Get to the Point — The High Point Networks Podcast

High Point Networks

Technology can feel overwhelming — the jargon, the pace, the pressure to keep up. Get to the Point exists to change that.  Hosted by Andy Middlemiss and Brandi Mentele of High Point Networks, Get to the Point is a podcast for business leaders, IT professionals, and anyone trying to make sense of how technology can actually work for them. Each episode cuts through the noise with honest conversations, real-world insights, and practical takeaways from people who live and breathe this stuff.  No fluff. No unnecessary jargon. Just the deeper "why" behind the technology decisions that matter — from a team you can trust.  New episodes every other Wednesday. Hosts: Andy Middlemiss & Brandi Mentele Production & Management: Jasmine Joy  Audio & Video: Alex Conner _______________________ Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.

  1. 3d ago

    The Fractional CIO: Accountability, Readiness, and Real Partnership with Dan Heckaman

    What happens when a business has outgrown ad hoc IT help but isn't ready for a full-time CIO? In this episode, Andy and Brandi talk with Dan Heckaman about the fractional CIO model. They cover what it is, who it's for, and how it differs from a traditional advisory role. Dan explains why readiness matters more than willingness, how he helps IT teams through change, and why treating IT as an investment (and choosing true partners) changes what a business gets back. Dan Heckaman is the founder of Mindset Partners, where he serves as a fractional CIO for small and mid-sized businesses. He has more than 25 years of IT and administrative leadership experience across private healthcare and higher education. Most recently he served as Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration and CIO at Minnesota State University Moorhead, after more than a decade as the university's CIO. 0:00 – Welcome & meet Dan Heckaman  3:01 – Fractional CIO vs. consultant: where accountability starts  9:47 – When it's a fit (and when it isn't)  12:42 – Leading teams through change  18:09 – From healthcare and higher ed to Mindset Partners  26:59 – "Do we need a CIO?" and having hard conversations  32:13 – Every IT dollar as an investment  34:01 – Partners vs. vendors  37:23 – Readiness and the first next step  44:00 – Questions from the jar 🗨️ Mentioned in this episode: Fractional CIO – A part-time, contracted CIO who becomes part of an organization's leadership team and shares accountability for its technology strategy   Mindset Partners – https://www.mindsetpartnersnd.com   Connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danheckaman  New episodes every other Wednesday. Connect with us: 🌐 highpointnetworks.com 📱 LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @highpointnetworks Subscribe — Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | And wherever you listen. Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.

    The Fractional CIO: Accountability, Readiness, and Real Partnership with Dan Heckaman

  2. Oct 14

    The Invisible Backbone of Rural America: Why This Tech Cooperative Puts People First (with Doug Remboldt)

    Rural electric co-ops and broadband providers keep small towns running, and behind many of them is a technology partner most people have never heard of. Doug Remboldt, President & CEO of NISC (National Information Solutions Cooperative), joins us from Fargo to talk about 36 years at a member-owned cooperative, the realities of serving some of the most remote communities in the country, and why a people-first approach shapes every decision, from culture and retention to how NISC puts AI to work.  In this conversation, Doug covers:  -How the co-op model lets NISC plan long-term instead of chasing quarterly earnings  -The Meridian merger and why one product means faster innovation  -Storm restoration when the nearest neighbor is five miles away  -Why 87 cents of every dollar goes to people, and voluntary turnover under 4%  -Servant leadership lessons from former CEO Vern Dosch  -Using AI to capture retiring employees' knowledge, with a human always in the loop    0:00 - Welcome from Fargo & meet Doug Remboldt  5:07 - What NISC does and why the co-op model matters  8:12 - Planning to stay two years and staying 36  10:31 - Four major technology shifts in one career  13:06 - The NISC and Meridian merger and the "why" behind it  17:47 - Serving rural America at less than one meter per mile  20:55 - 87 cents of every dollar and a culture built by employees  24:41 - The payday printer and what servant leadership really looks like  28:33 - AI with a human in the loop  35:07 - For fun: random questions  Guest: Doug Remboldt, President & CEO, NISC (National Information Solutions Cooperative)  🗨️ Mentioned in this episode:   Meridian Cooperative — The technology coop that merged with NISC on August 1, 2026  Vern Dosch — Former NISC President & CEO and Doug's servant leadership mentor  Scott Klososky — Tech. speaker, author, & founding partner of Future Point of View  Tellwell Studios — The Fargo agency/studio where this episode was recorded  Connect with Doug: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-remboldt-4115b3b/  New episodes every other Wednesday. Connect with us: 🌐 highpointnetworks.com 📱 LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @highpointnetworks Subscribe — Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | And wherever you listen. Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.

