiency in utilizing CRM systems for sales management and reporting.
- Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
- Ability to work flexible hours to meet customer and team needs, including evenings and weekends for community events.
- 8+ years of experience in a leadership role, including team building and coaching.
- Experience building a residential sales team from the ground up.
- Established network of contacts within the Wichita residential communities.
- Strong understanding of the telecommunications industry, particularly broadband services.
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
- Onboard, train, and mentor a team focused on residential sales.
- Provide clear direction, set performance expectations, and establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for the residential sales team.
- Conduct regular coaching sessions, offer constructive feedback, and identify individual development opportunities to enhance team performance.
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing sales culture that encourages genuine connections, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Lead regular sales team meetings to review progress, share best practices, and strategize on community engagement opportunities.
- Act as a key liaison between our company and the communities we serve, gathering feedback and advocating for resident needs.
- Identify and engage with residential communities and homeowners within the Kansas market, focusing on bringing our services directly to their doors.
- Develop and execute engaging sales strategies for residential customers, including local events, direct outreach, and community partnerships.
- Build and maintain strong, lasting relationships with residents, community leaders, and local organizations.
- Achieve and exceed individual residential sales targets, significantly contributing to our overall subscriber growth.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to develop and execute a comprehensive residential sales strategy, ensuring it aligns with company goals and delivers a smooth customer experience from onboarding through ongoing satisfaction.
- Analyze market trends, identify new residential opportunities, and provide insights to inform strategic decision-making.
- Develop and manage sales budgets and forecasts for both individual residential sales and the broader residential sales team.
- Ensure effective utilization of the CRM system to track sales activities, manage pipelines, and generate insightful reports.
- Excellent leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills, with a true passion for developing talent.
- Exceptional interpersonal communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, with a talent for connecting with diverse individuals.
- Proven ability to build rapport and trust with homeowners and community members.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate community insights into actionable sales plans.
- Highly organized and results-oriented with a strong focus on achieving and exceeding goals.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and adapt to changing community dynamics.
- Creative problem-solver with a proactive and solutions-oriented mindset.
- Strong business acumen and understanding of how residential growth contributes to overall company success.
IdeaTek Systems provides high-speed internet in rural and suburban Kansas by building and operating fiber-optic and fixed wireless networks for homes and small to mid-size businesses. It offers symmetric speeds up to 8 Gbps, unlimited data, no long-term contracts, and VoIP services. The company differentiates itself by owning its own network infrastructure, focusing on underserved communities, and growing through acquisitions and private equity. Its goal is to close the digital gap in Kansas by expanding reliable, scalable fiber and wireless connectivity for residents and businesses.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Buhler, Kansas
Founded
1999
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Oak Hill and Pamlico Capital fund expansion to 500,000 homes by 2028.
- Acquired Velocity assets March 2026, adding fiber in Rose Hill and El Dorado.
- Emporia $14M project connects 10,000 locations with 8 Gbps speeds.
What critics are saying
- Fixed wireless churn erodes revenue as fiber upgrades cannibalize 46,000 households.
- Oak Hill demands exit by 2029-2031, forcing sale if EBITDA below 25%.
- Starlink penetrates rural Kansas, defecting 15-25% customers by 2028.
What makes IdeaTek Systems unique
- IdeaTek delivers symmetrical 8 Gbps fiber speeds with unlimited data and no contracts.
- Founder Daniel Friesen drives rural Kansas focus since 1999 high school origins.
- Owns 7,500 miles of fiber across 120 Kansas communities versus satellite alternatives.
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Benefits
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Company News
IdeaTek launches 'Freedom Fighter' Scholarship Program. Posted Mar 17, 2026 8:00 AM MCPHERSON COUNTY - IdeaTek is inviting graduating high school seniors across its service areas to apply for its first-ever Freedom Fighter Scholarship Program, a new initiative aimed at recognizing creativity, ambition and community impact. The program will award three scholarships totaling $5,000. The top honor, the Visionary Award, will provide $2,500, followed by the Innovator Award at $1,500 and the Pioneer Award at $1,000. Unlike many traditional scholarships, the Freedom Fighter program does not require a minimum GPA. Instead, IdeaTek is focusing on students who demonstrate passion, drive and a commitment to making a difference in their communities. Applicants are asked to submit a five- to 10-minute video outlining their dreams, career goals and how they plan to give back. Additional requirements include one letter of recommendation and a senior photo. The application deadline is 5 p.m. on April 10, 2026. Eligibility is open to graduating seniors living in IdeaTek service areas, with priority given to students from IdeaTek subscriber families. IdeaTek officials say they hope the program not only supports students financially, but also highlights the ideas and stories of young people working to shape the future of their communities.
