Getting to Know NTCA Member Relations Manager Patsy Schoellerman
Patsy serves NTCA members in South Dakota and Iowa. Prior to joining NTCA, Patsy served as the human resources assistant at Golden West Telecommunications in South Dakota, with prior experience at AFLAC and Northwestern Mutual. She brings a background in human resources, insurance and employee benefits to her role at NTCA.
Where'd you grow up?
I grew up in western South Dakota. My hometown is New Underwood, but "town" was really just where we went for school, home was actually about nine miles north. I attended a little two-room country school through 8th grade. There were only three of us in my class until 6th grade, when we were excited to welcome one more classmate! By the time I graduated from New Underwood High School, my class had grown to a whopping 27 students.
Tell us about your family.
These days, home is just outside Vermillion in southeastern South Dakota, where my husband, Rich, and I live on the Missouri River. We have a wonderful, blended family: my three children, Trynity, Karlie, and Teigen; Rich’s two sons, Chance and Gage; and three granddaughters—Danni Jo, Bryer, and Jubal—who keep us smiling. My children have all returned to western South Dakota, so we take every opportunity to head west and spend time with them. Between the kids and grandkids, we’re usually following someone to a sporting event. And, of course, our home wouldn’t be complete without our three dogs.
How’d you get into the telco/broadband industry?
Before joining NTCA, I worked in human resources for a telecommunications company in South Dakota. Earlier in my career, I was a licensed insurance agent, partnering with brokers to develop employee benefit programs for organizations of all sizes. Before that, I served as an office manager and business coach with Northwestern Mutual, helping new representatives launch their careers. Employee benefits and education have been the common thread throughout my career.
What do you like about being a member relations manager (MRM) with NTCA?
What I enjoy most about my role at NTCA is getting to know our members and their employees. I value building relationships, helping people understand their benefits, and being someone they know they can call for support. What makes NTCA especially meaningful, though, is the team I work with every day. It is rare to find people who genuinely support, encourage, and celebrate one another, and I never take that for granted. I am grateful to work with colleagues who are always willing to help, share their knowledge, and celebrate each other’s successes. The friendships I have built here are one of the greatest blessings of my career, and I feel fortunate to be part of a team that truly cares about one another.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I love to cook and bake. No one leaves my house hungry! I enjoy trying new cooking techniques and experimenting with different cuisines. When my kids were younger, I even had a side business as a personal chef, preparing meals for a handful of local families. It combined two things I love: taking care of people and being in the kitchen!
Any interesting facts about you that most people don’t already know?
I've always loved sports and grew up competing in just about everything I could, especially rodeo. I also spent eight years coaching high school volleyball, and I still enjoy watching young people grow through athletics. One of the rodeo events I competed in was queening, which has come full circle for me. Today, I coordinate the South Dakota High School Rodeo Queen Contest, and it's something I'm incredibly passionate about. Watching these young women develop confidence, poise, and leadership throughout the competition is one of the most rewarding things I get to be part of.