    The Invisible Backbone of Rural America: Why This Tech Cooperative Puts People First (with Doug Remboldt)

  3. Sep 30

    Be the Disrupter: Modernizing IT with Purpose (with Andrew Moore)

    Andrew Moore has spent more than 40 years in IT, and as Chief Information Officer at Colorado School of Mines, he's built a reputation for choosing disruption over the easy path. In this episode, Andrew shares his philosophy on the two types of CIOs — the ones who keep the lights on, and the ones who push for change — and how Mines' size and culture let IT move faster than most institutions. He also walks through how one simple frustration, not being able to connect to wifi between buildings, sparked a network overhaul that now reaches football stadiums, parking garages, and even a 100-year-old working mine.  It's a conversation about seeing the bigger picture, embracing your ability to effect change, and having the courage to move first. Andrew Moore, Chief Information Officer, Colorado School of Mines Andrew Moore became CIO at Colorado School of Mines in 2022, bringing IT and executive leadership experience from Chevron, Sun Microsystems, and Boulder Valley School District. He leads Mines' AI acceleration efforts and holds an MBA from the University of Colorado along with degrees in computer science and sociology. Andrew is also the mayor of Erie, Colorado. Connect with Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjmoore/  0:00 – Introduction & welcome  3:14 – Andrew's introduction: from Chevron and Sun Microsystems to Mines  6:52 – Two types of IT leaders: stability vs. disruption  9:08 – The wireless dead zone that started Mines' network overhaul  16:36 – How to bring disruptive ideas to life without losing the room  20:00 – Why equity drives Andrew's approach to connectivity and AI  25:06 – Competing with MIT and Stanford: Mines' AI-powered recruiting assistant  29:20 – Inside the Beck Venture Center, Labriola Innovation Hub, and McNeil Center  37:23 – The 30-hour workweek experiment  44:48 – Question from the Jar 🗨️ Mentioned in this episode:  → R1 research institution — Carnegie Classification for universities with the highest level of research activity: https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/ → The Beck Venture Center — Mines' on-campus hub supporting student entrepreneurs, including a pitch room for venture capital: https://ventures.mines.edu/ → Labriola Innovation Hub — Mines' student makerspace with a metal shop, wood shop, and 3D printing: https://labriola.mines.edu/ → McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation — Mines' student-focused center for entrepreneurship education and venture support: https://mcneil.mines.edu/ → Edgar Mine — Mines' historic teaching mine near Idaho Springs, used for hands-on instruction: https://mining.mines.edu/edgar-experimental-mine/ → ConnectME — Andrew's internet-access equity program from his time at Boulder Valley School District: https://www.bvsd.org/departments/information-technology/connect-me → Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com/ (yes, you can learn Klingon!) New episodes every other Wednesday. Connect with us: 🌐 highpointnetworks.com 📱 LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @highpointnetworks Subscribe — Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | And wherever you listen. Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.