IdeaTek (private equity) acquires Velocity broadband assets from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative. March 3, 2026 - IdeaTek Telcom, LLC has announced that it has acquired the broadband assets of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. which are used to provide service under the name Velocity. The structure of the deal was not publicly disclosed. Terms of the deal were not publicly disclosed. Velocity, a division within Butler Rural Electric, was created in 2018 to provide internet access to the electric cooperative's members. It generally consists of network assets, residential and business services, and customers of those services. Velocity Fiber provides fiber-based internet access in the communities of Rose Hill and El Dorado, and fixed wireless service to residents of parts of Butler, Sedgwick, Harvey, Cowley, Marion, Chase, and Greenwood counties. (Velocity is the name used by Butler Electric to provide internet services, and is not a separate company. It is not and should not be confused with Velocity Fiber, LLC, a different Kansas broadband company that is in the process of being acquired by Vero Fiber Networks, LLC.) Ideatek is directly, wholly owned by IdeaTek Holdings, which is directly wholly owned by Last Dance Intermediate III, LLC (LDI), a Delaware limited liability company and investment fund created for the purpose of purchasing Ideatek in March 2025. LDI is indirectly and wholly owned by Last Dance Holdings, L.P. (LDH), a Delaware limited partnership and investment fund. LDH is primarily owned and controlled by funds and entities affiliated with Oak Hill Capital Management and Pamlico Capital Management, which are private equity funds based in the United States. IdeaTek primarily operates in Kansas, where it is authorized to provide local exchange and interexchange services and is designated as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier. It is also authorized to provide local exchange, interexchange, and interconnected VoIP services in Missouri. IdeaTek has been authorized by the FCC to receive Connect America Fund Phase II auction support and Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I support.
Butler Electric Cooperative announces sale of Velocity to IdeaTek. Ideatek Marketing - March 3, 2026 EL DORADO, KANSAS - Butler Electric Cooperative has announced the sale of its internet division, Velocity, to IdeaTek, a Kansas-based internet service provider specializing in broadband solutions. On February 27, the transaction was finalized. In 2018, Velocity was launched as a way for Butler Electric Cooperative to meet the growing connectivity needs of the communities it serves. Over the past eight years, Velocity has expanded broadband access across the region, helping support local families, businesses, schools, and essential services. This transition allows each organization to focus on what it does best. Butler Electric remains committed to its core mission of providing safe, reliable electric service to its members, while IdeaTek brings deep expertise and singular focus to internet service delivery. Customers will continue to receive seamless internet service through IdeaTek, which specializes exclusively in broadband and has a strong presence across Kansas. "We are excited to welcome Velocity customers to the IdeaTek team," said Daniel Friesen, Co- Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of IdeaTek. "Velocity want to build on what Velocity started and continue providing best-in-class services while exploring opportunities for future expansion and innovation in the region." "We are proud of what Velocity has accomplished," said Kevin Brownlee, Chief Executive Officer of Butler Electric Cooperative. "This move ensures customers continue to receive high-quality internet service from a company whose primary focus is broadband, while Butler Electric continues serving its members with excellence in electric service. Velocity want to express its gratitude to the communities Velocity has served over the past eight years. Thank you to its members, customers and partners for their trust and support."
