Human Resource Solutions Recruits Chief Revenue Officer for Great Plains Communications

January 31, 2020 – Golden, CO-based executive search firm Human Resource Solutions has placed Josephine Bernson as the first chief revenue officer for Great Plains Communications, Nebraska’s largest independent telecommunications company and a grain management portfolio company. The search was led by R. Woody Daroca.

“Josephine’s experience and proven track record in leading teams and driving increased revenue and opportunity in the industry is very impressive,” said Todd Foje, CEO of Great Plains Communications. “As we continue to grow and expand our 9,500-mile fiber network, Josephine will be key in identifying new enterprise and whole opportunities to support that growth while ensuring we have the optimum technology products to help us achieve our goals and the goals of our clients.”

Reflecting on the assignment, Mr. Daroca said the critical importance of candidate experience was evident. He said: “When asked, ‘What was instrumental for you in accepting the offer,’ the candidate said unequivocally, ‘I felt like I was welcomed from the start, I was treated as a valued member of the team, during the interview. I felt like I was already onboard.’”

A senior-level global sales and marketing leader with 14 years of experience, Ms. Bernson is a highly accomplished sales and operations strategist with a track record of achieving revenue growth for entities ranging from start-up to global Fortune 500 telecommunications companies including Conterra, Spirit Communications and Level 3. Her most recent role was with Conterra, where she served as vice president of enterprise sales and marketing.

In her role with Great Plains Communications, Ms. Bernson will be responsible for driving revenue generation efforts and identifying growth opportunities for the enterprise and wholesale divisions of the company. Within this role, she will be expected to lead and develop sales, marketing, customer experience and product development strategies to position the company for maximum revenue generation as the business continues to grow its network and client base.

“I am honored to be joining this solid organization with such a talented team of professionals, and over a century of experience delivering fiber solutions to both enterprise and wholesale customers,” Ms. Bernson said. “There is a great opportunity for growth in the markets that Great Plains is currently serving, especially the greater Omaha area. I am confident we will be able to capture more revenue in this and other key markets while identifying promising network growth opportunities where bandwidth demand is not currently being met. I am ready to hit the ground running.”

Great Plains Communications is the largest privately-owned telecommunications provider in Nebraska. The company provides over 90 communities across the state with high-speed internet, cable television and voice services. Business solutions range from traditional and cloud-based voice and data products to installation and support of large business networks with scalable internet and ethernet solutions.

Human Resource Solutions has a wide ranging client roster that includes the Fortune 1000, mid-cap, emerging growth, venture funded, growth oriented and private-equity backed turnaround situations. Established in 1992, the firm employs a proven methodology in the execution of engagements for top executive hires, key senior management positions and rare, functional specialists. Its mission is to be experts focused on recruiting executive talent for rapidly growing or rapidly changing companies.

Recruiting Chief Revenue Officers

Top-drawer CROs are commonly found at start-ups and smaller businesses, and tend to the bottom line while the rest of the C-level team expand key partnerships, look for growth opportunities or source funding. That is changing, however, as larger businesses now view the CRO post as an essential, long-term role.

Hunt Scanlon Media has reported on a number of search firms finding chief revenue officers for their clients. Here’s a look at searches either underway or recently completed:

Acertitude recently recruited Jennifer Ferrang as chief revenue officer for the leadership team of Coriell Life Sciences, a provider of cost-effective healthcare solutions including genetic interpretation and reporting services. Co-founder and managing partner Rick DeRose and principal Jessica Tvelia spearheaded the search A sales and marketing strategist, Ms. Ferrang has a 30-year track record of leading sales systems and operations to drive market strategies in the healthcare sector. Most recently, she was VP of sales at multinational healthcare services company Cardinal Health.

Greenwich Harbor Partners recruited Mark D’Andrea as the new chief revenue officer of SQAD, a software and data services company for advertisers, agencies and brands. The assignment was led by managing directors Carrie Pryor and Ted Pryor. For more than two decades, Mr. D’Andrea has leveraged data and decisioning to make digital marketing more effective for brands and more relevant to consumers. Previously he was senior vice president of sales for Sizmek,

Boston-headquartered Polachi placed Steve Cascio as chief revenue officer of Casco Development, a manufacturing software company in Portland, ME. Partner Charley Polachi spearheaded the assignment. With 18 years of enterprise software and consulting experience, Mr. Cascio is a proven sales leader focused on building and maintaining strategic client relationships and driving revenue growth.