    Be the Disrupter: Modernizing IT with Purpose (with Andrew Moore)

  4. Sep 16

    What Your Cyber Policy Actually Covers, and What It Doesn't (with Travis Kroger)

    Cyber insurance isn't a safety net you buy once and forget (or...it really shouldn't be). Rather, it's a living part of your security posture. Yet, most businesses don't realize how little their policy actually covers until after a breach has already occurred. In this episode, Andy and Brandi sit down with Travis Kroger, Cyber Insurance Practice Lead at UKON, to pull back the curtain on what cyber coverage really means, how to read between the lines of a policy, and why the affordable market we're in right now won't last. Travis brings a rare "no-nonsense" perspective that bridges the tech and insurance worlds, making this a conversation IT leaders and business decision-makers alike will want to hear. 0:00 - Welcome & introducing Travis Kroger 3:03 - Tell me something good 10:02 - Why cyber insurance may be priced lower than it should be 14:12 - Why insurance and IT security should be one strategy 16:12 - The biggest coverage gaps IT leaders don't know about 22:12 - The "hidden menu" of cyber insurance 27:36 - How to spot a strong policy vs. a weak one 35:48 - What to do in the first minutes of a cyber incident 39:06 - Travis's role as a wholesale broker 🗨️ Mentioned in this episode:  → MFA — multi-factor authentication → WTF — wire transfer fraud, one of the most common cyber insurance claims → DFIR — Digital Forensics and Incident Response → Tech E&O — Technology Errors & Omissions insurance → Surplus lines market — where most cyber policies are written, giving carriers more flexibility than the state-admitted market *A note on stats: Travis referenced some industry comparisons from memory during our conversation (fire frequency, cyberattack frequency); treat those as illustrative rather than precise figures. The core point he's making, that cyber risk is more frequent than most businesses assume, holds regardless of the exact numbers. Connect with Travis: LinkedIn — www.linkedin.com/in/traviskroger | Email: travis@ukon.com _____ Footer (already there): Connect with us: 🌐 highpointnetworks.com 📱 LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @highpointnetworks Subscribe — Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | And wherever you listen. New episodes every other Wednesday. Connect with us: 🌐 highpointnetworks.com 📱 LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @highpointnetworks Subscribe — Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | And wherever you listen. Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.

    What Your Cyber Policy Actually Covers, and What It Doesn't (with Travis Kroger)

  5. Sep 2

    Rebuilding Rural Healthcare: Technology, Funding, and the Fight to Close the Gap (with Secretary Magstadt and Kevin DeWald)

    Technology and healthcare collide in this episode as Andy and Brandi welcome their first-ever two-guest lineup: Kevin DeWald, Executive Director of South Dakota Health Link, and Secretary Melissa Magstadt. Together, they unpack how South Dakota built one of the most connected rural health information networks in the country, and how new federal funding is helping close longstanding technology gaps in rural and frontier healthcare. Kevin DeWald has worked for South Dakota's state public health agency for 23 years and has led state, regional, and national health IT and health information exchange efforts for 18 years. He currently serves as Executive Director of South Dakota Health Link, a multi-state network connecting 69 hospitals and more than 450 primary care clinics across South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Secretary Melissa Magstadt has been involved in South Dakota healthcare for over three decades. She is an advanced practice registered nurse and co-owner of Quick Care South Dakota, and previously served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2011 to 2014. She holds a master's in science from South Dakota State University with a focus on family nurse practitioning, an MBA from Mount Marty University, and completed her fellowship at the University of Arizona's Center for Integrated Medicine.   0:00 - Welcome & meeting our first two-guest lineup 1:42 - Meet Kevin DeWald & Secretary Melissa Magstadt 5:13 - Tell me something good 6:10 - The box of papers that sparked South Dakota Health Link 9:59 - What South Dakota Health Link actually does 18:26 - How new federal funding for rural healthcare works 30:19 - Inside South Dakota's technology & data initiative 33:42 - AI already at work in South Dakota healthcare 37:54 - A million clinical alerts and counting   🗨️ Mentioned in this episode:  → EMR — electronic medical record → HIE — health information exchange, a system that lets healthcare providers securely share patient data → South Dakota Health Link — the multi-state health information network Kevin leads, https://sdhealthlink.org/  → https://doh.sd.gov — South Dakota Department of Health's rural health funding information page  Connect with Melissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-magstadt-8749b59 | melissa@sd.gov | https://doh.sd.gov/contacts/staff-directory/ Connect with Kevin: https://sdhealthlink.org/team_mf/kevin-dewald/ | https://doh.sd.gov/contacts/staff-directory/  New episodes every other Wednesday. Connect with us: 🌐 highpointnetworks.com 📱 LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @highpointnetworks Subscribe — Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | And wherever you listen. Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.

