Huron County View

Agri-Valley Communications appoints three board members





(L-r) Harbor Beach Mayor Gary Booms, JoAnne Talaski (Harbor Beach Chamber of Commerce), Mary Kulis (Consumers Energy Community Affairs Manager), Carl Osentoski (Huron County EDC Director), Gail Roggenbuck (Community Chest Treasurer), Marilee Schock (Community Chest Secretary), Samantha Schnettler and Justin Schnettler (Business Soil).

(L-r) Harbor Beach Mayor Gary Booms, JoAnne Talaski (Harbor Beach Chamber of Commerce), Mary Kulis (Consumers Energy Community Affairs Manager), Carl Osentoski (Huron County EDC Director), Gail Roggenbuck (Community Chest Treasurer), Marilee Schock (Community Chest Secretary), Samantha Schnettler and Justin Schnettler (Business Soil).

PIGEON – Agri-Valley Communications Inc., parent company of Pigeon Telephone, Thumb Cellular and Agri-Valley Services, has appointed three new members to its Board of Directors: Liesl Eichler Clark, Hans Eichler and Ray Leppien. Liesl and Hans are the third generation of the Eichler family to lead Agri-Valley Communications. Their late grandfather, John E. Eichler, purchased the original company, Pigeon Telephone, in 1972 and partnered with James J. Christner in 1991, who serves on the board.

• Liesl Eichler Clark, 42, is the daughter of Edwin H. Eichler who has been Agri-Valley Communications’ President and CEO since 1986. Clark, the co-founder and partner of 5 Lakes Energy, a policy consulting firm specializing in clean energy and the environment to the public and private sector, is the president of Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council, where she leads more than 100 businesses in growing Michigan’s advanced energy economy. Clark has held several positions advocating clean energy for the State of Michigan. She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in political economy and international relations from Michigan State University.

• Hans Eichler, 40, is the son of Agri- Valley Communications Vice President Courtesy photo Neal B. Eichler, who has also held his position since 1986. Eichler is the manager of Agri-Valley Services tru- Net wireless broadband internet. He joined Agri-Valley Communications as a telecommunications technician at Pigeon Telephone in 1998 and has held positions as wireless administrator, RF engineer and system performance engineer before becoming tru- Net manager in 2017. Eichler is tasked with ensuring wireless broadband quality and overseeing the truNet team. He holds an associate degree in business administration from Davenport University.

• Ray Leppien, 61, is the son of former board member Karl Leppien, who served from 1972 to 2011. Leppien joined Agri-Valley Communications as chief financial officer in 2014. He is responsible for the company’s longterm strategic plan, subsidiary positioning and financial operations. With more than 30 years of professional experience, Ray has held several executive leadership positions in the real estate development and homebuilding industries. He holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Arizona State University.


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