IdeaTek moves fiber expansions forward in Goodland, Emporia. Construction on the initial zones of IdeaTek's $3 million fiber network project in Goodland, Kansas is nearly finished, according to IdeaTek. IdeaTek, an internet provider based in Buhler, Kansas, has announced a $3 million project to build a 100% fiber network in Goodland that will serve about 2,200 homes and businesses. The company says the network will offer symmetrical, uncapped speeds up to 2.5 gigabits per second and will be completed in roughly six months, with the first neighborhoods coming online later this month. The announcement, made earlier this week, occurs parallel to a Nov. 12 ribbon cutting is taking place in Emporia, Kansas, where IdeaTek is celebrating their $14 million internet expansion effort, which will connect over 10,000 locations, according to IdeaTek. Meanwhile, in Goodland, construction on the initial zones is nearly finished, according to the company, which emphasizes that the build is true fiber-to-the-premises. IdeaTek's Nov. 12 release also highlighted features it believes will distinguish the service locally: unlimited data, no contracts, and local customer support. IdeaTek lists other ongoing projects in communities including Atwood, Bird City, Oakley, St. Francis, Garden City and Wichita. The company, founded in 1999, reports more than 220 employees and says it has installed over 7,500 miles of fiber and 150 fixed wireless towers across more than 120 Kansas communities. IdeaTek's co-founder and chief innovation officer, Daniel Friesen, framed the rollout in Goodland as advancing the company's mission of "internet freedom" and said the provider won't require contracts so customers can "stay because you love it, not because you're locked in."
IdeaTek and Emporia Main Street to celebrate $14 million fiber internet expansion. EMPORIA, Kansas - A faster, more connected future is coming to Emporia. IdeaTek and Emporia Main Street will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate IdeaTek's $14 million investment to bring up to 8-gig, ultra-fast fiber internet to the city - the fastest speeds available in the region. The celebration will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 12 at the Emporia Main Street office, 727 Commercial St. City leaders, Emporia Main Street representatives and IdeaTek representatives will be on hand to highlight what this investment means for residents and businesses, as well as how it brings new choice and competition to the local internet market. The Buhler-based internet provider will deliver unlimited, uncapped speeds of up to 8 gigabits per second, unmatched across most of Kansas and far surpassing what other providers can offer. Once complete, the project will connect more than 10,000 homes and businesses, providing reliable, high-speed internet for everyday life, careers, learning, and business growth. "Emporia is a city with a strong spirit of progress," said Daniel Friesen, IdeaTek Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer. "This investment represents our commitment to empowering Kansans with Internet Freedom - fast, reliable service backed by local, Kansas-based customer support. With our new, 8-gig fiber speeds, Emporia will be one of the best-connected cities in Kansas. Residents and businesses will benefit from real choice, competition and locally supported service." "IdeaTek's investment represents a major step forward for Emporia's growth and connectivity," said Casey Woods, Executive Director of Emporia Main Street. "Access to reliable, high-speed internet isn't just about faster downloads - it's about opportunity. More consumer options create a more robust technical infrastructure for our businesses, strengthening our ability to attract new investment, support innovation, and ensure that residents and entrepreneurs have the tools they need to thrive in a modern economy." 100% Fiber Network - A pure fiber network, designed for speed, reliability and future growth. No Contracts and Unlimited Data - Fiber can carry infinite amounts of data, and we won't charge you for usage. Local Customer Service - Local support from real Kansans. To give residents an opportunity to learn more about IdeaTek, the construction process and speeds and pricing, IdeaTek will have an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the Lyon County History Center. Residents can learn more and check service availability at ideatek.com. IdeaTek is driven by its mission of Internet Freedom, working to bring fiber internet to all Kansans - no matter where they live or their circumstances. As the company continues to expand its regional presence in 2025, fiber projects are currently underway in Topeka, Garden City, Parsons, Goodland, Wichita and other Kansas communities. Investment in Emporia began in early summer, when IdeaTek partnered with the State of Kansas to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Freestate Middle Mile Network. This collaborative project is designed to enhance statewide connectivity and tie into key anchor institutions, including Emporia State University, laying the foundation for faster, more reliable internet across the region. Celebrating its 25th year in business in 2024, IdeaTek was founded in 1999 by Friesen and four friends while attending Buhler High School. Today, the company employs more than 220 Kansans and continues to grow. IdeaTek has deployed over 7,500 miles of fiber and built 150 fixed wireless towers, serving customers in over 120 Kansas communities. Learn more at ideatek.com. About IdeaTek Telcom IdeaTek Telcom is a Buhler, Kansas-based broadband service provider with the mission of "fighting for Internet Freedom." IdeaTek uses a unique and innovative approach to deploy scalable, long-term fiber-optic infrastructure, working to bridge the digital divide in Kansas communities. IdeaTek is a champion for broadband equity and is committed to enriching the communities they serve. The company was recently named to Inc. 5000's list of fastest-growing companies for the 12th time.