    Rebuilding Rural Healthcare: Technology, Funding, and the Fight to Close the Gap (with Secretary Magstadt and Kevin DeWald)

  6. Aug 19

    Microsoft, AI, and Maintaining Human Responsibility (with Chris Watson)

    Most organizations are already licensed for more than they're using — and AI is a big part of that. In this episode, Solutions Architect Chris Watson walks through what's already baked into your Microsoft environment, why a thoughtful rollout matters more than a fast one, and how teams are actually using Copilot day-to-day to work smarter. Chris Watson is a Solutions Architect at High Point Networks with over 13 years of industry experience. He holds Microsoft Certified Cloud Solutions Provider and Enterprise Mobility and Security certifications, specializing in Microsoft 365, Azure, and cloud and on-premise architecture.   0:00 - Introduction & welcome  2:15 - AI in Microsoft: it's not as new as you think  5:40 - What's already in your Microsoft license  9:15 - Start here: AI compliance policy and readiness assessment  13:00 - Rolling out Copilot: proof of concept to full deployment  20:30 - Real-world use cases (Teams, email, Word, PowerPoint)  28:00 - What's next: agents, DLP, and connecting your data  31:30 - Closing thoughts & listener takeaways 🗨️ Mentioned in this episode: Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Teams | SharePoint | Copilot Chat (free tier) | AI readiness assessment | AI compliance policy | Data Loss Prevention (DLP) | Copilot agents Connect with Chris: www.linkedin.com/in/chris-watson-b06b35126 | chris.watson@highpointnetworks.com _____ New episodes every other Wednesday. Connect with us: 🌐 highpointnetworks.com 📱 LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @highpointnetworks Subscribe — Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | And wherever you listen. Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.

    Microsoft, AI, and Maintaining Human Responsibility (with Chris Watson)

  7. Aug 5

    Leaders Worth Following: Curiosity, Confidence, & Cutting Through the Noise (with Scott Erkonen)

    What separates a good leader from one people actually want to follow?  Scott Erkonen, COO of Performance Bankers and former CIO at Great Western Bank and First Interstate Bank System, has spent more than two decades figuring that out. In this episode, Scott joins Andy and Brandi to talk about the leadership traits that matter most: raising your hand when you don't know something, building the kind of confidence that doesn't crumble under pressure, staying present in a world built to distract you, and keeping it simple when everything around you is telling you to make it more complicated. Scott Erkonen is COO of Performance Bankers, Inc., the management company for the Farrar family. His career spans executive leadership at Great Western Bank and First Interstate Bank System, and service as a U.S. international representative to the ISO standards body. 0:00 – Introduction & welcome  2:45 – Tell me something good  4:54 – Raising your hand: curiosity as a leadership trait  7:43 – Vulnerability, the Dunning-Kruger effect & psychological safety  14:43 – Making mistakes — and building a culture where that's okay  17:02 – The rule of three: how to get things done in the C-suite  19:38 – Investing in yourself every day  21:35 – Imposter syndrome and believing in yourself  26:30 – Being present: focus as a leadership skill  37:42 – Simple Wins: cutting through the noise in IT leadership  41:30 – Question from the jar  42:51 – Closing & where to find Scott 🗨️ Mentioned in this episode:   “Why Simple Wins: Escape the Complexity Trap and Get to Work That Matters” by Lisa Bodell — goodreads.com/en/book/show/28695464-why-simple-wins  The Eisenhower Matrix — https://www.eisenhower.me/eisenhower-matrix/  The Dunning-Kruger effect — https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/dunning-kruger-effect Connect with Scott: linkedin.com/in/scott-erkonen-49670a2  _____ New episodes every other Wednesday. Connect with us: 🌐 highpointnetworks.com 📱 LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @highpointnetworks Subscribe — Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | And wherever you listen. Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.

    Leaders Worth Following: Curiosity, Confidence, & Cutting Through the Noise (with Scott Erkonen)

  8. Jul 22

    What CISA Actually Does and Why Your Organization Can't Afford to Ignore It (with Jim Edman)

    Most organizations in the Midwest don't have a dedicated cybersecurity team — and that's not a failure; it's just the reality. But that doesn't mean they're on their own.  In this episode, Andy and Brandi sit down with Jim Edman, Cybersecurity Coordinator for CISA's Region 8, to talk about the free, taxpayer-funded resources available to cities, counties, schools, and small businesses — and why so few of them are actually being used. From backup restore testing to business email compromise to cyber insurance, Jim brings a grounded, practical perspective on what organizations should be doing, what they're missing, and how to close the gap without a six-figure security budget. Jim Edman is the Cybersecurity Coordinator for the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in South Dakota, serving Region 8 — which covers North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. In that role, Jim works with critical infrastructure sectors across the region on cyber risk management and security hygiene. Prior to joining CISA in 2021, Jim served as Chief Information Security Officer for South Dakota State Government for 13 years, where he built operational and strategic security platforms protecting constituent and government data. He also served as broadband manager for the Connect South Dakota Project, bringing high-speed internet to communities across the state.   0:00 — Introduction & cold open 2:00 — What CISA does and who it serves 5:20 — DSU partnerships: Boundary Fence, Secure SD, and Cyber SAFE 10:20 — The current threat landscape: what the 2026 Verizon DBIR says 13:55 — Business email compromise in South Dakota 18:40 — The backup restore gap 21:45 — Cyber insurance: what's changed, what it covers, and what it doesn't 34:30 — How to connect with CISA Region 8   🗨️ Mentioned in this episode:  → CISA — cisa.gov/about/regions/region-8   → Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) — annual industry benchmark on breach trends → Project Boundary Fence — DSU penetration testing program for SD cities and counties, funded through the SD Office of the Attorney General → Secure SD — SD Senate Bill 187 grant program helping cities and counties address security gaps → Cyber SAFE — DSU program extending similar services to small businesses → South Dakota Cyber Council — nonprofit connecting government, industry, and education around statewide cybersecurity — cybercouncilsd.org  → FBI InfraGard — FBI/private sector partnership for critical infrastructure protection; SD chapter at sdinfragard.net 📎 A note on sources: The OPM breach Brandi references involved two related incidents. The commonly cited 22 million figure represents the total number of individuals affected across both; the 4.2 million figure reflects federal personnel records directly compromised. Both numbers appear in reporting on the breach depending on what's being measured.   Connect with Jim:  CISARegion8@hq.dhs.gov | www.linkedin.com/in/jim-e-465a9a12  _____ New episodes every other Wednesday. Connect with us: 🌐 highpointnetworks.com 📱 LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @highpointnetworks Subscribe — Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | And wherever you listen. Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.

    What CISA Actually Does and Why Your Organization Can't Afford to Ignore It (with Jim Edman)
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Technology can feel overwhelming — the jargon, the pace, the pressure to keep up. Get to the Point exists to change that.  Hosted by Andy Middlemiss and Brandi Mentele of High Point Networks, Get to the Point is a podcast for business leaders, IT professionals, and anyone trying to make sense of how technology can actually work for them. Each episode cuts through the noise with honest conversations, real-world insights, and practical takeaways from people who live and breathe this stuff.  No fluff. No unnecessary jargon. Just the deeper "why" behind the technology decisions that matter — from a team you can trust.  New episodes every other Wednesday. Hosts: Andy Middlemiss & Brandi Mentele Production & Management: Jasmine Joy  Audio & Video: Alex Conner _______________________ Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.

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